Buying Advice Narrowing it down: LS XR4150HC versus Kioti DK5310SE HC

[Dr Gas]

It's time to make a choice. We have 17 acres, small pasture, large pond and 1000' of steep gravel driveway, 2 parking areas, adjoining the BLM in very snowy Alta WY at 6600' elevation. Primary job is snow blowing and snow pushing in the winter and bush hogging, pond deepening, firewood gathering, driveway maintenance and harrowing in the other seasons. Both tractors are to be equipped with a cab, HST and: loader, backhoe, rotary cutter, rear PTO snowblower and pallet forks. Kioti dealer is 75 miles away and LS is 100 miles away. Kioti dealer is long established with a good reputation and the LS dealer has been around for four years as LS dealer and also has a good reputation. I have called references for both. Both quotes are within a few dollars of each other! I am giving a slight edge to the LS tractor because it is 400 lbs heavier, better hydraulics layout, cruise control, 2" longer wheelbase, 3 remotes. The Kioti is **** similar and is perhaps more well known. TYM dealer is on a shoestring and will not last. Deere, Kubota and Massey Ferguson are 20%+ more expensive so I'm going to go Korean I think. Both engines are 3 cylinder turbo's around 1850 cc displacement. The Kioti has more hydraulic gpm, greater loader height but the cab is not quite as comfortable or well laid out. I'm able to pay cash so financing is not a factor.

So, tell me what you think fellas!

 

[RSR]

I was looking at the XR4145HC vs the DK4710SE. Honestly, I don't think you can go wrong with either.

In my case, both dealers were dead equal in distance, time in business, service, etc. What pushed me to LS was the slightly better weight and lift capacity, but more importantly, it fit in my garage (!!!!) whereas the Kioti did not.

It was a little odd to make a decision based solely on that, but I was glad I had that as a distinguisher. Otherwise, it would have been an extremely tough decision.

 

[3Lfarms]

I think you’d be happy with either.
The tie breaker for me would be that Kioti parts seem to take a bit longer for dealers to get.
I’ve had two parts on my LA replaced under warranty and both were ordered and at the dealer in about 4 days. Basically, it seems LS has a good stock of parts in N Carolina and it’s just shipping time to get them if your dealer doesn’t stock it.
I’ve heard several stories about Kioti dealers having to wait on parts from Korea. I think that is why LS has won the dealers manufacturers survey for the last three or four years. LS seems to really try to support their machines. The make or break part of service will be the dealer though. Dealers aren’t likely to order a part unless they are sure it will fix the problem.

 

[DK35vince]

I think you’d be happy with either.
The tie breaker for me would be that Kioti parts seem to take a bit longer for dealers to get.
I’ve had two parts on my LA replaced under warranty and both were ordered and at the dealer in about 4 days. Basically, it seems LS has a good stock of parts in N Carolina and it’s just shipping time to get them if your dealer doesn’t stock it.
I’ve heard several stories about Kioti dealers having to wait on parts from Korea. I think that is why LS has won the dealers manufacturers survey for the last three or four years. LS seems to really try to support their machines. The make or break part of service will be the dealer though. Dealers aren’t likely to order a part unless they are sure it will fix the problem.

I've owned my Kioti DK 35 for 18 years now.
Any part I have ever ordered I've had delivered to my home within a few days.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

It's time to make a choice. We have 17 acres, small pasture, large pond and 1000' of steep gravel driveway, 2 parking areas, adjoining the BLM in very snowy Alta WY at 6600' elevation. Primary job is snow blowing and snow pushing in the winter and bush hogging, pond deepening, firewood gathering, driveway maintenance and harrowing in the other seasons. Both tractors are to be equipped with a cab, HST and: loader, backhoe, rotary cutter, rear PTO snowblower and pallet forks. Kioti dealer is 75 miles away and LS is 100 miles away. Kioti dealer is long established with a good reputation and the LS dealer has been around for four years as LS dealer and also has a good reputation. I have called references for both. Both quotes are within a few dollars of each other! I am giving a slight edge to the LS tractor because it is 400 lbs heavier, better hydraulics layout, cruise control, 2" longer wheelbase, 3 remotes. The Kioti is **** similar and is perhaps more well known. TYM dealer is on a shoestring and will not last. Deere, Kubota and Massey Ferguson are 20%+ more expensive so I'm going to go Korean I think. Both engines are 3 cylinder turbo's around 1850 cc displacement. The Kioti has more hydraulic gpm, greater loader height but the cab is not quite as comfortable or well laid out. I'm able to pay cash so financing is not a factor.

So, tell me what you think fellas!

