A tiny $25,000 backhoe-is it worth it?
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- Опубліковано 25 гру 2020
- I test the Tiniest backhoe I have seen. Its Kubota's bx 23s lawn tractor/ backhoe. I test loading, digging in packed soil, backhoe, grading & a small grapple attachment that is NOT part of the machine.
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![BUYERS GUIDE: Watch this before Buying the Backhoe!! [BH77] [Kubota L-Series]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OGbKKWsKFus/mqdefault.jpg)
I love watching all your video's, love all the different content. Just a suggestion I am a home owner so some of these terms I don't know TLB and PTO if you don't mind just telling us what they mean that would be great. It's no big thing to stop the video and look it up but it stops the flow. Thanks Keep it rolling in 2021.
Thanks for the tip- TLB means Tractor/loader/backhoe. PTO- Power Take off is the spinner thing on the back that powers attachments.👍
PTO's are found on agricultural tractors and riding lawn mowers/tractors. The switch you push on your lawn mower to give the mowing deck power is considered a PTO. On a Tractor you have a spinning axle that connects to any attachment that gives the attachment power.
@@Dirtmonkey also SCUT.. sub compact utility tractors.
@@Dirtmonkey i need to get a bx for plowing sidewalks
@@Dirtmonkey they have B,BX,L,M,LX the biggest tlb is the m62
I`ve got the exact same Kubota BX23s. I bought it brand new when they came out with this model in 2017. I couldn`t have bought a better tractor for what this tractor does.
I also run the R4 tires on it just like what you have here, year round. I have the 60" belly mower for mine, and it does NOT tear up the yard during mowing at all.
I`ll let you know, i came from being a solid John Deere owner for the past 40yrs, and John Deere couldn`t even come close in the dollar per dollar vs Kubota.
Our BX23s does EVERYTHING on our property. I have ZERO regrets buying it. We have had ZERO problems with it either. Best $22,000 we ever spent.
The dealership even loaded the rear tires with liquid ballast for us for free. They gave us the 60" mower deck for free WITH the tractor. ZERO regrets!
In fact, we still love this tractor as much today as the day we bought it brand new in 2017. And ohhh yes, we dig out ALOT of HUGE tree stumps too.
We bought one for large mulch installs and small jobs where the track loader is overkill. It's much more turf friendly. Has its limits but beats a wheel barrow or digging by hand.
I've owned one of these for over 10 years. The thing has been bullet-proof. It's a real game changer for hauling and digging around tight areas. The thing that impresses me most about this machine is its ease at starting. I run a bigger Kubota in the winter. When I reinstall the battery in this machine, after a 4 month winter nap, it pops right over in about 2 seconds!,
This is how we started. Could only afford one piece of equipment. Looking back it's insane the amount of work we did with just the little TLB. I still have a soft spot in my heart for this tractor, it still goes out to the job site every now and again. We've put over 800 hours on it in 5 years.
The tires don’t rip up the grass like a skid loader but they aren’t as gentle as a lawnmower
I agree, only conservation of grass is shallow turns. Crank the wheel and it tears everything up.
These machines are heavier than a riding mower, also...
That's why if you're concerned about grass you put on R4 tires which is in between a Turf tire and in Industrial Tire
@@Dirtay427 they said those are ags, but those are actually the r4 which the r4 is the industrial tire,. R1 is ag tires and very not common these days. But by far the most aggressive. There coming out with a lot better tire options these days those with the popularity of this size machine
Correct, these are R4s, they do just fine on dry turf but are worthless in any mud. R14 are a cross between R1 and R4 and are great for these tractors.
I own this exact tractor and honestly being a 6ft3 215lb guy it is a tad small but that's not a bad thing as I've had to do some jobs where a larger machine just would not have fit. But owning only 2.5 acres of property that need substantial amounts of work this thing has SAVED my back. I wish I would have gone bigger but at the same time I cant complain because of the amount of work it has done for me!
The Kubota BX is really geared towards the homeowner looking for a "one machine for all" solution, or maybe a small landscaping or construction outfit. They can be fitted with turf, ag, or industrial tires and numerous attachments and accessories. It doesn't really excel at any one thing, but it can do many things pretty well, sort of the "Swiss Army Knife" of small tractors.
This is why Im looking at one. Front mount blower with rear box blade for snow and loader, brush hog, backhoe etc for dipping my toes into other landscape and maintenance projects. The barrier to entry is low at around 20k with a couple of implements and Kubota has great financing options.
@@platinumlawnservice I really don't think you can go wrong with one of these. I have a 20+ year old BX2200D with about 950 hrs on it with a loader, mower deck, bagger and 3pt. Bought it used 5 years ago. Still starts, runs and works like new, it will probably outlive me. Just keep it maintained, Resale value is great as well. Good luck!
Been using the same machine with the backhoe/front loader attachment for over 3 years in my brother-in-laws plumbing company. Excellent machine for digging water and sewer lines, pits for reroutes, etc...and fits through many residential gates. Also does great work grading with the front bucket.
It's so nice seeing realistic vehicles, equipment, instruction, and advice in work areas and simulations! Really great videos!
