Buying Advice Much time looking, down to the last question

[motownbrowne]

Not sure about the deere you mentioned, but it seems that the mx5100 would be a great choice. Lots of satisfied owners here. I love my mx4700. I test drove a dk when I was shopping, and it was nice, but I didn't care for the switch activated 4wd or PTO. I'd rather have the levers of the MX series. Also, the price must be pretty close, I'm guessing the MX is a bit more, but in my opinion it's worth the difference.

I know there's a ton of satisfied kioti owners here, and I almost became one. After driving both, I chose the Kubota. They've been around a long time, they hold their value, and I like that it says "made in Japan" on it. I've heard it said that kiotis are like Hyundai's to Kubotas Honda. If that's the case, you can get a great tool for a great price with a good warranty in the kioti. Or you can get a product with the best name recognition (resale $), great dealer network, and a decades old track record of being a top performer and innovator in the industry. And it's made in Japan, not Korea.

At the beginning of your post, you said that a hst, turboed, 50hp tractor was your "must-have". The MX is that tractor at a great price. Then you say you're almost convinced to get a kioti, which doesn't offer a tractor that fits the bill.

I'm not familiar with the ls mentioned, but buying the rx 6620 just to compensate for not having a turbo seems backward to me. Your paying for HP you'll never get to use. And paying for a full tier four machine. The mxs are interim, so no dpf.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[phiferpharm]

Having just completed placing quite a few 6" posts with a PHD on my Kioti, I can tell you that I would not have enjoyed having to fight a non-HST machine to get my posts lined up. Also, having the ability to raise-lower the PHD from behind the tractor was a real benefit.

 

[ksbrdmkr]

A power shuttle and foot feed moves hay bales quicker and with less fuel than the DK 45 HST, but for heavy digging nothing beats the HST

 

[GuadGrassfed]

Not sure about the deere you mentioned, but it seems that the mx5100 would be a great choice. Lots of satisfied owners here. I love my mx4700. I test drove a dk when I was shopping, and it was nice, but I didn't care for the switch activated 4wd or PTO. I'd rather have the levers of the MX series. Also, the price must be pretty close, I'm guessing the MX is a bit more, but in my opinion it's worth the difference.

I know there's a ton of satisfied kioti owners here, and I almost became one. After driving both, I chose the Kubota. They've been around a long time, they hold their value, and I like that it says "made in Japan" on it. I've heard it said that kiotis are like Hyundai's to Kubotas Honda. If that's the case, you can get a great tool for a great price with a good warranty in the kioti. Or you can get a product with the best name recognition (resale $), great dealer network, and a decades old track record of being a top performer and innovator in the industry. And it's made in Japan, not Korea.

At the beginning of your post, you said that a hst, turboed, 50hp tractor was your "must-have". The MX is that tractor at a great price. Then you say you're almost convinced to get a kioti, which doesn't offer a tractor that fits the bill.

I'm not familiar with the ls mentioned, but buying the rx 6620 just to compensate for not having a turbo seems backward to me. Your paying for HP you'll never get to use. And paying for a full tier four machine. The mxs are interim, so no dpf.

Good luck and keep us posted.

motownebrown: You are right, I think the MX5100 perfectly meets my specs, its just that the dealer is another 100 miles away so I am trying to balance spec perfection with what I perceive to be a better place to buy and maintain. Thanks for your input and I will keep the thread posted.

 

[motownbrowne]

Gotcha. That makes perfect sense. I do like the fact that my dealer is only ten miles away. Many people on here have traveled a long way to buy what they want, but having the dealer close by is reassuring. Either way, at least drive as many as you can to help you make your decision. Good luck.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I can not imagine living above 7000 ft elevation and owning a diesel without a turbo on it. Everything about that would be a disappointment in my mind. You will have a sluggish machine without a turbo, best to be prepared for that if you go that way.

IMO, a power shuttle is every bit as good as an HST, maybe even better in my mind, but that is just me. Don't rush into anything and be sure to figure out all the pros and cons of the units that you look at.

 

[GuadGrassfed]

These are all excellent ideas and opinions, thanks.

Especially glad to hear from MtnViewRanch who I've seen on practically all turbo posts. I sat down and laid out the numbers: The DK55 is a 54HP machine that produces 45hp at the PTO, and with turbo I retain all that HP. The DK50SE-HST is a 49HP machine that produces 37.5 HP at the PTO, but due to altitude I can only use 30HP, a 21% reduction from sea level...I guess that's why I have been so hard-over for turbo and therefore I think the transmission is going to have to take a backseat. Going to call the dealer this week and get some price negotiations going on the DK55.

Thanks again for the ideas and opinions.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Just wondering how this finally played out. Any updates?

 

[GuadGrassfed]

Thanks Pappy. This thread really helped me get my priorities clear in my mind, thanks to all who shared. In the end, it was HP at altitude and dealer over HST. The MX5100 was a very close runner-up but just a bit too far away and more $$.

Just made a deposit on the DK55 earlier this week (!) -- the tractor is coming from a few states away as I understand we are getting down to the last available stock. I won't be able to take delivery for a few weeks due to delivery/prep and a long-ago scheduled trip :hissyfit:

When I get it I will definitely post pictures!

With the tractor I am getting rimguard, a sunshade, bale spear and a post-hole digger. I have an old box blade that I will try to use instead of going new.

My first projects are 1) unloading some round bales 2) working on the farm roads that are rutted and need material and 3) putting in a few more large fence posts (RR ties). If the rains come this summer, I am going to try some basic pasture renovation just using a disc and some hand seeding in a few areas to see how that works.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Sounds great. Congrats on the new DK55. :thumbsup:

And, yes, pics are required in order to maintain your status as a member in good standing. :laughing: