Tiller "DARK HORSE" Tillers

Farmwithjunk · Jul 28, 2008

I had to go visit a job site this morning. As I was leaving, it started pouring rain. I HATE driving in city traffic while it's raining and coincidentally, I was passing my FAVORITE TSC store (Sarcasm light flashing brightly) So, I ducked in for a quick look around.

As I was getting out of the truck, something caught my eye. A DARK GREY King Kutter II 6' tiller. Hmmmm? New paint scheme? After a walk around inside the store, it finally quit raining. As I was leaving, I had to check out the grey KK tiller.

Something NEW!

It's a KK II tiller alright. ALMOST every single detail is the same, except for color, decals, and this one has a "kickstand" leg on one end to make it more stable when unhitched. There was a traditional yellow KK II 6' tiller sitting right beside it. Not a stitch of difference in design. The grey model has a much better paint job, albiet a dark grey, almost gun metal grey. The decals are all different, but most noticable was the name. DARK HORSE.

Oh, and another difference. a MUCH cheaper price. 6' had a price sticker on it of $1,299.00. WOW!

I have a hunch these are "import" King Kutter II models. Parts are the exact same. KK II parts are easy to get. They're plenty durable. If these "new" tillers are in fact the "same", and the price holds, we have a new "best buy" in town. Stay tuned! I'm going back to TSC later today when the asst. Manager is there. He's the glue that holds this TSC together. I'll get the "skinny" from him on what this new DARK HORSE is all about.

Ductape · Jul 28, 2008

I'm waiting for our (brandy new) local TSC to open on Aug. 9th. I'm hoping to pick up a 5' KK tiller on some sort of "grand opening" or "manager's special" sale when they open. Heck.... the grey will even match my B3030 better than the yellow ! I hope they have a couple here locally when they open.

Glowplug · Jul 28, 2008

Hey Bill, if you get a chance ask about possible 7' models. The ONLY thing that keeps me from buying a KK II RIGHT NOW is that the largest I have seen is 6'. I could maybe "get by" with that but I really need almost 7' to cover the width of my rear tires from outside edge to outside edge. So far the "best buy" that I've been able to find is the CCM SR-205 at $2700.

Don't get me wrong, I think that's an excellent tiller at an excellent price but if I could get a KK II for much less and not have to pay shipping for it I'd be all over it!

Keep us posted!

IslandTractor · Jul 28, 2008

I cannot say that I really "need" a tiller but at the price FWJ found on a KKII clone, I'd jump on it. I may have to take a trip north to the New Hampshire store and check it out.

Cyberroc · Jul 29, 2008

No Update???

I have one close to work, guess I will have to run over there today on lunch and check it out.

I will see if I can get the story behind them as well. Not sure if I will get the best info though, seems the emp's at one of my stores (2 in town) would rather race fork loaders than keep up on brand info.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 29, 2008

We ended up working REAL late last night. (Bush hogging property that was hit with a tornado last summer....Talk about an obsticle course

) So, I didn't get to talk with my "insider" at TSC. STill don't know any more about the story behind the KKII clone. At this point all I know is what I saw on the lot yesterday. A dark grey 6' KKII with a new name and a $1299.00 price tag. Still working on details.

shvl73 · Jul 29, 2008

IslandTractor said:
I may have to take a trip north to the New Hampshire store and check it out.

I'll check today and see if they have one.

jinman · Jul 29, 2008

It may be a new competitor trying to achieve market penetration by offering their products at cost or deeply discounted. It the gearbox innards are the same as KK, it has to be a great deal. Hey...maybe I can order a kickstand from them for my yellow KK model.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 29, 2008

jinman said:
It may be a new competitor trying to achieve market penetration by offering their products at cost or deeply discounted. It the gearbox innards are the same as KK, it has to be a great deal. Hey...maybe I can order a kickstand from them for my yellow KK model.

It is the same EXACT tiller, just different color/decals/name. EVERY part on it is identical. Welds are done the same way. Bolts and fasteners are the same. Price is $300 to $400 less than what I've been seing KKII's sell for here lately. $400 is $400 any way you shake it.

They ship on an angle iron stackable skid instead of wood. Something say "overseas" shipping to me when I look at it.

Sandtiger · Jul 29, 2008

Farmwithjunk,

Please pursue this. I am very interested in getting a tiller for my machine, and
saving money is good

.

I looked at my TSC (NE PA) last weekend, and I didn't see anything but the King Kutter II. Plus, their website doesn't mention them (looked yesterday).

Finally, I appreciate all the help you give the forum. I have learned quite a bit from you, especially about fence peeing

.

