Tractor Sizing Kioti RX7320 or PX9020 for 25 acres?

[ForestFriend]

A larger tractor wouldn't be prohibitive but might mean you are off of your tractor more with the chainsaw taking out trees you can't get around.

My L3301 with 6 ft rotary cutter makes a trail wide enough for me. I did finally break down and buy a Sawhaul to tote my chainsaw instead of putting the chainsaw in the bucket.

That brings up a real good point. When my seedlings get much bigger, I will need to be careful of have a smaller tractor.

 

[GoatHerd]

This discussion interests me, since I was wrestling with a slightly different question for my own 26-acre place here in Virginia. We have some large fenced paddocks and about 18 acres of big trees, and I've been doing some clearing and we always need tons of firewood to heat our house. We move a lot of dirt, manure, firewood, round bales, lumber, and gravel around. We own a 2014 Kioti DK45se (tier 3) and love it, but I wanted a large grapple and didn't think the DK45 had enough power or weight to handle it optimally, so I decided to get a bigger tractor. We needed a second tractor anyway for safety. I spent months exploring the current state of tractor world and was pretty discouraged by the high prices and deteriorating quality. My studies kept bringing me back to Kioti in general and the rx7320 in particular. I knew it was a lot bigger and heavier than my DK45se but when I finally went to the dealership to look at one in the real world, I was overwhelmed by just how big it was. I thought maybe it was too much tractor for us. I do think the cab adds to that impression, of course, and I didn't want a cab. Anyway, I threw caution to the wind a bought it a few days ago. The Power Shuttle version, a front remote, and a W.R. Long RBGD root grapple (820 pounds or so). I figure that without the cab the tractor will be more maneuverable, cost less to operate and maintain, and be less vulnerable to damage (although I may be more vulnerable to damage). And I saved about $8,000 I can put to other things. Anyway, it gets delivered in two or three weeks (the grapple order is the cause of the delay). I hope I didn't buy too much tractor. I know that the first time I got on the DK45 it seemed way too big; now it seems too small and I can operate it almost blindfolded. And they say to always go bigger when you're in doubt. Hope I didn't go TOO big, though. The thing is a monster. How have things turned out for you, ForestFriend?

 

[ForestFriend]

Hi GoatHerd,

Congratulations on the order! I知 sure you値ol l enjoy it! I have ordered my tractor yet and haven稚 really made a decision, either. I may just let the price tag make the decision for me (thatç—´ one way to do it!). I don稚 have previous tractor experience per se, but have experience on a couple of big Traxcavators or crawler loaders. My CAT 977 is a huge, beast of a thing, but probably not much for someone who operates a D8. That machine is well over 40K lbs and can be a bit scary when on hills if you get in strange angles. Because I used it quite a bit, I did get used to it and I guess feared it less. Maybe other larger utility tractor operators can chime in with their experiences, but I think all that is different is that youæ±*e sitting higher, have slightly less of a turning radius, and will have more power at your command. It sounds like you made a good decision, to me anyway, and you値l no doubt be used to it in no time.... and enjoying it, too. Cheers & congrats!

 

[johncanfield]

That's a very good size tractor you chose, I have 30 acres and a Deere about the same size as your new Kioti. I've never wished I had a smaller model. My 4720 replaced a Kubota L3900 which was just too small - lack of lift capacity was a huge issue with the Kubota. You will love the grapple, my grapple is also a WR Long, first class attachment.

 

[jgedmond]

As someone mentioned in a previous reply, it is nice to have two tractors. Perhaps you should consider a smaller open platform for woods work and then a larger cab for more open areas, heavier lifting, ground engagement, etc. I recently bought a Kioti NX5010C and decided to keep my Mahindra 3616 for similar reasons. I am on 54 acres of about half woods and half open.

The economics may not work in your favor to buy 2 new tractors right off the bat, perhaps a used smaller tractor and a larger new one or one new now and one new later?

 

[GoatHerd]

As someone mentioned in a previous reply, it is nice to have two tractors. Perhaps you should consider a smaller open platform for woods work and then a larger cab for more open areas, heavier lifting, ground engagement, etc. I recently bought a Kioti NX5010C and decided to keep my Mahindra 3616 for similar reasons. I am on 54 acres of about half woods and half open.

The economics may not work in your favor to buy 2 new tractors right off the bat, perhaps a used smaller tractor and a larger new one or one new now and one new later?

Yeah I'm glad I decided to keep the smaller 45 hp Kioti. It's had very few problems in five years of use, and you don't want to lose something like that! It would certainly have reduced the financial impact of the rx7320, but we've needed a backup for delivering round bales to our goats, esp. in winter. I don't want to have to carry bits of hay to them by hand, lol. Also, the smaller tractor can be used in situations demanding more maneuverability.

 

[GoatHerd]

Thank you John, it's good to know that about the Long grapple (I have long longed for one), since there are quite a few makers out there. I went with the 78 inch RGBD; I hope it's not too wide (weighs 802 pounds, BTW, not 820). Even with that weight I should be able to lift and carry a really big log.
I don't understand why more tractor people don't have (or want) grapples. I can't imagine a more useful attachment. For a while I was looking for a used larger utility tractor with a 3rd function valve, but remarkably few had them. I plan to leave the grapple on the rx7320 more or less permanently, and use the bucket on the dk45 for the rarer occasions when I need a bucket.

 

[GoatHerd]

Thanks so much Forest, I'm very excited.
I went with ag tires. I'm used to ag tires and was worried about the industrials filling up with mud and skidding. Granted the ag tires are not as beefy.
I'm going to check out your enormous CAT loader. Wow. I love Cat equipment and was seriously considering a CTL, but couldn't stomach the price.
Diesel and hydraulics, the unbeatable combo!

 

[GoatHerd]

Well, the tractor is here. It is a fantastic brute. What seemed so monstrous on the dealer's lot seems of manageable size here. So far I'm glad I bought this model and that I didn't trade my dk45se in. When I need more maneuverability I can use the smaller tractor, and I can still use my cat I implements.

 

[Tinstafl]

Well, the tractor is here. It is a fantastic brute. What seemed so monstrous on the dealer's lot seems of manageable size here. So far I'm glad I bought this model and that I didn't trade my dk45se in. When I need more maneuverability I can use the smaller tractor, and I can still use my cat I implements.

You will love it. I use mine in the Woods all the time. Pick up some seriously heavy logs too. It makes me wish I Had a huge counter weight. The tires are痴 a well.

Where did you buy it?