I know a few people that have it for their farms, they are a real tool and not a toy. Great for small work around farm or large home properties
I got the B2301 in the spring and got so much more done this year. I have the fork attatchment for it and tested it to it's limits. Very well built tractor. This thing saved my back big time.
I am sure glad I found your UA-cam site for some reason I am fascinated watching the skill involved in moving dirt thank you Montie Brasseur
This was the first piece of equipment we ever bought as a business, the tires are not too hard on grass if driven gently. This little TLB changed the game for us when we bought it but we only kept it around for two years before we out grew it and replaced it with skid steers and mini ex’s. We did a lot of over capacity and sketchy work with this machine. People make perfect counter weights!
Yeah for counter weights I've seen people, heavy chains hanging, sandbags, concrete blocks you name it someone's done it
People as counterweights-LOL. Yeah, I only have a 1/2 acre so I just have a Yardmax trackbarrow and there have been a couple of times on my steep lake lot that I was GLAD I hadn't lost weight...
I've got the exact same machine and this video is about as accurate as it could be, the seat swivel design is awful but I've learned to live with it. For the average homeowner on a couple acres it's as handy as a shirt pocket and it'll do more than most people would ever need. Thanks for the content.
I agree. I have had mine about a year and yes turning that seat around can be a pain if you are digging a trench and have to keep moving forward.
That reminds me… I need a shirt pocket.
@@TheRealBoomTown Don't let them scam you into pocket protectors, it's a racket
@@faulltw from the seat rear position just lift the outriggers and bucket a few inches and with a stick I can push the peddle and ease forward without getting off tractor or turning seat.
@@1966poker Thanks, I will give it a try
I own an irrigation company and I use my kubota bx 23s in tight residential yards to dig in tough spots, smooth soil, back fill, haul soil, and as a wheel barrow. I love it and it is very capable
I borrowed a friend's Kubota b25s, love, love, loved the machine! Will be buying one shortly!
I have a feeling the dealer wants it reved up so it always has proper flow to the hydrostatic transmission. Easier to tell the homeowner to rev it than explain why 🤷♂️
Ive also heard is about the CO'2 emmisions.
@Matt P thats definitley a reason as well. To keep the Hydraulic pressure where it needs to be for proper operation.
I have driven about everything out there, big loaders, tractors and I just love my little Kubota.... I actually bought one Kubota BX24D TLB, it's exactly the same thing you tried, but a bit older, and I dont have the quick attach bucket in the front, but on my bucket I have a cutting edge, that would have destroyed that class 5 material no problem and no need to rip it, to get on the seat when it's oriented for the backhoe, you have pedals to climb on, it easy by the back, for the winter, I remove the backhoe and install a 54 inches snow blower on the 3 point hitch, connected to the PTO, the snow has no chance, I have the same tires, they are pretty good on grass, dirt and ice and snow, but you need to go easy on the grass for some maneuvers, and you won't damage the grass, but they have also available "turf" tires, and they will not damage the grass at all, it has 23 HP, I tested the front loader and it lifts 800 pounds on my stock version, the diesel engine is pretty economical and sturdy, it is so small it goes anywhere...
I love how open you are to trying new machines and different equipment!
Stanley, I own the Kubota Bx25d, 2013 model year, I added the wheel expanders from expand it, much more stable with wider footprint. Those tires haven`t caused any damage to lawn as long as your doing constantly run over grass. I have a front mounted snow blower for winter use of snow blowing, chains on front and rear wheels tires, with 4 wheel drive, very stable in ice and snow.
Own a BX23s for 4 yrs and absolutely love it, good allrounder. The seat is reversal is not ideal but never saw it as a problem till you mentioned it. Extremely maneuverable getting the backhoe into tight spaces etc.
8 months later - I still love the fact that this will go into tight spaces and mowing on grass is no problem if you are careful, however on my 5 acres I do max it out in every respect quite often, lift weight and lift height especially. In Australia we have the 4 in 1 bolted on loader and it is about one and a half good wheel barrow loads in capacity so lots of trips. I'm also taking the loader and backhoe off every few weeks and putting the mower deck back on to mow (as I want the ground clearance when not mowing) and if you don't have level ground for the mower deck it's a good half hour job or more to change everything around which I am slowly getting tired of doing. I guess I'm thinking I should have got something bigger and maybe an independent mower.
I got a jd 1025r. Runs good, does what I need and helps with the small jobs I need to do.
Thanks for all the content you put out Stanley, it sure does help our community immensely.
Thanks for doing this review! I'm an equipment operator and I've never seen anyone actually use one of these small backhoes smoothly. I didn't know if it was possible
Well- I sure didn't feel smooth haha.
Tractor tim with Tim put a higher flow pump on a 1025r and the backhoe will do more than one function at a time. Hydraulic flow is what slows these down. I will say I own an ls xj2025h tlb and I love it. Is a skid steer and mini ex better? Definitely when your time is money and you need bigger things done. But mine has done all I needed as a homeowner.
