Buying Advice Researching

[Eric1973]

I currently have a Ford 1720 that I believe is the 1990-91 model year. It's been used and abused over the years and needs a ton of maintenance and repair. So I'm looking at buying a new or slightly used tractor. The Ford tractor is 28 HP which has been plenty in most cases but I would like to step up to either a 35 or 40 HP.

Locally I have a couple John Deer, a New Holland/Kubota, and a Kioti/TYM dealer(s) in that order of distance from my house. The Kioti/TYM dealer is only about 40 miles away.

Mostly with the tractor I will be doing some logging on my property, I currently have a Farmi Logging Winch for my tractor, and using the FEL to stack logs. So I'll be driving through branches, sticks, etc out in the woods. I'll also be doing quite a bit of snow plowing, dirt work, pushing over small trees, using the sub-soiler, etc.

I haven't driven any of the tractors, and only glanced at them at the fair, but currently I'm leaning towards the Kioti DK35SE HST that I was quoted $20,911 or the TYM T353 HST for $19,811. One thing that concerns me about the Kioti is that the exhaust is run down by the body, worried that it might be ripped off by brush or whatever I'm driving through. The TYM might be a problem too but looks to be in a better place.

I'd like to add a grapple root rake to move brush and logs around too.


Ok, so for my questions:

Does a 35 HP tractor sound like it would be large enough to handle these tasks? The current tractor has handled all the tasks, but it has been abused in the process.

Has anyone had issues with the Kioti's exhaust being torn off by driving through a wooded environment?

Haven't really researched too much on the grapple root rakes, is adding a third function for the FEL much of an issue on the Kioti or TYM?

Thanks.

 

[Mousefield]

Congratulations on being a new member, see this is your first post.
You will find lots of good info on TractoyByNet.

I have the Kioti CK35 HST with a Woods 7 ft backhoe and thumb. One of the reasons I got this setup is most of my land is treed and I would be in and out of the bush. Got the backhoe to lift logs to a nice height for cutting and also placing the rounds onto my wood splitter. Have had it for over 3 years (332 hours) and it has out performed my expectations. :thumbsup:
You may look at the DK40 or DK45, those are larger and heavier than mine but maybe more suitable for your use.

 

[arrow]

All the logs in this picture were pulled in by this kid and his John Deere. If you are having a problem believeing that I understand. The logs may have been pulled in by the larger JD which is a 20 hp 1985 750 that has been doing this kind of work since I got it. It will knock over a 4" tree. If yours are bigger, you'll need a larger tractor. For the jobs you desrcibe, one needs traction which does not necessarily equate to HP. Mostly you need weight. Also, some manufacturers have muffler kits that allow variations of muffler placement. Front grapples are not light so you would want a tractor with at least 1500 lbs lift capacity to place chunks of trees around which equates more with the DK 35. Have the dealer install the remote so you'll have a tractor ready to go with no issues.

 

[Eric1973]

Thanks for the input. I think I'm probably about right on the size of the tractor. I probably don't "need" to go with anything that's bigger than what I currently have but I do like some of the features, (weight, lift capacity) that comes with the DK model rather than the CK. I'll need to go over and do a hands on comparison of the two models and then decide if I'd like to get the 35 or 30 HP.

Currently for lifting logs I have a couple 2" pieces of square tubing that are in brackets inside of my bucket. The grapple would be nice but again probably not "needed". Current bucket says it's rated at abut 800lbs of lift so a CK or DK 35 would be an improvement.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Thanks for the input. I think I'm probably about right on the size of the tractor. I probably don't "need" to go with anything that's bigger than what I currently have but I do like some of the features, (weight, lift capacity) that comes with the DK model rather than the CK. I'll need to go over and do a hands on comparison of the two models and then decide if I'd like to get the 35 or 30 HP.

Currently for lifting logs I have a couple 2" pieces of square tubing that are in brackets inside of my bucket. The grapple would be nice but again probably not "needed". Current bucket says it's rated at abut 800lbs of lift so a CK or DK 35 would be an improvement.

Eric,

I just bought a DK50SE HST with a grapple. I love it. The FEL is the same all of the larger chassis, and it has 2700+ lbs capacity. I was convinced to go to 50 hp to get the PTO hp up higher.

This is mine...

Enjoy the shopping!
Happy Tractoring!
David

 

[Eric1973]

Mind me asking how much you paid for the DK50 and the grapple?

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Mind me asking how much you paid for the DK50 and the grapple?

I got the grapple used for $1700.

I think I paid ~26,500 for the Tractor & FEL (I added a bunch of other stuff and some of them were "rolled" into the tractor price).

I took the $4000 rebate as my down payment.

David

 

[o2batsea]

There's no comparison between a TYM and a Kioti. TYM is a Yugo next to the Kioti.
No matter what buy a tractor that is equipped with a cab. That will put you into a DK40 and above, but you will never regret the decision.

 

[BTI]

DK35's are available with cabs as long as you want an HST.
Same with 40 thru 50.
Only the 45 is available in gear and cab (in SE) as well as the 55 thru 90.
40 thru 50 use the same loader

BTI

 

[arrow]

There's no comparison between a TYM and a Kioti. TYM is a Yugo next to the Kioti.
No matter what buy a tractor that is equipped with a cab. That will put you into a DK40 and above, but you will never regret the decision.

He is planning to do logging with his machine. One is jumping off and on the tractor to hook up or unhook quite frequently so as I'm looking at it, a cab would rather be a nuisance to have to contend with. The only thing I drove in the woods with a cab was a skidder but you basically always stayed in there as you had guys setting chokers and then other guys
at the landing unhooking them.