I'm very close to buying a BX25. I've got several acres of small trees and will be selectively clearing. I know I need the back hoe to pluck stumps. I'll be running a 6" chipper off the PTO and pulling a box blade. Once I'm done removing trees I'll mainly just be using as a finish mower. I'm trying to decide if I should spend the $ and go for a B2320 with the loader and back hoe. I'm worried about the 3pt hitch on the BX having enough travel and the smaller tires on rougher terrain. Would love to hear from BX owners, appreciate the advice.
Buying Advice Using 3pt hitch on the BX25 vs B2320
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KU Gator
Platinum Member
The good news is the implement companies have recognized the popularity of subcompacts, so there is a good selection of implements sized to the subcompacts. Tractor supply has the xB line and Land Pride has a secection and I assume others do as well. The BX25 in an unbeatable package if you need a small TLB at a reasonable price. When we were looking, we looked hard at a BX24 at the time and could have gotten it with the MMM for the same as we paid for the B2920 with FEL and Mower. We ultimately went the B route feeling its size was better and have so far went without the BH. At that time, the BX24 was about $5K more than the BX2350 but to add a BH to the small B was about $7K which is what hurts. It is not only the cost of the tractor but also a higher cost for the back hoe. But our thought it was better to get the tractor we thought we needed and could add the back hoe or rent as needed. When you say "rough terain" and "several acres", that is what would push me to suggest going to at least the B. If you said I have a couple of acres and want to do some landscape projects and could use a backhoe, then the BX25 is in its element.
TripleR
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Pretty much agree with KU Gator, we have owned two BX's and still own a BX2660 as well as a John Deere 2305. For us, the SCUT is just right, but having used one for several years in rough ground, I really can't recommend one. If you are a pretty young person, you can tolerate it, but it will never be comfortable. You will also need skid plates and tie rod protection as the ground clearance is only about 8" and the HST cooling fan is pretty vulnerable.
We went with a SCUT because we have other bigger tractors, but if I had to pick just one for that sort of thing it would be a B2630/3030/3000. Some really like the Bxx20 and it works great for them, but I simply can't stand the quarter inching 3PH. Of course if you are just going to do mostly mowing with a MMM or RFM that won't be an issue.
We went with a SCUT because we have other bigger tractors, but if I had to pick just one for that sort of thing it would be a B2630/3030/3000. Some really like the Bxx20 and it works great for them, but I simply can't stand the quarter inching 3PH. Of course if you are just going to do mostly mowing with a MMM or RFM that won't be an issue.
bp fick
Super Member
I've had a BX and now have a B2320. Both are simply excellent machines and you'd love either of them.
That said, you need to be honest with yourself about ground clearance needs. You can spend several hundred dollars "armoring" the BX, but it is still going to be low to the ground. It just is what it is. That low center of gravity is awesome in many applications, especially lawn mowing and pushing snow, if it isn't too awful deep. I found the the BX actually better at snow pushing.
But, and this is the point, I guess. The ground clearance of the Kubota B series is just about tops in its class. I researched all the competitors and didn't find anyone with the same ground clearance. The B2320 also has a larger engine than the BX25. Don't let what appears to be the same 23HP rating confuse you. Kubota rates them differently. The B has more cubic inches. The B also has slightly stronger hydraulics.
Again, I love both tractors. It's not a matter of which is "better". They are simply different and in the end, the price difference is simply not THAT huge, especially if you finance. Just sayin'.
That said, you need to be honest with yourself about ground clearance needs. You can spend several hundred dollars "armoring" the BX, but it is still going to be low to the ground. It just is what it is. That low center of gravity is awesome in many applications, especially lawn mowing and pushing snow, if it isn't too awful deep. I found the the BX actually better at snow pushing.
