Almost Deere to Kubota!

[SilverGhost]

Hi - Brand new to this forum!

Am in similar position as TOMD re- 18 vs 2370. I have a JD X500 with less than 80 hours on it, but suddenly got the Kubota urge. I mow about 1.5 acres, some a bit hilly. Here in N Va. we have from none to 4-5 snows a year. Biggest was 3-4 years ago at over 3 feet. I paid a guy to clear my 150' driveway with a Kubota FEL. The rest of the time, I've been shoveling it (2 to 20 inches).

With my new titanium knees, shoveling is out. I bought an aftermarket plow and bucket (no FEL, just a bucket) for snow and moving dirt and mulch. Works ok, but not like a Kubota.

Thanks for the advice on going with the 2370 - I'll take the same advice you gave Tom. I bought a JD X320, kept it a year, then bought this X500. May as well start at the finish line this time.

Looking forward to getting all kinds of advice from you folks! I'll let you know when I pull the trigger.

 

[TripleR]

We went from a John Deere 425 to a BX, John Deere makes good tractors, we just prefer Kubota in this size.

 

[SilverGhost]

So somebody tell me if I'm over-buying here. I have about 1.5 acres of grass to mow, on my 4 acres. I have several large flowering shrubs, and a couple trees to go around.

It occurred to me while mowing today, am I going to have a turning issue? The turning radius on my Deere X500 is 22 inches. The BX2370 specs show turning radii in feet! Is this tractor too big for my purposes??

I fully intend to take advantage of the FEL, and the 4WD will help me both on some steep parts of the lawn, and of course, in the snow. Power steering, hydraulics, diesel, etc. all really cool stuff. But will this easily work around shrubs that are sometimes 6 in a row, and about 2 feet apart? First thing it looks like, is the FEL gotta go when I'm mowing. No big deal - it looks pretty straight forward removing it.

Replies/suggestions would be appreciated. Just don't tell me not to buy it! I've already talked me into it!

Thanks.

 

[ipz2222]

22 inches is allmost 2 feet. I have a bx and lots of hills, the 4wd and low 4wd is something I really use on those hills. The turning radius is something that I can easily live with because everything else is so awusome. The rops can get in the way on some trees and limbs, be careful.

 

[85Hokie]

So somebody tell me if I'm over-buying here. I have about 1.5 acres of grass to mow, on my 4 acres. I have several large flowering shrubs, and a couple trees to go around.

It occurred to me while mowing today, am I going to have a turning issue? The turning radius on my Deere X500 is 22 inches. The BX2370 specs show turning radii in feet! Is this tractor too big for my purposes??

I fully intend to take advantage of the FEL, and the 4WD will help me both on some steep parts of the lawn, and of course, in the snow. Power steering, hydraulics, diesel, etc. all really cool stuff. But will this easily work around shrubs that are sometimes 6 in a row, and about 2 feet apart? First thing it looks like, is the FEL gotta go when I'm mowing. No big deal - it looks pretty straight forward removing it.

Replies/suggestions would be appreciated. Just don't tell me not to buy it! I've already talked me into it!

Thanks.

I would say that you are comparing oranges to........grapes(green).....

the x500 is a garden tractor, the BX is a SCUT.... one cuts grass - at only 48", and the BX cuts grass on it's day off at 60"!

If you want a grass cutter ONLY, stay with the JD, IF you want a small tractor that will work 24-7-365 then get the BX,

the JD has a two cylinder gas engine, and no matter how much HP is has , the BX 3 cyl diesel will out work and out play it, and use half as much fuel. And last 3 times as long.

you said your shrubs are two feet apart, that x500 must have a 24" cut !

seriously, the BX will do things you have not thought of yet, yes it is expensive but once you put about 25 hours on it, you will think you should have paid more for it.

the 4wd is priceless, the steering with your pinky ....well - you'll see.

0% down 0% interest ..........go orange and be "kubotasurprised"

 

[ipz2222]

"scut" ??????? sub compact utility tractor???????

 

[SilverGhost]

I would say that you are comparing oranges to........grapes(green).....

the x500 is a garden tractor, the BX is a SCUT.... one cuts grass - at only 48", and the BX cuts grass on it's day off at 60"!

If you want a grass cutter ONLY, stay with the JD, IF you want a small tractor that will work 24-7-365 then get the BX,

the JD has a two cylinder gas engine, and no matter how much HP is has , the BX 3 cyl diesel will out work and out play it, and use half as much fuel. And last 3 times as long.

you said your shrubs are two feet apart, that x500 must have a 24" cut !

seriously, the BX will do things you have not thought of yet, yes it is expensive but once you put about 25 hours on it, you will think you should have paid more for it.

the 4wd is priceless, the steering with your pinky ....well - you'll see.

0% down 0% interest ..........go orange and be "kubotasurprised"

Thanks for the response, and reassurance! The shrubs are at least 5' apart, I used to cut them with a 54" blade. (I lied - tho not on purpose). I'll go with 54" blade if I get the BX2370 - 60" simply not needed for 1.5 acres.

Your points on financing well taken also. And in my case, throw in I'm getting, I think, one heck of a price on a new one. The local Kubota owner and my son have been friends for years. Not sure why, but even with a jillion $ of inventory on his lot, the guy has no BX2370 in stock. So I'm looking at several weeks even if I bought tomorrow.

Really no big deal on waiting - give CFO chance to stop rolling her eyes at my late-midlife-crisis!

Thanks again. I'm gonna have a ton of 'stupid questions' for you guys if I buy.

 

[skeets]

Well there Silver Ghost just remind her that your midlife could include a Harley Davison,, Yeah I have the same knee you have and trust me my friend that BX will take care of you, and I truly mean that, mine a 60 series, has done everything I have ever asked of it, and she said common dad lets go do something else. Really, the BX's while most will spend their lives mowing grass it is a very capable machine and will do so much more than that little JD ever dreamed of doing,, Remember you will be going from a lawn mower,,,,,, to a tractor

 

[SilverGhost]

Well there Silver Ghost just remind her that your midlife could include a Harley Davison,, Yeah I have the same knee you have and trust me my friend that BX will take care of you, and I truly mean that, mine a 60 series, has done everything I have ever asked of it, and she said common dad lets go do something else. Really, the BX's while most will spend their lives mowing grass it is a very capable machine and will do so much more than that little JD ever dreamed of doing,, Remember you will be going from a lawn mower,,,,,, to a tractor

Funny you should mention the Harley Davidson. I went that "mid-life crisis" route about 40 years ago! Been riding them ever since - riding the hills and curves on the Blue Ridge Parkway (20 miles from my front door). Current HD is a 2000 Road King, bought new, 40k+ miles and looks and rides like brand new.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

My neighbor has a JD X500, he bought it just to clear snow.
My B7100 (about the same size as a BX) ran circles around him, could blade snow at twice the rate and 1/8th of the fuel.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Just for giggles, see if there are any L3200/3800s in your neighborhood for sale. They are phasing them out for new emissions models that blow flower smell out of the exhaust rather than diesel fumes.

There is almost no such thing as too much tractor. If the larger model won't make it between the bushes, find a good deal on a ride'em mower for the trim work.

The snow removal capabilities of the L class are awesome I hear! And, the go pretty fast with a mower deck! They are tall though..

 

[ipz2222]

""If the larger model won't make it between the bushes"". Then cut half the bushes out!

 

[kubotaman574]

I have the BX2670, LOVE IT, you will be VERY happy with a 2370, might even look at a 1870