Farmwithjunk · Jul 29, 2008

OK...Bits and pieces of info. I talked to the TSC store manager. (NOT the asst. mgr. who I depend on for more accurate info) He tells my the DARK HORSE product line is Chinese made, licensed King Kutter knock offs. They now have DARK HORSE box blades, dirt scoops, rear blades, subsoilers, rear booms, and soon a 5' and 6' rotary cutter in addition to the tillers. Only size available SO FAR is the 6', but 4' and 5' soon to follow.

TSC is experimenting with this "new brand" as a way of boosting sales by offering the lowest possible price on essentially the same item. (in the words of that store mgr.)

The company producing the DARK HORSE is Chinese. The mgr. said he THINKS the brand is "Kwangsi" but not 100% positive. Google search produces nothing on that brand name. Part #'s in the part manuals are exact same sequence and description as King Kutter part #'s and parts are interchangable. From outward appearances, quality seems to be about the same. The KKII tillers are by far the best product KK markets IMHO.

I'll keep looking for any further info.

shvl73 · Jul 29, 2008

No gray tillers in the Merrimack or the Milford, NH store, just the standard yellow KK tillers.

SuperCobra · Jul 29, 2008

Our TSC has the Dark Horse BB. Quality looks the same as the Land Master BB I just broke in half.

Cyberroc · Jul 29, 2008

I was able to check one of our stores, nada. I have been trying to check the TSC site, however it seems to be down for me all day.

Strange... They did have some KK II Tillers..

*edit* Called other TSC, they have never heard of them, however did state that if they are going to get some, best chance would be on next weeks Gate Truck... Guess I have time to save...

trkbldr · Aug 4, 2008

Farmswithjunk, I was at the Tractor Supply in Shelbyville Saturday and those Dark Horse tillers caught my eye also. If my memory is correct, $1749.00 for the KK2, $1299.00 for the Dark Horse (6 foot). I see no difference in the two. There was a label on the Dark Horse that said made in China for distribution by Tractor Supply. They also had Dark Horse bush hogs and box blades that were clones of their KK counterparts, also at considerable savings. I am definetly interested and any further info you could get from your source would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to be the "guinea pig"

and hope somebody buys one real soon and can give a positive review on the Dark Horse.

Farmwithjunk · Aug 4, 2008

trkbldr said:
Farmswithjunk, I was at the Tractor Supply in Shelbyville Saturday and those Dark Horse tillers caught my eye also. If my memory is correct, $1749.00 for the KK2, $1299.00 for the Dark Horse (6 foot). I see no difference in the two. There was a label on the Dark Horse that said made in China for distribution by Tractor Supply. They also had Dark Horse bush hogs and box blades that were clones of their KK counterparts, also at considerable savings. I am definetly interested and any further info you could get from your source would be greatly appreciated. I really don't want to be the "guinea pig" and hope somebody buys one real soon and can give a positive review on the Dark Horse.

I'm considering taking the plunge! My KKII is 7-1/2 years old. It is almost ready for a second set of tines. I've used this poor thing a BUNCH. A neighbor priced a new one, then offered me $1000, then later $1100 for mine. I MIGHT just sell it to him and buy a new DARK HORSE/Clone of KKII tiller for $199 difference. By the time I pay freight on a complete set of tines, I'll spend that much. This way I get "new". I don't use my tiller nearly as much now as I used to. Just an acre of garden every spring nowdays.

That TSC is Shelbyville should be the model for ALL TSC stores. They run that one like an old fashioned farm supply store. They actually HELP the customers.

Glowplug · Aug 4, 2008

I haven't seen these new tillers at either of the new two TSC stores within 12 miles of my place (in Georgetown and Paris, KY). If you find out if they have 7 footers please let me know. If I could get a 7 footer for around $1500-1600 that would be great. I know they don't have a KKII 7-footer but if they did it would likely be around 2-grand. The best I can do now is get a CCM 7-footer for $2700.

Skyco · Aug 11, 2008

Didn't see any tillers but lots of Dark Horse box blades, rear blades, and rotary cutters at the Lexington SC store this morning. They had stickers saying they were distributed by Homier

Aren't they one of the companies that used to go around with a truck selling out the back in parking lots?

Actually the stuff looked pretty good very slight differences from KK on the rear blades I compared. The KK had a round brace where the Dark Horse had a square tube brace, honestly the square tube looked more stout.. I also noticed the dark blue paint was already fading, sort of like the red Harbor Freight stuff that turns pink in no time outdoors.....

Baranx4 · Aug 23, 2008

Has anyone taken the dark horse plung yet? I'm surprised that our local tractor supply store didn't have one when I was there 2 weeks ago since it was a new store and had opened a few days before.