RK Tractor reviews???

[rngrrymd]

major,

I've submitted your posts to Rural King Corporate Offices. After that dissertation you should be getting a call from them - I'm thinking "District Manager" lolol. :laughing:

They still are one of the brands that obfuscate their specs to confuscate the customer. Too bad they didn't have any stores near me as I wanted to check them out when I was shopping.

Lastly, I do have a concern. I wonder what the bilateral trade agreement between korea and the US will look like. There lies a possible impact.

Agreed. As I posted 2weeks ago in that thread that "went off the rails"

"In 2017 South Korea exported 3.4 million metric tons of steel to the U.S., making it the third largest source of imported steel in the United States. In order to avoid 25 percent tariffs on steel exports to the United States, Seoul agreed to limit its exports to 70 percent of its average exports over the last three years. This effectively places a cap of 2.68 million metric tons a year on South Korea’s steel exports to the United States."

KORUS FTA Doesn’t Protect South Korea From Section 232 Investigations | The Diplomat

 

[MossRoad]

I know you can't name it. Why? Because it's no longer sold there. It came and went.

They sold a tractor brand there that they no longer sell. And I do not recall a service center there, either. Based on that, and the many other brands that have come and gone from many other farm stores, many of us are very leary of their new offerings. So you might want to lay off the folks that are expressing their concerns based on past experiences and observations. No one is disparaging anyone in some sort of dastardly fashion. It's the old "fool me once" cautionary stance that those of us that remember have a hard time forgetting.

No one has called it a lousy product. Many have called it a great product.

And many of us (me included) love Rural King. It's one of my favorite places to shop. I've been choosing them over TSC and Big R whenever possible. I spend a lot of money there. So no ax to grind with them. Just cautionary observation for now on this product line. I hope it goes well for them. It's good for the market if it succeeds. Let's revisit this discussion in 2, 5, and 10 years and see how it goes.

 

[rngrrymd]

I just noticed the occupant sitting on the floor of the tractor cab w/ the door open, so the buddy seat is not really for the wife after all? Nice!

Most behaved dog we have ever owned (she is the 3rd, we keep our pets for their whole lives like a good owner should). If she was bigger I could probably teach her to drive the tractor she's so smart.

 

[Btown]

I know you can't name it. Why? Because it's no longer sold there. It came and went.

They sold a tractor brand there that they no longer sell. And I do not recall a service center there, either. Based on that, and the many other brands that have come and gone from many other farm stores, many of us are very leary of their new offerings. So you might want to lay off the folks that are expressing their concerns based on past experiences and observations. No one is disparaging anyone in some sort of dastardly fashion. It's the old "fool me once" cautionary stance that those of us that remember have a hard time forgetting.

No one has called it a lousy product. Many have called it a great product.

And many of us (me included) love Rural King. It's one of my favorite places to shop. I've been choosing them over TSC and Big R whenever possible. I spend a lot of money there. So no ax to grind with them. Just cautionary observation for now on this product line. I hope it goes well for them. It's good for the market if it succeeds. Let's revisit this discussion in 2, 5, and 10 years and see how it goes.

So did the relationship with Kioti with Bobcat and McCormick. Bobcat gave up on tractors and McCormick is selling a rebaged Branson tractor. But you can still buy parts from Kioti and fix your tractor. TYM makes tractors for several brands, like Mahindra, Zetor, Landini and Lamborghini to name a few. Even if RK stops selling them. You can still buy parts. Even most Chinese tractor parts are available for most Chinese made tractors.

 

[RustyT]

Honestly with corporate buyouts and mergers you don't know how long any brand will be around.

 

[rngrrymd]

I believe the bigger concern with this RK/TYM partnership is on RK's side. They have to be concerned that they don't do all the work building out name recognition of TYM made tractors and that TYM doesn't "Montana" them like LS Tractors did to Montana Tractors (also a retail brand name that relied on 3rd party to make their tractors for those not familiar with Montana). Unlike Cabelas venture with TYM where they never intended to service the tractor after the purchase, Rural King is investing a lot of money and thought by providing service and parts and I believe they will make this partnership work on their end.

LS tractors - which are a well made tractor widely liked on this board - is another company just like RK which is guilty of fluffing their loader specs and 3-point specs by only listing higher numbers such as the loader capacity @ the pivot pin instead of 500mm or 800mm from the pivot pin and 3-point capacity at the hitch instead of "24" behind pins".

Well, out of curiosity I duug deeper and I figured out that TYM hired a North American Equipment Advisory arm back in late 2012 with the specific aim of increasing their US presence through retail channels. The initial partnership with Cabela's had great exposure across the US with locations nationwide but of course we know since Cabela's never intended to service the tractors it failed. That same North American Equipment Advisory arm regrouped after the Cabelas partnership went south and came up with the much hotter partnership with Rural King which is working because now the tractor is supported with service, parts, accessories, etc. and the switch from Cumming/Perkin engines to Yanmar is a better fit as well.

So....based on my research (much of which is not stated in this simple post) and a better understanding of the workings and history behind this advisory strategy into retail partnership I don't believe RK is at risk of getting "Montana'd" by TYM. Take that Major, I'm going for a "Regional VP" position. hehehe. Who's sick of eating pizza?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Tsc sold tractors for a brief time about 10 yrs ago. They offered no service.

 

[Threepoint]

Well, out of curiosity I duug deeper and I figured out that TYM hired a North American Equipment Advisory arm back in late 2012 with the specific aim of increasing their US presence through retail channels. The initial partnership with Cabela's had great exposure across the US with locations nationwide but of course we know since Cabela's never intended to service the tractors it failed. That same North American Equipment Advisory arm regrouped after the Cabelas partnership went south and came up with the much hotter partnership with Rural King which is working because now the tractor is supported with service, parts, accessories, etc. and the switch from Cumming/Perkin engines to Yanmar is a better fit as well.

So....based on my research (much of which is not stated in this simple post) and a better understanding of the workings and history behind this advisory strategy into retail partnership I don't believe RK is at risk of getting "Montana'd" by TYM. Take that Major, I'm going for a "Regional VP" position. hehehe. Who's sick of eating pizza?

Hopefully this time will be the charm for TYM. The current venture clearly has different elements, and TYM and RK appear to have a good start so far. Healthy competition should be welcomed.

Regarding the TYM-Cabelas advisory group, I coincidentally saw in another thread that one of the consultants on that venture joined TBN to pitch the new tractors and allay the predictable concerns about longevity of a new start-up. Sound marketing strategy, IMO. He expressed confidence that Cabelas was in it for the long haul. I don't doubt that was so at the time!

Edit - just did a quick search and found this TBN thread from 2013. I think posts #7 and #14 may be what was referenced. https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/tym-buying-pricing/297434-cabelas-tym-tractors.html?highlight=cabelas+TYM+consultant

 

[sea2summit]

I have no dog in the fight but I enjoy Mike's videos and I have to say popping the hood to change the oil on the RK looks harder than my whole Kubota service:thumbdown:

 

[majorwager]

Sea2,
Not sure about yours, but my MX requires removing TWO drain plugs to change the oil. And the reason I do NOT need to remove
Any side panels, is because the CHEAP folks at kubota did NOT provide side panels. Both sides of the engine exposed to the atmosphere. The RK 55 is a PREMIUM tractor, my MX screams
Economy Model.

EDIT: If the nonsense complaints in Posts 191--192---193 are fhe only concerns w/ the RK-55, then anticipate a high volume of sales as the RK line moves forward.