Things Are Looking Orange

[Dranrab]

I mentioned in a previous thread that I have 10 acres in South MS that I will need to tend. As of right now I have a 20x300 driveway that has been cut out. I'll need to have some gravel brought in so that I can make a proper driveway out of it. I have about an acre cleared that will be the place where a house will be built in 5-6 years when I retire. I'll keep it bush hogged down. I have about an acre that I will plant a spring and summer vegetable crop and a fall and winter food plot on. I also have about a wooded half mile perimeter walking path that I will maintain.

I could make do just fine with a sub-compact, but I have been told so many times to go a size larger than I think I'll need that I decided to go with a small frame compact. I have surfed Craigslist ads exhaustively, and a decent compact with an FEL is nowhere to be found in my area. So I have decided to go new. My research tells me I can expect good service from any of the manufacturers. I narrowed it down to a Tym T264, Kioti CK2510, Mahindra Max 26, LS XJ2025, Branson 2510H, Kubota B2601, Yanmar SA424 and SA324, Massey 1526, New Holland Boomer 24 and JD 2025 R. HST and FEL are a must for me.

I have had 5 right shoulder surgeries and it remains deficient. For that reason I struck all the machines that didn't have the FEL control at the fender. That left the TYM, Kioti, Kubota, Yanmars, New Holland and JD tractors. I can get the TYM for the best price, The dealer is about 50 miles from the land. You all know how tractor pricing works. There are good discounts and there is 0% financing but rarely both. The prices on the competing machines with my desired implements is coming in between 19K and 22K.

I did some math. $19,000 at 5.5% financing costs the same over the life of the loan as $21750 at 0%. The TYM is about 19K with insurance and 5.5%. The Kioti and Kubota are at about the $22,000 mark with insurance and 0 %. The others are either more expensive or don't have local dealers. The TYM dealer is 50 miles away and TYM is a lesser known entity. I am going to strike them for that reason.

That leaves me with orange. The Kioti dealer is about 12 miles away, and I kinda know the owner. He's the brother in law of my best bud. The Kubota dealership is about 25 miles away. Kioti and Kubota enjoy a good reputation with their owners, but Kubota has better brand recognition and is generally thought to be the higher quality product. Of all the tractors listed above, the Kiote has the largest engine by a considerable amount, the highest weight by a considerable amount and its capacities eclipse the Kubota by a decent amount. As it stands right now the Kioti would come with Woods implements which change the financing a bit, and with a non-Kioti insurance provider. Packaged out, it'll likely cost a little more. My dealer doesn't have one right now, so I won't be able to lay eyes on it before I buy it. The Kubota comes with Kubota implements and Kubota insurance. I have been able to do a brief demo on one and I like it.

Each orange machine comes with advantages. Do any of our learned members have any constructive feedback?

 

[Granthol]

Sounds like the Kioti is the heavier stronger machine at a comparable price. When comparing tractors weight is about the most important thing you can consider. It’s what puts the horsepower to the ground. Without weight hp is worthless unless all your work is stationary pto work.

 

[jeff9366]

The Kioti CK2510 weighs 2,260 pounds bare tractor; engine = 24.5 hp/100 cubes @ 2,600 rpm.
Two (2) range HST.

The Kubota B2601 weighs 1,632 pounds bare tractor; engine = 24.3 hp/68.5 cubes @ 2,800 rpm.
Bear in mind Kubota weight is without fluids, so weight with POL will probably be ~~1,720 pounds.
Three (3) range HST.

Greater weight of Kioti offset by 3-range HST on Kubota (lower/LOW, higher/HIGH)

I would factor in proximity of Kioti dealer as the tie-breaker and go with CK2510. (Close call.)

Of all the tractors listed above, the Kioti has the largest engine by a considerable amount, the highest weight by a considerable amount and its capacities eclipse the Kubota by a decent amount.

