3-Point Hitch To hitch or not to hitch - that is the question.

[MaineTom]

Well time is getting close to dropping the dime(s) for the new SCUT. The decision has finally been made to go with the BX25D.
I'll be getting it with:
R4 tires - BH Thumb - Land Pride Grappel - BX Quick Attach- FEL - Maybe LED work lights and 2" wheel spacers if I can get them with the order.
I'll be doing my own fabrication of a skid plate, and a hitch ball for the BH. Most of my work will be in the woods clearing brush, trees, rocks, stumps etc., and cutting and hauling fire wood.

So giving that to start, I don't plan to have any PTO driven equipment, and I think I can do most tasks with out a 3PH...can anyone make a good argument why I might need a 3PH BEFORE I purchase any equipment that needs one? I've seen a lot of posts that mention they have several hundred hours on their machine and the 3PH is still in the box!

 

[Zebrafive]

I would think you would want either a rear blade or box blade to fix ruts or maintain woods trails. You can do some of that with a bucket in a pinch, but easier with a rear blade/box blade

 

[MaineTom]

Your are right, and when I feel I need one of those, then I'll get the 3PH, but I don't think it's worth it to order it with the tractor.
Even then, I'll probably rent box blade rather than buy one.

 

[varmint]

I'm confused here- are you saying you don't intend to get a 3ph?? Surely it comes with the tractor unless you delete it? Maybe not, since this is often a BH equipped tractor.

 

[MaineTom]

That's right...it does not come with the BX25D.

 

[bigtiller]

Id rather have one in a box on the shelf the day i need one, rather than ordering one and waiting for it. I bet it is cheaper today then it will be when you need one in _ _ years.

 

[GBOUTDOORS]

I have a BX2360 with FEL but no BH but I use the 3PTH with a BXM 32 chipper, 5' back blade, 4' Kubota tiller, 4' bush hog, homemade firewood trailer, 22 ton log splitter, 4' rake, and for next winter a new 50" snowblower. My friend down the road picked up a nice very little used BX24 with FEL and BH and it had a 3PTH also. At first we just swapped tractors if I need the BH or he needed any of the 3PTH implements. But he found that he could use the implements far more often than the BH so has started to collect his own. As he has the BH and I only find myself needing it occasionally will stay with my set up but if I do upgrade in the future it will have both BH and 3PTH. So I would go with the 3PTH with the setup.

 

[silvertramp]

Forget the BH and go with the 3pt hitch.

 

[Deerherd]

I do a lot of work with brush and trees like you describe and wouldn't think of doing it with a backhoe attached all the time. You don't plan on snow removal or driveway maintenance?

I would forego the backhoe and rent that when needed and buy a much more capable CUT sized tractor with a 3pt hitch for skidding logs out. You will do a lot more of that style work than digging stumps out of the woods. How much lift do you have on the scut with a grapple? A grapple on a CUT sized tractor is very useful, not so sure about what you are considering.

Putting a carryall on the back with chainsaw equipment and a place to stack and carry your firewood would make much more sense than a backhoe. Everybody wants a backhoe but how much are you REALLY going to use it?

Good luck and have fun!

 

[MaineTom]

I need the BH - I have a lot of drainage work to do, putting in culverts etc. If I need a carry all I can either use the FEL or build a box I can pick up with the grapple and move it where I need to work. The only snow work I plan to do is maybe moving some back from the edges of the drive when it gets too deep...like this winter. I have a 2500HD GMC with a plow to do the heavy snow work. My logging roads are pretty clear and the BX is pretty maneuverable even with the BH from what I've seen. I'll be using the BH to rip stumps and the grapple to move brush, stumps, logs etc. I guess having the 3PH in the box isn't such a bad thing!