About a month ago I bought a micro-tractor to have around the micro homestead, which is a lot of fun. (It’s a Kubota BX25, which I’d link to but their site is apparently Flash based, and therefore stinks and is unlinkable).
So, a little tiny tractor with a tiny loader and backhoe. It’s stupidly fun. I had no idea digging things with a backhoe would be so satisfying. I’m not going to give up the day job to do it, but it’s really a barrel of monkeys.
Apparently part of having a tractor is the parts/accessorizing (yes, I concur that accessorizing is probably the wrong word for a macho tractor, but I’m new to this, remember)? So, I have bought bucket hooks and a light kit for it, from BXpanded, and they’re the object of this praise.
I tried the bucket hooks a week or so ago, and they didn’t fit as smoothly as the YouTube video made it look, so I sent them an email, and I got a response within an hour. On a Saturday afternoon. With an apology for taking an hour, as he had been mowing his lawn. Also, his advice worked perfectly.
So, great, one incident, one good outcome.
Then today, another problem. Their light kit looks terrific and went on well, but I couldn’t find the work light wires on the tractor. They’re on the wiring diagram, but I couldn’t find the wires. I called the dealer that sold it to me, and their service department gave me the wrong answer (‘it’s the power outlet’), so they proved their worth. Inexplicably I sent an email to the BXpanded folks, and then bothered to look on the innernut.
Yes the answer was there, and I hooked their nice kit up, and of course it worked. And as I parked the tractor there was a voice mail on my phone. (My sig line on emails from the phone has my cellphone number in it). It was the BXpanded fellow, who wanted to help me find the wires.
Yeah, the BXpanded guy called me to help, though I only sent an email asking for a general hint. It doesn’t get any better than that. And, the lights helped me a bunch tonight while using the backhoe.
So, BXpanded.com, recommended highly.
There is a minor downside to having a micro-tractor: My wife has taken to calling me Mr. Douglas. Yeah.
Neat, big boy toy (err. I mean tool). If it doesn’t have a roll bar be sure to add one or it might get the best of your body.
I want one! Fun!
Heh. Be sure you turn up the tunes!
I have toy envy. The 3 cylinder water-cooled Kubota diesels have a great reputation. I have one in the Cummins/Onan generator in my RV. You’d think that Cummins could make their own diesel, but they use Kubota’s.
Is a little jealous over here and would love to own on new tool to. :)
Cool Toy. I have a 36hp 4WD Kubota and it’s a lot of fun to go move dirt and rocks around. I dont have a backhoe. Is yours an attachment? Post a pic if you can.