Interesting that CK2510 develops 24.5 hp/100 cubes @ 2,600 rpm ~~~ relatively high revs. Kubota L2501 develops its 24.5 hp/100 cubes @ 2,200 rpm.
In my OPINION greater engine cubes of Kioti @ 2,600 rpm may be some but not much an advantage.

 

[Dranrab]

Good point on the HST range. I forgot to mention that. I still have some final things to negotiate on the Kioti.

 

[Tractorable]

The CK2510 is probably more comparable to the Kubota L2501 rather than the B series which is significantly smaller. The L2501 is about 2600lbs bare tractor and makes ~25hp from 100 cubic inches. Big, low stress, non-emissions motor and three range HST. However, it does have the loader stick on the loader arms which wouldn’t work for you.

 

[K5lwq]

I would at least check price deference on the Kioti CK3510. The HST has 3 ranges with more weight and power. Being a HST is what you want, the extra HP will be very useful and worth a little extra up front.

The CK2510 has 19 PTO HP(claimed) and the CK3510 had 30 PTO HP(claimed). That makes a big difference if you plan on running a mower.

Good luck in your search!

 

[jeff9366]

I have had 5 right shoulder surgeries and it remains deficient. For that reason I struck all the machines that didn't have the FEL control at the fender.

Most Loader controls end in steel rod with a knob on the hand end and thread on the opposite end.

Consider how easy it would be to fab a custom shaped Loader control. Just a threaded rod, heated with a torch, then bent.

 

[goeduck]

The CK2510 is probably more comparable to the Kubota L2501 rather than the B series which is significantly smaller. The L2501 is about 2600lbs bare tractor and makes ~25hp from 100 cubic inches. Big, low stress, non-emissions motor and three range HST. However, it does have the loader stick on the loader arms which wouldn’t work for you.

Agree ^^^^

 

[Dranrab]

The CK2510 is probably more comparable to the Kubota L2501 rather than the B series which is significantly smaller. The L2501 is about 2600lbs bare tractor and makes ~25hp from 100 cubic inches. Big, low stress, non-emissions motor and three range HST. However, it does have the loader stick on the loader arms which wouldn’t work for you.

The Kubota L2501 is comparable to the Kioti CK2610 in dimension and spec. They are both mid size compacts. The Kioti CK2510 is the largest of the small compacts. I am afraid the loader stick position on the L2501 would be difficult to work all day.

 

[fried1765]

I would at least check price deference on the Kioti CK3510. The HST has 3 ranges with more weight and power. Being a HST is what you want, the extra HP will be very useful and worth a little extra up front.

The CK2510 has 19 PTO HP(claimed) and the CK3510 had 30 PTO HP(claimed). That makes a big difference if you plan on running a mower.

Good luck in your search!

EXCELLENT advice !!!!

 

[check]

19 PTO HP is simply not enough. Go with the 3510, with the 30 PTO HP and the 3-range HST.

 

[Threepoint]

19 PTO HP is simply not enough. Go with the 3510, with the 30 PTO HP and the 3-range HST.

Dranrab, I tend to agree with Check for your applications, although I think you could make do on your 10 acres with the smaller tractor. My Kubota B2150 HST with loaded tires and LA350 loader is a beast of a little tractor, and could manage the tasks you describe with its 24 eng hp and 18 hp at the PTO. But with the smaller tractor, you would take longer and you'll work harder. My guess is that if you go with the CK2510, you'll soon be thinking "wudda, cudda, shudda".

The CK3510SE HST open station with the KL4030 loader should run you about $22,000, maybe a hair under. It does not seem to have changed much in the last year. So, I'd say go for it if you go with Kioti. In a few months, the price difference over the CK2510 will be a distant memory. :laughing:

 

[Dranrab]

It sounds like many of you are saying the tractors in the 24-26 HP range with the 18-20 PTO HP cannot disc a one acre field, mow/hog a 1 acre lot and scatter some gravel every now and then. Every dealership I go to has more sub compacts than any other size on their lot. The dealers tell me the 24-26 HP compacts (not sub-compacts) are their single best sellers. What do you think those tractors are being used for if not for light duty tasks like I envision using one for?

