Taking the plunge

[duanekeys]

I'm days away from signing for my first tractor. My wife and I have 10 acres and we raise goats. Some of the things we plan to do with the tractor include:

- moving round bales
- caring for 1/4 mile long driveway
- brush hogging approximately 7 acres cross fenced into 8 smaller paddocks (smallest gate is an 8', most are 10')
- several smaller loader projects that have piled up (pun unintended)
- cleaning out winter bedding from barns
- consolidating a few brush piles
- cleaning up waste hay from round bales
- turning compost piles of waste hay and bedding
- loading an old ground driven manure spreader with compost


I've gotten the following quote from S&H Farm Supply in Rogersville, MO:

DS4510 with KL402 loader (quick attach)
Bale fork for FEL (quick attach)
6' Brush Hog Brand rotary cutter
18' tandem axle flat bed trailer with bull dog hitch and ramps with built in storage for ramps

Total is $21,985 (cash price)

I will also need a box blade, they list for $645 at S&H.

Does this seem like enough tractor for the job? Is the price fair? I feel like it is compared to the Kubota packages I've seen advertised locally.

 

[Kyle241]

I believe it will be enough tractor for the tasks you listed however the pricing I can't comment on as a) I'm a Canuck and our prices are whacked! and b) I have never priced a DS!

 

[duanekeys]

I took a serious look and for the extra features asked the dealer to quote me the same package with a DK40SE. He came back with only 1600 more so I think I'm going to take that deal. Picking it up on Friday!

 

[dennis52]

Have had my DS4510HS for about 3 weeks now and have done 45 hrs of heavy slashing on steep country. I have found the Kioti ( with a loader and 5ft slasher) very stable on slopes, even with a narrow rear wheel setting and no tyre ballast.

The tractor is also very maneuverable amongst the trees. Plenty of power and lift capacity.

Prices here are about 30% higher than USA but, locally, the Kioti package was, by far, the best value for your dollar.

I was in the Kubota dealership, just today, having another good look at the Kubota L4400, which was my initial benchmark for a new tractor.

This just confirmed for me, again, the high build quality of the Kioti

 

[duanekeys]

For the search engines and others doing research the package I'm getting is now:

cash price
DK40SE with KL401 Loader and 72" bucket
6' Brush Hog Rotary Cutter
Bale Fork for FEL
18' Tandem axle flat bed trailer with built in ramps and bulldog hitch
66" box blade

Total package price is $24,160 from S&H Farm Supply in Rogersville, MO.

 

[rd_macgregor]

You didn't mention what kind of tires you decided on. I hae to agree with Island tractor who said, the DK40 is the "sweet spot" in the Kioti line.
I think soon you'll be looking for at least a tooth bar for your loader bucket, and maybe a bucket grapple or grapple rake. By itself, a loader bucket is almost useless for moving brush and, with a smooth front edge, it also doesn't cut into a fibrous compost/manure pile very well (we have horses, so lots of that!); chips bedding with goat pellets might be easier, though.
You're gonna love that tractor!!

BOB

 

[duanekeys]

It comes with the Ag tires. A neighbor has a bobcat with a grapple bucket. I'm hoping to borrow it come stall cleaning time!

 

[rd_macgregor]

Good idea on borrowing the Bobcat. I'd be worried about knocking out a support post or something if I operated my DK45SC inside a barn; it turns really nicely, but nowhere near as tightly as a skid steer.

BOB

 

[duanekeys]

Good idea on borrowing the Bobcat. I'd be worried about knocking out a support post or something if I operated my DK45SC inside a barn; it turns really nicely, but nowhere near as tightly as a skid steer.

BOB

Oh no, I meant just borrowing the grapple... But I'll need another set of remotes to work it. That'll be down the road a bit.

The areas I need to clean out are straight shots, I think I can manage the tractor in that space. We'll see!

 

[CowwFace]

Hey Duane,

That looks like a dang good price to me. My DK40SE HST is 2 years old now .. I paid about 20k for Tractor, FEL and 96" rear blade .. No trailer ... so I think you're sitting pretty there.

About the Box Blade ... I've had no problem pulling/pushing with the 8' rear blade on my DK40 ... do you think 5' is going to be big enough? (easy for me to spend your money!). If you need the smaller width for cleaning stalls etc I get it.. but I would not be afraid to go a bit wider also?

Tractor on