Kioti or Kubota

[ethiojazz]

Have you ever owned a tractor?? Are you comfortable yourself (by test driving) that both can do the job you want? I like the provable request but personally I think its like preference and the three F's (Form Fit Function) you can decide on. If the price difference between my choices were in your range, I would probably have gone with Kubota if both were equal. But I mean equal in utility to me. Not equal in features as thats very hard to measure... One maybe more utilitarian while the other more human friendly...

 

[Mousefield]

Got to say that I am enjoying the comments. But still, nobody has come up with definite provable facts that favor one tractor over the other.

1. There is a Kubota dealer within 15 minutes of my house. The Kioti dealer near me is one of the largest, oldest, in the midwest though the dealership is an hour away. He is there to stay.

2. I will not be mowing a yard with the tractor. I have a small zero-turn for that. Wife would leave me if I got rid of that.

3. The Kubota dealer that comes closest to the 'package price' of the Kioti is three hours away. And is still over a thousand higher.

4. I plan to keep the tractor long enough to accomplish several 'goals' of work. Then resell the entire package. This may be ten to fifteen years in the future.

5. This is my retirement toy. Not a commercial money maker.

Help me decide.

RSKY

You are the decision maker. It is like asking about buying car, say between a Ford or Chevy, both have some what similar features and functions. What would make you buy one over the other? Is it price, features, warranty, power, comfort, size, color, dealer, etc
Perhaps you need to make a list of pros and cons and go from there.

 

[IslandTractor]

Got to say that I am enjoying the comments. But still, nobody has come up with definite provable facts that favor one tractor over the other.

The reason is that there are no facts that definitely favor one tractor over the other. They are both fine tractor companies.

My read:
For lawn mowing the Kubota B or BX series are best.
For loader work: in general at any given price point you will get a lot more loader capacity with Kioti than Kubota
For dealer network: Kubota leads by a lot nationally but local circumstances are more important.
For resale in a year or two: Kubota leads. Who knows what 10 years will bring.
Bang for the buck: Kioti/Bobcat
For field/pasture mowing and general CUT duties: toss up. Both excellent.

 

[KiotiDave]

I have to agree with IT, you can give a general opinion, but these other companies have so many models to try and specialize in certain jobs. Kioti just makes the best all around tractor with a better warranty(4 years & no hour limits) than most major manufacturers. Kioti tries to be an all purpose machine.
What I tell my customers is this: Kioti gives you more weight(traction & durability) More hydraulic volume at a comparable pressure, a longer comprehensive warranty(parts & labor, no deductible or hour limits) for less money. They have as good if not better incentive programs than the competition.
You have to be very careful and read the specs to make sure you compare apples to apples, we do not have as many models to confuse the customer.
Don't forget that you are also buying the dealership along with the tractor.
If you need help with comparisons just ask any Kioti dealer, we have a guide for what tractors our models compete with. It isn't something we can just post, it's about 15 to 20 pages. Just tell us what Kioti you are interested in and we can tell you what the models are for the other manufacturers that it competes with. (I know poor grammar)
Good luck in your hunt.
Dave G.
KiotiDave

 

[mx5guy]

Sounds like your leaning Kubota, closer cheaper.

 

[art]

I always like this as most people can relate to it!

More weight, gives you more durability and traction?

I gained about 10 extra lbs this winter, tougher to get off this time. I expend so much energy riding my bike to move the extra weight I've had to shorten my rides as I'm running out of energy from totin the extra weight! I guess I missed good weight placement, maybe if I had a choice of arms and chest over the belly!

Does a tractor manufacturer allow you that choice?

Tossed one of my deep cycle batteries from the boat into the back of the truck like I used to throw front tractor weights in and pulled my arm muscle! Guess the extra weight didn't help here either!

Huh, 40lbs to 100lbs I guess I'm not like a tractor!

Some I have seen here say that design and the types of metals don't make a difference!

I wonder how much fuel the space shuttle would use taking off if it was made of a crude cast iron?

Don't look for the rated lift capacities of a loader but the amount of lbs at breakout! That is the only tell tale you will have as to when you have a full load unless you have a scale handy! You might not find so much of a difference at this point as many bring up!
Best part is you can feel it! The next part is balance!

 

[MichiganIron]

We have to wonder if art may be a Kubota dealer..?? If not, he probably should be.

But the space shuttle out of cast iron ???

 

[Dmace]

More weight, gives you more durability and traction?

So you saying that more weight does NOT give you better traction?

Don't look for the rated lift capacities of a loader but the amount of lbs at breakout!

What's the point of being able to curl 1,800lbs when you can only lift 900. :laughing:

What's next, a shorter warranty is better than a longer one because a shorter line at the store is better than a longer one. :confused2:
More standard options does not matter, what really matters is who has the most cup holders. :laughing:

 

[IslandTractor]

We have to wonder if art may be a Kubota dealer..?? If not, he probably should be.

Art is pretty up front about being a long time Kubota dealer. I imagine it gets pretty boring to point that out in every thread.

Yes, he favors Kubota but I have always considered it a sign that he and other Kubota dealers actually take Kioti seriously as a competitor when they hang out here to keep up with what is going on in Kiotiland. If the guys at Toyota and Honda had taken Hyundai a little more seriously five years ago they might have learned something to help protect their market share.

 

[IslandTractor]

What's the point of being able to curl 1,800lbs when you can only lift 900. :laughing:

Stumps and Rocks. I would be in heaven if my loader could curl/breakout twice what it could lift. I'd be able to rip through tree roots that I now need to dig around. Same for dislodging rocks.

