dieselscout80
Veteran Member
Thanks
Bought a new RK 24
- Thread starter RodgerF
- Start date
Thanks
snymat68
Platinum Member
This is true of the mechanical thumb on the backhoe as well. (Now standard.)
They are also now offering a factory 3rd function kit as an option.
powrguy
Member
Absolutely....free stuff is not gonna be there if you bash the hand that feeds you, no matter how much denial.
I look for the few OWNERS who put down their own money, and can then honestly evaluate the product. Pandering for handouts seems to be the trend on YouTube now, and there are "sponsored" channels everywhere, and few non-sponsored reviews anymore, because it's so expensive to run a channel with quality video and audio, with all the time it takes to edit the videos to post. Forums like this are better places to get HONEST owner comments, to me.
RK Tractor Guy
Manufacturer
Interesting take. For the record, Mike Morgan of Outdoors With the Morgans YouTube channel did not approach RK, it was the other way around, so it is hard to say he was pandering for free stuff. Mike doesn't tell anyone to buy an RK Tractor, he just uses them to go about the work around his 100 acres and shares his opinion. He certainly believes it is his honest opinion. The whole idea of the arrangement is to simply to let his viewers see all of the ways that tractors and implements can be used. Mike is about as honest as they come. The agreement that we have with him states that he will only use the equipment if it is something he would otherwise purchase. Sure, human nature would indicate that there will be some bias, but Mike would not have the equipment if he didn't first understand the quality, features and price, and determine that this is something his viewers would like to see. There are indeed people with character using products provided at no cost because they both like them and need them. It is called a win-win, with integrity. That is the best way to characterize our relationship with Mike.
People that own an RK Tractor are of course the perfect source of information to provide to prospective owners. That is another important means for people to learn about products.
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Tennsawdust
Gold Member
It's good that we have Outdoors with the Morgans because it offers an opportunity to see the equipment in real use. Mike has been completely honest about his relationship with RK Tractor and it would be a stretch to suggest that he is being dishonest simply because he is provided with the equipment. He has said several times that he would report problems if he had any, but that there simply hasn't been anything to report. One guy can only rack up so many hours on three machines. I don't see a reason to complain about his channel. Mike is about as straight a shooter as you will find. He shouldn't be your only data point when considering the RK tractors because he is only one operator and other view points are readily available. Most owners will never have a problem with their tractor so you need a large cross section to learn what issues might arise. Clearly, one operator, regardless of how honest they are, is not a cross section.
The reason you see so many "sponsored" YouTube channels these days is that since the Google takeover of YouTube the ad revenue that is fed back to the creators has been steadily decreased to a fraction of what used to reach them and what is there is now targeted to the channels that YouTube wants to promote. The only way many channels survive is through some commercial arrangement, whether that is simply supplying equipment or supplies, or if it is a situation with direct funding. Otherwise they either can't afford the production costs or their output ends up being too stale to draw viewers.
The reason you see so many "sponsored" YouTube channels these days is that since the Google takeover of YouTube the ad revenue that is fed back to the creators has been steadily decreased to a fraction of what used to reach them and what is there is now targeted to the channels that YouTube wants to promote. The only way many channels survive is through some commercial arrangement, whether that is simply supplying equipment or supplies, or if it is a situation with direct funding. Otherwise they either can't afford the production costs or their output ends up being too stale to draw viewers.
snymat68
Platinum Member
coastie15078
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2018
- Messages
- 66
- Tractor
- RK24
I dont think I would attack a mans character because he was chosen to test a product. With anything, you do your due diligence and seek answers. I can tell you this, if you buy a new car or truck or house and expect to never have any issue, you will be disappointed. I feel the man is giving his honest opinion, and we are all able to express our own opinions.
capnkelly
New member
Just took delivery of our RK24. So far, its everything it is advertised to be. We got ours configured with the loader, grapple and backhoe. I've been using the grapple all day today, and am not disappointed at all. There are a couple of things that I hope RK will change though.
