Kioti DK45s vs. JD 3720

[metroski]

I've found a good jd dealer and a great Kioti dealer (wallace PA) in my area. I'm looking at the cab version of both machines with a FEL, 9" auger and 60" rotary. The DK45s is 5k lower than the JD 3720.

I've gotten feedback that the JD is better because it had better pumps and a hydro trans and the load match feature. I've heard the Kioti will put out more power because its a gear machine and that its a bigger frame machine for less $$.

I'm lost and don't know what's right. I've seen both machines in person and my impression is that the JD fit/finish is somewhat superior to the kioti but I want the one thats going to perform my tasks the best and give me the best service life.

I will be using these machines on 16 acres of horse pasture and lots of fence work and moving square hay bails.

Some of you guys got me going in the right directin with my first ever post out here a week or so ago. I hope someone will be as helpfull on this thread.

Regards
Mike NJ

 

[Z-Michigan]

The DK45 would almost certainly out-pull a 3720 for tillage, but that didn't seem like one of your tasks. Also, the HST on a 3720 would be useful for post hole drilling, but I see that as something you do once and then don't do again for many years, not something to base your tractor choice on.

I don't think you would go wrong with either one, but IMHO for your tasks and for $5k less I couldn't refuse the DK45S with cab. The dealer is an important factor but since they seem great to you and seem to have an equal reputation here, that seems like a positive for the Kioti, not a negative (as it was in my case with so few dealers here in Michigan).

I do think the JDs are about the nicest CUTs but I closely inspected three Kiotis and they all seemed well thought out and well put together. I drove two of them and they drove very well and were easy to use.

Given that the DK45 is generally at the big end of your tasks and that you aren't planning conventional tillage, I would get the R4 tires and leave them unfilled (air only). I would use a large implement or a weight box for heavy loader work, and enjoy the lighter weight, lower fuel use and less ground damage for all other times using the tractor.

If you do get the Kioti, I think you would be fine with a 6' cutter rather than a 5' if you want to go bigger. The 3720 would have the hp for a 6' also but it would be a bit big and heavy relative to its frame. Although since you seem to have fairly level ground, that would probably be a fine combination also. On the other hand, get a 5' if you want - it will be easier to mow through smaller areas with that.

 

[metroski]

i am going to be spraying, disking, rolling and re-seeding the pastures on an as needed basis. Also, I will have about a 1 acre alfalfa field which will also need to be done. I think that hardly qualifies as "heavy" tillage though. Most of the day-to-day work will be leveraging the loader to move around manure, hay and such and rotary mowing. There's about 5 acres of scrub brush area on the farm that I want to keep under control.

My inclination was that the DK45 was the better choice simply because its a bigger machine at less cost but in talking with many people some have led me to believe that there's a significant quality difference and that the JD is just a better machine.

Pardon my ignorance but why would the JD HST make the post digging work easier?

Mike
NJ

 

[Oleozz]

My inclination was that the DK45 was the better choice simply because its a bigger machine at less cost but in talking with many people some have led me to believe that there's a significant quality difference and that the JD is just a better machine.


Mike
NJ

The people who will tell you there is a quality difference are the JD dealers and the die-hard JD owners. I have had a Kioti 45 cab for a year now with 220 hrs on the machine and so far no problems.
If you are planning on not keeping your tractor for a while then the resale value should be a consideration, at this point in time the JD will have a greater resale value than the Kioti.

 

[rtimgray]

There's no doubt that the JD 3720 is a fine machine....but is it $5,000 worth of more fine? It wouldn't be to me, but to each their own.

I have owned a DK 45 for over 5 years and have nothing but good things to say about it and my dealer. I will admit (and have posted earlier) that it did have a problem that had to go back to the dealer for repair - post-warranty. The shuttle shifter would no longer go forward/reverse and the tractor had to be split to replace about $100 or keys, springs, clips and washers. Overall the repair was about $900 and took less than a week (dealer picked up and delivered to me - I don't have a truck and trailer big enough to haul it).

Of course, I hope that this was an isolated problem (and I do have some good stuff to say about the repair - value added that is - it was time to change the hydraulic oil, and that was part of the repair, I got a nearly new seat installed for free - mine was really rough/torn/falling apart - the new seat has a slight tear on the fabric underneath it so the dealer took it off of a new tractor and I got it - and the tractor was washed and shinier than it has been since is was new). Overall, for what I quantify as a major repair - although parts were minor - I'm 100% satisfied as a DK45 owner.

