Help me buy a compact tractor - information overload...

[majorwager]

Girl with Tractor,

It would be much easier to stay On Topic, (the other OT), if the OP would divulge which tractor he is purchasing. BTW I think your operating journal on the Mahindra forum is a true Buyer's Guide, albeit if slighty in disguise.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Thank you!

 

[ViperDriver]

It's looking like a Kioti CK4010.

Slightly more than we were looking at at the beginning but......

It's essentially the same as the CK 3510. We can go without the creature comforts / uplifts on the SE version, and the "plain" model can be uplifted with everything but the tilt wheel.

We're looking at about $35K all in (tax included) for the tractor, loader, backhoe, medium grade bush hog, extra valve, 2 detents on the backhoe controls, and a floor mat.

We were amazingly impressed with the beefiness of the tractor, the ergonomics, the quick attach accessories, the ease of removing the backhoe. But - we were most impressed with the owner of the place. Several benefits there - he'd should Kubota for years, so he's knowledgable. They are a premier deal with Kioti, and the President of Kioti lives in a nearby community and sends "newbie" regional sales managers there to be "trained". He was the first person that started up the tractor and said "take it for a spin". He said they are 15 minutes from the plant / distribution center. If you call in the AM with an order for a part, they will likely have your part available by 2-3PM. They also keep a nice trailer so customer's can borrow and move their tractors home, etc. They didn't seem interested in nickel and dimeing us to death with fees and add ons.

the tractor is a decent width, has good weight to it, and one of the best features is that it has a very high stated capacity on the bucket - which we feel will be he most used implement longer term. (Shorter term it might be some pallet forks to move things around - and the higher capacity will help there too)

So - quite a bit more than the plan (no surprise there - as that seems to be our MO with everything we do - sigh) but feel good about both the tractor and the dealer.

You folks were instrumental in teaching us, and suggesting we look at Kioti as a common theme - not sure we would have done that without the recommendations / knowledge of this community. Should be getting it in a week or so - spouse in Korea (weird...) so can't complete all the paperwork until we're both here.

Stay tuned - will at least provide some initial thoughts and experiences. And thanks again for all the knowledge sharing.

 

[rngrrymd]

So - quite a bit more than the plan (no surprise there - as that seems to be our MO with everything we do - sigh)

Sounds like you get in the same boat as me lol. I'd rather have quality over quantity any day and if I can't afford the higher quality I'll just go without til I can get what I want.

Glad you found the tractor that will meet your needs and a great dealer too! Kinda funny that you have location location location - some guys might be envious for that level of service capability being so close to the distribution center - it's a perfect fit for you. We didn't get to test a Deere with the backhoe (I did get to try out that Kioti backhoe and it was pretty smooth) but I knew the Deere and Kioti are both relatively easy to swap out which is why I tried to give as much info on those options to you as I could but wasn't sure if you were leaning bigger still or going smaller with a SCUT. If I could have gotten better financing out of the local Kioti dealer (local being over a good hour away) I might have gone that route on a NX cab myself. Congratulations and I hope your wife has safe travels and good luck with your build project!

 

[majorwager]

Here is a photo of the same tractor, ck4010. It has an oversize bucket which the owner is trying to sell for $400. Good Luck w/ your purchase.

 

[bfloyd4445]

It's looking like a Kioti CK4010.

Slightly more than we were looking at at the beginning but......

It's essentially the same as the CK 3510. We can go without the creature comforts / uplifts on the SE version, and the "plain" model can be uplifted with everything but the tilt wheel.

We're looking at about $35K all in (tax included) for the tractor, loader, backhoe, medium grade bush hog, extra valve, 2 detents on the backhoe controls, and a floor mat.

We were amazingly impressed with the beefiness of the tractor, the ergonomics, the quick attach accessories, the ease of removing the backhoe. But - we were most impressed with the owner of the place. Several benefits there - he'd should Kubota for years, so he's knowledgable. They are a premier deal with Kioti, and the President of Kioti lives in a nearby community and sends "newbie" regional sales managers there to be "trained". He was the first person that started up the tractor and said "take it for a spin". He said they are 15 minutes from the plant / distribution center. If you call in the AM with an order for a part, they will likely have your part available by 2-3PM. They also keep a nice trailer so customer's can borrow and move their tractors home, etc. They didn't seem interested in nickel and dimeing us to death with fees and add ons.

the tractor is a decent width, has good weight to it, and one of the best features is that it has a very high stated capacity on the bucket - which we feel will be he most used implement longer term. (Shorter term it might be some pallet forks to move things around - and the higher capacity will help there too)

So - quite a bit more than the plan (no surprise there - as that seems to be our MO with everything we do - sigh) but feel good about both the tractor and the dealer.