So thankful for this one!! Been comparing mini TLBs and mini skids
I have owned a BX23S for a couple years now, and I am quite happy with it's versatility. The Deere equivalent is a 1025R, but I liked the overall design and hydraulics better on the Kubota (both are great machines). Those R4 tires will dig up a lawn if it is wet, but if it is dry and you don't turn too sharp they are fine. The unit as you tried out weighs about 2700lbs, so it is much heavier than a lawn tractor. There are other options for tires such as turf and R14 that are a bit more grass friendly. I chose R4 tires because I have some bush areas and the industrial R4 tires will not puncture very easily like the turf tires. The quick detach adapter is a must if you have a ripper or trench bucket, and the mechanical thumb is very handy. It is a small machine, but it can do large jobs if you have the time!!
It felt like it was just well built. Like a big TLB that got shrunk.
Have had my BX23s for 6 years. 600 hours of rugged use. Never had a breakdown! All original with the exception of two new front tires. Added a 3 point hitch kit and box blade for road maintenance. As the saying goes, “ it takes a licking and keeps on ticking”!
Have owned a BX25 for 5 years and I love it. I have a MMM {mid mount mower] with R4 tires which is what the reviewed one has; not AG tires. I haven't chewed up any turf yet. Have left marks in really soft areas but no spinning while mowing. It is a great machine for 2 to 10 acres hobby farm. Easy to get into stalls to clean out. Have used back hoe for drain tile and regrading around house, planting trees to replacing waterline and culvert pipe. Love it!!!
I own this exact set up. I've owned mine for 3.5 years now, my backhoe's the 16" bucket. The seat is lacking in moveability. I LOVE my little machine.
Sounds like you would happily buy it again?
The turf tires are what you want for grass, the ag tread is been fantastic for everything else! I snowplow, I bucket loads on a regular basis, I've trenched electrical lines, transformed my whole "new construction " property into a mature lot. I have an Instagram with some photos, plus you were responsible for hooking me up with my pond! I watched your video, contacted Aquascapes rep, got it done! The Kubota was used to move the tailings not dig.
Since you mentioned the 16” bucket, I have the same setup as the video. Bxpanded quick change adapter, ripper. Also 6”, 12” and 16” bucket. Most come with 12” and I find it’s my least used bucket. The hoe manages the 16” with ease and it’s just faster. Haven’t used the 12” since getting the 16”.
@franco in the bucket around 600lbs, with the back hoe I'm unsure as I been able to "drag" massive stones with the hoe...as for pulling straight out?, I'd assume the same as the bucket.
If your primarily going to be using it on turf I would recommend getting it with turf tires. It doesn't tear up the yard when it's nice and dry, but leaves the bar pattern if it's wet.
I’m on my second BX. The first one worked great! Bought it in 2006. I traded in 2020 because I just wanted to update for the convenience. The Bxpanded brand you have in the video for aftermarket equipment is great. They offer wheel spacers for the front and back which improves stability on slopes especially when you are loaded in the bucket.
I'm on my second kubota. I've had this tlb with 60" belly mower for about 12 years. Perfect for the 3.5 acre homestead.
Late to the show. Video is a year old and has 900+ comments but here’s my 2 cents. I started a landscaping company after working for others most of my life 3 years ago. We started mowing and mainly doing maintenance and quickly started landing hard scape and drainage jobs. Our credit was poor and we were spending $1000-5000 per job to rent equipment. We were looking at putting another $5000 into rentals and decided to put it down on the BX23S.
We’ve done large French drain projects with it, 1000+sqft patios, 100ft retaining walls and more. I purchased a tiller, land plane and landscape rake for it and we put in lawns with it. I have the turf tires, lawn damage is minimal.
We have literally made 100s of thousands of dollars with this little machine. Is it lacking? Yes. It will carry exactly 2 layers of pavers on a pallet. It bogs down tilling wet clay. Digging out stumps larger than 6” diameter will take all day. However it has many upsides as well. It will fit though a 4ft gate. It’s plenty powerful to do a lot of jobs. One other thing that’s cool about the size, I had a job where I had to go through a fellows garage to get into his back yard. He had a garage door on the front and a standard 6’8” double door on the back. I folded down the roll bar and easily drove right into his back yard. No problem.
For beginners, I think it’s a great machine. Because it will do everything and it’s only going to put you out 25,000. If the business fails they hold their value and you can go on your way.
For someone putting in a lot of 1/8-1/4 acre lawns I also think it’s a great machine. We can go in and level and rake a small yard in a day.
For homeowners I also think it’s a great machine, again it will literally do everything.
For big landscaping outfits who have dingos, excavators etc then you’ll need to look at why you’re buying it and make a decision from there.
We have grown our business, purchased a mini ex and a dingo. Our next patio project will have all 3 machines on it because the backhoe is able to get into a tight corner under a deck that my mini simply is too big to get into.
At the end of the day it depends on what your goals are. What work you’re doing and what your budget is but I think it’s an amazing little machine that has a place on many projects.
I’ve owned one of these for 11 years now.
Dug out and pushed trees, installed hundred and hundreds of feet of drainage tile. Great for almost any project and weighs under 3,000lbs with all attachments.
