Comparison Kubota vs Bobcat/Kioti

[Carl Bert]

WOW! Sorry guys for creating such a heated arguement. I just needed some reassurance on my purchase. Anyway I went back to the dealer played around with the B26 and also looked at the B3200, which I also liked. If it wasn't for the 1000lb difference in backhoe bucket pressure, I would have gone that route, but I am dealing with hard rocky soil and need the extra strength. Hey if I decide down the road that I want a more versatile machine, I'll just trade it in for a B3200 or B3030. "Life is to enjoy" Thanks for all the input, this is a great site.

Carl B

 

[TripleR]

WOW! Sorry guys for creating such a heated arguement. I just needed some reassurance on my purchase. Anyway I went back to the dealer played around with the B26 and also looked at the B3200, which I also liked. If it wasn't for the 1000lb difference in backhoe bucket pressure, I would have gone that route, but I am dealing with hard rocky soil and need the extra strength. Hey if I decide down the road that I want a more versatile machine, I'll just trade it in for a B3200 or B3030. "Life is to enjoy" Thanks for all the input, this is a great site.

Carl B

Good luck with your purchase, I am sure you will be happy with it. I don't think you can buy a bad tractor if you stick with one of the top manufacturers. I just bought a new Kubota, but could have been happy with any number of comparably equipped tractors, no matter the color.

 

[DiezNutz]

WOW! Sorry guys for creating such a heated arguement.

Well Carl, your punishment is, you have to post lots of pics of your B26 when you get it, as well as share your first experiences of owning it.

I think that's only fair. :thumbsup:

 

[waxahachie]

Bobcat is purchased from Kioti, and assembled in the US and painted white.
I love the Bobcat standard features, but my concerns are that Bobcat has a long track record of starting to sell a product, find out there is not enough profit
and dump it. The company that furnishes the parts have a long track record, and Kioti (Daedong) outwardly seem like a killer deal, but I've had Kubs for 30 yrs.and service more than required but have never had to repair a tractor in my usual 7 yrs. between purchases, and have sold them for over half of original price. I thought about Bobcat, but their support situation sucks in this area. Only specific dealers can service them, NOT ALL BOBCAT DEALERS.
Happy hunting.

 

[montelatici]

Yes I seriously considered a Kioti in the spring and had it not been that I was in the middle of a refinancing I probably would have sprung for a DK 40/45 HST. The features these had for the price was phenomenal.

But, when the L3700SU became available the Kubota pricing became more manageable and though it is a very utilitarian tractor (and smaller/lighter) it will do what I need it for and it will have Kubota resale value and quality I have become accustomed to.

I bought my first Kubota, a B5200 4WD in 1984 and I have bought 3 more from the same dealer over the years. I sold the B5200 3 years ago for about the same price I paid for it new!!!!! Of course those 1984 dollars were worth more.

On the other hand, if I had no past experience with Kubota, I would probably go with a Kioti. A lot of machine for the money, and I haven't heard any form/fit horror stories that I have heard about Chinese and Indian tractors.

Kubota thought the L3700 through price point-wise and it might keep many of us from jumping ship. It did for me.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I love the Bobcat standard features, but my concerns are that Bobcat has a long track record of starting to sell a product, find out there is not enough profit.

Very insightful, and somthing that many of us in the business are watching.

 

[twbpc]

To me it's about quality and getting the right tool for the job. It's one thing to get more bang for your buck (bigger tractor) but I prefer to buy something that gives me the right bang and I get my buck back when I trade it in on a new Kubota.

 

[digger2]

Carl,
I myself have had two Kubotas.The first was a B7610 with a Kubota FEL and Woods BH,good machine but not built for constant BH and FEL work.
Now i have a B26 TLB and for its purpose its great.Alot more solid than my
B7610.I can actually lift a load with just one side of my FEL (i dont recomend this) and i dont hear any snapping,cracking or groaning sounds as i did with my B7610.The 7610 was a good machine but not built for the punishment
the B26 will take.I've had it three years and am not sorry i bought it.
As far as the Kioti/Bobcat thing of weighing more,yes they do.Does
it mean they are built better?.....no it does'nt.I myself have never had a Bobcat or a Kioti,so i can't call them good or bad.I personally dont know
how good those machines are.They maybe OK,i can't say,i've never owned one.
I too was really suprised with how much more a comparable Kioti/
Bobcat weighed over a Kubota.But remember as has been said.......
"you can always add weight",as i did.And more weight does not always mean
better.If i remember right the B26 has only a 1 year warranty.I asked my dealer about this and his response was alot of these B26 fall into the hands of rental outfits.This means any Joe Blow with the dough can walk in,rent it for the weekend,pound the crap out of it and take it back on monday
washing his hands of it regardless if its damaged or not.Sometimes the damage isnt obvious on the return of the machine,such as stress cracks.
Kubota knows how these things get treated,especially if its a rental.
Anyway,I will tell you i am completely satisfied with my B26.I've put it through some real tough situations and it keeps right on going.I'll probably have it for the rest of my life,who knows?Regardless, i can say that Kubota
does make a very good product,and i think you will be more than satisfied
with a B26.......good luck with your new machine!!! Digger2

 

[art]

WOW! Sorry guys for creating such a heated arguement. I just needed some reassurance on my purchase. Anyway I went back to the dealer played around with the B26 and also looked at the B3200, which I also liked. If it wasn't for the 1000lb difference in backhoe bucket pressure, I would have gone that route, but I am dealing with hard rocky soil and need the extra strength. Hey if I decide down the road that I want a more versatile machine, I'll just trade it in for a B3200 or B3030. "Life is to enjoy" Thanks for all the input, this is a great site.

Carl B

I'm sorry Carl, but I fueled it up as their spec's said it all.

You'll love your B-26 and they are a strong tractor with a history of good quality and service with great resale value!!

 

[digger2]

Carl,
Something else about weight on this Kubota verses Kioti/Bobcat
thing............Do you plan on trailering it anywhere?
Example.......The 16' tandem i have is rated at 7000# gross weight.
It weighs,according to my title,2001# leaving me 5000# load limit.
The B26 weighs 4001# bone stock.My tires are filled with windsheild washer fluid front and rear,even though Kubota does not reccomend filling the fronts,i did it anyway.I figure now it weighs about 4600# total....maybe more!!!!
With my Warn winch mounted on the front of the trailer,and a good deep cycle battery on the trailer,along with my extra long ramps that i made-
because the original 5 footers were way too short,plus some diesel fuel and tools,chains and binders............well,i'm pushing my legal limit.
Yeah,i could buy a heavier trailer.....and then a diesel F350 instead of my gas F250,and on and on and on.Think about it.More weight is not always better.........right now my Ex-wife comes to mind.