Also, remember that lift capacity is almost always stated as what you can lift to full height. I almost never lift anything to full height and certainly don't lift stumps or big rocks more than the minimum necessary to move them. You can lift a lot more weight to two feet than to full height. In my experience I can lift just about anything I can breakout, at least a few feet.

Breakout is an important number for a loader.

 

[winasu]

On my land, I have very steep hills and weight matters! When going down a hill with a loader, weight on the rear tires is very helpful when braking. 4-wheel drive helps alot in slowing down, as does filling the rear tires, but it sure is nice to have tractor weight.

I found the Kubota, MX4700/MX5100 to be poorly balanced and front heavy going down steep hills with the loader, which resulted in marginal braking. The Kioti DKs on the other had more than enough weight to keep the rear wheels firmly on the ground. I understand you can always lower the bucket, but I prefer the wheels firmly on the ground!

Keep in mind, when using the loader on level ground, weight helps a lot as well.

I have been going back and forth between kioti and kubota for months, they are both excellent machines. For my property, the Kioti is definately a better match do to the weight. I am hoping to get one soon.

 

[art]

So you saying that more weight does NOT give you better traction?

What's the point of being able to curl 1,800lbs when you can only lift 900. :laughing:

What's next, a shorter warranty is better than a longer one because a shorter line at the store is better than a longer one. :confused2:
More standard options does not matter, what really matters is who has the most cup holders. :laughing:

Sorry, some people must have trouble trouble believing that weight has nothing to do with reliability?

I will say that weight in the wrong place is worth less then in the right place, weight in general costs hosrepower and fuel.

 

[Mousefield]

Sorry, some people must have trouble trouble believing that weight has nothing to do with reliability?

I will say that weight in the wrong place is worth less then in the right place, weight in general costs hosrepower and fuel.

That may be true in some cases. I bought my Kioti CK35 HST partly because of the weight. I have not been disappointed in it at all and feel because of the weight I have been able to use it better than if it weighed a lot less. There are those that believe more weight is better and some don't and that will never change. It does depend on the use it is put to. It is a discussion, debate or argument, whatever you want to call it, that could go on forever. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[art]

That may be true in some cases. There are those that believe more weight is better and some don't and that will never change. It does depend on the use it is put to. It is a discussion, debate or argument, whatever you want to call it, that could go on forever. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

It is true in all cases! It takes energy to move.
I have no problems with weight, where it is and what it is makes a difference.
I work with three major brands of tractors and have represented over 15 tractor manufacturers through the years.

 

[Dargo]

Breakout is an important number for a loader.

Yes it is. Unfortunately, for my heavy tractor, I leave some really nasty ruts unless my yard is extremely dry and hard. Otherwise, I use this loader Takeuchi - TL150

 

[art]

Art is pretty up front about being a long time Kubota dealer. I imagine it gets pretty boring to point that out in every thread.

Yes, he favors Kubota but I have always considered it a sign that he and other Kubota dealers actually take Kioti seriously as a competitor when they hang out here to keep up with what is going on in Kiotiland. If the guys at Toyota and Honda had taken Hyundai a little more seriously five years ago they might have learned something to help protect their market share.

Island the post does start off as "Kioti or Kubota"

A dealer of several other brands of tractors as well and posts on other brands of tractors as well!

It is always good to read and know your product!

 

[crazyal]

Got to say that I am enjoying the comments. But still, nobody has come up with definite provable facts that favor one tractor over the other.

1. There is a Kubota dealer within 15 minutes of my house. The Kioti dealer near me is one of the largest, oldest, in the midwest though the dealership is an hour away. He is there to stay.

2. I will not be mowing a yard with the tractor. I have a small zero-turn for that. Wife would leave me if I got rid of that.

3. The Kubota dealer that comes closest to the 'package price' of the Kioti is three hours away. And is still over a thousand higher.

4. I plan to keep the tractor long enough to accomplish several 'goals' of work. Then resell the entire package. This may be ten to fifteen years in the future.

5. This is my retirement toy. Not a commercial money maker.

Help me decide.

RSKY

Since resale is one of the things you've listed and if all else is equal the question comes down to which tractor will be easier to sell and if you got the Kubota would it get the extra money invested upfront back. Kubota has been around long enough to easily get a sense of what you can expect. The Kioti is a little more of a unknown.

 

[Steve_Miller]

Got to say that I am enjoying the comments. But still, nobody has come up with definite provable facts that favor one tractor over the other.

1. There is a Kubota dealer within 15 minutes of my house. The Kioti dealer near me is one of the largest, oldest, in the midwest though the dealership is an hour away. He is there to stay.

2. I will not be mowing a yard with the tractor. I have a small zero-turn for that. Wife would leave me if I got rid of that.

3. The Kubota dealer that comes closest to the 'package price' of the Kioti is three hours away. And is still over a thousand higher.

4. I plan to keep the tractor long enough to accomplish several 'goals' of work. Then resell the entire package. This may be ten to fifteen years in the future.

5. This is my retirement toy. Not a commercial money maker.

Help me decide.

RSKY

Sounds to me like you have already decided and you want us to change your mind for you. There is enough information on this site to read for months if your willing to take the time. Whatever you buy will be the right choice at the time. Happy tractoring, just don't sit here for months pondering which one, you'll be missing that much more seat time.

Steve

 

[rd_macgregor]

After looking at all the major brand tractors, I bought my DK45SC largely for the $6000 savings and the heavier weight. The other tractors (of whatever colour) would also have been just fine; my circumstances suggested the additional weight would come in handy, dispite a slight economy penalty...and I don't plan on re-selling this unit in the foreseeable future.

Although I am a strong supporter of Kioti, your circumstances may well be different. My (slight) inclination is to think that the proximity of your Kubota dealer, and resale considerations could favour choosing Kubota in your case.
BOB

 

[Dargo]

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.