That being said it does not replace my bobcat s185 turbo for bigger jobs.
Sounds like it has earned its keep many times.
the bx mostually great for cities and towns sidewalk and street maintance cheaper then holder tractors
thanks for this bit of info
L
Gotta rent a machine. Do you think this one would work well to run 150 feet of 8 inch drain pipe and 300 feet of 6?
Kubota makes a good machine. My kubota zero turn has been a tank. I've got a deere compact tractor now but my next purchase will be a kubota. Once you have a compact you find all kinds of uses for them. Snow plow, box blade the gravel driveway, brush hog, pull out posts, move logs, pto chipper. When the work is done you might just inspire a kid and let them drive it around as you teach them.
I own a BX23s with the turf tires on it. No tears or rips anywhere in my yard. Glad I chose them. Also plenty of grip pushing snow. Absolutely no problems pushing the last snow storm of 14/16 inches of snow. Absolutely love this machine.
What's TLB?
@@markduffala3724 TLB is Tractor Loader Backhoe
Ours makes us up to 40 grand a year these have a ton of uses where you can’t use a skidsteer or mini without tearing up the dirt
Like his cast loader but with a backhoe then, same idea
@@kieranosullivan02 What industry are you in that you use one so much?
@@bluegrasskid4835 think you mean ohio valley. But from his name ponds and excavation would be my guess lol
@@kieranosullivan02 haha. Nice one dude
Hi there, I’m planning on buying for my masonry company. Will this pick up decent sized boulders?
I have a 2017 John Deere 1025R version new for $21K and now has over 700 hrs! JD is 5 minutes away verses 30 minutes for Kubota. I use it mainly for tree removal work which involves crossing yards and loading a dump trailer. If in 4wd, it has the potential to rip up grass but overall it does not especially compared to a skid steer. I've done large projects involving removing a hillside to removing stumps and leveling stone. The more time that you have on any equipment, the better you are. I do not baby my machine while other's do. I have plenty of customers that are extremely surprised when I complete jobs with such a small machine. I also went from my factory 49" bucket to a 60" and she still lifts a full load of material well enough to move around. It's light enough to transport easily but strong enough to complete alot of work once you get used to the machine
700 hours since 2017? Dang thats a lot of time. You really work that little unit.
@@Dirtmonkey I've had my BX23S since late 2019. It has a bit over 750 hrs on it now, most of that was backhoe work, clearing brush piles and digging irrigation lines on my 1.7 acre property. I have a heated cab (Curtis) on mine and I never turn the seat anymore, just kneel on it and lean over the back like you did. The backhoe is very capable for its size and I've done some pretty sketchy stuff with it, like setting a 30' + telephone pole for a gateway entrance using the hoe and fork bucket to stand it up. ;-)
Pretty solid machine all around that has made it possible to do things I would never have gotten done without it! Well worth the money!
I have a kubota BX2360 with a front loader and 3-point 4 foot woods finish mower on the rear. I mow roughly 3 acres with this tractor and have the same exact tire set up on mine. Ive used this tractor to mow in 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive and have never tore up my grass. These type of sub-compact tractors are great for the "hobby farm" person in my opinion.
It’s a Great little machine for the homeowner , I know I have a 2014 Kubota BX25D with 660 hours on it, definitely a back saver.
I absolutely love my little BX23s and I've got a bunch of videos of it on my channel! Thanks for sharing Stan!
That is awesome!
@@Dirtmonkey Indeed, I consider it my Swiss army knife. Not really great at anything but it can get any job done just might take a bit longer!
Same here Tyler and Stan, love the machine and have tons of videos on my channel as well.
@@ritterjon Longtime subscriber of your channel Jon, good stuff
@@Tyler_Koehn I knew I recognized your name. Hope you’re doing well Tyler! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
I have the same machine with the same tires. It actually does well on grass! I’ve torn up a bit of grass, but only when it’s wet and I’m trying to go uphill...probably shouldn’t be doing that anyway. This is my first ever tractor, and I find the controls very intuitive. For the small farm, the Kubota is a great machine.
I have the big brother to this machine (bx2650) and I’ve had it for 6 years now we started our business with it. That being said we have had problems with pressure release valves on the backhoe part of the machine these valves are $800 each at the dealer and the dealer said it’s most likely due to the fact that the machine is working at its maximum potential most of the time trying to do what I needed it to do. I would recommend to anyone with a farm or sawmill but I would not recommend for any commercial use what so ever! Best off with a skid steer and mini ex. Also thanks Stan for your videos I’m a young business owner and I learn so much from your videos!
I'm looking at the same setup you guys ran for my 8 acre cabin plot. Mainly for clearing woods and making trails. Great video!
I have this exact machine with a heated cab and blower on it. I have done up to 60 driveways in a day with it. It's a long 16 plus hour day, doing 4 driveways an hour on average. I'm in Sault Ste Marie, ON. It is great for getting in tight spots and I can even do a lot of the walkways with it. Summer time I'm grading driveways with it, grading properties, dug up foundations and lines for power and gas. It's like a small Swiss army knife, it does a lot of things just not great at any of them. I'm looking forward to kubotas microhydro engine which will hopefully give them the opportunity to pack more punch in these small machines because the size of it is perfect for a lot of things, I just wish it had more speed and power.
