Kioti CK30 VS Kubota L3400

[jimmyj]

After giving up a year ago I am now much closer to actually buying a tractor. Loader work is what it will be for, snow, manure, 500lb round bales.

I have narrowed it down to either a Kioti CK30 or Kubota L3400. Have tested both, no preference (HST). Have read a TON of reviews and overall the Kubota seems to have greater user satisfaction but the Kioti reviews seem oddly polarized (love it or hate it).

If the price were identical, which would you get?

 

[pitt_md]

After giving up a year ago I am now much closer to actually buying a tractor. Loader work is what it will be for, snow, manure, 500lb round bales.

I have narrowed it down to either a Kioti CK30 or Kubota L3400. Have tested both, no preference (HST). Have read a TON of reviews and overall the Kubota seems to have greater user satisfaction but the Kioti reviews seem oddly polarized (love it or hate it).

If the price were identical, which would you get?

Kubota. I've never even seen a Kioti dealership around here.

 

[canoetrpr]

jimmyj - welcome back buddy!

Lifting 500lb round bales on the 3PT will be more comfortable for either. The 4x5 round bales I was using last year were definitely more than 500 lb btw. I think that my L3400 could have done it fine with another bale at the back. Another member here (mahana) has some pictures on his site of the L3400 with rounds - in the front and back.

I like both tractors. I have a L3400 as you know. I would be right on top of the dealer about the 3 pt valve jerkyness on the L3400. Seems like they might have gone back to the old jerky valve. They replaced mine under warranty. Other than the valve, I'd say the weakest link in the tractor is the cable operated PTO. All of that said, I have had 0 problems with my tractor and I still have the old PTO cams.

All of that said, I'll bet the snot has been tested out of this tractor in the field - they sell a LOT of them! I'll bet part of why we know about all the weak points of the tractor is because there are so many in use out there - many times more than competing models like the CK30.

The CK30 is a really nice tractor. I operated one and didn't think that the 3PT valve was any less jerky to be honest... at least not after the upgraded valve on mine. Some nice touches that the CK30 has over the L3400 are the telescoping rear links. The factory rear remotes on the CK30 are a very clean setup using hard lines vs. the L3400 is basically an aftermarket setup (even the factory one!) that they jack the price up on.

If I had to decide between these two models - frankly I would go for the GL3240 It beats both these hands down and is not a lot more money.

If I were forced to decide between these two, and I knew I would keep the tractor for a long long long time - I would go with the Kioti. The fact that the dealer in our area (guessing you will be dealing with Dick Lott) is top notch compared to pretty much every Kubota dealer I have encountered within a 1 hrs drive would heavily bias the decision for me more than anything else. There is no doubt in my mind that the Kioti will depreciate faster and when you do sell it - 5 or 10 yrs down the line - you will get less for it - at least around this area. They are not unknown but Kubotas are legendary. Like I said - base it on your time horizon.

Both are top notch tractors and hard to go wrong with.

 

[Gittyup]

I like my CK25. But, if I had it to do it over I'd still pick Kioti, but would go with a CK35 and a Woods loader. The Woods will give you more lift. And the Kioti is heavier, which translates to better stability for loader work.

 

[canoetrpr]

Jimmy, something you might want to consider instead is a DK35 HST. I don't think it is much more and you will REALLY appreciate the 3 PT lift and the loader.

I'm not a huge fan of the CK35 over the CK30. I'd go do the DK instead.

Now, you must convince yourself that you do not want a GL4740 with a CAB! Brindley has one for sale with a 100hrs for $30k CDN! If times were better, or if I had some REAL reason to do it, I would be putting my L3400 up for sale and picking up that GL4740!. You sure you don't want to go for it?

There is no end to this stuff of course. I really like Kioti's DK40 and DK45 SEs. The loader on those guys is a BEAST!. I felt that they were way too big for my needs.

 

[canoetrpr]

BTW. You want to get your tires loaded regardless of CK30 vs L3400. I don't think the difference in weight or stability will be an issue regardless which machine you go for.

BTW. I know of where you can get RIMGUARD in your tires around here. There is a new Mahindra dealer in Orangeville who I have bought a lot of implements from in the past before he was a Mahindra dealer. He is the only person that has RIMGUARD around these parts. I would just head over and pick up the stuff from him and fill it in yourself.

 

[Gittyup]

The only advantage that the CK35 might have over the DK35 is that it is a smaller platform that will fit into tighter spaces. Otherwise, I agree the DK35 is just a little bit more $ than the CK's, but brings a lot more to the table.

 

[jimmyj]

Good comments guys. Yes, it is Dick and Tom Ott that I was dealing with and there is 1 CK30 left at old pricing and it is very fairly priced. The dealer is a HUGE influence to me and I am leaning towards the Kioti even though I have a good dealer for Kubota 4 minutes from home.

The DK has a much nicer feel when I am on it to be sure vs the slightly cramped CK. And more features. BUT, as usual I have crept up and up and up and am at the top of my budget for sure. LOL. NOBODY here has heard that line before!!!

 

[canoetrpr]

Jimmy, in your situation, I think I would go with the CK30. The dealer would weigh heavily for me. I'm shooting straight - I've got a L3400 and it is GREAT!