You folks were instrumental in teaching us, and suggesting we look at Kioti as a common theme - not sure we would have done that without the recommendations / knowledge of this community. Should be getting it in a week or so - spouse in Korea (weird...) so can't complete all the paperwork until we're both here.

Stay tuned - will at least provide some initial thoughts and experiences. And thanks again for all the knowledge sharing.

Did you give any consideration to the people that built your new tractor and the conditions they are forced to live and labor under? As a retired US worker I always put the workers first and only buy products produced by companies that provide well for workers and companies whose human rights and environmental standards are worth supporting.

 

[newbury]

It's looking like a Kioti CK4010.

Slightly more than we were looking at at the beginning but......

It's essentially the same as the CK 3510. We can go without the creature comforts / uplifts on the SE version, and the "plain" model can be uplifted with everything but the tilt wheel.

We're looking at about $35K all in (tax included) for the tractor, loader, backhoe, medium grade bush hog, extra valve, 2 detents on the backhoe controls, and a floor mat.

We were amazingly impressed with the beefiness of the tractor, the ergonomics, the quick attach accessories, the ease of removing the backhoe. But - we were most impressed with the owner of the place. Several benefits there - he'd should Kubota for years, so he's knowledgable. They are a premier deal with Kioti, and the President of Kioti lives in a nearby community and sends "newbie" regional sales managers there to be "trained". He was the first person that started up the tractor and said "take it for a spin". He said they are 15 minutes from the plant / distribution center. If you call in the AM with an order for a part, they will likely have your part available by 2-3PM. They also keep a nice trailer so customer's can borrow and move their tractors home, etc. They didn't seem interested in nickel and dimeing us to death with fees and add ons.

the tractor is a decent width, has good weight to it, and one of the best features is that it has a very high stated capacity on the bucket - which we feel will be he most used implement longer term. (Shorter term it might be some pallet forks to move things around - and the higher capacity will help there too)

So - quite a bit more than the plan (no surprise there - as that seems to be our MO with everything we do - sigh) but feel good about both the tractor and the dealer.

You folks were instrumental in teaching us, and suggesting we look at Kioti as a common theme - not sure we would have done that without the recommendations / knowledge of this community. Should be getting it in a week or so - spouse in Korea (weird...) so can't complete all the paperwork until we're both here.

Stay tuned - will at least provide some initial thoughts and experiences. And thanks again for all the knowledge sharing.

That's just an internet rumor until we see pics!!!

 

[rngrrymd]

Did you give any consideration to the people that built your new tractor and the conditions they are forced to live and labor under? As a retired US worker I always put the workers first and only buy products produced by companies that provide well for workers and companies whose human rights and environmental standards are worth supporting.

BFloyd, yes he did and yes he does. As a matter of fact, 3 South Korean Factory Employees and 1 North Carolinan Distribution/Assembly Employee came free with the tractor. He keeps them in the barn so they can wash and wax the tractor for him 24/7. He feeds them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, they can drink the goat's milk anytime (they have to milk the goat) and he even gives them some Oreos from time to time. I know you support US workers and jobs (most of those on this board support jobs for US workers) but due to the nature of the under 100HP tractor business most of the available options are heavily associated with overseas companies at this time so trying to guilt the OP about his buying decision is out of line. Take that somewhere else.

If you want to fix that, then start a company, buy a factory, set up dealerships and start making competitively priced tractors with US employees only so we can buy them from you.

 

[majorwager]

rngrr……

Agree w/ your response. When I purchased my Japanese built tractor, I was unaware of the employee package bundle from Korean manufacturers. Actually, it is just as well since there are no goats housed here and my horses are not really tolerable of strangers fiddling w/ their plumbing. However, my metal shop building is adequately decorated w/ necessary creature comforts. If it would assuage bfloyd, my time share is currently unoccupied, and he is welcome to its' use to calm his nerves. It would also place him CLOSE to this labor issue he feels so passionately about. I would just need to caution him about the neighbors ongoing construction project, mostly noise and traffic issues,

As for your second point, there exists a political forum available on TBN, however those that have visited this place have NOT been seen since. Just a FYI.

 

[rngrrymd]

As for your second point, there exists a political forum available on TBN, however those that have visited this place have NOT been seen since. Just a FYI.

Heh, I heard about that forum. It's right next to the Travel forum where you can find cheap airfare rates to get to your time share. :laughing: That second line is really a continuation of the first line so I think I'm good. My buddy Mike will let me know otherwise. :tractor:

Viper, once again, congratulations on your purchase and remember to show pics when you get... :thumbsup: