Trade a BX2660 for a BX25D?

[Danner]

I've had the 2660 for about 5 years, mowing mostly (54"MMM), but also building and maintain gravel driveways (FEL & box blade), general FEL work, and a little brush hog work with 48" LandPride on the PTO. So, I will be building a new home next year, I run HAM radio antenna lines and have several trenching type projects on my list, as well as some stump removal chores. The BH is what I'd like, as opposed to multiple mini-excavator rentals (which is always $300/day, a PITA, and waste of time).

Will the BX25 disappoint for the mowing/3-point work? Just looking for advice from people who use the BX25 for these kinds of tasks. Thank you for your thoughts.

- Dan

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Unfortunately I havent used a bx2660 but the bx25 is a bx2370, with that said it only has 3hp less. I beleive everyhing else is exactly the same except for the beefer frame/subframe all in one for the backhoe. You probably wouldnt notice the difference. I mowed 3 acres for 2 summers with the 60" mmm until a zero turn fell into my lap. It mowed very well and now my backup. I maintain a gravel drive with a boxblade and moved dump truck loads of dirt/gravel/river rock/millings. The bx will move mountains giving enough time. I bet the 3pt, fel, mmm is exactly the same.
Ive used the backhoe to dig up stumps, bushes and flag pole footings. The mechanical thumb is priceless. Its no mini ex but it sure is handy for small projects. Ive seen other members trenching with this model.

 

[Scooby074]

My advice is to stay with the rental ex as opposed to a tradein on a BX25, especially since your 2660 is likely paid off.

A miniex will dig circles around a BX, especially when trenching.. Getting off the seat, moving forward, then resetting the seat takes a huge amount of time (the BX seat system is pretty pathetic, if it was a rotation style like on larger machines it would be 100x better) Plus with its tracks, a mini is better in soft ground.

Once youre off the lawn the BX is basically useless because of its low ground clearance and high ground pressure. I cant even crawl over a shallow ditch without bottoming out on the hoe or someother part like the front axle. The hoe on the BX is strong for its size, but weak in actuality when compared to a mini or even a slightly larger tractor. Its short length and strength means you cant lift the back end of a BX across a trench to get off it (if you are unable to just drive away forward). Usually what happens is you an swing the back end over, but one tire ends up right in the middle of the dug out area, meaning you have to put a plank under to get it over.

Another advantage of renting a mini is you can use the BX to tow a dump trailer to move spoils around. Any serious stumps say 12" up, will take a long time with a BX. It can be done, but if you have any amount to do it will take forever.

If youre dead set on trading in, consider a B at minimum, an L would be better, mostly for the increased ground clearance and strength. BX are great mowers and powered wheelbarrows for their size, but when it comes to digging with the hoe they come up short (unless youre willing to invest lots of time to do the job). If youre used to what a miniex can do, you will be very disappointed in the production with a BX, even if your time is unlimited, the limits with the BX will be quite frustrating, the only advantage is you can do things at your own pace as opposed to planning out a weekends worth of work for the rental.

Another thing is once your done all your digging projects, the BX hoe will just end up sitting around 90% of the time. And now with my Zero Turn, I dont even need the BX to mow.

I say this as a BX owner who wishes he put the money spent on the BX hoe towards an L, without a Hoe and just continued renting the mini when needed. A larger tractor would be more beneficial to me day in and day out (for things like moving firewood, box blade work, bushhogging etc) over my now-hardly-used hoe.

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what Scooby said, we own a BX2660 and BX2200 and in the past owned a Case back hoe. I went through a time in which I seriously considered doing just what you are contemplating. The BX is great for us since we also own bigger machines, but for digging/trenching, we've found renting an excavator or trencher preferable to BX25 or equivalent.

