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I'm in the market for a compact TLB.
We have Kubota, Mahindra, John Deere, Rural King, and Kioti dealers within 1-1.5 hours of us.
The most efficient way to shop for tractors is to first identify potential tractor applications, then, through consulataton, establish bare tractor weight necessary to safely accomplish your applications. Tractor dealers, experienced tractor owners and TractorByNet.com are sources for weight recommendations.
Sufficient tractor weight is more important for most tractor applications than increased tractor horsepower. Bare tractor weight is a tractor specification easily found in sales brochures and web sites, readily comparable across tractor brands and tractor models, new and used.
We will garden, do some brush clearing, driveway maintenance. We will have a 16 site campground in the next year. Own about 6-7 acres on one site and about 4 on another; eleven acres total. I live an Eastern Kentucky and we have a lot of lat ground, but a lot of sloping hills and river and creek bank as well.
Twenty-five horsepower will operate a light duty, 60" X 450 pound Rotary Mower cutting moderate length grasss, no brush.
To cut brush you need a least a medium duty, 60" X 650 pound Rotary Mower, which requires a minimum of 33-horsepower to operate.
To cut heavy brush you need a heavy duty 60" X 1,000 pound Rotary Mower, which requires a minimum of 35-horsepower to operate.
QUESTIONS: Backhoe is a $6,000 option. What recurring tasks do you foresee for a Backhoe? Work on the campground? How far between your two parcels? Will you road or trailer your tractor between parcels?
Have looked online at the Kioti CK2510 HST, because that was suggested by a friend.
This is an option IF a two (2) range HST transmission will suit you moving a heavy T-L-B up and down slopes. Most here would consider a three (3) range HST essential for work over sloping ground. A two-range HST is also very slow traveling on the road. Twenty-five horsepower will operate a light duty, 60" X 450 pound Rotary Mower cutting moderate length grasss, no brush.
I recommend the Kioti CK3510, which is heavier, has a three (3) range HST transmission and 35-horsepower gross.
So far, Kioti seems to be the best deal while Rural King is the cheapest. Majority around here are JD and Kubota.
Yes. Kubota has 50% of the USA compact tractor market. Deere has 20% of the USA compact tractor market. Most compact tractor buyers decide to pay the higher price commanded by these two dominant, stable, tractor brands. Twenty-five (+/-) other tractor brands compete for the residual 30% compact tractor market share in the USA.
I speculate Kioti has 2%-3% of the compact tractor market in the USA. Rural King has less than 1% of the compact tractor market in the USA. Both Kioti and RK/TYM are Korean. I would consider Kioti higher quality and more stable as a USA tractor brand than RK. For your applications the RK37 would be suitable in weight and horsepower.
It is your hard earned money. Spend it as you wish. The best way to decrease your tractor cost is to eliminate the $6,000 Backhoe option.
