First Choice Vs Kingkutter

jasonf · Jul 18, 2002

Now I have gone AND DONE IT......

I went and got a KingKutter 5' rotary cutter and got it home and the paint finish on this thing is a joke. Some spots have paint sags from being sprayed too heavily, while other parts are barely covered with paint.

The instructions that come with it are filled with gramatical/spelling errors and the lift pins are WAY to high, my 2710 gets it about 1 foot off the ground. The parts picture shows a U shaped piece but it does not show where to install it on the cutter !!!! I go to the KK website and it show the thing installed pointing straight up. This piece is supposed to alow the toplink to swing as the cutter floats along cutting brush. Now I just spoke to the First choice people and they say they are going to beginning shipping Monday. I am thinking of taking this thing back to TSC and getting the First choice RC30-60. Does anybody have one and are they any good. The company sounds like they are trying to get something good off the ground here, I am waiting for them to get back to me on Monday. Oh BTW when I called the KK people they say to 'throw that piece away it does not work well, go without it'. But that leaves me with a machine that will not float. What do you guys think ?????

Ozarker · Jul 18, 2002

I think I would take it back.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 18, 2002

Jason, I bought a First Choice box blade and was very happy with it. The fit and finish are easily superior to KK and probably superior to anyone else in the marketplace. My Deere green powdercoat on my box blade was so shiny when I took a picture of it to post here you could even seen the grain of the pallet it was on in the reflection. Now, I know that's seldom a 'requirement' for a box blade, but it was kind of neat. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I don't know how the rotary mowers are because, as you said, they aren't shipping yet. I don't know how they compare in price, either, but if the box blades are any indication you might pay a little more for the First Choice but you'll be so much happier with it you'll be glad you did.

I'm getting a light duty 5' rotary cutter from First Choice and expect it to be vastly superior to the KK alternative. I sincerely doubt I'll be disappointed. I would imagine you'd have the same experience I expect.

DK35vince · Jul 18, 2002

Gary,
That is one nice thing about the King Kutter attachments.
The paint is already bad so I don't really care about scratchs./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 19, 2002

That's true. To borrow from another thread here, the finish on those come pre-FUBAR'ed. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

bnixon · Jul 19, 2002

Just got my First Choice Box Blade and RFM. Not even in the same catagory as KK. The only comparison between the two is the price. You will not be disapointed with the First Choice cutter!

jasonf · Jul 19, 2002

The RFM that you bought from First Choice, how was the price of it compared to something similar from KK. I was very diasappointed with the KK. It probably would work fine cutting brush, but is certainly a 'No frills' product. I really don't like the problem with the top link attachment. I really think I need the swinging toplink attachment. I like the way the First Choice designed the supports to 'fold' to allow the toplink attachment point to give when the rear of the cutter needs to go up or down.

bnixon · Jul 19, 2002

jasonf,

I think they are about the same price. Maybe a little more, I can't remember what the KK were going for but I want to say it was basically the same price.

Hope this helps.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 19, 2002

That's pretty much my recollection, too. The First Choice was a little more money than the KK but the difference in quality was huge. I think a more fair comparison might be comparing the First Choice to something like LandPride. I believe the quality levels are far more comparable though I still give the nod to First Choice. Compare those prices and you'll really get a good idea how much better value the First Choice is. Value is far more important than price when purchasing equipment and First Choice represents a far better value.

bnixon · Jul 19, 2002

I second what Gary_in_Indiana sayes.

The First Choice unit is a improved Land Pride rear discharge unit. I was going to get the Land Pride RFM until I looked into First Choice. I got a better cutter at about 30% less than the Land Pride unit.