Buying Advice Buying a garden tractor

[finn1]

CX Kioti would meet your requirements.

 

[GeneV]

Chim made a good comment about the BH. I have no idea what you would use fit or on a one acre lot. They are expensive and then you need to take them off and store them to use the 3PH. I have seen a number of small units for sale and the BH normally looks like new. Buying used may not be the best option. Those little machines go for stupid prices here in my area...and a lot have the useless BH that makes them expensive. Get a new one without the BH and get the warranty IMHO. Set aside $600 for a contractor to do your BH work.

I keep finding use for my backhoe, mostly within a 1 acre area of my 2.6 acre lot. Digging out and replanting deep-rooted plants, hauling logs with the thumb, turning over our big compost pile...just a bunch of stuff. I was originally looking for a scut with a loader only, am glad I landed one with a backhoe at a good price.

 

[coobie]

Also thinking I would like 4wd and power steering.

Love my 2011 diesel JDX740 tractor.Not 4 wheel drive though.

 

[fried1765]

Love my 2011 diesel JDX740 tractor.Not 4 wheel drive though.

That is a magnificent looking little machine!
Last week I gave my pristine JD LA110 rider to my son, and bought myself a new 48" SCAG (21HP Kawasaki) zero turn.
I am just learning to use it, but think I am already in love!

 

[rademamj1]

To the OP I would recommend any subcompact tractor brand. They are all capable and reliable. Go for tractor that's fits your budget and take advantage of the 0% financing being offered. Used asking prices right now are highest I ever seen.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

I would go with the next step up from the BX series, the Kubota 23 or 2601, something along those lines. Much depends on mowing. The style of lawn and garden tractors nowadays is high, and annoying to anyone who has to cut under an orchard. I have a CUT but wanted something to mow with that would fit under trees. The nice JD models were far too high, and I ended up with Kubota GR2120, which is an okay machine, but still much higher than the old wheelhorse it replaced, and I'm continually banging my head on branches of our semi--dwarf apple trees. The Deeres were much more expensive, though appear to be more heavy duty machines, but far too high for cutting under the trees.
The GR AWD is much more gentle on grass than four wheel drive, because it disengages the front drive when steering sharply. At the same time, it's really easy to get stuck in the mud with it, especially if you start to turn.
Any SCUT will be too high if you have low hanging trees to cut under, however.
One other thing: any underbelly mower over 54" or so will be a very difficult thing to work on. If you go with a SCUT or CUT, I would submit a RFM is a better choice if you want 60" or more.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

So I took the winter off from tractor shopping while I moved into my new house.
We have 1 acre on side of a mountain in Northern Alabama. Front yard has a gradual slow but the back yard has some decent slopes, and my new garden area is at the bottom of that slope (it's the only place where I have full sun). I'm currently mowing with a little JD mower and it does the job but it's a task. My soil is red dirt and chert rock, and I have a 5' gate at one end of the backyard and a roughly 7' gate on the other end of the backyard.

I went tractor shopping today for the first time to look at the subcompacts with loader, mmm, and backhoe options. Again, I'm looking for a tractor for gardening, landscaping (digging/cutting paths and walkways), maintaining my driveway, and light construction.

I looked at the
Rural King RK24 - quoted $22.8K
Kubota BX23SLB-R - quoted $25.7K
JD 1025R - quoted $25K
JD 2025R - quoted $30K
LS MT125 - quoted $19.5K
LS MT225S - quoted $24.6K
Massey GC1723EB - quoted $20.4K

All tractors seemed to basically the same package as far as features go. Honestly, the RK24 seemed like the most solid tractor, and felt a little beefier and higher quality materials than all the others with the exception of maybe the JD 2025R. However the JD was about $7K more than the RK24. What I liked about both is that they seemed to have larger tires than all the other subcompacts, and thus more ground clearance.

I was disappointed in the price difference between the JD 1025R and the JD 2025R. The sales guy told me that they are virtually the same tractor - same frame, same engine, same tranny, same backhoe, same loader - yet because they can't get the 1025R with the backhoe preinstalled, they mark up the 2025R up 5 grand and install it at the dealer. Does that sound right? I asked him if he could get the 1025R with everything preinstalled and just upgrade the tires at the dealer for less money. He said he would get back to me Monday.

Would love to hear more opinions on these tractors. I'm planning to visit a Bobcat, Mahindra, TYM, and Kioti dealer over the next 2 weeks.

Side note: The Kubota dealer was also the only dealer in town to deal New Holland/Ford tractors. I was interested in the Workmaster series but the sales guy said they didn't have any on the lot and between me and him he'd never buy one. He says "engine great, transmission great, but always little things bending or breaking to shut you down."

