Happy Kioti owners?

[Rustyiron]

I have a buddy that wants a 40hp and knows little about tractors. He is on a tight budget (who's not?) I don't know anything about the Kioti line other than of all the newer AK (after Kubota) imported tractors out there, it seems that Kioti has been around longest. I suggested this site to him, but I know that he won't bother, so in trying to help a friend,
Have you guys shopped them against the other orange tractor, for price?
Are you satisfied with it? (your tractor)
I know that there are good and bad of all type of tractor dealers, but beyond the dealer, how has parts support been and warranty situations?
Thanks for any input for advising my buddy.

 

[grsthegreat]

well i really like mine, but ive only had it for about 1-1/2 months or so.

i like my dealer, hes been selling them for 8 years, and has a repair shop. theres another repaor /dealer about 30 miles from me also.

i like the fit & finish on the tractor, very comfortable to operate.

cant tell you anything about the longevity of it.....its new. i can tell you it cost alot less then a comperable equiped Kubota or JD......alot less

i have a 45 HP HST version, with cab.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've had a DK40se HST for three and a half years. I use mine mostly for land clearing, mowing and as a TLB and I have about 300 hours on it.

Great, great tractor and loader. Tremendous bang for the buck. Solid and reliable too. Only repairs have been a busted seat belt retractor in the first week and a cracked fuel bowl at about two years. Both simple replacements done by myself with parts shipped from the dealer. Starts immediately in cold weather. I really don't have a single "con" to report on the tractor itself.

Dealerships with Kioti are not nearly as stable as with JD, Kubota or NH and that is the single biggest issue with owning a Kioti. The corporate strategy for building a dealer network seems odd in that some really fine dealers have been pushed out. On the other hand, no one seems to have trouble getting parts. Despite the clumsy moves to build the dealer network, I'd have to say that the ownership experience has been almost completely positive. I'd buy another without hesitation (in fact my DK40se is my second Kioti).

 

[DK35vince]

I've had my DK 35 for just under 10 years. I have around 1500 hours on it.
I have been very pleased with mine. It has been very good.

 

[gkh7890]

RI,
I shopped for nearly 2 yrs. Wanted the Kubota really bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stopped by a Kioti dealer for a test drive and I was almost sold on the spot. I bought a DK40SE HST, K401 FEL, Sunshade, and loaded rear tires in May, 2010. I have 90 hours on it to date and I love it!!!!

In the Kubota line, the DK40SE HST is right b/w the L3940 and the L4240 where HP and FEL performance is concerned. The Kioti is heavier than both of the 2 L models I've mentioned. I priced 3 different dealers on a L3940 HST...pretty much tried to match the DK40 model I wanted. It was interesting regarding what you had to "add" to the bota (Q/A bucket & a set of rear remotes) vs what comes standard on the Kioti???? Price for me in the Cincinnati, OH area was $4K to $6.5K higher for the Kubota over the Kioti.

The Auto HST on the bota is really cool but not $4K cool. Another biggie for me was ergonomics! The HST pedal position on the bota was awkward & put my leg in a bind. It was not as comfortable as the 2 pedals on the Kioti. If you (your friend) spends much time in the seat, he will want to be as comfortable as possible. Something to think about if he's going w/ HST.

The Kioti has the better warranty but the bota will have the better resale value down the road. I didn't care about resale, I wanted the most bang for my buck.....and I think I got it :thumbsup: Good luck helping your friend!

 

[Dmace]

6 years and over 450 hours on my CK20 HST since I bought it new in Oct 2005 and it has been perfect since. Besides a sloppy cab (Sims cab, not a Kioti product), there is not a single thing I can think of that I don't like about this tractor. It's the perfect size for the small homeowner stuff I do (no mowing) yet is powerful enough for the excavation I do with it. I have removed more stumps than I can remember with the incredible Kioti backhoe, have moved countless tons of gravel, loam, mulch, etc... and cleared more snow in the past 6 years with the snowblower than I ever did with the plow truck. The HST is smooth and easy to use, the fender mounted loader control is much nicer than the loader mounted control on the Kubota's and I was getting pricing around $2-3k more for a comparable JD or Kubota which didn't include the $2k heated cab.
When I'm ready for a larger tractor, I will go straight to the Kioti dealer and skip shopping around. :thumbsup:

 

[Hoosier Hay Man]

I am a 1 year owner of a DK45S Cab. I use it for hay making, bale moving and barn cleaning mostly. Much easier on the fuel than my old IH I got rid of and some of my other tractors. It was by far the best value I could find of all of the other colors. :thumbsup:

 

[jimmyj]

I am very pleased with my CK30 TLB. If I bought again I'd try and afford the DK45 due to heavier loader lift.

