Go BottomGetting down to the final decision
 | gill barlow
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2001-03-18 25630
Folks: I am another one of those who is struggling with the final tractor decision. I think that I am in the B7500..JD4100..NHTC21 range for a tractor. Mowing is VERY IMPORTANT. I want a loader. I want power steering and hydro. I want to brush cut with a cutter the width of the rear wheels. I want to clear snow from my 800 foot driveway in Vermont. However, I have been scouring the discussion boards and there is a tremendous amount of interest in the BX2200. So I have questions when considering the BX:-Is the BX2200 really more stable on slopes than the above? I will be loading the tires on the higher rigs.-I assume that the larger bucket capacity is significant when it comes to building stone walls and digging.-Is the BX2200 that much easier to mow with? I mow right up to the house.-Is it true that the implements for the BX are easier to remove.-Is it true that the design of the BX is more up to date than for the more traditional tractors mentioned above.-it sounds like people have trouble with the ergonomics of the BX....is this true?-Are the bugs worked out of the BX?With regard to the big 3 does it really matter which one I pick? -does the lighter weight of the B7500 really matter?-do the implements change out more easily on brand than another?-STABILITY....is one more stable than another. I have read that the B7500 has stability issues. I have heard that with the narrower belly mower on the B7500 you need to keep the wheels in at the narrowest width.-How does the 60 mower do on these? I hear that a little extra width helps with the trimming.-are the warrantees and manufacturing support any different between the 3?The people who contribute to this discussion board seem to be very good. I would love your advics.All this said the cost of a new tractor is staggering. Does it make sense to get the belly mower later if we can wait? Will it still be available? What used models are comparible? Is a 17 hp tractor a consideration? Can I get power steering and use that 42-48 inch brush cutter. thanks,gill barlow
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| Dave White
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2001-03-18 25631
I have a rural property of approx. 50 acres in south eastern Ontario. I purchased a B7500 last year and have put about 120 hours on it doing a variety of tasks.
I have a 5 ft. Meteor snow blower that I use to clear my own snow and the lanes of another 6 homes, approx. 1 mile of driveways.
I have a 5 ft. bush hog that I use to cut a field to keep the junipers in control.
I have a 60 in. belly mount mower that I use to maintain my own grass, about an acre of finished grass.
I have a bucket that has been extremely helpful in building rock gardens and moving material.
I had considered moving the rear wheels out because it appeared to be high and narrow. The narrow track has been useful however when moving through the woods cutting firewood and gathering sap for syrup. It was also useful in accessing the neighbours barn to clean stalls (repayed a debt I owed when he plowed my garden in a pre-Kubota era).
I think it has greater ground clearance than the BX which is a bonus when moving "off road", particularly in snow. I have had more than one occassion when it has bogged down because the snow is deeper than the ground clearance and it loses traction by riding on the packed snow. I think this would be a greater difficulty with the BX.
My B7500 has been everything that I hoped it would be and has been up to all the tasks that I have used it to perform. Good luck with your choice, at least you aren't buying with Canadian dollars. My B7500 with loader, mower and taxes was about $23,000 Can. ....
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| JeffM
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2001-03-18 25632
Wow, Gill, that's a lot of questions! Are you by chance a lawyer? ;>) I'll address a few of your questions and leave the rest to the others. The BX2200 probably is that much more stable than the others because it is lower, yet still has a fairly wide track. Simplistically, stability is basically a function of the CG (center of gravity during operation) versus the track width. Loading the tires will generally help lower the CG, but not as much as you might think because some of that weight in the tires may well be above the CG with higher tires. The capacity of the bucket itself is not as important in digging and stone wall building as is lift capacity and breakout force - I assume that is what you really meant. Also, a loader with a lot of lift capacity is useless if the tractor is too light or improperly ballasted. You will find that with compact tractors, weight and traction is usually the limiting factor as opposed to horsepower. I won't answer your specific BX2200 or B7500 usage questions because of my limited experience with them. And I think it makes sense to delay the purchase of the belly mower if you don't need it immediately, but make the deal on it at the time of tractor purchase! I would recommend negotiating prices on any implements you can foresee buying in the next year at time of purchase - you will get a better price usually. Ask the dealer if he or she is willing to hold that price for a year or 6 months or whatever and get it in writing. That is what I did with the belly mower (bought the tractor last April, mower will be this April) and I'm convinced I got the mower about $200 less than I could now. Generally, these implements will be available for years to come, so don't worry about the mower going obsolete in a year or two. ....
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| Jim Youtz
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2001-03-18 25637
Lots of questions. I won't answer everything. But I will say this, first decide what your primary uses will be, then look at the implements and the sizes needed to do those jobs, then select the tractor. I have a JD 4100 and it will handle all of those tasks quite well. The BX is a fine tractor, but I would look at it only if your primary tasks will be mowing or snowblowing. Not to say that the BX wouldn't handle those other soil engaging tasks also. But if loader work or soil engaging chores will be done with any regularity, then one of the other tractors would be a little better suited. I would lean towards either the JD4100, Kubota B-2410, or NH TC-21 for the next step up. Personally, I find position control to be such a useful function, that I wouldn't consider the B-7500 for my uses. Check out all of the specs for these units. The 4100 is ahead of all when it comes to hydraulic flow and loader specs. To get the same loader capacity in the other colors, you need to move up to a larger sized unit (B-2710). This isn't to say that I wouldn't consider the other colors, I sure would. The NH tractors have a lot of creature comforts and Kubotas are just too well made not to be considered. Take your time and do your shopping around and homework. Good Luck, just stick with the reliable brands and you really can't go wrong. Also, note that helpfulness and proximity of the dealer should also play a big role in your choice. A helpful dealer is worth paying a few extra bucks for in the long run. ....
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