RK Tractor reviews???

[uptaker73]

I'm currently looking at the RK37. Will definitely be making a purchase within the next few weeks. I need some real honest reviews of these RK tractors. I'm also looking into the Mahindra 2638 and Massey ferguson 1736. Would like the RK because the store is 5 minutes from our house. Any help from you guy's who have made the RK purchase would be great!!

Thanks again,

Greg

 

[Omega Woods]

Have you watched the "Outdoors with the Morgans" YouTube channel? RK lent him three different ones and all the attachments and he makes videos about them. Not an impartial review but lots of good info.

 

[kkilli]

I bought a RK37 and took delivery a couple of weeks ago. So far so good but I only have 25 hours on it, mostly running the backhoe.

I looked long and hard at all the major brands and based on specs vs price RK was the clear winner for my situation, plus Rural King was the closest dealer to my farm. It is however a calculated gamble I was was willing to take.

Only time will tell how it will hold up and if/when it needs to be serviced how well Rural King will handle it.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll be happy to try and answer them.

 

[s219]

They seem like real good machines, but proximity to the store wouldn't factor in for me, other than convenience for picking the machine up after buying it. Everything I have heard/read makes it sound like RK will not have a major service facility at their stores, at least not in the sense of a traditional tractor dealer. Normally here on TBN we stress proximity to dealer and having a good dealer relationship, but at least for now it doesn't seem like RK has those capabilities lined up yet.

The couple stories I have read about people taking delivery here on TBN made it sound like the store staff are pretty new to the whole tractor thing (in some cases they knew less about tractors than the buyer). I would want to know what RK's plans are for developing some sort of traditional dealer support network if that was important to you. If it is important but they don't have plans to turn their stores into a full fledged tractor dealer/service department, then it wouldn't matter if it's 5 minutes away or not.

 

[uptaker73]

I really enjoy watching the youtube channel Outdoors with the Morgans..I believe Mike does a great job of trying to offer an unbiased opinion on the RK tractor. That being said I do worry that the service may be lacking if there is ever a real issue with these tractors. I can say that the business that our local store does tells me it isn't going anywhere soon, they stay absolutely busy. I hope to be making a purchase in the next couple of months. Which brand I'm still not sure. But when I do I hope it's my last purchase.

 

[uptaker73]

How is the RK still holding up? Any issues?

 

[kkilli]

No issues to report with mine. Everything is working exactly as it should.

 

[uptaker73]

Thanks for the update. I seen this weekend at my local store they had the mobile service trucks sitting out front. That's a good sign they are making a effort to stick around in the tractor business.

 

[Btown]

I'm currently looking at the RK37. Will definitely be making a purchase within the next few weeks. I need some real honest reviews of these RK tractors. I'm also looking into the Mahindra 2638 and Massey ferguson 1736. Would like the RK because the store is 5 minutes from our house. Any help from you guy's who have made the RK purchase would be great!!

Thanks again,

Greg

The RK 37 and the Mahindra 2638 the same Tractor except for the engine. Mahindra uses their own in the 2638 and the RK uses the standard Yanmar engine that TYM uses in theirs. There are some small differences, Mahindra uses a different seat, most say it is too low and too close to the steering wheel. TYM has built built tractors for Mahindra for over a decade. I’m not sure if Mahindra puts a different loader on like they used to. Let’s just hope that RK does not get sold like Cabelas did. If they did not sell, they would still be selling Green TYM’s and they people who have warranty issues would not have the problems they have today. But we most likely would not have RK selling them. I wonder when TYM is going to put their own engine in them since they bought Kujke ( Branson ) last year. Kujke is licensed by Cummins to produce engines.

 

[Soundguy]

I bought a RK37 and took delivery a couple of weeks ago. So far so good but I only have 25 hours on it, mostly running the backhoe.

I looked long and hard at all the major brands and based on specs vs price RK was the clear winner for my situation, plus Rural King was the closest dealer to my farm. It is however a calculated gamble I was was willing to take.

Only time will tell how it will hold up and if/when it needs to be serviced how well Rural King will handle it.

