So hard to decide... need input Bobcat/Kioti

[zeroforhire]

I have decided to get into haying smaller lots. I am a new farmer that lives on 5 acres, and am tired of relying on others to come cut and bale my pasture. I totally understand why it isn't worth it to them. I asked around to see if other small land owners would be interested in having me cut and bale theirs and the response was overwhelming. I am also looking to expand into other money making ventures with the tractor. I will be fully licenced and insured and pay taxes.

I have narrowed my search down to the
kioti ck4010hst SE cab 40HP (0 down, no payments for 3 months, 0 percent for 84 months, 6 yr warranty)
Kioti NX6010 HST cab 60HP (0 down, 0 percent for 72 months, 6 yr warranty)

and the new bobcat ct5558 cab 58 HP (0 down, 0 percent for 84 months, 2 yr warranty)

I know that bobcat is basically a white Kioti.

I am torn because bobcat allows you to put their branded implements in the same financing deal and are offering $400 off if I buy two three point implements to the order

pricing is all pretty close. Kioti has a way longer warranty and their dealer is 3 miles from my house. Their dealer gets really good reviews (Jordan tractor sales in post falls, ID)
Bobcat is about a half hour from me, but their territory manager lives down the road and will deliver for free.

I am pretty sure I am overthinking this and any of these options would be great. What do you guys think I should do?

 

[Rebeldad1]

Kioti... longer warranty a real plus. I would be shocked if they wont deliver for free. Might even throw in a implement if you ask

 

[k0ua]

Kioti dealer is 3 miles from house, and gets great reviews...

Didn't you just answer your own question?

 

[zeroforhire]

yeah. I may have

 

[zeroforhire]

for sure. they will deliver for free

 

[fasttruck860]

Check the Bobcat dealer again. I'm in the same dilemma as you but with a compact tractor. The Bobcat will have the same warranty, but they advertise it differently. Bobcat will carry a 2 year bumper to bumper and 4 additional years for power train. That's the same warranty when I checked with Kioti but Kioti just lists it as 6 years.

You might also be able to get a free loader with the Bobcat with standard financing. When I did the math the savings more than covered the cost of the financing so it was a better deal in my situation.

 

[EJP1234]

Keep in mind this is the 2nd stint at tractors for Bobcat where they are made by Kioti with just different coloring...

Why would you buy a rebadged version with a shorter warranty knowing they may close up again?

 

[zeroforhire]

Keep in mind this is the 2nd stint at tractors for Bobcat where they are made by Kioti with just different coloring...

Why would you buy a rebadged version with a shorter warranty knowing they may close up again?

It looks like they have the same warranty. See above

 

[rademamj1]

If your seriously planning to do mowing and baling of hay as a profitable business, maybe do some gravel roads or other tasks, then get the NX6010 HST. You won't regret the purchase.

 

[redman135]

Before you buy the tractor, ask yourself, what is the LEAST manuverable machine? To me it is the hay baler. How wide is it and can you fit through the common size of gates lifestylers have? ie 10 ft baler does not go through a 9' 8" gate(10' post to post - 4" for gudgeons), very common. I drove for a commercial hay and silage contractor and lifestylers were often clueless about access.
The bext thing is what is the baler power demand and is the tractor heavy enough to handle the shunting effect of the plunger on your hills?
Lastly, get adjustable rims on the rear and set as wide as practical for hill work, (big difference in stability and feel).
I hope these questions help you pick the right tractor for your situation.

 

[Hay Dude]

As a fairly experienced hay farmer, Im looking at what youre doing from a completely different perspective. I understand why you want to do this, but you will struggle just to break even, more likely youll lose money on the hay end. Now that may not be an issue, but please dont think youll make money unless you have a LOT of tractor work you can do, or another source of income (I do construction).
If I were you, Id buy a used, proper farm tractor since it sounds like you want to do this as a business, not a pastime. Starting off with payments (even at “ zero “ financing) is going to put you in a hole that hay sales cannot keep up with. Id want to see you doing more of the other tractor work, say mowing fields and snowplowing, etc., before you even worry about hay. Remember, you are going to need a baler, disc mower, rake, Tedder and wagons if you do small bales and barn storage. Thats a LOT of capital investment. Its not just about a tractor.
I started out exactly the same way you did, and I wasted a lot of time on smallish equipment only to outgrow it and lose money on it while concentrating on hay.
If I were in your shoes, Id buy a good low hour, non tier 4 larger frame 75+ HP tractor with a cab and a loader before I bought a light weight small frame new tractor with all the pollution nonsense. Look around, youll see few for-profit farmers run a tractor like that. Only Personal or hobby use guys make hay with tractors like that. That way you can probably run a 12-15’ mower and a round baler or small square baler without breaking the bank.
Spend your money on new or newer attachments, not tractors.

 

[redman135]

Hay dude, what is causing the weird characters in your post?

 

[Hay Dude]

Hay dude, what is causing the weird characters in your post?

Dont know, but apostrophes seem to cause it :laughing:

 

[rScotty]

As a fairly experienced hay farmer, Im looking at what youre doing from a completely different perspective. I understand why you want to do this, but you will struggle just to break even, more likely youll lose money on the hay end. Now that may not be an issue, but please dont think youll make money unless you have a LOT of tractor work you can do, or another source of income (I do construction).
If I were you, Id buy a used, proper farm tractor since it sounds like you want to do this as a business, not a pastime. Starting off with payments (even at “ zero “ financing) is going to put you in a hole that hay sales cannot keep up with. Id want to see you doing more of the other tractor work, say mowing fields and snowplowing, etc., before you even worry about hay. Remember, you are going to need a baler, disc mower, rake, Tedder and wagons if you do small bales and barn storage. Thats a LOT of capital investment. Its not just about a tractor.
I started out exactly the same way you did, and I wasted a lot of time on smallish equipment only to outgrow it and lose money on it while concentrating on hay.
If I were in your shoes, Id buy a good low hour, non tier 4 larger frame 75+ HP tractor with a cab and a loader before I bought a light weight small frame new tractor with all the pollution nonsense. Look around, youll see few for-profit farmers run a tractor like that. Only Personal or hobby use guys make hay with tractors like that. That way you can probably run a 12-15’ mower and a round baler or small square baler without breaking the bank.
Spend your money on new or newer attachments, not tractors.

Absolutely agree. That's great information and is the same thing I've heard from my farming friends. Big & comfortable older tractor, newer implements, and no payments because haying is a break-even business.... but enjoyable.
rScotty

 

[zeroforhire]

Thanks everyone. I looks like I may have it backwards. I thought the tractor was the thing to buy new because I would need to rely on it... Then piece together implements.

 

[GSVette]

Iirc Jordon has(or had) a implement ‘loaner’ program which I found very interesting when I was contemplating my tractor purchase. They were in my final down select and if not for the screaming deal I got on my LS- I’d have likely bought from them.

 

[Hay Dude]

Thanks everyone. I looks like I may have it backwards. I thought the tractor was the thing to buy new because I would need to rely on it... Then piece together implements.

You can do it that way, but in my experience, go more well used on the tractor. If possible get a real good baler. That’s the piece that’s hardest to get fixed quick when it breaks and the hay is just right for baling and rain is a few hours away. :laughing:
Rakes and tedders are cheap/easy to fix, unless you have a teenage son who likes to wrap them around trees.
The Lower HP tractor you have in mind would struggle to run a discbine in tall grass or uphill.
You also have to figure age will start playing havoc on your shoulders stacking small bales, so a higher HP heavier used tractor will be able to pull a round baler or a small bale accumulator.
I have big shoulders, but my labrums are torn in both.

Since I don’t know what bale you want to make, I can’t help much more. I used EZ Trail bale baskets and a small baler and a NH 4x5 round baler.
Now I do rounds and big squares. No more little bales.

 

[zeroforhire]

Iirc Jordon has(or had) a implement ‘loaner’ program which I found very interesting when I was contemplating my tractor purchase. They were in my final down select and if not for the screaming deal I got on my LS- I’d have likely bought from them.

Sent you a message

 

[zeroforhire]

You can do it that way, but in my experience, go more well used on the tractor. If possible get a real good baler. That’s the piece that’s hardest to get fixed quick when it breaks and the hay is just right for baling and rain is a few hours away. :laughing:
Rakes and tedders are cheap/easy to fix, unless you have a teenage son who likes to wrap them around trees.
The Lower HP tractor you have in mind would struggle to run a discbine in tall grass or uphill.
You also have to figure age will start playing havoc on your shoulders stacking small bales, so a higher HP heavier used tractor will be able to pull a round baler or a small bale accumulator.
I have big shoulders, but my labrums are torn in both.

Since I don’t know what bale you want to make, I can’t help much more. I used EZ Trail bale baskets and a small baler and a NH 4x5 round baler.
Now I do rounds and big squares. No more little bales.

that makes perfect sense. Thanks

 

[Jchonline]

Kioti hands down. Why buy a rebranded machine? Parts will be tougher to funnel through Kioti to Bobcat, etc. Bobcat has tried before and failed. There is no reason to believe they will be successful this time.

There is no reason to get a 10 ft baler if you have 5 acres of land. That is a huge waste of $$ unless you are bailing other properties.