Remember, you asked. Both machines sound comparable, different a little here and there. Probably nothing that would actually make any capability differences other than the LS loader height lifting height capabilities and that may or may not make a difference depending on exactly what you will be using the tractor for. You may want to consider getting the tires loaded with Rim Guard or the equivalent, really increases the tractor stability as well as the capabilities of the machine overall.

You listed out how you were equipping the tractor and what implements you would be getting. I saw nothing in regards to road maintenance grading. You do not want to depend on the loader bucket to be grading a 1000' long drive. You will need some sort of 3pt grading implement be it a box blade, a rear blade or a land plane grading scraper. (LPGS)

I highly recommend a LPGS for general all around maintenance of the road surface. Cuts general grading maintenance by half vs a rear blade or box blade. BUT, you really need a different type of implement for shaping the road. While a box blade can do it all and many many people only use a box blade, multiple implements sure make it easier to accomplish.

A good relatively heavy 96" wide rear blade (700+lbs) will get the shaping part of the job done much easier and nicer. Hydraulic actuated features are nice:thumbsup:, but manual adjustments work just as well, just take more time & effort. I also highly recommend getting skid shoes with any rear blade, they simply make life easier.

One last thing, while you may not of considered it or did and figured that you just don't need it, but get a loader 3rd function installed on the tractor. It's much easer to just get it now vs fooling with it when you realize that you do need-want it.

Come back here before you actually make the purchase, just to see if anyone has any other last minute suggestions.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[jaydee325]

I am giving a slight edge to the LS tractor because it is 400 lbs heavier, better hydraulics layout, cruise control, 2" longer wheelbase, 3 remotes.

The Kioti has more hydraulic gpm, greater loader height but the cab is not quite as comfortable or well laid out. I'm able to pay cash so financing is not a factor.

So, tell me what you think fellas!

The two items I highlighted in color would make me lean toward the LS. You will notice the ergonomic/comfort issues every time you get in the seat and operate the tractor. If you noted that the Kioti is not as comfortable in the short time you demoed the machines, you need to ask yourself if you can accept those comfort issues long term.

 

[Dr Gas]

I plan on getting a LPGS or grader box after this winter. Rim Guard and 3rd function are included in the quotes. All responses are much appreciated.

 

[RSR]

One more comment. I live on very hilly terrain. I loaded the rear tires, and added 2" spacers from Bro-Tek to them. We confirmed with LS It would not impact warranty. The dealer put them on for me as he already had the wheels off for filling them. I'm VERY glad I did. I was leary about stability, but am very comfortable on my tractor with them.

The dealer mentioned he was very impressed with the manufacturing (solid chunks of aluminum - no welded pieces) and ease of installation. If you have any concerns about stability, I would highly recommend spacers. They are cheap, easy, insurance.

In some ways I wish I would have put even 3" or 4" spacers on, but that would have set my tires so wide I would need to bump up in size for rear implements, which would have created storage problems.

 

[Avenger]

Sounds like we have similar properties and do similar tasks. I prefer the gear driven over HST, but to each is their own.

I decided to go with LS over Koiti for several reasons, but the main one was Koiti just seemed cheap to me. I didn't feel like a good solid tractor. I test drove a Koiti, I believe it was the DK4710, that the dealer had on site. All the dealerships I went to, this dealer actually had the right one on site to test drive. Everyone else, didn't have the exact specifications in models I was looking for, to test drive. They all had to be ordered. Anywho, the Koiti dealer was a drive to get to, and I was incredibly disappointed in his knowledge of the tractor. Strike 1. The tractor seemed (like I stated before) cheap. Strike 2. It only came in HST, Strike 3.

The HST was not exactly a deal breaker for me. After all, my research into the Koiti lineup, I knew that before driving all the way out there. The biggie for me, what that is just felt off. When I narrowed down my choices, LS was on the top by a mile. Thats where I put my dollars.

 

[murphy1244]

Sounds like we have similar properties and do similar tasks. I prefer the gear driven over HST, but to each is their own.

I decided to go with LS over Koiti for several reasons, but the main one was Koiti just seemed cheap to me. I didn't feel like a good solid tractor. I test drove a Koiti, I believe it was the DK4710, that the dealer had on site. All the dealerships I went to, this dealer actually had the right one on site to test drive. Everyone else, didn't have the exact specifications in models I was looking for, to test drive. They all had to be ordered. Anywho, the Koiti dealer was a drive to get to, and I was incredibly disappointed in his knowledge of the tractor. Strike 1. The tractor seemed (like I stated before) cheap. Strike 2. It only came in HST, Strike 3.

The HST was not exactly a deal breaker for me. After all, my research into the Koiti lineup, I knew that before driving all the way out there. The biggie for me, what that is just felt off. When I narrowed down my choices, LS was on the top by a mile. Thats where I put my dollars.

Congrats on the new tractor