Tiller 4-foot Rotary Tiller - King Kutter or Caroni?!

[WSJ]

I'm finally going to take the plunge and get a tiller for my Kioti CK25 and am torn between the local King Kutter (local dealer or Tractor Supply) or the Caroni from Agri Supply (mail order from North Carolina).

The Caroni, delievered, will end up costing me about $140 less than buying locally. Both have a 1-year warranty. I'd like to buy from the local guy if he can get close to TSC's price (about $60 less), which he probably can since he's got to order it and I'd be paying up front.

But $140 is $140 and I don't know if it's enough to outweigh the uncertainty of buying something precey and high maintenance from far away. Help!

Thanks in advance. -WSJ

 

[IslandTractor]

I don't own either. The KK tiller has a great reputation. I haven't heard anything about the Caroni tiller but I have one of their flail mowers from AgriSupply and am very happy with it. Caroni equipment is well made and well supported by AgriSupply.

 

[Jim Warrell]

I have the King-Kutter. It has been great and tough. No problems whatsoever. Love the gear drive vs. chain. Mine is a 60" model.

 

[JC-jetro]

I'm finally going to take the plunge and get a tiller for my Kioti CK25 and am torn between the local King Kutter (local dealer or Tractor Supply) or the Caroni from Agri Supply (mail order from North Carolina).

The Caroni, delievered, will end up costing me about $140 less than buying locally. Both have a 1-year warranty. I'd like to buy from the local guy if he can get close to TSC's price (about $60 less), which he probably can since he's got to order it and I'd be paying up front.

But $140 is $140 and I don't know if it's enough to outweigh the uncertainty of buying something precey and high maintenance from far away. Help!

Thanks in advance. -WSJ

I can not objectively comment on Caroni but I believe it is chain driven. King Kutter is top of the in implement but their tillers are exception. Can not beat gear drive for a long life of amusement. I think king kutter has chain drive in 4 foot size that I will avoid. Go for gear drive should you decide KK. can also buy 5 footer, remove a few tines to have a 4 foot tilling width and you'll end of with spare tines. 5 foot at times is a bit cheaper than 4 foot due to more production.


JC,

Can not go wrong with KK tiller.

 

[newt92]

Very happy KK tiller owner here too. I have the 5' and with my JD 2520 it works great. I had a JD 2210 before and the tiller was a little much. The 5' is only like $300 more than the 4'.

 

[jimg]

At one time I owned a Caroni tiller bought from AgriSupply. It was a good machine, no complaints about it or AS service. At the time (4 or 5 yrs ago) all (exc Chinese) tiilers were built in Italy or made from a majority of parts mfg'd there. I think it would be hard to go wrong w/ any Italian tiller. In my case buying from AS saved me several hundred $$$ even inc'ing freight. All the locals, who bothered to stock tillers, were very expensive.

It might help greatly to search TBN for all subjects about tillers....theres a *wealth* of info here. That would bring you up to speed rather quickly.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

For me, the desicion would boil down to a flip of a coin. I've owned a 6' KK tiller for 7 years now. It's been abused, over-used, and left out in the weather when I wasn't hammering on it. So far, I have NOTHING but good things to say about it. I did break a few tines early on, tilling in rocky conditions. Also, I've used mine enoughto completely wear out a set of tines. I ordered new ones from KK (Through TSC) and was suprised that they weren't hard to get or all that expensive. I'd recommend a KK tiller in a flash. And I DO NOT like most of what KK sells.

Over the years, I've made quite a few purchases from Agri-Supply. I have NEVER been disappointed. On a couple of occasions, I received the wrong items (plow parts both times) I called them up and new parts were delivered, overnight freight at no additional charge, in both cases. They take care of their customers. I'd recommend buying from Agri-Supply without any a second thought.

Heads or tails?

 

[allen in texas]

I have a 6' KK

No complaints.
I got a deal too.
I was listed at $1699 but it had a tag on it for $1499.
I got it for $1499 at Gebo's

 

[jpm1]

I would definately go KK. I dont have a kk tiller but my shed is packed with KK equiptment! I'm 100 percent sold on the stuff and it gets a real workout with me at my place.

 

[WSJ]

Thanks, all. KK it is. I'm just waiting to hear back from my local independent dealer on a price. If he can get close to the Tractor Supply price I'm there.

The CCM's sure are nice looking though. I talked to the folks there last week and got prices on tillers and shipping. Prices on the web are apparently not up to date as the over the phone price was about $50 more. What really killed the potential deal for me was the shipping ($305), which shouldn't be a surprise but was. I don't know how ASC can offer the prices they do on tillers with shipping included.

Anyway, here's hoping I've got a tiller to play with when the snow melts.

-WSJ