Best operating practices vs. brute force approach

[Jimbrown]

I do not care what you buy but buy the FEL. I use mine every day. I can do more by myself with the FEL than I can with a helper. To me the tractor would be worthless with out it.

 

[Noodlearm]

I used my CK30 in the snow for the first time. Had drifts in certain areas of well over 20" and had no problems at all. I did use the loader in certain spots as well but not too often. I cant say for certain but with the ease it handled this storm, I would aaume another 8'' - 12" wouldn't be much more of a problem either.

 

[dave_upstairs]

I managed to move a lot of snow with the back of my grader blade -- even at an angle, snow will roll off to one side. It leaves more gravel on my drive and less in the grass.

I stopped at the Kioti dealer tnnight after work. He started an LK3054 and LB1914. The LB had a 4ft FEL. THe LK3054 is a 'lot more tractor' all the way around -- more cast iron on the front. Both had a lot of features, started and ran well.

We talked a little bit about price. <font color="green"> I then headed over to the local JD dealer </font> . He ran a list of some used tractors (all but one were 2WD and turf tires). We discussed a new JD 790 (27HP), and price with a FEL was not that much different than the LK3054. We have 3 JD dealers in the county. I was a little suprirzed that there wasn't more price difference. It was quitting time and I didn't get to drive the JD.

I'm now in agreement that a FEL is not an option. I think it puts more weight on the tractor (in the middle, over both wheels), and it would be something that would be used every time the tractor is started. I could throw wood into the bucket and haul up to the house, scoop snow, etc...

The 20HP unit is not going to be a long-term match up for the 6ft mower. So, either mower changes, or I find a few more $$$ in the cookie jar and spring for the 30 HP tractor.

A funny thing -- nobody's tractor book has my Ford 1000 listed in it, so these dealers aren't quite sure what I've got .

I've got more numbers now to look at. I may stop in at the other 2 JD dealers -- they don't have a search network of their used stuff, so I'll just have to call or stop in.

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We discussed a new JD 790 (27HP), and price with a FEL was not that much different than the LK3054. We have 3 JD dealers in the county. I was a little suprirzed that there wasn't more price difference. It was quitting time and I didn't get to drive the JD. )</font>

Dave,
Make sure you test drive the differant machines.
I'm not knocking the JD 790. There are a lot of members on this site that are very happy with them and they have a reputation for being reliable.
But I am 6'1" and to me the 790 seat felt to high and it didn't have much leg room .
I also much prefer the 8f/8r sycronized transmission with shuttle over the 8f/2r non-syncronized transmission on the 790.
My opinion only, yours may vary /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Dargo]

DK35vince, I think I found why the Kioti tractors have an extreme depreciation rate around me. I went to Kioti's website and used their dealer search function. I had to go all the way out to a "100 mile" search before I found more than one dealer. Then I found two. The closest one, 56 miles away, had quoted me a price higher for their 55 hp Kioti model than my Kubota L5030HSTC.

I was just baffled as to why I read so many good things about Kioti here, but find that no local dealer will work on one, and ones listed locally for sale either never sell, or sell for an extremely low price. I wonder how many places in the U.S. still have very few Kioti dealers? I live in a town with a metro area of about 150K people. With no dealer, and no place willing to work on them, it certainly forces their value down here. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif There were two dealers in my town at one point, but both have dropped the Kioti line. That likely has added to the "negative" attitude, you know how nice they talk about Kioti, towards an obvious up and coming company here. I'd have to drive a couple of hours to my nearest dealer just to have him rip my head off.

I'm currently experiencing some problems with my Kubota, but fortunately the dealer is only about 15 minutes away and now is being helpful. I really only posted this info showing that Kioti is not really an option for me, but I don't think it is the fault of the Kioti tractor. With very aggressive "big three" dealers in my area, it apparently is very difficult for others to get in. I have also never seen a Mahindra, Jimna, Zetor, Century, Iseki, Mitsubishi, Power Trac or Branson tractor around here either. I expect I would have the same difficulty with those makes. I'd really like to have more choices, but I'm not willing to be "stuck" with a broken tractor and have no local support. I guess I'll just have to wait.

