Kioti DK4710SE HST Cab - The Right Tractor for Me?

[AndrewFromIdaho]

I've been shopping for a tractor for several years, and I think I've settled on a Kioti DK4710SE HST Cab. I'm just looking for a 2nd opinion before I pull the trigger.

We live in North-Central Idaho, and the tractor's most important purpose will be plowing snow. We have about a month of decent snowfall, with an average of ~55". I'll be plowing a 1/4 mile gravel driveway with a very steep section at the end, plus two concrete parking pads, and a large'ish gravel parking area.

A cab is a must, since I'm sick of getting up early to bundle up and nearly freeze on winter mornings.

I've been plowing with a UTV, but it gets to be a real hassle when we get a single deep snow, or a week or so of drifting, where it becomes close to impossible to keep our driveway clear. The previous homeowners just accepted that they'd be "snowed in" a week or so every year, that's not an option for us. I'm looking for a tractor that can keep up with the drifts, ideally mostly with a plow blade, but with the option of hooking on the loader and moving the snow out that way if necessary (something I've done some winters with a borrowed tractor in the past).

We only have two local dealers, John Deere (gigantic ag-focused dealership where I know from experience your chances of getting any attention as a non-$1-million combine owner during the growing and harvest seasons are exactly 0% ), and Kioti.

I can get the Kioti new for under $35K, with a loader. Which seems to be very competitive for a tractor this capable, with a cab.

My neighbor has the same Kioti with around 250 hours on it, and has been very happy with it, and glowing things to say about the dealer (though, he hasn't needed any service/warranty support).

Beyond plowing, I plan to use the tractor for maintaining the driveway in the summer, mowing our ~15 acres, tilling our large'ish garden, digging post holes (a new fence for that garden is on my ToDo list for next spring) and whatever else I can find to do with it. I've considered a backhoe attachment, but come down at least for now on the side of just renting a mini-ex when I need it, instead of spending $8K on something I probably won't get my money's worth out of.

So, before I pull the trigger:

• Good idea/bad idea?
• Anything that would make the Kioti a bad option for my needs?
• Other brands I should consider?
  • I have Kubota & Mahindra dealers about 1-hour away. Yanmar & LS about 2-hours away.
• Is a hydraulically operated snowplow my best option, or is it worth considering a front-mounted snow-blower (for about 4x the price)?
• Ag or industrial tires? The primary purpose is plowing, but it'd be nice to be able to drive over our lawn without chewing it up too much if that's not too much of a performance sacrifice.

 

[jeff9366]

Kioti seems like an excellent choice to me.

Kioti, Yanmar and Kubota are purported on T-B-N to make a higher proportion of tractor components in their plants, relative to other brands, which buy more components from contract suppliers. Long term, meaning longer than ten years, internal production probably increases the likelihood of continuing parts supply.

I personally prefer the simplicity of Kioti three cylinder diesel engines, over Kubota four cylinder diesel engines through 45 horsepower. With 45 horsepower you can amply power a 72" Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog through the tallest grass.


be nice to drive over our lawn without chewing it up too much

A cabbed tractor has about the same weight on the rear tires as an open-station tractor with liquid filled rear tires. I recommend air inflated tires for a cabbed tractor. A cabbed tractor with liquid filled rear tires will surely rut your lawn.

I'll be plowing a 1/4 mile gravel driveway with a very steep section at the end.

You may need tractor rear tire chains for your hill.

You may need to plow this steep section with the UTV, downhill. It is easy for a tractor to get out of control plowing downhill.



I can't express any preference on tires for snow but there are dozens of relevant threads in the T-B-N ARCHIVE:

tractor snow tires site:tractorbynet.com


Consider edge tamers / snow edge for your bucket:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tractor+snow+edge%2C+edge+tramers

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ratchet+rake+snow+edge

Consider a snow push box:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tractor+snow+box

 

[AndrewFromIdaho]

Hey - thanks for the reply and advice.

I think for my needs (assuming I don't spring all the $$s or a snow blower) a curved, quick-attach floating snow blade is what I believe to be my best option. Can adjust the angle from the cab, float over the changing terrain of our driveway and curl the snow up and out the end of the blade to help get it over the piles/drifts on the edge.

I'm sure a box/pusher would be handy for the parking pads and gravel parking area, but I doubt I'll actually go to the trouble of switching it out mid-plow, unless the "quick attach" process is much quicker than I'm imagining.