Let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll be happy to try and answer them.

I'm looking at one myself.

Originally I was looking between the rk37 and 55, open station models with the basic tranny option. My wife has convinced me to go for the rk37 with cab and air conditioner, and hydrostatic trans so that she could drive it.

So now I'm leaning that way.

Which model did you get?

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

There are quite a few differences between the 2638 and the RK37, according to the specs. For one thing, the RK is longer and narrower.

RK37 L: 126, W: 53.5
2638 L: 119.3 W: 63.2

Big difference in price, for sure.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm amazed that you guys wife's HAVE TO HAVE a hystat tranny to drive a tractor!!

What is up with that?? There's a LOT of work that wouldn't have got done with THAT attitude when I was growing up, and women around here STILL can drive a std tranny car/truck OR tractor! lol

Where are you guys finding these wimmins that "aren't capable of learning" to drive anything with a stick tranny??

SR

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I'm amazed that you guys wife's HAVE TO HAVE a hystat tranny to drive a tractor!!

What is up with that?? There's a LOT of work that wouldn't have got done with THAT attitude when I was growing up, and women around here STILL can drive a std tranny car/truck OR tractor! lol

Where are you guys finding these wimmins that "aren't capable of learning" to drive anything with a stick tranny??

SR

I drove a stick since I was 12; from VW bugs to sports cars up to a large horse transport truck. I still could, but why would I want to? Auto is smoother, easier, more fuel efficient, easier on my knees, and safer on my mountain roads.
A tractor is another beast altogether--a lot more going on than driving a car--but sure, I can drive a manual tractor too. But why would I want to? FOR MY USES, HST is smoother, easier, more efficient (lots of stops, starts, tight spaces), and safer on my mountain land.

I guess "real men" only drive manual transmissions (and "real women" too). HST is for wussies. I get it.

 

[prof fate]

A new RK opened here and all the tractors caught my eye - the price and features compared to kubota (what i'm familiar with) were amazing.

A bit of research and they're made by TYM spec'd for RK. What I read seems to indicate TYM is pretty good, no major issues.

BUT - the local RK is NOT a tractor dealer - no experienced knowledgable staff, no parts counter..and in the past 10 years RK sold a chinese tractor and a rebranded massey. They quit doing both. SO - if you had a 5 year old RK/MF and needed warranty service what would you do? THey don't sell them anymore...you're screwed I'd think.

And that is why I kept looking - got a Kioti CK3510HST for the SAME PRICE as the RK37...from a real dealer. I got a couple of extra things (cruise, loaded rear tires, link pedal). Spec wise the RK I think can lift 200lb more with the loader - but unless you put ballast on the back it won't matter (my loader can outlift my loaded tires...so i'm sure the RK will as well).

Do you NEED the support of a 'real' dealer? Do you care if your tractor brand becomes 'abandoned'? Only you can answer that question.

Cab and A/C is nice, radio, work lights, you stay cleaner, quiter - but $4500ish...AND if/when the A/C breaks you will COOK in the summer.

 

[kkilli]

I'm looking at one myself.

Originally I was looking between the rk37 and 55, open station models with the basic tranny option. My wife has convinced me to go for the rk37 with cab and air conditioner, and hydrostatic trans so that she could drive it.

So now I'm leaning that way.

Which model did you get?

I got the 37 open station, hydro with R1’s. I looked very hard at the cab version but due to a number of reasons (orchard w/trees to go under, lots of woods trails to open and mostly wanting to store it in a standard garage) I chose to go open station.

Overall I’m very happy with my choice so far. I’m just about at the 50 hour mark already so I’ll be stopping by Rural King to pick up the needed stuff to do the 50 hour service this weekend. I’m told they should have everything in stock so we’ll see.

I will say though, after spending about 25 hours brush hogging in 90+ degree temps, I did think about that nice air conditioned cab a time or two...

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I guess "real men" only drive manual transmissions (and "real women" too). HST is for wussies. I get it.

