On the fence about buying.

[tkwoof]

Hey all,
I am a newbie to this board, and to kioti tractors.
I was raised with Duetz, Kubota, and JD, but I don't have pockets deep enough for those machines right now.
I recently purchased a farm in NJ (Yeah we farm in NJ.) anyway, I have 10 acres roughly:
3 in blueberries
3 in 10 year old trees that I want to remove
1.5 clear
2.5 protected wetlands

What I would like to do is increase the blueberry coverage to around 6 or 7 acres, but I need a tractor that will help me clear the trees (They are young, and none larger then 10 inches in dia), till and prepare the ground, and as needed, keep the berries sprayed and the grounds maintained.
If it can fit down a 54 inch row, so much the better.
I need the absolute biggest bang for the buck I can get. Say between $5000 - $10,000, for the tractor and maybe an implement or two. I am impressed with the options available on the Kioti as compared with the JD and New Holland. I am guessing a 25 hp tractor is where I will end up, but I don't know if it can take care of what I need, and I have no idea of the price range of the Kioti.

If any of you guys are dealers here is what I need:

Tractor (As described)
tiller
mower
lift disk (maybe)
blade (scraper)

If this doesn't have you laughing hysterically, I would appreciate any assistance here you can render. I am not averse to used equipment, and it doesn't need to be a Kioti.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I will suggest that you leave New Jersey to buy a tractor. I price to people from NJ pretty often and some areas, particularly the south, seem very over priced.

 

[JayC]

If you want bang for the buck, I think the LK3054 will fit the bill. It is 30hp. If you want to stay around 25 hp, there is also the LK2554. It is 25hp.

Kioti LK3054

Kioti LK2554

Good luck.

 

[To20Chris]

I was going to suggest the LK3054 - I bought mine on the "bang for the buck" theory, and I'm very happy with it. It's an older, no-nonsense design. However, I'm not sure you'll hit the price traget (I only priced mine w/ a FEL & BH). Also, I believe they just discontinued the LK2554, but there may be a few around yet, maybe a good deal too.

Oh, the LK3054 has no mid PTO if you palnned on a mid mower.

Good Luck!

 

[KiotiJohn]

As far as a tractor for $5,000 to $10,000, you may want to consider a chinese tractor like the Jinma. If you are mechanically inclined and can fix the few minor problems they seem to start with, this may be a good way for you to go. I was also going to suggest the Kioti LK3054, but the new ones will run you around $12,500 up. An LK2554, if you can find one, may be within striking distance, as it is being replaced by the new CK25. Maybe one of our member dealers has one on his/her lot and can tell you about it. If you can find an older Yanmar, they are good tractors, but parts can be expensive. I'm talking about the ones that were manufactured for the US market, not the grays markets. They will have a 3 digint model number such as YM240, etc. Not the YM1500 etc. If you can do the financing, it may pay you to go for something like the LK3054 and low or no interest fincancing to get the new warranty. That's a great tractor, and the improvements they've made really make it a pleasure to use. I have a CK20HST TLB, and could probably do most of what you need to do with it. I paid $9985 just for the tractor. Hope this helps, John

 

[lablovers]

I agree, you can't go wrong with the 3054. Its is a good solid tractor. But if $10,000 it your top figure, it is probably not going to work. Don't under estimate your needs. Maybe the 36 month no interest will make it easier. Good luck.

 

[DMB]

I'd have to agree with the suggestion of the LK3054. The LK2554 is a good machine also. The LK3054 however has a live PTO and 5 more hp and the overall size is about the same. I've seen about 3 used LK3054s sell for reasonable prices in this area lately. Good Luck! DMB.

 

[tkwoof]

I talked with a philli dealer and it looks like the lk3054 is where I am headed. he quoted me around 15,000 with a loader. I am currently laid off so the $10,000 limit was a hopeful limit, but I also don't want something that's going to need repair every time I crank it. I had planned on purchasing an old Ford 9n or 641 but having used these tractors before I know they are limited in what they can do. I also like diesel tractors because of the torque they generate and the fuel economy they offer.
Thanks for all of the info. Hopefully, in a year or so, I will be in a better position to purchase a larger tractor when I expand my operation, but for now the lk3054 seems to be the front runner.

Scott

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( but for now the lk3054 seems to be the front runner )</font> I think you'll be surprised at how tough and strong that tractor is. I tried a new XS out at my dealer's not long ago and I'm very impressed with it's strength. Also, the new changes make it a pleasure to operate. The convenient layout give more operating room and the shuttle shifter is handy to one's left arm. Shifter up by the steering wheel, out of the way except when you need it. Good luck and let us know how it's going. John

 

[tkwoof]

Test drove the 3054 today. I was impressed. I didn't like it sitting next to that DK45 however, my eye kept wandering over. Anyway, I think this is the right tractor for me. I love the FEL it works easy, and I already see uses for it I didn't think of
previously.

My only concern is if it will be able to clear the trees well or will I be playing lumber jack more. The majority of the trees range from 1/2" to 1' in dia with a couple of 2 - 3 footers in there for good measure. soil is generally sandy, and the tree types are Red Maple, Oak, Sasafrass, Pine, and Birch (there are three or four I have yet to identify).

If any of you 3054 owners have used yours to do this I would love to hear about it.