Kioti or Kubota

[Gittyup]

I keep hearing people talk about weight. I had to buy a smaller tractor to go along with my tractor because it is flat out too heavy! When you buy a tractor that is heavy, you have no option of removing the weight. I won't by a tractor again that limits me so severely when I can use it in my yard. I'll take a lighter, and just as strong, tractor any day and add weight if needed. Pure weight as a reason for buying a tractor is buying into what the person selling that tractor has sold you on. It's not a viable reason, it's a spin used by the salesperson. It really does severely limit your options. Also, why do you think the cheapest Chinese tractors are some of the heaviest?? Think about it. Also, unless you're buying Chinese, I think we've put these $6000, $8000 cheaper for the same thing claims to bed. About 5 years ago I shopped Kioti against Kubota. In my area the Kubota was less expensive than the Kioti! That made it a no-brainer decision for me. I'd have gladly paid more for the historic reliability and durability of the Kubota along with the far superior resale value. Costing less just made the decision process a simple one.

That's fine for your case, but no universally true. For me there was thousands of dollars difference, as it has been for others too. And Kubotas and Deeres were much less tractor, in my opinion.

Adding weight to the rear or front or wheel weights isn't exactly the same as a purely heavier tractor, not to mention that all those add-on weights aren't exactly cheap. What does a thousand pounds cost you, including brackets? Sure, you can make your own weights, but I don't want to bother. Nor do I want to have to store and try to move them. I prefer not to have to add anything I don't have to. But that's just in my case. Everyone's needs and wants are different. But, having the weight in no way necessarily means that somehow the steel is inferior. Sure there have been some Chinese makes that use bad castings and poor quality steel. It's just wrong to lump everything into one category. Korean steel, for example, is considered to be among the best in the world, bar none these days.

 

[art]

That's fine for your case, but no universally true. For me there was thousands of dollars difference, as it has been for others too. And Kubotas and Deeres were much less tractor, in my opinion.

Adding weight to the rear or front or wheel weights isn't exactly the same as a purely heavier tractor, .

That is correct!!!! A purely heavy tractor that has the weight in the wrong places burns more fuel and is just not as economical to run! A purely heavy tractor gives up performance having to carry the extra weight all the time not just when it might be needed.

 

[Gittyup]

That is correct!!!! A purely heavy tractor that has the weight in the wrong places burns more fuel and is just not as economical to run! A purely heavy tractor gives up performance having to carry the extra weight all the time not just when it might be needed.

I'll keep my weight anytime and burn the extra $0.50 in fuel to have the weight there for my convenience, where I want, when I want with nothing extra to buy, store, or install. When I want a lawn mower, I'll get on my lawn mower. I wouldn't even think about using my tractor to mow the lawn. That's not its purpose. Others might use theirs for mowing, and should then consider weight. But, for those of us who don't, or who only use it for bush hogging, being light is no advantage. That's just a false truth that the K & D dealers like to push.

Way too much emphasis is given to fuel consumption anyway. For the average user, at something like 100 to 200 hours a year, it doesn't amount to much. Maybe $30 a year or so, and that's being generous at 100 hours. Certainly not enough to even come into the buying decision process. And if I'm operating a backhoe, setting stationary, how is my weight causing me to use more fuel? I might actually use less fuel, because you can be more efficient at digging when heavy enough to put all the power to the ground. Fuel consumption only makes sense for those putting several hundred hours per year on their machines. The problem is that once you get past the dealer support issue, Kubota and Deere can't really argue they are better. All that other stuff is a real reach. Spec for spec, dollar for dollar K & D aren't as good. Not to leave NH out. They are the same too.

 

[Dargo]

Korean steel, for example, is considered to be among the best in the world, bar none these days.

I assume that's a joke? They are the world's best at recycling steel. They are the best at that, and that is a good thing. However, with much of their steel having previously been a ship or a tank or whatever other large piece of steel they can get for scrap, I most certainly would never consider Korean steel as a high grade steel by any standard. However, when they use more, to provide the strength they need, it's not necessarily an issue.