It was the Kioti or Kubota, I choose Kioti for the following reasons:

- liked the dealer better
- several thousand cheaper for the equivalent unit
- heavier tractor
- better lift
- better warranty

I have had a few very minor issues but nothing out of warranty or major (issues have included a leaky hydraulic pipe fitting, dealer replaced, loader would not lock into float position as water got through the rubber boot by the joystick, again, no cost fix.

I've done SO much work with this tractor, it's been a great thing. It even starts great in the dead of winter below -20.

 

[Redgate West]

I bought a DK35 after test driving alot of different makes. I went with the DK because it just fit me better. With only 13 hours on mine now I have a long way to reach the time that DK35vince has on his. But I am expecting a long time experience with it. I knew going in that the Kubota had a better resale value, but I didn't buy it to resell. With proper maintenance I believe I've got a tractor that will be in my farm for a long time.

 

[Quickster2]

I've had my DK45 for 5 years now. Great tractor no issues currently at 330 hours. My brother in law bought same tractor last year. Both very happy with our purchases. I always perform extensive research before I spend my money. Kioti came out on top after 3 months of deliberation. I had a Yanmar 336D before but needed to move from 33HP to 45HP for my hunting property. Put a Rhino FEL on mine brother in law's has Kioti loader. This tractor will outlive me and I am only 55.

 

[ulflyer]

I bought the CK30 HST last spring after looking intensely at the Kibota. Ergonomically the Kioti suited me best as the seat has some springing to it, better than Kibota, its larger in size which I liked, has a step to ease getting up/down and the HST seemed quieter, less whinny. Also preferred the metal hood as opposed to polymer. All just personal things. Really wanted to like the Kibota as I have a dealer with exc reputation nearby whereas Kioti is a bit further and very small.

Its got one issue that some others have had: sticky treadle. Mainly I use it to mow and have to be very carefull around the house where theres more going forward and reverse. Have learned to keep my heel on the treadle to put it to neutral when needed. Usually, after an hour or so it eases up.
Intend on putting it in the shop this fall. One forum member had to have a whole new transmission put in but it was done under warranty. Despite that, I really like it a lot and am satisified I made the right decision for me.

 

[flatlander dave]

I've owned my kioti for about 1 1/2 years, little over 400 hours. Its a dk50 hst se cab. I looked at the other orange, green, and blue. All other brands were imported also. I saved over 12K buying kioti. Very pleased. I agree with other post about dealer network, I'm on my second dealer, other dealer is gone. I wish there parts distribution was better designed but thats my only complaint. Tractor is built like a brick $#%^ house. Heavy, nice fit-n-finish. Don't regret buying Kioti.

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

Welp after havin mine for a lil over a day im very pleasef. I did extensive research for the last year. Seemed to b so many more standard features with kioti then other brands. I rely wantef a new holland but just seemed cheap build n way to pricey. So I will keep ppsting. I believe I made the right choice. Time will tell. I have a dk50se hst. 46hrs

 

[grsthegreat]

Welp after havin mine for a lil over a day im very pleasef. I did extensive research for the last year. Seemed to b so many more standard features with kioti then other brands. I rely wantef a new holland but just seemed cheap build n way to pricey. So I will keep ppsting. I believe I made the right choice. Time will tell. I have a dk50se hst. 46hrs

i forgot...did you get it with or without the cab? still waiting for some pictures....:laughing: :laughing: :thumbsup:

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

i forgot...did you get it with or without the cab? still waiting for some pictures....:laughing: :laughing: :thumbsup:

Pics should b soon. Been runnin around with holiday n tryin to get a lil seat time. I didnt get the cab lol all the local farmers would be on me bot it lol.

