RK tractors are made by TYM

[majorwager]

Is there experience in the community? $30k for 44 hp pto tractor, (55 gross hp) HST, cab and loader + amenities that are options with competitors. Includes extended warranty. A kubota would approach $50k.

 

[Btown]

Rural King, Mahindra, Zetor are all selling rebranded TYM’s. Mahindra sells them with fewer options with their own loader and engines, for a lot more $$. But The others use the exact TYM set up. They are good strong tractors, the only real issue people are having with them is the new display fades quickly and are replaced under warranty. Some Cabela’s locations abandoned their tractors. They are the same as TYM ones with a Woods made loader. TYM bought Kukje machinery, they make Branson tractors. So in the near future you will see the engine in the 55 hp tractor change from the Yanmar to the Kukje built one, which a Cummins design and licensed engine.

 

[mackeyr14]

I have the 554 HST. I love it. Has close to 100 hours on it and it has been great.

 

[Old Red]

If they would get in the business and stay there and support their customers they could be just as good as any...but they gotta prove themselves.

 

[sd455dan]

If they would get in the business and stay there and support their customers they could be just as good as any...but they gotta prove themselves.

after watching the Morgans testing out the new RK 55 hp cab tractor. I remembered checking out a 553 TYM in person back in 2008 and thought the new tractor had shrunk?

Was looking at the specs and thinking maybe TYM has downsized their 55 hp tractors in the newest versions

the older 553 and the newer 554 55 hp tractors

Big changes in the tires according to tractor data -

553 TYM 11.2 x 20 front 14.9 x 30 rear tire

554 TYM 9.5 x 16 front 13.6 x 26 rear tire

new RK 55 H

9.5 x 16 front 14.9 x 24

older TYM 553 tractor wheelbase 83.5 inches
new tractor wheelbase 76.2 inches ? the same as the old 403 TYM?

regardless the new RK cabbed 55 does look like a very nice tractor from the video

 

[Btown]

The old T433 and T503 were identical tractors, the 50 hp just had a bump in hp. It looks like the T553 was a larger tractor. I have never seen or heard of this tractor being in the USA. The next size up was the T603. The T554 and the T503 have the same dimension. I think the T553 was a Cat 2 tractor which most tractors over 50 hp are. The T554 is still a Cat 1 tractor. You have to jump up to the T654 to get Cat 2 in the USA.

 

[sd455dan]

The old T433 and T503 were identical tractors, the 50 hp just had a bump in hp. It looks like the T553 was a larger tractor. I have never seen or heard of this tractor being in the USA. The next size up was the T603. The T554 and the T503 have the same dimension. I think the T553 was a Cat 2 tractor which most tractors over 50 hp are. The T554 is still a Cat 1 tractor. You have to jump up to the T654 to get Cat 2 in the USA.

My mistake,
Had to go back and check the brochures they gave me when I checked them out,
You are correct.
the tractor I looked at must not have been a 553 It had to have been a 603
10 year memory fade om my part.

 

[Oldoak]

Thanks to all with all the good detailed information.

Got me thinking, why buy a Cadillac when a Chevy will due. Kubota verses RK tractors. Looks like an excellent price/value combination if the reliability and operator ergonomics match. Plus an eight year power train warranty. One thing that would make me hesitate is a non-existent nation-wide distributorship/dealership network.

RK Tractors

 

[Mallard5+1Farmhouse]

I messaged Rural King and asked why they dont sell these tractors at all of their stores (since I had to drive 2 hours just to look at them). They told me that their plan is to eventually have them at all stores. I also asked about trade ins and they said they do not accept trade ins YET. But the tractors look well built. The New Philadelphia, Ohio store I went to said they sold 30 last year and none of them came back. You can also put no money down with 84 month financing, which is pretty hard to find when buying a tractor. Here's a video I took while looking at the tractors and implements at Rural King. RURAL KING TRACTORS AND IMPLEMENT WISH LIST - YouTube

 

[majorwager]

Drake,
There is an active thread on this subject in the kubota forum, under kubota operating. The thread title is "outdoors with the morgans" I believe it would be helpful if you posted your comment above and the video for that audience to review. Thanks.

 

[Old Red]

I think they will sell a ton of them at 0% 0 down 84 months. Cab model for 30 grand.