1. The step up for the backhoe is small. You can see it to put your foot on when you are climbing up to operate the backhoe...but when you are ready to get off, you cannot see it from the operators position. Maybe it could be a little larger?
2. The tool box is mounted on the side of the ROPS. When you are climbing onto the backhoe...it's in the way. And if you exit backing up..you'll hit it everytime.
3. The viewing window for the hydraulic fluid is extremely difficult to see with the backhoe attached. Maybe come up with an alternate way to check the fluid level.
4. Maybe add some tie down points.
Please don't let these minor items discourage you from considering the RK24....for it's size and price, you cannot go wrong.
1. The step up for the backhoe is small. You can see it to put your foot on when you are climbing up to operate the backhoe...but when you are ready to get off, you cannot see it from the operators position. Maybe it could be a little larger?
2. The tool box is mounted on the side of the ROPS. When you are climbing onto the backhoe...it's in the way. And if you exit backing up..you'll hit it everytime.
3. The viewing window for the hydraulic fluid is extremely difficult to see with the backhoe attached. Maybe come up with an alternate way to check the fluid level.
4. Maybe add some tie down points.
Please don't let these minor items discourage you from considering the RK24....for it's size and price, you cannot go wrong.
powrguy
Member
BigSchmitty
New member
So after reading this forum, doing my own research, and visiting different dealerships I bought a RK 24 yesterday. There were many factors that influenced my decision. Some being unbiased and of course some biased.
Unbiased:
I obviously really like the price point. I couldn’t get the same value with comparable models and attachments from JD and Kabota. (I bought the RK24 with FEL and 60” belly mower).
Location of the rural king dealership is 2 miles from my home. Closest JD is 40 miles and and Kabota is about 15 miles. It’s just to easy for me to transport 2 miles if needed.
I have friends that work at RK that I trust their honest opinion.
Now to the biased:
I’m actually a big JD fan and my family has never owned anything else for the past 30-40 years, but I’ll explain a little more of my decision.
I live in a little town of 4,500 people. That town happens to be Waverly, Ohio. We are small and have struggled economically for decades. We use to have a large factory �� in town but years ago they closed up shop. We happen to be very fortunate that Rural King stepped in and decided to invest in our community! They now have a large store here (2nd largest in their company I believe), a distribution center here, and they also assemble the tractors �� here. I’m very proud that I bought a tractor here in my own town knowing that I’m helping our struggling community. As I said though this is my biased reason for making the switch from JD.
The end result though is I strongly believe I would have bought the same tractor regardless of where I live based on my personal visits to check each tractor out in person and the spec sheets.
I’ll definitely have to give a review of it after putting it through its paces as I have 65 acres that needs work done.
Unbiased:
I obviously really like the price point. I couldn’t get the same value with comparable models and attachments from JD and Kabota. (I bought the RK24 with FEL and 60” belly mower).
Location of the rural king dealership is 2 miles from my home. Closest JD is 40 miles and and Kabota is about 15 miles. It’s just to easy for me to transport 2 miles if needed.
I have friends that work at RK that I trust their honest opinion.
Now to the biased:
I’m actually a big JD fan and my family has never owned anything else for the past 30-40 years, but I’ll explain a little more of my decision.
I live in a little town of 4,500 people. That town happens to be Waverly, Ohio. We are small and have struggled economically for decades. We use to have a large factory �� in town but years ago they closed up shop. We happen to be very fortunate that Rural King stepped in and decided to invest in our community! They now have a large store here (2nd largest in their company I believe), a distribution center here, and they also assemble the tractors �� here. I’m very proud that I bought a tractor here in my own town knowing that I’m helping our struggling community. As I said though this is my biased reason for making the switch from JD.
The end result though is I strongly believe I would have bought the same tractor regardless of where I live based on my personal visits to check each tractor out in person and the spec sheets.
I’ll definitely have to give a review of it after putting it through its paces as I have 65 acres that needs work done.