Having said all that, I have gotten lots of use out of my tractor - bushhogging, loader and backhoe work, mowing and racking hay, pulling hay and tobacco trailers, planting seed, plowing/disking, etc. I really don't think that there is any discernable quality difference between the JD and Kioti.

I will place one condition - if you think you will need to sell it quickly, I believe the JD will be easier to unload at a higher price than the Kioti. Resale was not/is not a concern for me, but every case is different. For as loyal as I am to Kioti, and would love to snap up a fire-sale DK65C when someone needs to unload it quick (still haven't seen one), the JD would be a quicker sale.

Of course, the dealer plays an important role in the equipment, and if all things are equal between the dealers, and you'd rather have an extra $5,000 for implements, tools, fencing supplies, family vacation, etc. etc. and live with the potentially lower resale, I say join the pack.

Good luck with your tractor purchase and take care.

 

[gamble77]

The JD has the nicer cab without a doubt, I have sold both so feel like I can say that in an unbiased view. There is no doubt that we aren't comparing apples to apples here, a better comparison would be the 4320 v DK45S however, that would just bump the JD higher in price. Given your task I think the DK45S is the clear winner here (over the 3720) and you won't find a better dealer then Wallace. Of course the JD has is perks like higher resale and larger, more stable, dealer network. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Jaybr]

I owned a JD 790 for 6 years, and recently purchased a Kioti CK35. I think the Kioti quality is every bit as good as the JD, and the others are right, it's the JD dealers that want you to believe different.

I don't shop on price, I shop for value. I don't have any problem spending more $$ if the value is there. In this case I believe with the Kioti your getting more tractor with = quality for less $$, much better value.

I heard the same quality crap from both JD and Kubota dealers, and I think it's because they can't compete unless they can convince you they have superior quality.

 

[swines]

I heard the same quality crap from both JD and Kubota dealers, and I think it's because they can't compete unless they can convince you they have superior quality.

This, of course, is endemic onlyto Kubota and JD dealers? The Kioti, Montana, etc. dealers would never want to sell you on the idea that their tractor is a quality product. The "quality crap" only comes from JD and Kubota...? Give the tractor dealer and manufacturer bashing a rest. They all do the same thing. Every dealer I've ever been to always wants you believe they have the best product and can cite numerous reasons that their product is the best.

You have to believe in the product you sell or you shouldn't be selling it. Why should Kubota, JD, or NH dealers be any different?

 

[Z-Michigan]

I heard the same quality crap from both JD and Kubota dealers, and I think it's because they can't compete unless they can convince you they have superior quality.

Maybe you hear this from some dealers, but not all. The JD dealer I bought from didn't say anything negative about anyone, didn't need to, and the best local Kubota/NH dealer doesn't disparage anyone either (unlike another that does disparage green).

Anyway, I am a very happy JD owner, and yet I recommended the Kioti in this situation. While I am totally happy with my JD, if I had had a good, nearby Kioti dealer I would likely own a Kioti right now. Especially if I had known I could get a DK45 cab for $25k - actually had that been an option I can hardly imagine I would have bought anything else.

JD makes high quality stuff, but that is not a knock on Kioti. From what I saw Kioti is very well made and I would be happy to own one.

I would caution against generalizations on price. The premium JD CUTs are very pricey, though not worse than Kubota and NH, I think. And their priciness gets worse for cab models. However some JD tractors are really good deals - the 5103 as a basic utility, and the new 5603 as a nice cab large utility are both very price competitive with all brands. Like so many things, generalizations are of limited use.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Pardon my ignorance but why would the JD HST make the post digging work easier?

Mike
NJ

The PHD is a fairly simple device and to drill a straight hole to any depth you will need to move the tractor a few inches while drilling. With HST this is very easy to do smoothly with just a light press on the HST pedal. With gear you will need to either slip the clutch very gingerly or just deal with holes that aren't perfectly straight. I wouldn't get too excited about it.

Your tillage tasks are pretty light, IMHO, and while I think the DK45 is a better choice for the money, the 3720 would be capable of all the tasks you list.

Good luck and enjoy!