But, and this is the point, I guess. The ground clearance of the Kubota B series is just about tops in its class. I researched all the competitors and didn't find anyone with the same ground clearance. The B2320 also has a larger engine than the BX25. Don't let what appears to be the same 23HP rating confuse you. Kubota rates them differently. The B has more cubic inches. The B also has slightly stronger hydraulics.
Again, I love both tractors. It's not a matter of which is "better". They are simply different and in the end, the price difference is simply not THAT huge, especially if you finance. Just sayin'.
JOHNTHOMAS
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I couldn't decide so just bought them both. 
I've had several BXs and Bs and an L. I have settled in with a BX25 for FEL and BH needs. A B2320 for tilling, boxblading, overseeding and rotary mowing and doing all lawn mowing with Fs.
The BX25 is the best all around most versatile Kubota that I've owned but I don't use it for mowing and I sweat when I take it in high overgrown areas due to trans fan and I have the factory cover plate on the bottom of it.
In my opinion, the biggest difference between B and BX is ground clearance and I don't think the more or less acres has much to do with which one to pick. It's the jobs, terrain and not the acres in my opinion.
I've had several BXs and Bs and an L. I have settled in with a BX25 for FEL and BH needs. A B2320 for tilling, boxblading, overseeding and rotary mowing and doing all lawn mowing with Fs.The BX25 is the best all around most versatile Kubota that I've owned but I don't use it for mowing and I sweat when I take it in high overgrown areas due to trans fan and I have the factory cover plate on the bottom of it.
In my opinion, the biggest difference between B and BX is ground clearance and I don't think the more or less acres has much to do with which one to pick. It's the jobs, terrain and not the acres in my opinion.
keyman1808
Platinum Member
I have the BX24 the 25's older brother. I use it on a 2 acre area. Its main uses are mowing (60" MMM and bagger), hauling mulch and clearing snow. Those are the three main uses. I can say the the mowing is great. Turns pretty tight and gives a good cut. The FEL works great but it is limited by its capacity (around 500LBS). The BH is a little workhorse BUT you need patients with it. You mentioned popping stumps, yeah that wont happen. You can dig them out but your not going to be able to just grab the top of the sump and rip it out. Not enough weight in the tractor. It will just pull it in closer but given time you can dig them out. I have done many oaks like this. Some extremely large. I use mine in the brush and woods but I have the BroTek skid plates for protection. These are a must. I would like a B series but it would really be overkill for both the size I really needed and my wallet.
After hearing all the advice, I'm strongly leaning toward the B. I was looking at an after market back hoe that mounts to the 3PT hitch. I saw a small unit from Liberty for $4000. I'm sure it wouldn't b as good as the Kubota BH but it might b a good compromise for the Wallet.
bp fick
Super Member
No way I'd put a backhoe on the 3 pt. That's just me. I don't like broken tractors, period.
If I ever would want/need a backhoe, I'd just go rent one and be done with it. I'd rent a whole lot bigger one than I could afford to own. I've done this in the past and would do so in the future. I've also hired guys. We've got a lot of retired guys with BX-25's around here who love to hire out for work and they do it cheap.
I would want a backhoe that was factory matched to my machine, with proper mounting plates and stress engineered by the tractor builder, especially and specifically for that tractor. My thinking is pretty darn clear on this issue, I believe.
If I ever would want/need a backhoe, I'd just go rent one and be done with it. I'd rent a whole lot bigger one than I could afford to own. I've done this in the past and would do so in the future. I've also hired guys. We've got a lot of retired guys with BX-25's around here who love to hire out for work and they do it cheap.
I would want a backhoe that was factory matched to my machine, with proper mounting plates and stress engineered by the tractor builder, especially and specifically for that tractor. My thinking is pretty darn clear on this issue, I believe.
I too would suggest that you should stay away from the 3PH backhoes. They are very hard on the small tractors and in unfortunate cases can quite literally cause it to break in a number of ways. You are much better off renting a small excavator and finish the stump digging in about 1/20 of the time or faster then it would take for the tractor.