Still, it is a pure fact that I cannot use my heavier tractor many months of the year due to it's weight. Unless you are pure agriculture or loader work, excess weight you cannot shed is a detriment.

 

[Gil Case]

Dargo- are you suggesting that BOF steel is better (i.e.stronger?) than EAF steel?
If so you are mistaken, as a general rule , BOF is used for sheet goods due to rollability and EAF is used for structural items such as steel beams & rebar due to its superior strength.
How you relate this to tractor parts is up to you.
I think the point is more plastics used in Japanese production.
Both Japan and Korea are heavy into EAF due to their limited availability of iron ore. China is another story entirely.

 

[Gittyup]

I assume that's a joke? They are the world's best at recycling steel. They are the best at that, and that is a good thing. However, with much of their steel having previously been a ship or a tank or whatever other large piece of steel they can get for scrap, I most certainly would never consider Korean steel as a high grade steel by any standard. However, when they use more, to provide the strength they need, it's not necessarily an issue.

Still, it is a pure fact that I cannot use my heavier tractor many months of the year due to it's weight. Unless you are pure agriculture or loader work, excess weight you cannot shed is a detriment.

No joke. I stand by it. Read the reports out of the steel industry. Korean steel is considered excellent by those who know steel, recycled or otherwise.

I have no need to put my tractor anywhere it can't go due to weight. And this hasn't ever stop me from doing what I need to with it because its weight won't let me use in certain weather conditions.

If you can't use yours certain months of the year, maybe you need a lighter tractor (now this is joke).

 

[Mousefield]

I assume that's a joke? They are the world's best at recycling steel. They are the best at that, and that is a good thing. However, with much of their steel having previously been a ship or a tank or whatever other large piece of steel they can get for scrap, I most certainly would never consider Korean steel as a high grade steel by any standard. However, when they use more, to provide the strength they need, it's not necessarily an issue.

Still, it is a pure fact that I cannot use my heavier tractor many months of the year due to it's weight. Unless you are pure agriculture or loader work, excess weight you cannot shed is a detriment.

That's why people buy different tractors; it's what they need for their particular use and ground conditions. One size or weight does not fit all and never will.
Perhaps you need a lighter tractor for those many months you can't use :confused2: your heavier tractor. Sounds like your heavier tractor is not sized/weighted for the correct application and/or ground conditions.

 

[TBDonnelly]

I keep hearing people talk about weight. I had to buy a smaller tractor to go along with my tractor because it is flat out too heavy! When you buy a tractor that is heavy, you have no option of removing the weight. I won't by a tractor again that limits me so severely when I can use it in my yard.

Maybe you just need to relocate to higher, dryer ground......

-or-

A rice paddy tractor with the paddle wheel tires might fit the bill. :laughing:

Don

 

[Dargo]

If you can't use yours certain months of the year, maybe you need a lighter tractor (now this is joke).

I did. I have a lighter tractor that gets used more than the heavy tractor. It has much more versatility and can be setup for more applications. That's why I said if I had to buy just one tractor, it certainly wouldn't be the heaviest one I could find in any size class. Using the simple Ben Franklin side by side chart, there are many more positives for the lighter weight tractor than the one that is hampered by always being heavy. I have both and know this is a fact.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I did. I have a lighter tractor that gets used more than the heavy tractor. It has much more versatility and can be setup for more applications. That's why I said if I had to buy just one tractor, it certainly wouldn't be the heaviest one I could find in any size class. Using the simple Ben Franklin side by side chart, there are many more positives for the lighter weight tractor than the one that is hampered by always being heavy. I have both and know this is a fact.

This is a fact for you and your circumstances. Not everyone has the same conditions, I know for a fact that a lighter tractor would have been a poor choice for me and my working conditions and what I need to get accomplished.

I think that most all of us have our own individual situations and conditions to deal with. It is foolish to think that what positively works for one person and their conditions is simply fact for someone else and their situation.