Kioti or Kubota

[Gittyup]

I have a CK25 gear. I've had it 4 years, 407 hours. I've worked it hard on steep slopes.. I've moved over 1000 tons with the loader, and dug several tons more with the backhoe. As a digger, the Kiotis/Bobcats are at the top. As a mower, they are a tad heavy. But quite OK for bush hogging. A third range is needed for mowing too. Some don't have it.

Mine starts easily, even when very cold, and shows no blow by. Maintenance is easy too.

Quality wise, Kioti has had some problems with components of the ORIGNINAL designs: Loader, fuel injector pump, brittle fuel filter holder, hard starting cold, backhoe wear points. But Kioti addressed each and every one, having implemented good effective fixes in all cases. At this point, I'd say most of the design bugs are out of the CK line. A good dealer is also key.

Looking for a finish mower, and maybe move around a little light stuff like mulch, Kubota and Deere are better suited. Want some to dig, engage the earth, Kioti is hard to beat.

 

[kcook]

I have narrowed my search to two models, the Kioti DK20S and the Kubota 2320 HSD. Both appear to be excellent machines but are different answers to the same question. I like the three range hydro on the Kubota but the Kioti seems to be a heavier more substantial machine.

Kioti owners, convince me to buy your shade of orange!

Packages include front loader, tiller, box blade, and an 18' trailer for the Kubota, 16' for the Kioti. I may add a rough cut mower if the discount is enough.

Same message in the Kubota area.

RSKY

I don't see a MMM, listed in your package. I would say the Kioti will lift more with its loader, its heavier for box blade and loader work. What is the price difference? For me the Koiti is much cheaper to purchase, the dealer is better as well.

KC

 

[Harvey9]

I have a CK25 with almost 300 hours, it's been a great machine, I have no regrets buying it. The Kioti may be cheaper than Kubota but you may not do as well on re-sale., should you ever decide to sell/trade.

Harvey

 

[Artimus]

No doubt you will hear about brand loyalty here. I was set on a Kubota until I found Kioti and got more bang for the buck. Bought mine last year and ended up getting more HP and extras than I could with a Kubota.

I got a DK40SE with FEL for 16,200 which was much less than what I could get a Kubota L34 for which had less HP and less extras. The Kioti of course had the extra rear remotes, adjustable suspension seat, tilt steering and telescopic hitch arms that makes life much easier especially as I get older.

The only negatives I ever really hear about Kioti is the resale value, which is debatable. The again who buys a tractor with resale in mind. just get your best deal with a good dealer and you will be satisfied.

Both tractors are good.

 

[rimshot]

Both are fine tractors and you can't go wrong regardless of which one you choose.

I would suggest you make the following observation. Examine and make your assessment regarding what components appear to be built the most substantially. pay particular attention to steering joints and front axle stoutness. I believe you said you were getting a FEL. How stout does the mounting iron appear.

after nearly 600 hours in the saddle of my CK-20, I still believe I have made the right decision.

rim

 

[o2batsea]

Both are even when it comes to build quality. Kioti can build in more tractor per dollar because of the way Korean industry is set up. They have no qualms about monopolies and mega corporations the way we do here. Their industrial base is vertically integrated in that Daedong Tractor gets steel from another Daedong related sister corporation etc etc. It's all related. In Japan, they pretty much import everything including steel so the cost of the materials has to be built in to the price of the machine. In addition, the Koreans are doing to Japanese industry what the Japanese did to American industry. They are building a better product at a lower price point and making the Japanese look like dingbats. They have studied the Japanese model. thrown out what doesn't work and improved it.
Look at Hyundai. Five years ago it was a joke of a car company. Now they are poised to overtake Honda and Toyota. Korean products are world class now including their tractors. Have no fear of buying a Kioti.

 

[Gil Case]

Not to quibble, since I agree with most of the post, but having been in the steel business, I can assure you that the Japanese have a robust steel industry. It is mostly or exclusively Electric Arc Furnace Steel. (i.e. remelted scrap) and the Korean steel industry is similar, but perhaps better managed than the Japanese.
Better managed may mean more monopolistic, but it would be hard to be more monopolistic than the Japanese.

 

[art]

We deal with some higher hour unit use here and we know what the Kubota's will do and it, will be interesting to see if the kioti's will still be working with five and six thousand hours on them..

For the average home owner looking for gross weight to move loads kioti's seem to be working fine for some.

For being more like a swiss army knife concept for a typical homeowner the Kubota fit's better with the mowing detail.

 

[ethiojazz]

So there is a lot of good info here... I just wanted to add my personal experience... I have had a B2410 for the past 8 years. Its a very nice little tractor that has indeed done a lot of big things for me. I also have a ZD326 mower which also has been very good... Both are Kubota's. So when I started looking for a bigger machine I started with Kubota. I like JD, but dont know any of my local dealers.

The main reason for this upgrade was my bush hogging of appx 4 acres plus tilling 1.5 acres for a small commercial vegetable garden and finally the extra-ordinary winter we just had.

I looked at the L3700 for starters and quickly decided it was a glorified L3400 which actually had better features. I then went to the Grand L (L3240) because I read several suggestions that showed you could team it up with the heavier LA724 FEL thus get much better loader performance. I worked with two dealers and worked out what I thought was a fair deal. I would trade my B series in and get a better machine...

Because of a glitch, things got delayed and I was surfing this site when I noticed discussions about the Kioti and its merits... I asked a dealer about it and was floored by the price difference... simply put I could keep my B series tractor as a backup to both the ZD and the DK35SE HST, get similar performance on both the loader and PTO, technically have more weight and more HP for about a $6K difference. i.e. I am paying a little over 2800 dollars more for the DK and keeping my B series or tractor for tractor I would have to pay $6K more for the Kubota.

I am the first to admit that the Kubota GL series does have some really cool features... But just like my cars, tractors are for a utility purpose. I have a truck for hauling, a SUV to transport the family and a convertible to keep my wife happy... ZD is an awesome mower, doing in about 4 hours what used to take me all day and require lots of trimmer work. B series is like my first dog.. She has been with me ....

But I was looking for the utility of the tractor and for my use, I could not justify the difference in price... As they say one mans opinion.

 

[RSKY]

Got to say that I am enjoying the comments. But still, nobody has come up with definite provable facts that favor one tractor over the other.

1. There is a Kubota dealer within 15 minutes of my house. The Kioti dealer near me is one of the largest, oldest, in the midwest though the dealership is an hour away. He is there to stay.

2. I will not be mowing a yard with the tractor. I have a small zero-turn for that. Wife would leave me if I got rid of that.

3. The Kubota dealer that comes closest to the 'package price' of the Kioti is three hours away. And is still over a thousand higher.

4. I plan to keep the tractor long enough to accomplish several 'goals' of work. Then resell the entire package. This may be ten to fifteen years in the future.

5. This is my retirement toy. Not a commercial money maker.

Help me decide.

RSKY