Buying Advice LS vs TYM vs Kioti

[orezok]

So....a 20ft trailer w/ a TYM T25 with loader and Rotary cutter is gonna weigh more than 11,000 pounds that my truck is rated to pull?????
Yeah..right

The problem is NOT what you can pull, but what the total weight capacity of your truck is. Many F150 have a CCC of 1100 to 1200 lbs. To avoid sway, you should have about 12% of the towed load on the ball. At 11,000# you need 1,300 on the ball and that means you can’t get in the truck without exceeding manufacturers rating.

 

[tacticalturnip]

TYM engines aren’t hobbled by an ECM. You don’t have multiple safety switches to go bad, or limp mode

To be fair, most- if not all- of these tractors lack an ECM.

[EDIT]: Also want to add that all other things being equal, a 25 horsepower machine will do almost anything the 35 horsepower equivalent will do, just slower.

 

[2manyrocks]

The OP needs to sort out how he actually intends to use a tractor. If he only intends to use it on his own property, the dealer can deliver it and he doesn't have to have a trailer. The tractor only needs to be sized for his property use case.

If he intends to start doing paid jobs with the tractor that require hauling it, then his insurance company is going to want more money for a trailer endorsement. Then there will be liability insurance issues, and the rest like dealing with customers. Then there are issues like running over T posts, stumps, and other stuff hidden in the brush on someone else's land.

I personally wouldn't want to tow any compact tractor without at least a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, and the weight quickly escalates with the size of the tractor.

 

[K5lwq]

I have no issues with my F150 pulling a 20’ trailer with the tractor loaded on it. I do have trailer brakes and it is the max towing package with the 3.5 Ecoboost. It is rated to tow 15,000 lbs.

 

[Torvy]

To be fair, most- if not all- of these tractors lack an ECM.

[EDIT]: Also want to add that all other things being equal, a 25 horsepower machine will do almost anything the 35 horsepower equivalent will do, just slower.

I think since the OP really wanted more HP, the TYM engines don't shut down because the lights come on.

For me, more HP opened up heavier duty options on the 3pt. Of course, I want to operate inside the stated parameters. Some are fine pushing outside them.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

At 35hp they do

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

You need something bigger than a wiener 150 to pull a 20 foot loaded trailer.

Really? My Nissan Frontier can legally tow 6900 lbs. I haul my 27' 7200 lb travel trailer no problem at all!

I used to haul an 18' trailer, SCUT w/ backhoe, 5' finish mower, and 5' boxblade loaded on, with my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. No problem with that either!

I did have a weight distribution hitch and trailer brakes. Makes a big difference with both of these.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Oh, and the 'short' loader control...... yes it really is.
I did a simple fix.... a 14" piece of 3/8" steel tubing. 2 10mm bolts. Cut the bolt heads off (essentially making threaded rod), ground the threads just enough to fit in the tube. A couple tac welds later......

Threads right into the loader valve, the knob threads on the other end. WAALAA! Longer control arm.

It really makes fine control very smooth, and smooth enough to perform two functions at once! Cost maybe $5 to make.


And the "old" for comparison:

I'm really happy with my LS. Now has 355 hours, not one problem.

 

[PEJ5]

Yeah..the T264 or T25 are the ones in the 25k package.

I just saw a Larry stoves and equipment video on YouTube and he has this week's special pick 3 of CK2620 with 20ft trailer for $33,500. I really would love to have a kioti...but $8500 is a lot of change.
Yes I know the ck2620 can do a little more work than a T25....but 8500 is 8500! Lol

You spend that much on a car that lasts maybe 10 years and is worth 10% on trade in. The tractor you buy may well be your forever tractor and will easily last 20+ years. You may not be able to ever justify an upgrade so choose well.

If you think you only need it for 10 years then all the better because you'll be able to sell it for what you paid for it and the buyer will think they got a steal compared to new in 2033.