Neither would be a bad tractor. I suspect both would perform just as well.

So long as I planned on keeping it for at least 5-6 years I wouldn't worry about the resale value. That said, I believe that there is no question that the Kioti will depreciate faster than the Kubota in these parts.

I DID find that the CK30 was smaller in seating area than my L3400. My L3400 feels bigger to me. This is very important. Make sure you get comfortable with the seating position before you purchase. If you *think* is it cramped now - compare with the L3400 and go with the less cramped one.

Do get Dick to put on a pair of remotes for you. You won't regret it. I woud not do the remote install myself as I did on my L3400 on a CK30. You WANT the factory setup on the CK30. Best done now than later.

 

[jimmyj]

Thanks for the advice. I am leaning toward the CK 30 and will know within about 10 days whether or not I will buy now or have to wait till Jan. I really want to get on with it!!!

Good advice on the remotes too. I'd get the tires loaded as well and get a bale spear too. I wonder about a snowblower and trailer to haul but I think they will have to wait a bit. I will be keeping it at least 5 years, probably more like 10+. I cannot ever see me needing another or bigger tractor.

 

[ScottFarm]

Specs.

Kioti Kubota
Hp. 30 PTO 24 HP engine HP =34.5 PTO 29HP

Both 3 cylinder

rear lift: 1764 lbs rear lift = 1998

Hydraulic flow = 12.7 gpm Hydraulic flow = 6.3 gpm

weight = 3042lbs weight = 2403 lbs

engine = daedong engine = kubota

wheel base 66.1" wheel base = 63.3

It looks like Kioti has the weight advantage and the front end loader hydraulics advantage. Engines I'd call even. To be honest I'd ride them both, see which one feels the best, compare the prices (I'd say Kioti wins) and then I'd compare the dealers. If your doing much front end loader work, I'd want the heavier tractor. I have a friend who has a Kubota with loader and he has to have counter weights for dong similar jobs to my tractor. I have a Montana 5740. I highly recommend Montana if you have a dealer nearby.

Good Luck and enjoy

 

[canoetrpr]

That 12.7 on the Kioti likely includes the flow to both the PS and the implement. I'll bet the implement flows match up pretty nicely.

Both these tractors will lift just about the same amount safely. Jimmy will want loaded tires regardless. Personally I don't think that the weight difference will make any difference here once the tires are loaded and I would not want to be lifting too much with the FEL without the tires loaded.

Remember, heavier does not necessarily mean stronger. Lots of L3400s out there that are getting lots of use with their loaders. Neither of these tractors is stronger than the other - regardless of the extra weight - as far as ability to lift goes.... JMHO.

 

[Gittyup]

Greater hydraulic flow has more to do with speed than it does power. And it also allows for better power steering while manipulating a full bucket. In real life though, not sure how they compare on loader cycle times. I like the higher flow for backhoes, log splitters, and hydraulic motors.

Weight difference allows a heavier tractor to more readily put the power to the ground with less chance of spinning out. And it will make you more stable where a load can cause an imbalance.

The advantage of the L3400 is in PTO power (and in resale value). If you need it, then the other differences are probably less important... Of course you could step up to a CK35 and get about the same hp. Not sure how they compare price wise.

 

[JackMentink]

I would look a little further than these two brands.

I have had my montana R3644 for about 7 months and 78 hours. I am very pleased with it. I test drove several models including Kubota 3400 and Kioti ck35 and the final thing that one me over was the smoothness of the 4 cylinder mitsibishi motor. Everything else had 3 cylinders and were real rough in comparison. Also the Montana had higher lift capacities both 3 point and loader, and the price. I got my montana with rebates and everything brand new for 15K with a toothbar on the loader and the tires filled. Everything else was at least 2K more and they were smaller HP.

In the end it was pretty simple more tractor for less money. The dealers were about the same distance from me and had similar reputation.

 

[kozak]

Just want to weigh in with my 2 cents.

Definitely, if Kioti Dealer gives you the best feel then that's your tractor no matter what model series you get. I wanted a Kubota BAD but when I caught the Dealer in a BIG lie I started looking elsewhere.

Good Luck & GET A TRACTOR !!


Vic

 

[ALHILLDIRT]

I am also in the buy mode on a new tractor. Haven't looked at the Kioti, because we don't have a dealer close. I have looked at the Kubota L3400. It's a nice tractor, but you really should look at the Kubota GL3240. It's like night and day between the two and well worth the price difference. Plus, as an option you can add draft control.

 

[Steve_Miller]

I've had/have both Kioti's and Kubota's and they both have their pluses and minuses. Like a previous poster said, if you can jump to the GL3240 Kubota or the DK35, I think you would be a little better suited for carrying bales. They both probably have a better foot print for carrying bales. You will be taxing either loader of the 3400 or the CK30. The CK30 could be adapted with an after market loader with more capacity, but that will probably put you into the same cost as the GL or the DK. You shouldn't be disappointed with either tractor and the dealer would probably make or break the deal if the tractors are comparable in price.

Steve

 

[jake98]

I didn't read every detail here but if you're talking 500# bales on the front, you could probably use a Kioti CK25HST and feel better about having the same strength tractor without the overblow.
Jake