Glad that was YOUR quote! lol

I never said anything negative about gals that CAN drive a stick, it's just I keep reading here, all the time that a hystat HAS TO BE PURCHASED so girls or kids can drive their tractor...

I just don't see that around here and like I said, A LOT of work would not get done around here "IF" the girls here, couldn't drive a gear tranny...

Keep in mind, I have both and my wife has never complained even once about driving a gear tranny or that she preferred the "whiner" tranny....

SR

 

[Soundguy]

I drove a stick since I was 12; from VW bugs to sports cars up to a large horse transport truck. I still could, but why would I want to? Auto is smoother, easier, more fuel efficient, easier on my knees, and safer on my mountain roads.
A tractor is another beast altogether--a lot more going on than driving a car--but sure, I can drive a manual tractor too. But why would I want to? FOR MY USES, HST is smoother, easier, more efficient (lots of stops, starts, tight spaces), and safer on my mountain land.

I guess "real men" only drive manual transmissions (and "real women" too). HST is for wussies. I get it.

I only own manual tranny tractors. Always have. Most of them are 50-70 years old .

Wife has driven manuals when she was younger.

While I can't really think of any day to day stuff the wife might need the tractor for, I can think of a few benefits if she COULD drive it if needed.

1, if I was doing something and needed help. ( pulling me out if stuck), or running the loader in a precision critical situation that also required tractor movement AND required me to be on the ground, lil moving something out of the truck bed and into the house, like heavy appliances, etc, where I need to be on the ground eying things up, making sure stuff goes thru the open door, not the door frame, etc.

2, we got animals to feed that requires a loader and bale spear, and I ain't livin forever. Might be a point where she needs to feed the cows n horses while lookin for a replacement person to boss around.

3, hst ( and ac ) would be easier on the wife, her knees hit retirement age along with the rest of the parts a few months ago.

So.. If she wants my knew tractor to be ac and hst, its probably gonna be ac and hst.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

I never said anything negative about gals that CAN drive a stick, it's just I keep reading here, all the time that a hystat HAS TO BE PURCHASED so girls or kids can drive their tractor...

Well I'm glad now I learned so that in your book I'm okay.

Few cars have manual trans any more. Few younger folks <45 years old ever learned. I'm glad to have that skill, along with all the rest of the possibly useless skills I've acquired in my lifetime (like cursive handwriting). Maybe someday it'll be important again, maybe not.

All of those "girls and kids" are just as capable of learning to drive a stick as you or I were when we were younger. (IQs haven't changed much in the last few decades.) But why force them to do it when we have advanced technology HST that makes driving a tractor easier and safer for them? Just to save .2 HP? Just to prove they can do it?

SR, you've made it clear you *hate* HST with a purple passion. Fine. Just give everyone else a break okay? Let them pick what works for them without impugning their character.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Well I'm glad now I learned so that in your book I'm okay.

You "should" have learned that from my first post, instead of reading into it things I never wrote!

SR, you've made it clear you *hate* HST with a purple passion. Fine. Just give everyone else a break okay? Let them pick what works for them without impugning their character.

There you go again, reading into my post something I never wrote...

I have both gear and hydro's, so I guess "that" AT LEAST I have more experience on "both" than most of the posters on here...

How about just reading what "I" write, instead of assuming other?

SR

 

[4570Man]

Glad that was YOUR quote! lol

I never said anything negative about gals that CAN drive a stick, it's just I keep reading here, all the time that a hystat HAS TO BE PURCHASED so girls or kids can drive their tractor...

I just don't see that around here and like I said, A LOT of work would not get done around here "IF" the girls here, couldn't drive a gear tranny...

Keep in mind, I have both and my wife has never complained even once about driving a gear tranny or that she preferred the "whiner" tranny....

SR

I was on a geared tractor as soon as I was big enough to sorta push the clutch. I didn’t die, but a HST would have been safer. I drive a manual transmission truck. There’s nothing wrong with a good shuttle shift tractor but a straight shift tractor sucks. And most of you guys seem to be missing the idea on what most of these little tractors do. They don’t do field work.