 

[nova3930]

I investigated all 3 brands previously. The 3 Koreans all seem well made and equipped. I ended up with the TYM mostly because of cost but also because I really liked the dealer. Good dealer worth their weight in gold....

 

[Cognitive Dissonance]

Yeah..the T264 or T25 are the ones in the 25k package.

I just saw a Larry stoves and equipment video on YouTube and he has this week's special pick 3 of CK2620 with 20ft trailer for $33,500. I really would love to have a kioti...but $8500 is a lot of change.
Yes I know the ck2620 can do a little more work than a T25....but 8500 is 8500! Lol

I was in the same situation 2 years ago. I wanted something in the 35hp range but could only justify the money for a 25 hp. Them a friend whispered in my ear that I should buy one size larger than I thought I could, or wanted, afford. The extra money would be returned 10 fold in ways I'm not even considering now.

I wound up going with the Rural King RK37 with the backhoe, which is essentially a TYM, and have never regretted the decision. The extra HP and size greatly expanded the work I can do with the tractor. 9 months after purchasing the RK37, my mother-in-law became ill and needed to move in with us. We decided to build a handicap accessible house across the road from us on land we owned. Other than the initial foundation excavation done by an excavating contractor, my RK37 has done everything else needed to trench, back-fill, landscape etc the entire project. The 25 hp would not have been as versatile.

The tractor has more than paid for itself as opposed to getting the excavating contractor out on multiple occasions with a backhoe or dozer to do all the work the RK37 did. I have never regretted having the larger size and more hp. And while the price was about 20% higher, the tractor does far more than 20% more work than the 25hp.

Buy slightly bigger. You won't regret it.

 

[nknelsen]

I was thinking about getting my 1st tractor. I have just a few projects and then I wouldn't need one. However, I was thinking of starting a bush hogging/tractor services business. If I do 1 or 2 jobs a month...to make the payment..I essentially have a free tractor.

I really want a 35HP...but I don't think it's in the budget. I really like the Kioti CK3510...but again..price is a factor.

I've found a TYM dealer about an hour away that has a 'package' for about 25k. Tractor with loader, grapple, rotary cutter and 20ft trailer! That's less than just the kioti tractor and loader!!! Yes it's only 25 HP....but again...price.

I've tested driven some LS models. They seem ok....but I don't know if they are as good as TYM. Are they? I know like 4 or 5 people that have them and they seem happy. The Ls dealer is really close to me. I like the MT225e except for the loader joystick...way too short!!!

And, if I can be honest..I'm a little intimidated of a 20 ft trailer. It takes a 10 acre field to turn my supercrew F150 around...lol.

Thanks in advance.

I've never operated the other two makes, but I can tell you that Kioti makes a very good tractor. I purchased a sub compact in 2013, used it for 8 years and 600 hours, never had a minute of trouble with it, I sold it for the same price I paid for it. I upgraded to a compact last year because size does matter, most of the time. I now have 150 trouble free hours on it.

I tried out the JD and the other orange tractor before purchasing the original subcompact unit, they couldn't compete in terms of price, travel speed, or loader lift capacity.

 

[sdef]

I was thinking about getting my 1st tractor. I have just a few projects and then I wouldn't need one. However, I was thinking of starting a bush hogging/tractor services business. If I do 1 or 2 jobs a month...to make the payment..I essentially have a free tractor.

I had a similar predicament some years ago when I decided to clear my deeply wooded (oaks primarily), very hard clay and large rock encrusted property for our retirement country home site. Investigation showed purchasing a CUT and basic implements would most likely pay for themselves, and in the end this was true- not counting maintenance and my labor hours. Plus we still use the tractor a couple times a year for various things; it extends our useful lives at this stage.

I narrowed my list down to LS and Kioti and drove a few of each at the dealers that were not local to me. I found them both equal in quality and utility. In the end the Kioti DK-45 won out due to my preference of the FEL handle location and fit for my body types. I really preferred Mahindra as it fit me perfectly in all regards- except the price.

