DK50c Question?

ocaj11 · Aug 25, 2004

A little History:

I've been a member of this board and read many of the great posts each week. Usually, I'm on the Kubota board lurking. This is my first post, but won't be my last.....

My wife and I are moving from a 2.5 acre lake lot in NE Texas to 56 acres in SW Arkansas. I currently own a 2003 Kubota B7500 HST, FEL, 60" mmm and 60" BB. Although I am completely happy with the little wonder(love the HST), it won't quite handle the duties required on the larger 56 acres.

On my way to look at a Kubota M6800/M5700/M4900 today, I noticed a Kioti DK50c with FEL on the side of the road for sale.
Hmmmm, that sure is a nice looking cab tractor with loader. Of course, I stopped by to take a look.

The tractor is a 2003 with 73 hours. Owner says he paid 28,000 last year. He is getting a divorce and needs to sell his toy. Asking price: 21,500.

After quickly inspecting the outside of the tractor, I jumped in the cab and fired her up. I drove around the field it was on and was impressed. Everything seemed to work properly with no odd noises or grinding. So far so good. A closer inspection will take place before I would buy.

Questions:

Although I had my mind made up to get the M6800 4wd, Hydraulic Shuttle, FEL because of it's size and assumed ability to do everything I will need on 56 acres and to help on my brothers 80 acres, I can't help but realize the huge savings if I choose the Kioti. The major work will be discing/leveling/planting rough pasture areas, tons of FEL dirt work, gravel drive maintanence, and cleaning tons of downed trees/branches with a 72" grapple yet to be purchased, mowing/bush hogging, and anything else that I can think of....

1.Will I lose too much capability with the smaller tractor?

2.How do the Kioti cab models hold up? Things like A/C on a tractor scare me because I've never owned one before...

3.Will the loss of hydraulic shuttle kill me? I really like the idea of moving from forward to reverse without the use of a clutch.

4.Is $21,500 a good price for the 2003 Kioti DK50c with FEL(the website shows two FEL models that fit the DK50c. I'm not sure which one is on the tractor, but will assume the larger model for this discussion.)

5.If $21,500 is a good price for this model Kioti, will I get murdered if I decide to purchase a larger tractor in a year or so?? I know Kubota has awesome resale value, but buying new is always going to cost you some money if you decide to sell too soon. In the case of the Kioti, it seems like a one year, $7,500 dollar hit, just took the majority of initial depreciation therefore reducing my depreciation risk over the next couple of years...

Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm intrigued with this tractor eventhough I haven't used it to do any work...

Any questions are welcome and thank each of you for your time. KeithJ

KiotiJohn · Aug 25, 2004

The DK50 is an awesome tractor, as are the 55 and 65.
The shuttle does require that you push in the clutch, but you don't have to stop, so it's pretty quick work. It just depends on how you fee. Is the extra money for a hydaulic shuttle worth it to you? Do you have any knee or leg problems that would make that a better choice?
You will find that the DK50 will do more than you ever though it could. It will handle nice large implements and get jobs done post haste.
I don't think I'd worry about the cab with AC any more than you should worry about your car with AC. Same principal behind both.
That price is quite good, and I agree that the depreciation has been taken out of that price. When I bought my CK20HST, with taxes, it was only about $3K less than your price for the much larger and feature-packed cab tractor. I say go for it if all is well. I doubt you'll need anything larger. John

ocaj11 · Aug 25, 2004

Thanks for the info John. Your question about problems with my legs or knees is funny /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. I have absolutely no problems pushing a clutch, but read so many posts stating how much people like the hydraulic shuttle. I'll spend 20 minutes looking for the remote when I could have just changed the channel.

I see that the DK55 has a 3PH control on the back of the tractor. Is that true with the DK50? Also, this tractor does not have the quicktach bucket. Have you had any experience with adding the quicktach adapter to a standard bucket? I assume they make these for the DK50 loader.

In the end, the decision comes down to paying $21,500 (maybe less with cash??) for the DK50 with cab and FEL vs paying $28,000 for the M6800, no cab, QT-FEL. I lose 20 PTO horsepower, but gain a wonderful atmosphere with the cab that sure would be nice from July-September in Texas.

I'm thinking the DK50c is the way to go, especially since I don't currently own any implements that would be too large for the tractor. Was planning to purchase a 10 foot bush hog to mow with at some point, but with that cab, I can use the 6 footer and retain more seat time. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

KiotiJohn · Aug 25, 2004

They do make a quick attach plate for the DK50. I have no idea how you would adapt a regular bucket, but it can probably been done. Someone on here knows how and maybe will chime in.
I don't believe there is an external hitch control on that model as with the 55 and 65.
I suspect that given the Kubota doesn't have a cab, and you're saving $7K, it's worth the trade off.
Keep us posted, and I hope you continue to enjoy TBN. John

shoppintractors · Aug 25, 2004

Also, this tractor does not have the quicktach bucket. 

If you can't get a quick detach bucket setup through Kioti. ATI handles aftermarket quick detach buckets...
http://www.preseeder.com/tach-all/

I believe to use an existing bucket you have to grind of the mounting brackets on the bucket and weld on a quick attach plate.

Don

ocaj11 · Aug 26, 2004

Thanks for the replies. I certainly don't mind grinding and welding, so the ati modification looks fairly simple.

I'm looking forward to being more involved in the board. I have the camera and picture modification software, so I'll start posting pictures as soon as I can. I also have a Dad that loves equipment, unfortunately, he likes old equipment that needs to be worked on constantly /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Between the father, father-in-law, brother and myself, I'll have approximately 320 acres to play on, 7 tractors, one back hoe, one track hoe, and one bull dozer to break and fix. I'll have plenty of questions and hopefully some answers....

MessickFarmEqu · Aug 26, 2004

I'd pay close attention to your HP requirements. It does sound like a great deal, but I think you might be going with too small of a tractor. Ground engauging work like that is very HP dependant. Do you plan on using a plow? disc? Your dropping 20 PTO HP as well, will you ever run a baler?

Just be cautious, there will be other good used tractors around. Don't sell yourself short if you really do need that power.

shoppintractors · Aug 26, 2004

......will you ever run a baler?


Daryl/5030 posts that his 5030 handles the work for haying...
" I run my rounder and all the other implements with a Kubota 5030 HSTC.

You can run a square bailer with a medium CUT. The rake with a lawn tractor. The mower-conditioner weighs a lot so it takes a sizeable tractor to handle it and the rounder takes all the power the 5030 has.

Running implements is not dependent on the size of the tractor, it's all about whether YOU are comfortable RUNNING the implement."


Don

ocaj11 · Aug 26, 2004

It's certainly not a cut and dry decision. Eventhough I would LOVE to have a cab tractor, I do worry that the 42 PTO HP won't be sufficient at some time in the near future. Father-In-Law has all the hay equipment, but I figured I would use this tractor to help. I'm sure the DK50 would pull the rake and mower fine, but I think that big Vermeer baler would eat it up.... He used to pull that baler with a 65 engine horse Long, but said it was really too small. Now, he has an 85 engine horse Massey that he's more satisfied with...

The one thing I didn't mention was that we have tons of trees and much of it is grown up that needs to be cleaned up. Since I haven't taken to time to go in and limb all of the trees up, that cab might take a beating. I sure would hate to shatter that glass.

Thanks for all of your replies and opinions. I am open minded and will take all of them in and they will all weigh on the decision....Today, I'm leaning toward the M6800. Yesterday, the DK50c seemed like the way to go.