 

[Rdrcr]

^^^^
Impressive list of tractors there. Did any dealer seem better than another? Good dealer support can be hard to find.

Mike

 

[airbiscuit]

Have you checked out Kioti?

 

[airbiscuit]

Here is the Sub Compact Kioti

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

^^^^
Impressive list of tractors there. Did any dealer seem better than another? Good dealer support can be hard to find.

Mike

Believe it or not, Rural King, though he admitted it takes him a few days longer to get parts than other dealers.

But with the other places I visited I spoke mainly with their sales departments so I didn’t get a good feel for their service departments.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Have you checked out Kioti?

I will be checking Kioti on my next round of visits.

 

[Rdrcr]

Believe it or not, Rural King, though he admitted it takes him a few days longer to get parts than other dealers.

But with the other places I visited I spoke mainly with their sales departments so I didn’t get a good feel for their service departments.

I don’t know much about RK but, they appear to have a attractive pricing and competitive products. I don’t see anything wrong there and if you’re gonna receive better service and support there, I wouldn’t hesitate to move forward with their product.

I have JD, Kubota, MF, Bobcat, Branson and several other dealers pretty close. My Kubota dealer is by far the best, followed by MF. I always visit both these dealers before making a decision. I could easily have 2 MF tractors but, I have 2 Kubotas.

Mike

 

[Mad_River]

If you have any physical disability you might consider how easy getting the MMM, front loader, backhoe on/off is going to be. The auto-connect deck sold me on the JD. Quality of MMM cut is a consideration too.

 

[GeneV]

One thing I don't like about the RK is how their backhoe mounts, it's a little more involved than how the others do it. But it might not be a big deal for you if you're not planning on taking it off too often. Also, if you're planning on using your 3ph, the lift arms and all that stay on the massey when you attach the backhoe. I'm pretty sure with most of your other choices you listed, you'd have to take off the lift arms to attach the hoe.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

I have narrowed my selection to the
LS MT225E/HE/S series and the Kioti CX/CK2510.

I sent a list of questions to each dealer to fill in my knowledge gaps, including an ask for detailed quotes after the initial ballpark estimates they gave me. I'm looking to buy either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to test drive either of these tractors as both dealers have sold out and are only able to keep up with orders. I did get to sit on a CK2610 (slightly bigger) and liked the quality of materials.

I'm planning to get the loader, mmm, backhoe, box blade, quick hitch, pallet forks, backhoe rubber feet, hydraulic top link, bolt on loader cutting edge or cutting teeth, and the rear tires filled.

Would love to hear opinions of others who have looked at these same tractors. One question I haven't been able to find the answer to is whether any of these tractors have the auto-throttle feature.

 

[Diggin It]

One thing I don't like about the RK is how their backhoe mounts, it's a little more involved than how the others do it.

I've lost track opf which ones now, but some of them require removing the full six foot long subframe and you cannot mount the MMM with the BH on.


With mine, I can have both on and operational. I can drop the BH in 10 minutes or less only pulling a couple or alignment pins.

Also, if you're planning on using your 3ph, the lift arms and all that stay on the massey when you attach the backhoe. I'm pretty sure with most of your other choices you listed, you'd have to take off the lift arms to attach the hoe.

They say mine are supposed to come off, but I found a way to raise them up out of the way far enough.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I know for sure that the LS ones that you listed don't have the linked throttle.
I believe the CK2610 has it as an option, not sure if it's available on the 2510

 

[Berlock]

From what the dealer told me here in the Australian market, the Kioti CS2610 couldn’t accept a MMM with the backhoe subframe fitted. Worth checking that if you’re considering them, might be different in your neck of the woods.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

Today I started the process of purchasing a Kioti CX2510 with loader, backhoe, and mmm. I also opted for a double edged box scraper, auto throttle, having the tires filled, and a couple other small upgrades.

On Monday, I will submit the loan application and hopefully it will be approved and the tractor will be ordered the same day. Expected delivery time is 4-6 weeks unless he can get an intra dealer transfer. Total with everything was around $27K and I’m going to put $8K down on it.

Excited and nervous about such a large purchase. I’ve never even bought a new car, but I take solace in that the tractor will probably hold its value longer than the a car.

I’m just relieved the choice is made and now I just can’t wait to get it here. It might be a little too big for my 1 acre but it’s really about the smallest compact I could find that had the ground clearance and other features I need for my sloped back yard. And I figured if I buy 3-5 acres down the road it’ll be perfect.