 

[DK35vince]

In my area the most popular compact tractors are John Deere and Kubota.
We have some good Deere and Kubota dealers locally and at first they where the machines I was looking at the hardest. But the prices ( at least in my area) seem quite high compared to what I see other members on the site paying.
This was the main reason I began looking at some differant brands, prices, features Etc.
There is a Kubota/Kioti dealers about 60 miles away where I first started looking at Kioti tractors, this dealers prices seemed quite high also (on the Kubota and the Kioti).
I really liked the Kioti tractors I saw so later I checked out 1 more Kioti dealer. I was supprised at the huge differances in price I received for the exact same machine between the 2 differant dealers.
My search was over. I found the machine and features I wanted at a very good price compared to the other machines and dealers I had been to.
I liked the dealer, his knowlegde of the machines he was selling and the fact that he has been a Kioti dealer since 1993.
So far after 3 years of ownership I have been real happy with my decision and my dealer.
You are right though, the area, quality of dealers and prices can make a huge differance on what works best for you.
As far as resale on Kioti tractors in my area, I really do not know. I tend to keep my machines for a very long time, so resale value did not weigh much in my decision.

 

[Dargo]

If you have a good Kioti dealer who isn't trying to slaughter their customers on price, I'd expect a higher market penetration of Kioti tractors in your area, thus a much better resale value than here. I guess Kioti can't dictate that their dealers be reasonable in their pricing, so you get some dealers like the first one you went to, and the only one close to me. I have nothing against Kioti, but when there are a dozen Kubota dealers in my area, the brand is better known, the reliability is known, and the price is the same, it will be hard for Kioti to get a toe hold on market share here. For me, that really stinks. I'm quite impressed with the DK65 (I think that's the model with a cab). I understand that next year they are going to a 4 cyl. Perkins engine. If they have a shuttle shift, I really don't mind that any different than the hydro I currently have. Don't get me wrong, the hydro is really nice, but I functioned quite well with a shuttle shift on JD models I've had.

Since I have about 190 acres of land, my L5030HSTC Kubota is almost a bit small. I'm dead serious about looking at a DK65 with a cab and FEL when they put the 4 cyl. Perkins in it. I guess I'll have to try to find a "good" dealer somewhere to get me prices though. I could likely buy the 5XXX series JD with a cab or the M series Kubota with a cab for the same price my Kioti dealer qould quote me. Hey, I don't know about you, but price does matter! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DK35vince]

I can give you an idea of what I paid 3 years ago.
$12,995 - DK 35 (35 HP/28.3 PTO HP) with grill guard, R-4's and 1 rear remote.
$3500 - Kioti 1450 loader
$500 - skid steer style quick atttach and heavier duty bucket.
Total $16,995 before tax.

Since then I have added
$200 -second set of rear remotes
$100 - Filled rear tires with WW fluid
$400- top/tilt cylinders and hoses
$375- Kioti canopy
$5200- Rhino 85 backhoe/subframe and hose kit 8 1/2" digging depth, 11' reach.( still in crate/ I assemble and mount)
$40- for 4 ROPS lights
I now have a real nice setup for just over $23,300.
In my area that is an excellant price for this size machine with the features I have.

 

[dave_upstairs]

I appreciate all the thoughts ont his post. It's rambling a bit. Perhaps this will serve as a closing thought. Someone said, "The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence." I was driving to town the other night and saw a little Ford tractor out clearing snow from a driveway, and I thought, Wow! that's a good looking outfit.

Hey, that looks like my tractor. Hmmm. Maybe I should be thankful for what I've got and see about making the best of it. My ford seems to have a good setup of as far as wide (ag) tires (no ruts in the yard) and weight (fairly good traction for a 2wd model) and, hey, it did start and run. That's something to be said, right there.

I am going to buy a smaller blade (everyone sold out of the 5ft models last week), and look into downsizing my 6ft finish mower in the spring. Also, for my woodcutting, I going to look at getting a log-hook and use my boom for lifting up limbs for cutting.

I think these moves will be a good investment. If I do sell the tractor, I'll have a decent mower and blade to go with it. (or perhaps keep and use with the next tractor).

Happy Holidays to everyone. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I appreciate all the thoughts ont his post. It's rambling a bit. )</font>

Rambling /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Are you trying to tell me something /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif