B4200 Dilemma?

[WELD]

Here is my current situation. What would you do?
1.5 acre lot, been doing a ton of work this past year here, removing rocks, trees, etc. trying to re-claim my area and smooth out the area to plant grass mostly. I also have a small gokart track that I want to be able to maintain on the property. I've been lucky enough to be able to borrow a bobcat s300 for the better part of the spring and I have gotten most of the heavy moving done. but i hate borrowing stuff.
9 years ago i purchased a B4200 and she has served me well. seems a little underpowered at times but I always seem to get the job done.
I've gathered a lot of implements for it that I use.
42" land pride rototiller
42" woods finish mower
44" front snowcaster
3pt forks heavy hitch
pull behind tine cultivator
pull behind roller
pull bhind aerator
pull behind seeder
and pull behind water tank with sprayer(I have fruit trees)

-and my most recent purchase was Land pride 4' box blade.
This is what started my Dilemma. The tractor pulls it OK, I cannot however put any scarifiers down without turning it into a land anchor.
I would really like to be able to use the box blade, And would like to have a FEL to transport dirt when needed.

SO i got to looking at new tractors.
I start pricing out the B2301s. what a nice machine. and I am on the fence about pulling the trigger.
The BX models most closely resemble the B4200 for size and power but the tires are miniature it seems. They look kind of like my simplicity broadmower.
I feel the BX models just won't have enough weight/power to pull a box blade like i want to. maybe I am wrong.
Am I crazy thinking about buying new when I can probably outfit the B4200 with a FEL and add weight to it?
But is putting a FEL on such a small tractor even worth it? Would its capacities make it a worthless endeavor?
Better question, How does one get hydraulic power for something like that? Would i have to run a PTO driven pump? Who makes something that would work with that tractor?

-Tony

 

[WELD]

for fun i will post pics of the b4200.
I truly love this tractor, the amount of work I'm able to do with the little 2 cyl is amazing. And i'm pretty certain it recycles the fuel and runs on hopes and dreams when its idling around the yard because i almost never have to fuel up.
At 1800 Hrs on the clock she still starts up without issue, runs strong and I'm certain has a long life left to live.
At any rate I unfortunately think the B2301 Is going to be replacing it and when this happens I cannot possibly justify having both.

 

[Grandad4]

All I can say is I've been using a 4' box blade behind my BX for more than 10 years and have done plenty of useful work with it. I also have a much larger Grand L with a 6' box blade and while the big one moves a lot more material, the little BX pulls a full box of gravel just the same as its big brother does. It helps having bar tires instead of turfs for such work

The BX's are amazing in what they can do for their size. I've also put the same box blade behind my cousin's small B, and there's really not that much difference, although the position control makes adjusting the height easier.

The other differences:
3 speed ranges on the B vs. 2 on the BX. 3 is better.
Large wheels vs. small wheels. Large wheels give more traction and clearance; small keep center of gravity low, more maneuverable for mowing. Preference is a function of what your work needs call for.

The BX 3 cyl diesel would be a step up in power from your B4200. It's virtually impossible to bog mine when mowing, no matter how tall or thick the area being mowed. If your place doesn't have woods or rough terrain, I'd seriously consider a BX, but would otherwise be looking at a B.

That's a very nice looking B4200, by the way.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

That is one MINT looking B4200!

Either tractor power wise will run all the equipment you have, but sadly they will both be a little wide to use them perfectly.
They really have about the same foot print and the smaller tires are an illusion of less traction.
For snow and lawn duties Turfs and Turfs with chains are the best, you will probably need axle spacers to use chains on either one.

You will need to get a new snow blower and also get the Quick attach and get a blade too, they both use the same mount.

 

[sheepfarmer]

What's this cannot possibly justify having 2 tractors stuff? If you can conceivably house 2 it is the best of all possible worlds? Not having to switch implements around will be an increasing blessing. That is such a nice little tractor you have now, just buy something that will do what it can't...

I even occasionally wish I still had my 8N, but I didn't have room for it.

 

[WELD]

Thanks guys, most people can't believe my B4200 has north of 1800 hours on her clock when they see it, it has a few little imperfections but I like to keep a good coat of wax on her and everything well lubricated. I treat it like it was my child.

I would like nothing more than to keep this one and a new one, but I would have to weed out my inventory pretty well before i make that decision.

I also have a simplicity with 54" cut that i keep filling with oil and she doesn't stop cutting so I'm not super concerned with mowing with the big tractor, I mainly want to pull some of the earlier mentioned equipment, minus the woods mower, I have never really used that. I would like to get some sort of root ripper/middle buster kind of thing to clean up some shallow roots left from all the poison oak and fruit trees I removed this fall. or use the box blade for that.
Being able to load and unload stuff from my truck with forks or the bucket would be a huge Plus too. I think the bucket of the bx would clear the side but dumping would be a little tight. My bedsides are 5' or 60" tall including my bed rails.

I like your idea of keeping the B4200 and getting something that it can't do but the B2301 in my eyes can do a lot that the B4200 can't because of the loader and weight alone. while still being close to the b4200 in overall size where it will still handle everything i currently do with the B4200. if that makes any sense.

I think a trip to visit a friend who has a BX25 is in order. I think he needs some dirt moved haha.

 

[Grandad4]

Your truck loading height requirement pretty much knocks the BX out of contention. It is happy loading over the side of a small pickup but doesn't have the height and reach for loading to the center of anything much taller than that.

Your root clearing project also points to something with some heft to it, although if that's a one-time thing, a rental is also an option.

You have a nice fleet there! If it were me, I'd be considering a garage expansion instead of thinning out the herd, but I understand how those things work out.

 

[WELD]

haha I know. trust me i would love to build a pole barn to park everything. I do have the room here. But not quite in the cards right now. But looks like a B2301 Is.
Going to be doing some calling around for the best pricing I can find.

in the meantime I'm trying to convince my father to buy the B4200 with an included service plan and free summer storage(he only needs it for the snow-blower) Sounds like a great deal right?!

 

[WFM]

I guess my L3800 -38 hp is now the L3901- 38 hp. No matter how big you build a shed or garage..its never big enough. My tractor works great...with the ROP folded down I can access my daylight basement and another storage garage I have. So that handy. But would I love to have a 150 hp four steps to the cab sometimes ?? Yes I would. But I really have no need for that.. I unload steel every week or so for my business. 1000 lbs is my max lift with pallet forks. To me that seems whimpy. But I learn to adapt and live with it. My advise is to get a tractor big enough. Not to big. But something that will do whatever you want for many years to come.
My dad always told us kids 'you can have whatever you want as long as you make your payments'....I'm not sure if Kubota is still offering '0' %.

 

[WELD]

Yup, 0% for 60 months
makes it nice and easy to decide haha.
The thing i like about buying a brand new tractor, is I probably will never buy another vehicle brand new. so a payment is not a huge deal. Owning an 05(pre DPF) diesel truck I swore i would just keep that going till it doesn't go no more and then i would UPGRADE into a Restored Pre 86 chevy gas Pickup. And drive that till the apocalypse comes.

Another thing is right now with Ks rebates the entry level L model is actually CHEAPER than buying the B (at least at my dealers prices)
L is just too big for my needs though. Would i love to have it? yes. Would I make room for it? yes, Would I find uses for it? yes. do i need it? no. If i could drive it to work everyday I would spring for the L but It will sit in my driveway all week waiting for the weekend to come. In some county's that is considered child abuse.