A farmer friend purchased a cabbed TYM 394 a couple years ago, which is perfect for his soil needs and purpose. I also have some quality time with his TYM doing ground engagement and FEL chores.

I think you could pick any of the three tractor OEMs you mentioned and be happy with the quality. Just make sure you get enough tractor for your anticipated tasks. I think purchasing too little tractor is a far greater risk than purchasing a tractor one thinks may be more than is needed. My 45 HP Kioti is the minimum tractor I could have used for my land clearing, driveway building, fencing tasks with my soil type. It is more tractor than I need now in most cases, but I still find the FEL reach a benefit over the smaller TYM 394.

 

[teesquare]

I have no issues with my F150 pulling a 20’ trailer with the tractor loaded on it. I do have trailer brakes and it is the max towing package with the 3.5 Ecoboost. It is rated to tow 15,000 lbs.

I have to giggle when I see posts like this...First make sure that that you are not confusing GVWR with "towing capacity. - and even if you manage to squeeze under the towing capacity number...remember - THAT is marketing language. Sure - you CAN pull/toww that much weight...*BUT* can you stop it effectively and safely in an attempt to avoid an accident.

You have to decide whether it is more important that you get where you are going....or whether you can get back home.

 

[ismilelots]

I was thinking about getting my 1st tractor. I have just a few projects and then I wouldn't need one. However, I was thinking of starting a bush hogging/tractor services business. If I do 1 or 2 jobs a month...to make the payment..I essentially have a free tractor.

I really want a 35HP...but I don't think it's in the budget. I really like the Kioti CK3510...but again..price is a factor.

I've found a TYM dealer about an hour away that has a 'package' for about 25k. Tractor with loader, grapple, rotary cutter and 20ft trailer! That's less than just the kioti tractor and loader!!! Yes it's only 25 HP....but again...price.

I've tested driven some LS models. They seem ok....but I don't know if they are as good as TYM. Are they? I know like 4 or 5 people that have them and they seem happy. The Ls dealer is really close to me. I like the MT225e except for the loader joystick...way too short!!!

And, if I can be honest..I'm a little intimidated of a 20 ft trailer. It takes a 10 acre field to turn my supercrew F150 around...lol.

Thanks in advance.

I've had my 35hp LS for 3yrs (bought it because I got a lot more for my money than other brands) now and it's always done everything I've asked it to without any problems. I also have a friend who bought a TYM last year and is very happy with it. Personally, I think the dealership location and the relationship you have with them is more important than any certain brand.

 

[K5lwq]

I have to giggle when I see posts like this...First make sure that that you are not confusing GVWR with "towing capacity. - and even if you manage to squeeze under the towing capacity number...remember - THAT is marketing language. Sure - you CAN pull/toww that much weight...*BUT* can you stop it effectively and safely in an attempt to avoid an accident.

You have to decide whether it is more important that you get where you are going....or whether you can get back home.

I have been pulling trailers all my driving life. I have never come close to having an accident. I have had to pull large loads on the farm and know how to do it safely. But I drive in such a way as to not use brakes much at all. I never get in a hurry and I don’t ride on people’s bumper. But I agree most people don’t understand how to pull a trailer safely but some folks do.

 

[tacticalturnip]

This is amusing, lol; if you're staying within the manufactures limits you'll be alright. There is a large margin of error built in there for liability.

 

[Fields_mj]

So....a 20ft trailer w/ a TYM T25 with loader and Rotary cutter is gonna weigh more than 11,000 pounds that my truck is rated to pull?????
Yeah..right

It all depends on how you're truck and trailer are set up, how far you're hauling, and over what kind of terrain. Tow ratings on 1/2 ton trucks are mostly an advertising gimmick. They are based on ideal circumstances with a lot of assumptions on how your tow rig is configured don't take into account real world factors.