The biggest reasons I went with this machine is 1. It was the only small machine I could get both a heated cab and the backhoe on, 2. Monthly cost, it is financed for 7 years at 0% and the thing I'm happiest with is kubota insurance, they fix anything regardless of the reason it was damaged. I blew out 2 doors at 800 a pc, kubota replaced them but I have friends that rolled their big machine and kubota gave them a new one. That's the kind of support you need when you're running a business.
wait- Kubota replaced a machine that your friend rolled???
this helped me consider buying one! thanks
@@SuperJLTubeo
I have used this model, rented for the day for home use. Yes the seat is annoying, its good for small projects and tight areas. Tires were fine on the yard,dry weather. . I liked the floating bucket for leveling. Yes it was bouncy.
How was it speed wise?
@@makincash3337 the speed was good.
Thanks so much guys, one clarification, those are R4 ("industrial") tires not AG tires. They work very well on hard-packed ground or wet turf. They do not tear it up if you pay attention to what you are doing. They are the most commonly sold tires for this machine. Someone came out with the VersaTrac tire which is very similar to these but have the turf 'squares' instead of the continuous bars of the AG or R4. I would recommend straight turf tires only if all you are doing is mowing grass on fairly level lawns but these are a great hybrid for typical light-duty homestead work including snow plowing.
I loved mine, traded it in for a bigger 35 horsepower, wish I wouldn’t have. The little BX was the perfect size for what I needed. Loved that machine.
Actually used to see these quite often here in Australia back in the 90's being used by the biggest telecommunications company or their contractors. Havent seen them in recent years,I think the mini excavators have replaced them
Never thought I’d see this tractor on a Dirt Monkey video. 6 years Ive had one of these. They are very versatile. I wouldn’t go without one and I’m a homeowner who does a lot of projects. Yes. The seat does kinda suck. Tractor is worth the money and that’s why there are so many sold each year. You can do weeks worth of work in hours.
So the quality is lasting and not just a new thing. Thanks!!
@@Dirtmonkey ...I've had one for 5 years now and I use it for a side business..I specifically got it because I can get into very tight spots/backyards.....I get to use everything from tillers to pay loaders at my regular Landscaping job...people think these are toys, but they are much stronger than they look....the MAIN reason I like them is because you can work over people's grass with these R4 industrial tires without tearing up the grass like skid steers and tracked loaders/excavators will....beats a wheelbarrow and shovel every day of the week and twice on Sunday...I have a grapple on mine for tree work....and many, many implements for the back....you can drop the backhoe is less than 5 minutes...we have a couple of forums for the BX25's/23's and some guys have several thousand hours on them
L@@Steamer1988
Had the older version of this machine bx 25 with turf tires. Great first machine for guys just starting out. Had mine about 5 years before selling it.
I have had a BX23 since it was new in 2004. I have used it for my residence not work. I also mow with it. It can mow with the front end loader and backhoe in place but that will year up the yard. It take about 20-30 to take both off and it is not a easy as the new one.
Would you buy another one? or something different?
Nice thing about Kubota is is that you can get different tires for your tractor the ones that were on the one that you were driving are industrial you have agricultural tires that are even more aggressive than those and then you have turf tires which as you well know aren't very good in anyting much more than driving over grass and then you have R14 which are like in between a agricultural and an industrial tire
Thanks for the info
Tires aren’t bad on grass depending on conditions just like any other piece of equipment. A tlb is definitely a good all around machine it can do a little of everything. Like you said it’s definitely not as efficient as a skid or mini but it can do it. If you can only buy one piece of equipment a tlb would be it.
They're also quite a bit less money upfront so a good starter machine in my opinion
well said -its for the right person.
I have a 2005 Toro Dingo TX420. With the 33" full-width bucket attached, it won't grade anything other than soft soil well. I modded a 60" (oversized) bucket to fit it with a rail plate adapter and 4 grade 8 bolts 1/2"x1-1/4" L. The bucket weighs 350#, about 230# more than the OEM bucket, but it will now grade dried mud ruts with ease and even plow through 25" of snow full bucket width and 8-10ft in front of bucket going downhill with ease. The Dingo is a real beast for its size.
Got a john deere 1025r TLB with a mower deck and for homeowner uses it's been extremely useful and has basically paid for itself in a year. Main reason we went with a deere was that we can take the loader, backhoe, and mower deck off in 5 minutes with one person. The quick attach drive over mower deck was the biggest plus though, takes 1 minute and is way easier than kubota's method. Only downside is that being so small it's hydraulics aren't strong enough to curl the bucket and lift it at the same time, but it's honestly not a big issue. Plus it can still lift well over 1000lbs.
I have the same set up, bought it in spring of 2019. Liked that my wife could theoretically learn to take mower etc on and off with no issues. I have about 170 hours on it already, and the backhoe has actually completed a lot of jobs for myself as well as friends and family. I bought it mainly to mow and move snow, but we do a lot more with it on our farmette.