 

[deezler]

The SSQA quick attaching/detaching is really fast! I just got my Kioti CK3510 with a few SSQA attachments and I frickin LOVE IT. You just pull up to where you want to drop current loader attachment, lower to just above the ground, get out and go flip the levers up (takes 10 seconds and your back in the seat), lower loader all the way and the SSQA plate comes right out of the attachment. Then drive to the next piece, curl your SSQA plate up into the attachment, lift up and it should flap right into place. 10 more seconds to get out and flip the levers back down. Add a couple more seconds and a brief engine off to relieve hydraulic pressure if you have 3rd function action going on (plow angle).

That said, a nice 7 or 8' front blade will still work really well to clear parking pads. I don't think you will ALSO need a big snow pusher just to do an average yearly 55" on a few parking areas.

A DK4710 Cab for under 35 grand sounds like an excellent plan to me. Do they have one in stock?

 

[jeff9366]

Buy the SSQA (Skid Steer Quick Attach) option for connecting your bucket to the FEL at time of purchase. Money well spent.

SSQA, like mounting Three Point Hitch implements, takes practice for proficiency. My first 2-3 months with SSQA it took me ten minutes to make the connections. Now, after eight years, two minutes.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Yes, get the Kioti, awesome tractors. One question? Do you have drifting over 2' in your area? If not consider a pull behind (inverted snowblower)

 

[coobie]

yes on the Kioti and purchase one of these.

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[AndrewFromIdaho]

Thanks again for all the advice.

A few specific replies:

A DK4710 Cab for under 35 grand sounds like an excellent plan to me. Do they have one in stock?

Not in-stock, but ordered and arriving mid-October. We don't typically get snow that sticks around 'till at least mid-December.

Yes, get the Kioti, awesome tractors. One question? Do you have drifting over 2' in your area? If not consider a pull behind (inverted snowblower)

Yep. The "drifting over 2'" is one of the big reasons we're getting this. About 200-yards of our driveway is really exposed. I've had it drift back nearly full of snow in just a couple hours after being cleared. The combo of the location and exposure, plus existing piles from past plowing can get us 4' drifts along there some years, even though we vary rarely get more than 2' of total accumulation sans-drifting. Add in warming after a drift, and you can imagine how difficult clearing it without a tractor has been.

yes on the Kioti and purchase one of these.

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What specific blade is that?

 

[coobie]

Thanks again for all the advice.

A few specific replies:


Not in-stock, but ordered and arriving mid-October. We don't typically get snow that sticks around 'till at least mid-December.



Yep. The "drifting over 2'" is one of the big reasons we're getting this. About 200-yards of our driveway is really exposed. I've had it drift back nearly full of snow in just a couple hours after being cleared. The combo of the location and exposure, plus existing piles from past plowing can get us 4' drifts along there some years, even though we vary rarely get more than 2' of total accumulation sans-drifting. Add in warming after a drift, and you can imagine how difficult clearing it without a tractor has been.



What specific blade is that?(( It was made/installed by my Local Kioti dealer Michigan Iron and equipment has hydraulic lift and angle.))

 

[TractorTYMe]

I would invest in a front mount snowblower too then if drifting is a big problem? I know they are big $$$.....but backing up gets old quick.

 

[AndrewFromIdaho]

I would invest in a front mount snowblower too then if drifting is a big problem? I know they are big $$$.....but backing up gets old quick.

You might be right, but I think I'll try my first season with a cheaper solution. I've heard from other neighbors with similar-sized tractors and snow blowers that by the time you're having trouble with a tractor + blade in heavy, wet drifts, you're going to be having trouble with snow blowers too. But you could be right.

My hope is that the added weight + power of the tractor will be enough to get through the drifts. I've even managed OK with the UTV in most situations, it's just very frustrating, and feels like I'm always on the edge of failure. I honestly think I could probably get by with a 25HP or 35HP tractor, but I've never heard someone say "Oh I wish I'd gotten a less powerful tractor", and I'd love to only buy one tractor ever.

 

[grsthegreat]

if drifting is an issue, a snowblower really helps. it gets the junk 40' away and helps lessen drifting. i have a front hydraulic blower and plow pn my DK45, love them. but as stated the front blower is expensive. neck issues made me spring for it. no regrets.

we usually see 100-120" snow per season , but the last 2 seasons were very poor snowfall.i think i plowed 4 times last year.