 

[Kernopelli]

That appears to be an excellent value in general and it's cheaper than my local TYM dealer who has T554 hydros w/ cab and FEL listed currently for $32,999. I would be one ticked off dealer if my local RK could sell tractors cheaper than me and I could image some dealers may not give the same priority to warranty work as they do their customers that bought from them. But I guess dealer pricing is likely tied to sales volume and RK has a lot more sales locations than ANY conventional dealer. My concern with buying from RK would be continued support and competency concerning service/repair issues. My two local RK's have carried Jinma, Foton and Massey Ferguson in the past and none lasted long.

 

[majorwager]

Kernopelli,
Point of distinction. T h e RK tractors are not sold under the TYM badge even though the are similar. YOUR local tym dealer does not have the same investment in parts and whole goods inventory..and commitment for future sales volume. True RK has been inconsistant with past tractor endeavors but they did NOT have access to the price point and quality offered by TYM. Massey has two many fingers in the pie since they are brokering a Japanese made machine. The RK plan, and it is a written plan, encompasses a trained technician staff at each store capable of performing service with apprpriate parts inventory. Rome, deere and kubota did not evolve overnight. If the public will demonstrate some patience, RK intends for their brand to be fully functional tractor dealerships operating at each of the projected 250 stores. There is a thread under the kubota forum. It is in the kubota operating heading, thread is titled "outdoors with the morgans". It would be helpful if you posted the comment above in that space. Believe your input would be of interest to folks reviewing that thread.

 

[Old Red]

Kernopelli,
Point of distinction. T h e RK tractors are not sold under the TYM badge even though the are similar. YOUR local tym dealer does not have the same investment in parts and whole goods inventory..and commitment for future sales volume. True RK has been inconsistant with past tractor endeavors but they did NOT have access to the price point and quality offered by TYM. Massey has two many fingers in the pie since they are brokering a Japanese made machine. The RK plan, and it is a written plan, encompasses a trained technician staff at each store capable of performing service with apprpriate parts inventory. Rome, deere and kubota did not evolve overnight. If the public will demonstrate some patience, RK intends for their brand to be fully functional tractor dealerships operating at each of the projected 250 stores. There is a thread under the kubota forum. It is in the kubota operating heading, thread is titled "outdoors with the morgans". It would be helpful if you posted the comment above in that space. Believe your input would be of interest to folks reviewing that thread.

That thread is way off topic and I would suggest keeping posts in this thread. That thread is more geared towards a show, where this one is geared towards Rural King tractors. Lots of opinions that don't matter in that thread (including my own) about youtube shows. Lets keep this one going about Rural King and their tractors. Rural King is a store less than 2 miles from my house. I frequent it often....last night in fact to purchase a maintenance minder (hour meter). I agree with everyone else, they sold those chinese tractors and continue to sell chinese side by sides and other products with engines that just are sub par with quality in my opinion. I believe TYM is Korean? Not sure. But I am hopeful they expand to my store and keep a good stock of implements and parts as we now have no tractor dealers in the County in which I live. I'm all set on tractors for now, but if this things works out it will be nice to have another option. And 30 grand for a brand new cab tractor with 84 months interest free financing should sell a lot of tractors....but is it going to work? It didn't work out for Cabelas or a lot of other folks who deal in TYM....

 

[Kernopelli]

Majorwager, The OP asked if anyone had experience ( experience specific to RK tractors, RK tractor sales or TYM, I am not sure so I addressed them all). I never implied or stated that RK tractors were branded as TYM's. I'm also not sure how you know what MY local TYM dealer has in his parts inventory but I know for sure it is more than any of the approx. 20 Rural King locations within 150 miles of me because they don't have any at all. I felt it was important to make a point about RK and their factual ( historical) previous lack of success concerning ability to stay the course on tractor sales and service. A reasonable point to make if considering buying a $30K tractor. The future success of the RK/TYM partnership has yet to be established but I will bet that RK's past commitments to make similar endeavors work were no less important to the corporation. I fully agree that TYM is the best partner they have chosen to date and offers the best chance of establishing themselves as a viable option for buyers.


I spoke with the RK Tractor department manager in Mattoon IL ( my closest RK Tractor store/dealer and location of RK corporate headquarters). He said corporate projections were for every store to stock tractors and supply parts and service in 3 years. Each store will have a parts inventory and if the part is not on the shelf it will be sourced from "the factory". He explained every store that sells tractors will have a TYM trained tech and he had personally been through the TYM training. I asked if he had experience or a technical background in the field and his experience was previously in small engine repair at the store level. The current store servicemen at each store will be the target employees to receive future TYM training. I asked specifically what TYM's training covered and he said it was primarily focused on diagnostics and specifically how to utilize a laptop with diagnostic software, basic scheduled maintenance, implement attachment/detachment specific to FEL's, backhoes and 3 point attachments and how to offer phone support to help customers service/ repair their own machines. No electrical, diesel engine, drivetrain or hydraulics specific training. His stated conclusion on this subject was, "Our hope is that after establishing ourselves, we can start to focus on recruiting technicians with more tractor specific experience.". He stated that currently, if service/repair wasn't available at the purchase location, RK would go through a corporate approval process to seek a third party to provide the service. Currently, they ( his location) have come to rely on a Mahindra dealer to provide their third party service/repair. If unable to procure a third party to do the work, RK will ship the tractor to a facility in Waverly OH to do the repairs.