I love my BX23S! Great to sneak into yards that I can't get a skid loader into!
Right on
Watch as many videos of yours as I can, always great information and fun to watch, I have ran skid steers, farm equipment, etc, and I purchased a lS mt125 with a yanmar engine about a year ago and this little tractor is one of the most versatile things I've ever ran, and it will not tare up your lawn unless you want it to. Doesn't matter what color of sub compact tractor it is they will get the job done, I highly recommend it to anyone who can afford it new or used.
Thanks for the shout out, Stanley.
As always, a great video!
You bet Jon! This is a mighty impressive little machine you guys got.
Without a doubt, these are capable, reliable and economic machines, which, with accessories to suit will make life very much easier.
Its difficult to see how one could go wrong with a machine like this.
We only used them with snow blower and broom. We had a cab put on and drive it to properties and did sidewalks. The guys loved them
How long have you been running it?
Had a different brand for 5 years but changed to Kubota and had them for 2 years. I only ran them a couple times but the guys kept saying how much they liked it.
I have a good number of hours in the seat of a John Deere 1025r, it is almost the same as the Kubota in the video. At the horse rescue I worked for we used it everyday, the tires on it are the same as in the video and did not tear the turf up if it was not saturated, the mid mounted mower had plenty of power but you lose almost all ground clearance, the loader cant lift a lot but was great for cleaning up manure and moving things like 4 100lb protein tubs out to the pasture. It was also what was used for the manure spreader and would move it loaded about 1200-2000lb with out much of a struggle. Over all I think the smaller 25hp tractors are great, the draw backs are where you said its not going to replace your main equipment.
My father in law has one for his property, uses it to cut grass, plow snow, ect. Absolutely loves it. I also had to rent one a few years ago to remove some stumps and level the yard, could have used sonething bigger but it did the job.
Love my New Holland. Easy access maintenance and under 18,500 delivered. Thanks for the video Stanley
Stan, So before I even watch this. In my experience YES. When I started my company I had an RK 19 small tractor loader (no backhoe) and a CAT 301.8 excavator. I started the company while working my full time job. The small loader was extremely useful as it didn’t tear up yards and could get places a skid steer couldn’t. Even after I bought my Cat 259D3 we have still used it on job sites even though it is a TYM “knock off” loader that I originally bought for working around my house. We recently purchased a Cat 306 Mini to work with the 259, but I already can think of a few projects this year for both myself and a customer where my tractor will be better than the 259 skid steer. In my opinion smaller cheap equipment is better than large expensive ones. Just wanted to let you know my opinion before I watched the video. I have taken your advice and knowledge and after partnering up with a coworker whom used to build houses, we have a very successful part time business along with our full time jobs. Now I’ll watch the video. Thank you for all your knowledge and words of advice.
I love it! great words of wisdom. Did you like the video?
@@Dirtmonkey great video
I've had mine for a little over a year now and at about 120 hours. I liked the bx23s over the JD because of the single seat. I've found that the seat is somewhat annoying but you do get used to it after a french drain or two. I have the industrial tires and mow with a MMM and the front end loader on (bucket off) and have no issues tearing up turf. I went with a 12 inch bucket on the backhoe and I have dug up many stumps and dug some nice ditches. I really like the machine overall. Only issue I've had is the inner tie rod boot tore and that seems to be an issue with these
Im surprised your ok with the seat. I would think that would get on your nerves but if your not flipping it alot then its a non issue.
@@Dirtmonkey this is my first machine so I don't have much to compare it to. I would guess I've only got about 20 hours total with the backhoe so not enough time to be annoyed by the swivel seat. I chose this model so I didn't have to rent a machine when I needed the digging capability.
I have the exact tractor without the backhoe. I use it every spring for mulching, even when it's wet, unless you drive over the same area constantly it does not tear up the turf. I also use it for aeration and it does a magnificent job.
Those look like industrial tires instead of agricultural... they would be better on multiple surfaces... God bless
I think your right.
Hydro's are designed to run at operating RPM,s gives best flow.
Could also be because it's over 25 horsepower if that's the case it's got a def system
@@Dirtay427 doesn’t have def. the rpm suggestion/requirement is for the hydraulic pump. If it was a geared transmission there wouldn’t be much of a concern. But since the hydraulic pump is driving the tires, steering, and loader/backhoe the rpms need to be up to provide the proper psi
@@Dirtay427 No DEF required, most tractors 25-75HP can use an EGR system instead.
@@cullery07 Yup. Hydrostatics like to be run at full throttle.
This seems perfect for my piece of retirement property I have. Been looking for a decent mini backhoe that I can pull with a half ton pickup. Thanks for this.
Love my BX25D. Grapple, PTO chipper, land leverer and so many other tools and toys. Turf tires are available. Jeep 2 or 3 inch wheel spacers work for the rear wheels and really increase the stability of the machine... especially on side slopes. BX expanded skid plates are essential for protecting the $20 plastic fan in the middle of the machine...pulled my engine twice to replace it. Front tires loose their bead with rough use...I've tubed mine and always have spares handy. Front tire rod boots go quick in brush. And the seat gets worse and worse with age. It will do anything larger equipment will do...as long as you have the time and patience to do it.
