Buying Advice Korean Tractors

[snakebitten]

I am looking for recommendations for a Korean made tractor 4WD w/FEL 50-70HP range. I want a tractor that has FEL height to load hay rolls on 18 wheeler. I have checked LS models and they seem well built. I'm in the Houston, TX area. Any other suggestions? All comments appreciated. SB

 

[Gary Fowler]

LS and Kioti are both Korean made tractors. Either of them will be good quality, but I suspect LS will be the cheaper priced right now due to their fairly new to USA marketplace. You wont see many complaints on the LS tractor forum here on TBN so I assume everyone else is like myself and had few to no complaints with their tractors.

 

[grm61]

Don't know how high you have to lift, I am very happy with my Kioti tractor, I see your in Texas, you might appreciate an air conditoned cab model like mine.
Loader Specifications,
Model KL401
Counter Ballast 1,048lbs (475kg)
A Maximum lift height to pivot pin 107.8 (2,738mm)
B Maximum lift height under level bucket 105.5 (2,680mm)
C Clearance with bucket dumped 79.9 (2,029mm)
D Reach at maximum lift height 16.1 (409mm)
E Maximum dump angle 73 °
F Reach with bucket on ground 73.6 (1,869mm)
G Maximum rollback angle 30 °
H Digging depth -6.7 (-170mm)
J Overall height in carry position 52.7 (1,339mm)
L Depth (Horizontal distance) 20.7 (526mm)
MHeight (Overall vertical height) 22.6 (574mm)
N Length (Horizontal distance) 25.9 (658mm)
Lift capacity to maximum height at pivot pin 2,761lbs (1,252kg)
Breakout force at pivot pin 3,727lbs (1,691kg)
Bucket rollback force at ground line 4,633lbs (2,101kg)
Relief valve setting (Loader control valve) 176 bar (2,556psi)
Rated flow (Tractor hyd. system) 10 gpm (38ℓ /min)
Attachment (Bucket size) 72 (1,829mm) (QA)
KIOTI Utility Tractor
Loader Model : KL401 Tractor Model : DK40SE/DK45SE/DK50SE

 

[travlitt]

Branson tractors are made in Korea. I have a cab model 6640 (66 engine HP) I have no problems loading or unloading 18 wheelers.

 

[94BULLITT]

Why does it have to be Korean?

 

[WilliamBos]

Why does it have to be Korean?

When it comes to compacts, no one builds them better than japan and korea!!

 

[Tx Jim]

Lift height to load/unload 18 wheelers has some variables. What type trailer flat or drop deck? Size of bale diameter 5ft,5.5ft or 6 ft? Firm or loose bales? single or double rowed on the top? Bale spear/fork mounted level or above loader attachment pivot pins. My questions are from experience buying several truck loads of hay over the last few years. My loader(Kub. M7040/LA1353A) max. lift height is 145" and sometimes the bales over the truck drive axles(drop deck trlr) can be tricky to unload if the bales are firm and much over 5 ft in diameter. I also unload some GN trailers that only have 1 row on the top that then the reach of the fully raised fork to the center of the trailer becomes an issue on larger diameter bales.

 

[murphy1244]

When it comes to compacts, no one builds them better than japan and korea!!

And that is a crying shame.

 

[Tx Jim]

When it comes to compacts, no one builds them better than japan and korea!!

That is true but for me I want something larger than a compact to unload rd bales from an 18 wheeler. I had a 49 HP before my current tractor and that put some skid marks in my Fruit of the Looms unloading rd bales.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Branson tractors are made in Korea. I have a cab model 6640 (66 engine HP) I have no problems loading or unloading 18 wheelers.

I think Branson tractors are rebranded (made by another company and marketed by Branson just like Montana, FarmPro etc.) Even the "NAME BRAND" like Deere, MF, NH CaseIH rebrand some if not all of their small CUTs. Kubota, Mahindra, LS, TYM and Kioti all make their own as far as I know.

 

[milkman636]

Why does it have to be Korean?

Maybe he is related to a WWII vet that fought the Japanese or something like that. German and Japanese products still carry a stigma in some families because of history.

 

[travlitt]

Branson Tractor was founded in the US in 1998 as a tractor distribution company. Kukje Machinery in South Korea is their parent company and has been in business since 1968. Branson Tractor now has 200 dealerships in the United States and Canada.

Kukje - Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki - The classic vehicle and machinery wiki

 

[snakebitten]

Thanks for all replies and comments. It sounds like all the tractor manufactures mentioned in this thread are made well. I am going to focus in on Kioti and LS, mainly because there are dealers nearby for service. What would be a good price on a Kioti or LS in 55-59HP, 4WD, FEL and cab? After harvest time the best time to purchase? Thanks again!

 

[grm61]

You may want to buy sooner than later unless you want a tractor with tier4 emissions controls.

When the current stock of tier 3 Kiotis is sold everything will be tier 4...dpf filter, regen, egr, all that electronic goodness.

My Kioti was manufatured in 2013 but is still tier3, mechanical injection and a muffler that's it.

Nothing wrong with clean air, but anyone that wants a tractor without all that stuff is just about out of time.

 

[IXLR8]

You may want to buy sooner than later unless you want a tractor with tier4 emissions controls.

When the current stock of tier 3 Kiotis is sold everything will be tier 4...dpf filter, regen, egr, all that electronic goodness.

My Kioti was manufatured in 2013 but is still tier3, mechanical injection and a muffler that's it.

Nothing wrong with clean air, but anyone that wants a tractor without all that stuff is just about out of time.

My Kioti dealer was guessing 2 months max before everything was tier 4. The Mahindra dealer I visit has 150 tractors on order to get tier 3 machines. He is being told that in 3-4 weeks all new orders for Mahindra's will be tier 4 machines. My local Kubota dealer has mostly tier 4 machines already and they told me tier 4 stuff adds just over $4K to the price of a machine.
So sooner might be better than later.

 

[snakebitten]

Thanks, looking at LS K5055 4WD W/FEL $22950. Is this fair market value? Thanks!

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Being you are in the Houston area, many of the Mahindra models are South Korean made by TYM.

 

[arrow]

I think Branson tractors are rebranded (made by another company and marketed by Branson just like Montana, FarmPro etc.) Even the "NAME BRAND" like Deere, MF, NH CaseIH rebrand some if not all of their small CUTs. Kubota, Mahindra, LS, TYM and Kioti all make their own as far as I know.

Mahindra's are made in 3 places depending on the model. Tym makes their 4010 and a few others. Their 16 series is made by Mitsubishi in Japan and the rest are their own which originate in India.

 

[JNYRCNG]

iI have been very happy with my Mahindra. I would recommend to anyone. Mahindra is Indian however their tractors are made by TYM. Main difference is better support and parts availability with the Mahindra.

 

[psj12]

I just recently purchased a Kioti DK55 from a dealer who carries Kioti and LS. They were priced nearly identically for the same horsepower. This is considering that the Kioti had a free loader offer. the Kioti loader was stronger and lifted higher.