 

[grsthegreat]

Pics should b soon. Been runnin around with holiday n tryin to get a lil seat time. I didnt get the cab lol all the local farmers would be on me bot it lol.

naaaa. ya need a cab :laughing:

i actually had to use the A/C today while harrowing the horse pasture.....got kinda hot today. put in 3 hrs of bouncy bouncy time

 

[Rustyiron]

Thanks for the reply's, You guys suprised me with some of the price savings. The Kioti sounds like a good value. Remember the old Avis (Ithink) rental car commercials? I think it was, "were #2 and we try harder" . It sounds like that may be the situation here. My buddy is looking 1st for used, but with some of the financing deals out there......

 

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for the reply's, You guys suprised me with some of the price savings. The Kioti sounds like a good value. Remember the old Avis (Ithink) rental car commercials? I think it was, "were #2 and we try harder" . It sounds like that may be the situation here. My buddy is looking 1st for used, but with some of the financing deals out there......

The Daedong/Kioti business model is similar to that of Hyundai in challenging the Japanese companies. Focus on efficiency and don't worry about staking out the highest "Lexus" spot on the tractor hierarchy. Kioti clearly is copying Kubota which cuts development costs and because they also manufacture in Korea their manufacturing costs are less too. That adds up to quite a savings that they can pass on to the customer in order to build market share.

Kioti tractors are really very well made, that is not where they skimp in order to undercut Kubota. What you don't get from Kioti is the latest greatest HST innovation (probably four or five years behind Kubota) but then again you have to ask who was complaining about the last generation of Kubota HST? Another difference that works in Kioti's favor IMO is that while Kubota generally seeks to build lighter tractors (there are benefits, especially for mowing which is a common use of CUTs) they are unable to offer quite as powerful loaders as the relative size of the axles and other structural components are not engineered for the heavier stresses. To be fair, Kubota is also very conservative in how they engineer and the result is that their loaders are typically 10-25% less powerful at a given horsepower size compared to Kioti. For shoveling poop out of a barn this is not an issue but for working to clear land or similar loader intensive tasks, the added loader capacity is a nice bonus with the Kioti tractors. Some Kubota dealers still like to mutter about Korean pot metal as the reason why Kioti's are not as light as Kubotas but anyone looking into the sophistication of Korean steel making abilities will see that for the smokescreen it is. Kubota is the exception in that they focus on engineering for lighter weight, Kioti is just using more traditional overbuilt tractor construction techniques.

 

[Monkeyonmybackfarm]

I just joined yesterday as I was looking information on my DK35. I purchased it in 2002 and I had looked at the other orange tractor and a red one. The $4000.00 difference in price for a tractor that offered so much more than the standard tractor. The DK35 is built heavy with a focus on being tough where it counts. For example on other tractors the steering rods are so flimsy that you have to be careful when bushhogging or a small tree will bend it..The money I saved I purchased a frontend loader and a piece of equipment...

Mine came with a metal tool box, rear work lamp, a creeper gear, shuttle shift,automatic stop on pto. That weren't offered on the others. The price difference was a good bargain for me but I was sold after the test use of the tractor by the dealer for a week.

Since my purchase, I have found that the tuffness of the tractor is far beyond my experience with other tractors I have owned over the last 30 years. I run veggie oil in mine during the summer months with no difference in power, starts in the colddes of weather and is really good on fuel...My IH won't run on veggie oil, the one time I tried it I have to have the injectors refurbished. From my research in the asian countries bio-fuels or veggie oil is what most tractors on run on...

I have never had to do any warranty work and only one repair at 600 hrs was change a front wheel bearing. I don't like that the front grill is plastic, as mine needs replacing, but all the others are plastic also...

 

[rd_macgregor]

In '06 when I was shopping for my first tractor, Kioti came out on top for weight, capabilities and features...all with a savings of more than $6k. I've had a couple of warrantee issues (all taken care of nicely) on my DK45SC, as well as some cosmetic damage working in the woods. After over 550 hrs, this has been a great tractor for me (though I'd like HST and ag tires!).

Sad to say, if I had to replace my tractor, I probably wouldn't get another Kioti; the only Kioti dealer in the province dropped the line because Kioti headquarters was forcing some onerous business/sales standards onto them.

I've heard that the parallel Bobcat line of Daedong-made tractors doesn't include all the bells and whistles that Kioti has, but haven't checked that out for myself.

Any the name brand tractors are fine choices, too. Saving a bunch on initial purchase is great, but I think the dealer has to be near the top of the list for importance in the purchase decision...especially so for those of us who aren't real handy with machinery.

BOB