I've owned a BX for about 6yrs. We mow even after a rain, with the 60" belly mower, & our R4s don't tear up the grass. Now, if you start doing some bucket work, or dragging a box blade, the tires will dig in if you're not careful. There's more power than traction with the BXs. They can definitely do more than a tractor that size should be able to.
Got John Deere’s version several years ago. Main two jobs I had for it was mowing and snow removal. Added the backhoe a year after I brought the tractor home, when it’s added it was better rear ballast than the ballast box on the 3 point.
So in the winter I’ll have the backhoe on and snow pusher on the loader. The same R4 tires I don’t use chains in the winter. In the summer on the grass don’t see much damage on the grass. If the grass is soft from rain and such then it would make ruts.
With the little backhoe had at least one old farmer complain saying a guy with such a little backhoe was like a monkey screwing a football. When I was digging up a busted water hydrant in dad’s barn I said I’m glad to be screwing a football instead of digging this by hand.
Few things I’d think be great to add no matter the sub compact tractor brand a set of pallet forks for the loader an storage cart for the backhoe.
Awesome video I ran one of those for 10 years and it was a good solid little machine the one we had was equipped with the turf tires and was a great little TLB for tight areas and great on turf. Traded it a few years ago and will probably replace it at some point in the near future.
Very nice. That guys voice sounds almost exactly like Mike from the Red Green show
Joe Pesci
I rented one of those from Home Depot and it was amazing even after being beaten like well a rental. I would agree whole heartedly the seat is the only downfall. Leveled my entire backyard with it. Happy to see this review. Also it will destroy grass. Turned it into a mud pit even where I wasn’t grading
Right on! great machine- bad seat. seems like others agree.
@@Dirtmonkey The older John Deere seats were terrible too. The new version has two seats instead of one that has to be rotated
Just bought a used Deere 1025r with the flip around seat. I've barely used the backhoe and the seat is annoying. Still, I'm looking forward to more backhoe seat time in the spring.
I am a homeowner with almost 10 acres of land. I own a 2006 Kubota BX with the 26 hp. It can do just about anything, just not quickly. This is not a business piece of equipment but it is a great homeowners tool that is very reliable. The R4 industrial tires you have on that machine are not too rough on finished lawns although I do switch back and forth between those and turf tires. Additional equipment; front snowblower and snow blade, rear scraper, brush hog, box blade, turf roller, and york rake. This Summer I installed some 600' of french drains on the property. Was it slow, YES but could I do it all my self, YES and it was a lot cheaper than calling someone to have it done. Really like your videos Stan, please keep them coming. Happy holidays to your, your family, and your crew!!!
Retired 76, that looks like Kubota 33s. Had to make same decision myself. Thought I needed a back hoe. Ended up with new 2018 Kubota k008-4 excavator and bigger Tractor 2017 119 hrs. L4701 4 cylinder. bought attachments for grading, 857 lb 6' box scraper with tip and tilt, hydraulic teeth and scrip grapple, third function.
I have a Massey with the same tires and they don’t tear up the grass unless it’s wet
Thanks Brian! Good to know.
Merry Christmas y’all 👍
I've dug out for many patios and new lawn installs with my bx25 love it
The thing I like about th bx is it so light and slim. I did run one for 12 months as my primary tractor, mainly for slashing and mowing. But now have a much bigger tractor
Hey I just suggested you try a sub compact tractor/tlb.. also check out tractor time with tim. He runs the subcompact and smaller compact series tractors. While they don't replace the bigger equipment. They are awesome for small tight jobs where you need a tlb type piece of equipment but dont have the room for a full size backhoe
This is the quickest ive ever managed to catch a dirt monkey video.
My John Deere 2025r has R-4’s on it as well. Does pretty good on turf. I’ve been told by experienced people that R-4’s are a good compromise tire.
I have the next size up Kubota and use it mostly as a mower with the same tires and they do not damage the turf unless making sharp turns in 4wd. Thanks for the video. I agree with your comments these are very capable for what they are.
Check out Tractor Time with Tim for what he uses a subcompact tractor for.
Tractor time with Tim does a kubota vs deer comparison too
When you go and do a actual comparison on tractors the bx is smaller then a 1025r and a b series is bigger than a 2025r.
@@jjjustin17favs there is no apples to apples but this and a 1025 are the closest thing, the 18 and newer 2025r is close to the little b`s, like the 2501? Where the 2032r and 2038r are very close to the like bxx50 ones. Not a kubota expert but in my opinion. Thats where you come across them.... I like deere loaders. But check out good works tractor. The kubota 3 point is insanely impressive.. and truly. If you need a mower deck. The deere system is insanely easy.
@@SpartanZapp I have a kubota b now and I wanted to get a deere. The 2025r lifted the same as the 1025r actully less than the prior model did.. next step was a 2032. A backhoe for this model was about 10k alone I think it was near 32k out the door. Kubotas big b now called the lx series still allowed you to get a 26hp tractor but with the big lifting capacity.. in the end I kept my tractor and picked up a mini excavator for 12k. In the end it was the best decision as I can move anytime I want 360 turns and a far more capable machine.
