L3130HST or CK30 HST

Luremaker · Oct 4, 2004

I really want to make a decision this week. Which is the best tractor deal? I have read almost every post here comparing the L3130 and CK30 and I believe both machines will meet my needs. I have been visiting many dealers over the past several months and have narrowed it down to two local dealers and two different machines. Both seem like excellent dealers. The Kioti dealer is a basic two man operation and seems to offer excellent service. The Kubota dealer is a large volume dealer with a large inventory of machines on-site. Both dealers seem to be very good. Salesman at both dealers were willing to stay late to demo tractors. Kioti dealer is about 10 miles from home and Kubota dealer is about 30 miles away. Both machines are in-stock and can be delivered before this weekend. Both machines should work out well for me. I do prefer the larger bucket on the 3130. Here are the deals offered in Canadian dollars.

New Kubota L3130 HST, R4 Tires, 723 Loader with 72" bucket, Ballast box, B2782 3pth 63" snowblower and used 60" bush hog, delivered with loaded tires, up to me, for $25,000 CAD and three year warrantee. Optional rear remote add $700.00.

New Kioti CK30 HST R4 Tires. KL130 Loader with 60" bucket, 60" 3pth snowblower, new 60" bush hog, delivered with loaded tires, plus 50 hour service included for $23,800 CAD with two year warrantee. Optional rear remote add $300.00

Bob_Skurka · Oct 4, 2004

For the price the CK30 is obviously more attractive. The L3130 has a stronger loader, actually if I recall correctly a substantially stronger loader. So if the work you are doing is more loader oriented then I would lean to the Kubota. Otherwise I'd likely pick the Kioti. Although I like that added 1 year of warrenty that Kubota provides so that might be a deciding factor, or would at least lean me to Kubota.

I slept on my answer and decided to edit my reply. Based on the very small (4%) price difference I would go with the Kubota. Based on a 2-man-shop dealership (Kioti) versus a larger more established dealership (Kubota), I would go with the Kubota because of a couple reasons, first, the larger shop is not prone to vanish as it has an established history, second the probability of parts & service support from experienced help is greater. Based on the warrenty, I would go with the Kubota. Based on the strength of the loader (roughly 40% more capacity), I would go with the Kubota.

I think if you compare the CK30 to a NH TC29 then the choice would be much harder. But the L3130 is a really good really strong machine that is very hard to beat.

Henro · Oct 4, 2004

My gut says I would go with the Kubota.

There is about a 4% difference in price, Kubota being more. You also have used rotary cutter with the Kubota, what condition I don't know. A little wider snow blower with the Kubota, but does 3" mean anything? Probably not.

The tie breaker is the extra year warrenty. If you need it, it will be worth more than the 4% price difference, at least if your REALLY would need it. But with the Kubota you probably won't. But you never know till after the fact.

Both tractors are good tractors from what I have read. In the States, Kubota has a longer history of reliability from what I understand.

If it were me, I would probably go with the Kubota for that amount of price difference.

Whichever you choose, you will not go wrong though, judging from the reports I have read here at TBN... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

shoppintractors · Oct 4, 2004

Kubota Warranty (from Kubota.com):

BX, B, & L Series tractors:
24 MONTHS or 1500 HOURS (whichever occurs first)
(Powertrain – 36 months or 2000 hours, whichever occurs first)

Kioti Warranty (from Kioti.com):

 Tractors (non-rental) 24 months Parts & Labor 
Engines and Drive Lines: CK Series, 36 months or 2,000 hrs Parts Only 

Henro writes: Both tractors are good tractors from what I have read. In the States, Kubota has a longer history of reliability from what I understand.

Kubota has been in the States quite a bit longer than Kioti. Kubota has a longer history. Kioti not as long. Both tractor brands have shown good reliability for their respective time frames.

Don

KiotiJohn · Oct 5, 2004

The Kioti warranty info on the site is a little misleading. It's two years parts and labor, and one year parts only on the engine and drive train. That's not so clear the way they have it worded.

Between these two tractors it's not always easy to discern all the benefits.

The hydraulics are similar, with Kioti's flow (12.7gpm)just a little under Kubota's(13.2)
The Kubota's specs per the website show some advantages in lift capacity on the hitch, slightly higher clearance etc.
The CK30 offers two speeds on the PTO 540/1000 (for 1000, must remove a small metal block first), the Kubota is 540 only.
Specs for the Kubota loader make it the winner.
There are major differences, so I think it boild down to which one you like the best. There isn't enough price difference to make that critical, although, if you can use what the CK30 has to offer, the extra money will buy you something else to go on it! Best of luck, John

huskerpilk · Oct 5, 2004

You need to shop the Kioti price...that is way too much for a Kioti...the Kubota is the pick if that is the best price you can get on Kioti. The CK30HST should price out at $14,500 with FEl and IND tires. Add the rest up and you shouldn't be over $20K.

Luremaker · Oct 5, 2004

huskerpilk, remember these prices are in Canadian dollars not US dollars. $1 USD =~ $0.78 CDN. $23,800 CAD =~ $18,564USD, including snow blower and bushhog. I think I only found 4 Kioti dealers in all of Ontario, one local to me. Fewer dealer = higher prices. I think Kubota has over 40 dealers in the province, three local to me. It seems all CUT prices are much higher here than in the USA.

Bob_Skurka · Oct 5, 2004

The CK30 offers two speeds on the PTO 540/1000 (for 1000, must remove a small metal block first), the Kubota is 540 only. 

Perhaps this might be an advantage in Canada? Here in the US it is next to impossible to find implements for small tractors that utilize anything other than a 540 PTO.

What is your availability on implements that run on other speeds? Do you see any advantage to a dual speed PTO in real & practical terms?

Most of the Korean and Chinese brands offer at least 2 PTO speeds, but the implement makers don't seem to be following them here in the US and still are only offering implements for 540 (except for the real ag machines which are much larger than what we are talking about in this discussion). I suppose that here in the US there is such a small % of tractors that are sold with multiple speed PTOs that there is no real market for implement makers to bother with making implements for them. What is it like in the Canadian market?

SteveH_CT · Oct 5, 2004

I won't repeat what everyone else has said - but one factor I haven't seen mentioned is resale value... The Bota wins hands down. For the slight price difference the Kubota clearly would be my choice.

shoppintractors · Oct 5, 2004

but one factor I haven't seen mentioned is resale value... The Bota wins hands down. 

Resale value is regional. Can't really make a blanket statement on resale.

Don