Kubota owner: help me understand the difference!

[evertith]

Hi.

I currently own a Kubota L2501 with loader. I have 350 hours on it and never had an issue. I now need to upgrade to a larger tractor. I have been comparing the Kubota M7060 with the RK 74. With each similarly spec'd, the M7060 is almost $20,000 more expensive!

Help me understand how there is such a huge price gap. The name and the color orange can't have a $20,000 premium.

 

[jeff9366]

Part of the answer is that Korean manufacturing labor is paid 20% less than Japanese manufacturing labor in $USA terms.

 

[5030]

The other part is service and parts availability. If you have any issue that requires a dealer service, you are SOL unless you want to have the units shipped hundreds of miles, probably on your dime. Stick with a local dealer whatever the price.

 

[bullbreaker]

Also resell value ............................

 

[jmc]

My antennae go up every time I see a first time poster making a point for or against some commercial product.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The other part is service and parts availability. If you have any issue that requires a dealer service, you are SOL unless you want to have the units shipped hundreds of miles, probably on your dime. Stick with a local dealer whatever the price.

I don't understand this answer...

How do you know his tractor would have to be shipped "hundreds of miles"?? Did I miss something, because I can't tell how far (if any) it would have to be shipped, because RK has mobile trucks to do service/repairs too.

Too many unknows here, to make that statement.

SR

 

[jjp8182]

I'd suggest looking at both in person.

The reason I say that as the RK37 and the Kubota L3560 spec out to be very close to the same, but owning an L3560 (bought before Rural King entered the tractor market) and seeing the RK37 at a local Rural King the physical size difference became readily apparent. Given the physical size is something that affects the size of the implements which can be used, as well as overall stability - a short height and wide/long wheelbase will be more stable than tall height and narrow/short wheelbase (all other things being equal).

So while both are capable tractors specs don't always tell the whole story (and they say nothing about support availability or support longevity). ...and understanding how those specifications are measured (even when to a common published standard) also makes a difference. E.g. 3pt lift capacity (from what I understand) is measured (per standard) with the front of the tractor chained down so it wouldn't take much for a manufacturer to get good numbers that aren't usable in reality, though it does create a fair comparison of the lifting capability of the 3pt hydraulics.

Anyway just my :2cents:

 

[evertith]

I'd suggest looking at both in person.

The reason I say that as the RK37 and the Kubota L3560 spec out to be very close to the same, but owning an L3560 (bought before Rural King entered the tractor market) and seeing the RK37 at a local Rural King the physical size difference became readily apparent. Given the physical size is something that affects the size of the implements which can be used, as well as overall stability - a short height and wide/long wheelbase will be more stable than tall height and narrow/short wheelbase (all other things being equal).

So while both are capable tractors specs don't always tell the whole story (and they say nothing about support availability or support longevity). ...and understanding how those specifications are measured (even when to a common published standard) also makes a difference. E.g. 3pt lift capacity (from what I understand) is measured (per standard) with the front of the tractor chained down so it wouldn't take much for a manufacturer to get good numbers that aren't usable in reality, though it does create a fair comparison of the lifting capability of the 3pt hydraulics.

Anyway just my :2cents:

These are great points. At least on the spec sheet, the RK 74 is a tad bit wider than the Kubota, which is nice. I've had issues with stability using the L2701, as I have a hilly property. I finally widened the stance by switching the wheels to the wide option and that helped greatly. So, wider is definitely better for me.

 

[evertith]

I don't understand this answer...

How do you know his tractor would have to be shipped "hundreds of miles"?? Did I miss something, because I can't tell how far (if any) it would have to be shipped, because RK has mobile trucks to do service/repairs too.

Too many unknows here, to make that statement.

SR

Yeah, my RK dealer is an hour away and the Kubota dealer is 5 minutes down the street. So, RK is definitely the longer drive, but nothing I'm opposed to. I do all of my own maintenance. The only time I would take my tractor to the dealership is under a severe problem requiring warranty repair.

 

[evertith]

Also resell value ............................

That does come into play some for sure.