I respect your opinion but I honestly think tim wouldn't know what to do with a real machine.if you want a backhoe ,get something bigger than a lawnmower, if you want to pretend get this rinky dink kubota.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays belated
Happy holidays
My friend has one of these, hired him to level gravel and do yard cleanup it did well in both jobs. No issues on grass areas good traction as we pushed over some small trees.
Bought my BX25D 5 years ago and these are worth every cent! Great piece of gear
It Sure does beat shoveling. I have used one several times and for what they are, they are pretty great. If the front loader could lift 200lbs more it would be perfect. Obviously it's not going to replace a bigger machine. But it can fit in tight places and can be easily towed by a 1/2 ton pickup.
This is a BX series. For the larger lifting capacity, you'd need the B series.
@@jameslmorehead Forsure, but when lifting with the bx it limits hydraulic pressure before the engine loads up, and if it could just lift a tiny bit more it would be so nice.
I use this exact machine every day at work, and that whole seat mechanism is trash
I feel like I'm going to snap it off sometimes.
If I'm just doing a quick dig, I also lean across the backseat
I have had one for 13 years (bx2350 it's identical) it does tear up grass but only on steep hills and very sharp turns. Those tires are incredible I have gone through over a foot of shredded and composted leaves and it didn't have a problem the machine only let me down once when a automatic shut-off sensor (for pto) broke so I replaced it works fine.
Love your review videos. Honest and helpful . wish computers were around when I was younger would have help me not make so many mistake in business.
I wanted a back hoe on a tractor. I shopped several brands and was able to buy a used kubota tractor and a 17 mini excavator much cheaper then a tractor with a backhoe. Just food for thought.
Right on Good to know.You happy with what you bought?
@@Dirtmonkey I am. The ability to move the machine whenever you need and turn 360 degrees may seem like a small trade off but in the end it's somthing you will do much more than you think.
@@jjjustin17favs yeah I got a tlb, comparable to the next size up in the Kubota line more of a b26 size. World of a difference cus I can load trucks easily but I’m using it to get by til I get a mini ex and prob small skid... not being able to pick up something heavy with the backhoe and travel absolutely makes twice the work compared to a mini ex, too much set up time in a small backhoe just to dig a few feet to then have to move
I’m building a shooting range with the equivalent John Deere loader backhoe and if he paid 25 for that he got hosed that’s worth 21 k my Deere is 2021 model it was :23k and hit hauls and lifts more
@@trevor8949 then your an idiot the back how I have cost 8 k the tractor new 11 then the loader plus a few extras I pay 300 a month I’m set no one gave that to him
And Kubota lifts 600 mine 1300 I have 6 acres cleared with my deer 300 hours so far not a single issue or money dumped in accept maintenance. I’m happy I can afford it I gave two
I bought one of the Blue versions(New Holland)of a sub compact tractor a couple years ago and can say it was the best purchase I ever made. My land is very rocky so sometimes I wish it was heavier as sometimes it will struggle while digging with the backhoe but it has always chewed through any ground put in front of it. For a big contractor you are correct, this is not tge right tool for the job but for a smaller company or a homeowner it could be perfect.
I had an older Kubota B21 for a long time, was what I started my biz with. Lotta work for the size it was, absolutely trouble free for 100s of hours. Newer Kubota B series have some worthwhile improvements, aren't built as stout but I think still one of the best outfits to have if you can only have one to move dirt and other miscellaneous tasks. John Deere's 110 TLB is another great choice.
Stan, I will bring mine someday soon. You will see a huge difference. 22 grand for the same setup for a much better brand. Kubota is the second most overrated brand. John Deere is way more overpriced and overrated. The backhoe is an attachment which allows you to switch rear tools. You are way out of touch. By the way, I just started using Jobber, I had zero clue how disorganized my business was until I started using Customer Relationship Management Software.
Jobber is great software- but to me LMN has more depth and allows me to micro analyze my business. I love it . What machine do you have thats better than this one?
@@Dirtmonkey the Massey Ferguson GC 1723 EB. You missed that the backhoe on subcompact tractors IS REMOVABLE and there are dozens of uses for subcompact tractors. Numerous loader tools and 3 point tools, there are three front mount tools, and they literally trade places with a riding lawn mower to allow way more uses from these machines. You blew me off when I brought this to your attention earlier in the year. Now that you ran one a little bit, you are starting to see these actually are irreplaceable. What they lack in size and capacity, they more then make up for in the reduction of ground impact, maneuverability, and adaptability. On a 10k rated trailer, you can bring this and the jerky quad for ride on equipment and have plenty of capacity to put chainsaws, weedwhackers, blowers, an edger, and even some tools/materials with you on the trailer and have the bed of your pickup available. These are definitely a force to be reckoned with. A 14k trailer is way overkill for this machine. Even a 10k rated trailer is a tich overkill for these little tractors.
@@Dirtmonkey Stan, any chance that you might be willing to show us the software and how it works for you and your company?