 

[mwayne]

I'm thinking your buds here on TBN are trying to help you out with ammunition in case you want to go to the budget committee and lobby for a larger machine ; ) Keeping in mind the Ford 9N tractors are 22hp and a lot of farmers got a lot of work out of those for decades, a 25hp subcompact will work fine. IMO

 

[nards444]

I was looking at the B2650 and CK 2510 which are about identical. While the Kioti initially looked cheaper up front it sort of came to a wash.. I wanted a cab thus meant AC and heat, the B2650 is the only tractor that stock comes with both which was worth something. if you dont want a cab then it may change things.

 

[Threepoint]

It sounds like many of you are saying the tractors in the 24-26 HP range with the 18-20 PTO HP cannot disc a one acre field, mow/hog a 1 acre lot and scatter some gravel every now and then. Every dealership I go to has more sub compacts than any other size on their lot. The dealers tell me the 24-26 HP compacts (not sub-compacts) are their single best sellers. What do you think those tractors are being used for if not for light duty tasks like I envision using one for?

Well, when you put it that that way, you're right. That size tractor certainly can do those tasks, and more. :thumbsup: :laughing:

But you have 10 acres, so I'm assuming you'll eventually be asking it to do much more. I certainly know I would. Just trying to save you some potential buyer's regret a year or two down the line. Oh, and to help a fellow TBNr spend his money, of course.

 

[K5lwq]

It sounds like many of you are saying the tractors in the 24-26 HP range with the 18-20 PTO HP cannot disc a one acre field, mow/hog a 1 acre lot and scatter some gravel every now and then. Every dealership I go to has more sub compacts than any other size on their lot. The dealers tell me the 24-26 HP compacts (not sub-compacts) are their single best sellers. What do you think those tractors are being used for if not for light duty tasks like I envision using one for?

I do think a tractor that size will do those things. Although you will have to slow down mowing up hill. Also instead of getting a disk, a tiller will work much better. For a disk to cut well it needs weight. It takes HP and traction to pull a heavy disk. It will take multiple passes for sure. A small tractor can handle a PTO driven tiller nicely.

The reason I suggested looking at the next size up in HP is because I have a 25HP tractor with 19HP at the PTO. It would fade back on the hill mowing quite a bit and mine is geared, not HST. The HST will call for more HP just to move the tractor. Now mine is old and way out of warranty, so I was able to turn it up to around 30 HP. That has helped a lot but I still sometimes find myself wishing it had a little more.

From what I have seen, the price difference is very small for 50% more PTO power.

I do understand the emissions deal and like the idea of not having to worry with it. However, it is unlikely to cause to much issue if the tractor is worked correctly.

Anyway, it is just a thought and I wish you well in your search!

 

[sdquick]

One of the big questions is do you ever see yourself wanting to upgrade or change tractors? The high level argument is typical of a current Toyota (Kubota) vs Hyundai (Kyoti) argument. While there is a history of Toyota (Kubota) having better quality, if you look at current consumer reports the Hyundai does well against the Toyota and you typically get a better price with the Hyundai or better features. One of the big points of the Toyota is the resale value! That is the same with the Kubota. Owners of both will tell you that their tractor is better but the point that can't be argued is the resale of Kubota is higher... Just a thought.

 

[cholland]

I considered a 2610 for a few minutes and went with the 3510se HST. Glad I did, it's a great tractor.
I have a few hundred feet of 16-18% road and it chugs right up it, in low range of course. The extra features are nice, I mainly wanted the rear remotes. The telescoping bottom links make hooking up implements easier. A better seat and tilt steering are a little more comfortable. I do use the linked peddle when doing loader work.
If you think you will want a grapple, have a 3rd function added to the FEL.

 

[K5lwq]

I suspect that the emissions requirements have a lot to do with 25hp being a best seller size.
If 25hp will do the job OK, why deal with the extra emissions hardware, even if it takes a bit more time?

Required viewing:

Funny John Deere Commercial - YouTube

Great commercial! 73...