Need Advice: Buy an New MX5400 That’s Been Crated Outside 8 Months or Go with a Fresh Kioti?

[drunderw]

I'm looking for some input as I make a final decision on a cab tractor. I was about to purchase a Kubota MX5400HSTC but when I got the paperwork and reviewed the serial number I found that it was manufactured in March 2024 and has been sitting crated at the dealer’s yard for 8 months. They say it arrived in September and has been stored in the crate since then. My main hesitation is the 8-month crate storage on the Kubota. It's been unassembled during that time. It’s technically new, but I’m wondering if I should be concerned about any long-term effects from sitting that long — or if it’s no big deal.

Meanwhile, a Kioti NS6010C HST just arrived at another dealer last week and was assembled only days ago — fresh and clean.

What would you do? Stick with the Kubota or pivot to the freshly arrived Kioti?

 

[jyoutz]

This is SOP and many new tractors have spent months sitting in a crate before assembly, including the Kioti. The freshly arrived Kioti was freshly assembled out of a crate.

 

[workinonit]

If you want a fresh clean one go get a Deere and pick it up off the assembly line in Augusta. Short of that there's no telling how long any of them have been sitting in a crate.

 

[drunderw]

This is SOP and many new tractors have spent months sitting in a crate before assembly, including the Kioti. The freshly arrived Kioti was freshly assembled out of a crate.

Good to know about SOP but the Kioti came in on the truck last week from overseas

 

[jyoutz]

Good to know about SOP but the Kioti came in on the truck last week from overseas

I don’t understand why the concern? Most tractors arrive crated, and many aren’t assembled until there is space on the lot.

 

[drunderw]

I don’t understand why the concern? Most tractors arrive crated, and many aren’t assembled until there is space on the lot.

I plan to park mine inside when not in use, so would prefer not having months of exposure. Several other dealers cycle their stock quickly and assemble units when they arrive or within a few weeks so I just found it odd to be crated for that extent of time.

 

[jyoutz]

I plan to park mine inside when not in use, so would prefer not having months of exposure. Several other dealers cycle their stock quickly and assemble units when they arrive or within a few weeks so I just found it odd to be crated for that extent of time.

I’ll bet that when they assemble the crated tractor and park it on the lot, it will look like it just rolled out of the factory.

 

[Torvy]

I would guess only a few components would really age. Are belts added in factory or by dealer?

I wouldn't let it bother me. Buy the dealer/machine.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Check the crate and see what's actually exposed. The crated Kubota's on my dealers lot all have the sensitive parts protected. The exposed parts are mostly glass & painted sheet metal and the same ones that are exposed to the elements after assembly.

Buy the tractor you like best. Unless there is noticeable paint fading, I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Seems like you're concerned with the actual "age" of the tractor -- not necessarily how long it's spent in a crate. If they had assembled it as soon as delivered, it would have sat outside for that same amount of time.

Assuming they both look and feel "new", I'd buy the one I like the best. I like Kubotas, but you might find the cab and controls of the Kioti are more modern and operator-friendly and integrated into the cab interior panels.

Out of curiosity, what's the cost difference?

 

[hayden]

In general I would not be at all concerned about the crating and would buy the tractor I liked best.

That said, it might be worth putting eyes on the tractor and looking for tarnishing and corrosion on plated parts like bolt heads and hydraulic hose fittings. I say this because in a previous thread someone had all sorts of premature corrosion in these parts, presumably because of exposure to road salt during transport.

 

[BleedingOrange]

When did the 2025 model year arrive on the dealers lot ? Are they giving you a discount on the 2024 ? If not, get a brand new arrival 2025.

 

[jyoutz]

When did the 2025 model year arrive on the dealers lot ? Are they giving you a discount on the 2024 ? If not, get a brand new arrival 2025.

Tractors aren’t sold by model year like vehicles. The are sold by model number. As long as they are the same model number and new, different tractors on the lot may be manufactured in different years, but they aren’t labeled as such.

 

[2manyrocks]

I suspect several mx owners are wondering how you manage to keep resisting the attraction of a mx?

 

[arrow]

I'm looking for some input as I make a final decision on a cab tractor. I was about to purchase a Kubota MX5400HSTC but when I got the paperwork and reviewed the serial number I found that it was manufactured in March 2024 and has been sitting crated at the dealer’s yard for 8 months. They say it arrived in September and has been stored in the crate since then. My main hesitation is the 8-month crate storage on the Kubota. It's been unassembled during that time. It’s technically new, but I’m wondering if I should be concerned about any long-term effects from sitting that long — or if it’s no big deal.

Meanwhile, a Kioti NS6010C HST just arrived at another dealer last week and was assembled only days ago — fresh and clean.

What would you do? Stick with the Kubota or pivot to the freshly arrived Kioti?

It is no big deal

 

[rScotty]

I'm looking for some input as I make a final decision on a cab tractor. I was about to purchase a Kubota MX5400HSTC but when I got the paperwork and reviewed the serial number I found that it was manufactured in March 2024 and has been sitting crated at the dealer’s yard for 8 months. They say it arrived in September and has been stored in the crate since then. My main hesitation is the 8-month crate storage on the Kubota. It's been unassembled during that time. It’s technically new, but I’m wondering if I should be concerned about any long-term effects from sitting that long — or if it’s no big deal.

Meanwhile, a Kioti NS6010C HST just arrived at another dealer last week and was assembled only days ago — fresh and clean.

What would you do? Stick with the Kubota or pivot to the freshly arrived Kioti?

It may be that you have gotten some wrong info. information. Tractors are not built by model years like cars are. Standard tractor configuratons are built in model runs where as many are made as are expected to be sold in the next few years. The final step is crating and then warehousing. The crated tractors are shipped to distributors and then onto dealers. Unless it is a "special", It is up to the dealer to uncrate and assemble them as needed.
So the tractor "year" becomes the year they are sold. Unless it is brand new model or a major change, any tractor you buy might have been - & probably was - manufactured and crated up to sit for an indeterminate tme - it could even be years before they are sold.
Crates are good. The idea is that time in the crate doesn't hurt them at all.

 

[diesel466]

I like to buy a tractor that has not sat around too long. Kubota vin numbers will tell you the year and month it was built.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Mine was in the crate when I bought it. Assembled and delivered only after I'd agreed on the purchase. Not a problem to this day.

 

[scootr]

I don't see what the debate is. In one hand you have one of the best Kubota tractors and in the other is a South Korean brand.
Kubota has been selling tractors in the US since 1969 (56yrs) and Kioti since 1993 (32 yrs). Still Kubota sells twice as many tractors in the US as Kioti
The MX series boasts a heavier duty undercarriage than their L models. This is a no brainer for me, Kubota.

 

[Aussie Cargo]

Its new, tractors, cars, machines often sit around for anywhere from days to even years, regard it as a new tractor.