I asked about financing options as well. Current financing terms are 0 down and 84 months at 5.99%.....no 0% interest rate option available currently.

 

[Btown]

That thread is way off topic and I would suggest keeping posts in this thread. That thread is more geared towards a show, where this one is geared towards Rural King tractors. Lots of opinions that don't matter in that thread (including my own) about youtube shows. Lets keep this one going about Rural King and their tractors. Rural King is a store less than 2 miles from my house. I frequent it often....last night in fact to purchase a maintenance minder (hour meter). I agree with everyone else, they sold those chinese tractors and continue to sell chinese side by sides and other products with engines that just are sub par with quality in my opinion. I believe TYM is Korean? Not sure. But I am hopeful they expand to my store and keep a good stock of implements and parts as we now have no tractor dealers in the County in which I live. I'm all set on tractors for now, but if this things works out it will be nice to have another option. And 30 grand for a brand new cab tractor with 84 months interest free financing should sell a lot of tractors....but is it going to work? It didn't work out for Cabelas or a lot of other folks who deal in TYM....

Selling tractors was working for Cabelas. Who thinks it was not? The only reason the endeavor ended was the owners put Cabelas up for sale and the new owner Bass Pro Shops wanted nothing to do with tractors, so it ended. If Cabelas was not sold, they would still be selling green tractors. Were they initially overpriced, yes I think they were in some markets. Tractor prices vary greatly 3 or 4 states away. I can tell you Cabelas was a little cheaper than my local TYM dealer. ButRural King’s prices would blow them both out of the water, for the same machine. Yes I know that Cabelas had a different loader and seat etc... TYM has built tractors for Mahindra for almost 20 years now in the US market.

 

[Old Red]

Selling tractors was working for Cabelas. Who thinks it was not? The only reason the endeavor ended was the owners put Cabelas up for sale and the new owner Bass Pro Shops wanted nothing to do with tractors, so it ended. If Cabelas was not sold, they would still be selling green tractors. Were they initially overpriced, yes I think they were in some markets. Tractor prices vary greatly 3 or 4 states away. I can tell you Cabelas was a little cheaper than my local TYM dealer. ButRural King’s prices would blow them both out of the water, for the same machine. Yes I know that Cabelas had a different loader and seat etc... TYM has built tractors for Mahindra for almost 20 years now in the US market.

Okay, maybe I should re-state my thought. Cabela's selling tractors did not work out for the buyers as Cabela's no longer sells tractors? How about that? This statement is even worse to be honest.

Do you work at Cabelas or Bass Pro? I wonder why Bass Pro would want to stop offering a product that was working for a company they purchased?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I agree that "IF" Bass Pro wanted to keep the tractor line, it would still be in the Cabelas dealerships...

SR

 

[Bud Soda]

The Cabelas in NC were loosing money on tractors.I don't know about other states. When they first started they were priced too high and wouldn't sell. In the end they had to take a loss to get rid of them.

 

[Btown]

The Cabelas in NC were loosing money on tractors.I don't know about other states. When they first started they were priced too high and wouldn't sell. In the end they had to take a loss to get rid of them.

Not sure if they took a loss, maybe not as much profit. RK is selling them cheaper then Cabelas cleared them out. I think the problem Cabelas had was they set prices the same at all stores. For some products that is ok, but tractor prices vary greatly by region. This was the issue. Cabelas priced theirs above what they could buy the Same TYM machine at a lot TYM dealerships. Although Mahindra gets away with this, they have a better name recognition. There were several differences, but not enough to justify the price. I like the color of the Cabelas tractor more than the TYM red. The difference is RK has priced them to sell them at a much smaller profit than Cabelas did. I don’t think you can find many 55 hp cabbed tractor with a cab for $29,999 with filled tires by many dealers. The Cabelas in my state were selling tractors like crazy, even at the high prices, because they were cheaper than the one TYM dealer in my state.