I have a 2000 4wd F350 crew cab. A few years ago I was having some problems with the electronics (as it in it would die every 10 min going down the road). Noticing that the newer (ie 2009ish) F150 trucks had a high enough tow rating to pull my 8K travel trailer or my 12k equipment trailer loaded, I reached out to a ford dealership that I actually trusted (I had done construction work for several of them MANY years prior, and they grew up with my folks). I ask them on their opinion and they told me to keep what I have and get it fixed because there wasn't anything on the market in a 1/2 ton configuration that was going to safely pull what I pull. For basic bumper/hitch pull a 1/2 ton will max out at 6,000 lbs. Beyond that requires load distribution and trailer breaks. The issue is 2 fold. What is your rear axle rated for, and how much can your tow vehicle safely stop. To understand what you're rear axle is rated for, you have to take the trailer's loaded tongue weight and do a little bit of math because the hitch is located farther back and acts like a lever. This also assumes that the trailer is loaded correctly. Load distribution helps a lot with here, but those systems are not designed to work when towing over uneven ground (ie off road). Then there's stopping distance. Load distribution helps, and trailer brakes are absolutely required, but a 1/2 ton is still going to struggle to stop a 10K load. When you're running down the highway at 55mph (like anyone drives that slow), and the stop light turns yellow, you have to be able to get your rig stopped before the light turns red and someone pulls out in the intersection. Even when properly configured, a 1/2 ton tow rig isn't going to be able to do that when with 10,000 lbs behind it.

At the end of the day, if you set up your half ton and trailer correctly, you're hauling over relatively level ground (no mountains or steep grades), you're not hauling very far, or very often, then a 1/2 ton can tow quite a bit more than 6K, but YOU have to know, understand, and accept the rigs limitations. If you don't, then rebuilding your transmission is going to be the least of your concerns. If you're in the Midwest and you're going to haul your tractor 10 or 20 miles down the road a few times a month across mostly level ground, you could be okay but it will likely be hard on your transmission. If you're going to run down the road like you're in a 1 ton diesel, and try to haul 10,000 lbs down I75 through Kentucky and Tennessee, damaging your vehicle is going to end up being the least of your concerns.

 

[Fields_mj]

This is amusing, lol; if you're staying within the manufactures limits you'll be alright. There is a large margin of error built in there for liability.

Actually, on tow ratings its quite the opposite. When the manufacturer advertises that their 5,000 lb vehicle has a tow rating of 15,000 lbs, that should clue you in to the fact that the advertising department isn't telling the whole story. There are a LOT of idealistic assumptions that go into the tow rating of 1/2 ton vehicles, and they are ALL spelled out in the fine print to avoid any liability issues. Just because the advertisement has the vehicle pulling a big travel trailer across the plains with the mountains in the background doesn't mean that some weekend warrior can take that vehicle and safely pull that trailer up into those mountains, or back down the other side. It's the operators legal responsibility to know the limits of their rig and operate within those limits so make sure you read the fine print.

 

[olenjohn]

I was thinking about getting my 1st tractor. I have just a few projects and then I wouldn't need one. However, I was thinking of starting a bush hogging/tractor services business. If I do 1 or 2 jobs a month...to make the payment..I essentially have a free tractor.

I really want a 35HP...but I don't think it's in the budget. I really like the Kioti CK3510...but again..price is a factor.

I've found a TYM dealer about an hour away that has a 'package' for about 25k. Tractor with loader, grapple, rotary cutter and 20ft trailer! That's less than just the kioti tractor and loader!!! Yes it's only 25 HP....but again...price.

I've tested driven some LS models. They seem ok....but I don't know if they are as good as TYM. Are they? I know like 4 or 5 people that have them and they seem happy. The Ls dealer is really close to me. I like the MT225e except for the loader joystick...way too short!!!

And, if I can be honest..I'm a little intimidated of a 20 ft trailer. It takes a 10 acre field to turn my supercrew F150 around...lol.

Thanks in advance.

Shop the dealerships with all of them. If you get the unwelcome feeling at a particular dealership, walk away. Customer service is the best seller. I have stopped using some vendors because they felt I had no choice but to use them. Their loss.