 

[AndrewFromIdaho]

we usually see 100-120" snow per season , but the last 2 seasons were very poor snowfall.i think i plowed 4 times last year.

Oh I'm 100% confident that the universe will respond to my finally investing in a proper tractor with a very-low snowfall year to make me feel like I just wasted a bunch of $$s.

But, I guess that would solve the plowing issue another way.

 

[TractorTYMe]

I got my TYM last year on July 1st for primary snow removal, now I've ventured into mowing fields/weeds/brush as a side venture. Never such a thing as too much tractor. On the item when invested an arseload of money in snow removal equipment? You're spot on, I didn't even get more than two or so snowfalls that was worth to use the snowblower.

 

[finn1]

The drifting snow may be problematic with a front plow. A snowblower would handle the drifts easily though.

On the other hand, 55” annually isn’t much snow. That’s a dusting maybe a couple times per week.

I would never recommend a three point snowblower, either. No fun craning your neck on a long driveway, and pull type blowers don’t seem suitable for drift busting. They seem to be a pretty regional item.
How about a front blower and some type of rear blade, preferably similar to the pushers used to clear parking lots, except rear mounted. That would take care of your normal light accumulations and still have drift removal (and control) capabilities.

Tractor arms are too weak and spindly to mount snowplows on, in my opinion. They are suitable for lifting, but aren’t designed like skid steers and other construction equipment. Any plow should have a subframe to transfer plowing loads directly to the tractor structure, not through the lift arms.

Ever see the condition of the plow frame on a pickup after a dew years?

 

[grsthegreat]

My plow use on tractor for 10 years begs to differ with you. No problems. But have to chain up to stop crabbing tractor

 

[chim]

Kioti is one of the brands I've considered when shopping the last few times. Seems I always found deals on Kubotas though. You are looking a good size, and the cab is something you'll really appreciate. I can tell you a few things from personal experience:

Size - It's roughly the same weight and HP as my L4240. The 4240 turns sharper than the two tractors (Kubota L3200 and Ford 1210) that I measured it against. It is more nimble than those smaller tractors.

Weight - The last 3 Kubotas I've has were all on liquid-filled R4's. All have been used for mowing and snow removal. The 4240 has been the pick of the pack and doesn't mess up the grass.

Snow removal - I've used front blades, rear blades, loaders and a rear blower over the years. The bl;owere was the most fun to watch, and the SSQA hydraulic angle front blade has been the best. If you get a few large drifts a car length klong, you probably don't need a blower. If the tall drifts are 100' long, different story. Most of the snow I move is a couple hundred yards of driveways and a couple parking lots at the church and gun club. The front blade worked best. The blower was the worst because of the need to re-blow snow. It gets denser each time you move it. For a narrow area where the snow can be blown once and done it would work fine. I wouldn't use a plow that doesn't float independently of the loader arms. Do a search for "underslung snow plow" for examples.

Tires - As I said, R4's have been good for me. I took the time to groove the tires on the last two tractors, and that really made them better in the snow. R4's have plenty of contact area so they don't leave herringbone tracks all over a soft yard the way R1's do. I have R1's on the (tiny by comparison) Ford 1210 and they mark up the yard more than the L4240 after a rain. There's a lot of info on grooving tires.

Here are a couple recent pics. Flood on Wednesday and mowing on Saturday. Can't convince me the L4240, 90" RFM with filled R4's is too big or heavy

 

[kantuckid]

In snow that's very deep my R4's fill up same as they do in mud and all my 4wd tractor can do to pull much snow-if solid ice I have to break it up going downhill and work the snow off that direction too. My private road is steep enough to have me thinking Ag1's on my next tractor-but el nino snow falls have been much less in recent years. For years I had no FEL and relied on my back blade only. Given the angle adjustments it offers, it's still my best snow gizmo but I don't get Idaho snowfalls much. Chains in my area are overkill unless you log with a tractor FT.

 

[metalbender]

I changed to a front blower and never looked back. The idea of pushing a small amount off the road with a front blade just makes for bigger drifts on the next go round. A blower will level the playing field to let the snow drift into the next obstruction, hopefully away from your road.

 

[nybirdman]

My main snow removal machine is a L4240 Kubota cabbed with a 8' FEL mounted snow plow and a 7' rear blade;Loaded R1's.Works very well.A similar sized Kioti would work just as well.
Get the SS quick attach and you can use the bucket if needed.