crazyal
Super Member
Buy what you like. Northern tools also sells tractors. I bought what I wanted, which was about 2 thousand more than a DK45, because I planned on owning it for decades. I didn't even know about the 2 speed rear hydraulic motor on the GL line. Once I got a chance to use it and realized that being able to drive into a pile of dirt and with a flick of a lever it was just like shifting down a gear to get more pushing power without having to lift off of the HST pedal I was sold.
But that's me. My neighbor comes up with his Kubota MX5000 to skid logs. It's a gear tractor and I watch him shift and deal with a clutch, he wanted gear and is happy with it. I wouldn't tell him that he should have got HST+ nor would I tell anyone here. If you're happy with your LS or Kioti then I am happy for you, really, I am. I didn't buy my tractor to impress anyone other than me and I expect none of you did either.
I will correct someone when they say something line "6 speeds is too many". Clearly you have never operated the HST+ system. You have 3 gears you can select, like any HST tractor (or only two gears on some models). The HST+ gives you a high and low speed for each gear. About 95% of the time you either shift gear or think about shifting in a standard HST tractor on a HST+ equipped tractor you wouldn't have to even slow down or shift. It's as simple as flashing your high beams on a car. What it means is the middle gear can do almost every task. What that's worth is different for every person. To me it's now priceless. I would not own a HST tractor without the feature.
But that's me. My neighbor comes up with his Kubota MX5000 to skid logs. It's a gear tractor and I watch him shift and deal with a clutch, he wanted gear and is happy with it. I wouldn't tell him that he should have got HST+ nor would I tell anyone here. If you're happy with your LS or Kioti then I am happy for you, really, I am. I didn't buy my tractor to impress anyone other than me and I expect none of you did either.
I will correct someone when they say something line "6 speeds is too many". Clearly you have never operated the HST+ system. You have 3 gears you can select, like any HST tractor (or only two gears on some models). The HST+ gives you a high and low speed for each gear. About 95% of the time you either shift gear or think about shifting in a standard HST tractor on a HST+ equipped tractor you wouldn't have to even slow down or shift. It's as simple as flashing your high beams on a car. What it means is the middle gear can do almost every task. What that's worth is different for every person. To me it's now priceless. I would not own a HST tractor without the feature.