I know lots of people just love the subcuts with hoes and it still crosses my mind from time to time, but my personal experience keeps me renting when needed.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I mostly agree with the two previous posts. I did trade a BX2660 FEL MMM to a BX25 several years ago. I also bought Kubota Fs for mowing. The BX25 was as handy as the BX2660 for the FEL and the additinal BH was handy for small digigng jobs for landscaping and some septic line work/repairs. Not much for stump digging. Would work for trenching but would take time but I like my equipment handy and not go get a rental and return it.
Over the years I traded the BX25 and got a B2620 FEL BH and of course it was a bit better than the BX25 which was expected. I later traded the B2620 to anothe BX25D-1 and was never so disappointed in a Kubota before. It didn't stop when the go pedal was released. The brake which I've never used on a Kubota except for the one gear drive B2320 I owned, was moved to the left side so the brake wasn't where I was used to it being to stop the rolling on BX25D-1. Had the dealer work on it but it never got fixed to where it stopped like all other HST Kubotas I've owned and now own.
Try the BX25 before you trade at more than a ride around the paved dealers lot and see what you think. I recently bought a B2650 FEL and after trying my nephews new L2501 I think I prefer the L to the B and the L is closer to the ground and a bit less money. :2cents:

 

[Pete6114]

I had a B once and wouldn't hesitate to get another if i could justify it, and i wouldn't even consider the BX. Just not enough "tractor" there....

 

[check]

My advice is to stay with the rental ex as opposed to a tradein on a BX25, especially since your 2660 is likely paid off. A miniex will dig circles around a BX, especially when trenching.. Getting off the seat, moving forward, then resetting the seat takes a huge amount of time (the BX seat system is pretty pathetic, if it was a rotation style like on larger machines it would be 100x better) Plus with its tracks, a mini is better in soft ground. Once youre off the lawn the BX is basically useless because of its low ground clearance and high ground pressure. I cant even crawl over a shallow ditch without bottoming out on the hoe or someother part like the front axle. The hoe on the BX is strong for its size, but weak in actuality when compared to a mini or even a slightly larger tractor. Its short length and strength means you cant lift the back end of a BX across a trench to get off it (if you are unable to just drive away forward). Usually what happens is you an swing the back end over, but one tire ends up right in the middle of the dug out area, meaning you have to put a plank under to get it over. Another advantage of renting a mini is you can use the BX to tow a dump trailer to move spoils around. Any serious stumps say 12" up, will take a long time with a BX. It can be done, but if you have any amount to do it will take forever. If youre dead set on trading in, consider a B at minimum, an L would be better, mostly for the increased ground clearance and strength. BX are great mowers and powered wheelbarrows for their size, but when it comes to digging with the hoe they come up short (unless youre willing to invest lots of time to do the job). If youre used to what a miniex can do, you will be very disappointed in the production with a BX, even if your time is unlimited, the limits with the BX will be quite frustrating, the only advantage is you can do things at your own pace as opposed to planning out a weekends worth of work for the rental. Another thing is once your done all your digging projects, the BX hoe will just end up sitting around 90% of the time. And now with my Zero Turn, I dont even need the BX to mow. I say this as a BX owner who wishes he put the money spent on the BX hoe towards an L, without a Hoe and just continued renting the mini when needed. A larger tractor would be more beneficial to me day in and day out (for things like moving firewood, box blade work, bushhogging etc) over my now-hardly-used hoe.

Actually, if you want, you can move the BX25 easily while trenching, without even getting off the tractor. Just use a stick for the go pedal, and tape down the safety shut off switch if you need to. Great stuff!

 

[amigauser]

Like others stated I would either rent or move up to a 2301/2601 size machine with a hoe at a minimum.

 

[Danner]

Thank you for all the good responses. Definitely has me thinking. I don't like the HST non-stop problem. I went over to Kubota.com and looked over the B2601, expecting it to be priced out of my ball-park, but it's not all that much more than the BX25D. It would also handle by RCR1248 cutter more gracefully, as well as my grading scraper, both of which dwarf the BX2660 (but function OK).

 

[mikesee]

$300 a day for a mini ex versus 17k for a new tractor gives you over 50 1 day rentals. When pricing rentals check out renting it for a week. Usually 4 times daily rate. Take your time relax and renta a Kubota excavator