Buying Advice New member looking at 22hp Kubota, Bobcat, Kioti

[Fugowwee]

First let me say thanks for the help in advance. I am in Helena, Montana with 5 acres of hilly land and a fair amont of trees. It was my parents and I bought it last fall to help them out financialy so I know the house and land and I still bought it. It is beautiful it just needs, in my opinion, lots of clean up and maintainance. I just had a septic system replaced this spring (unplanned) to add to the yards needs.

I have about 4 acres of rough mowing, noxious weed spraying and pine beetle spaying to do. Some more yard sprinkler lines to put in, fenceing, and some trees to plant thanks to pine beetles. There are minr grades, elevations and drainage issues to fix as well as roads to maintain. Not to mentioin just moving dirt, rocks, snow and general "stuff" around. We rent all kinds of equipment and slowing/stopping the cost of a contiunuous stream of rental equipment should help offset the tractor purchaseing costs.

I used to work construction as an electrician and have run heavy equipment from large fork lifts and track hoes to smaller tractors, tampers and demo saws so I am pretty comfy with what is ahead. My wife will also be using it as I travel for a living and she will get it well enough to do basic stff easily.

I have looked at JD, NH, Yanmar, but am down to 3 hydrostatic models the Kubota 2320, Kioti CK20 and Bobcat CT122 (rebadged Kioti) I like bigger tractors but. . . These are a compromise between power, size (big enough to move stuff small enough to navigate trees and obstacles) and price all having great financeing options. Oddly living in Montana my town only has one line of tractor being sold "locally". Kioti. I am looking at a loader, 6' rear blade, 6' PTO brush mower, 3 point gradder/leveler and front forks. Also trying to decide if I want the back hoe a.k.a the budget killer!

Kubota 2320 - Dealer is 120 miles away but just super nice and knowledgeable! He is the most aggressive of the sales people I have encountered at numerous dealers. Also people have commented positively on this dealer. The "deal" he has cut is tough to beat along with the Kubota warranty/0-0-60 financeing/insurance etc. It is one stop shopping for everything I want. I fit well on the Kubota (I am a BIG guy) the controls and layout are ok. I like how the hydralic lines are tucked away but convenient. The loader bucket seems a bit flimsy but not a big issue. The tractor is also the lightest is it good or bad or??? I have read the lifting specs on all 3 andif I understand Kubota lifts more on the back but less in the front??? People also point to resale being better on this one.

Kioti - The only in town dealer and they have been in Helena for 63 years and have a solid reputation. I haven't spoken with them but will today. I have however looked at the brand. Having a local dealer is nice and the warranty is appealing. I like the way the hydralic lines are run a bit differently from the bobcat and the loader mounting seems a bit beefier plus it come with a full suspension seat unfortunately the space is a bit cramped compared to the Kubota and the forward reverse lever thing is kinda weird but ok. Would love to bump to a CK27 but cost may stop me.

Bobcat - Dealer is 120 miles away and deals a lot in rental and construction equipment. The hydralic lines hanging below the tractor bug me a bit but not a big deal. I absolutely LOVE the skid steer bucket mounting!! Which does not look to be availabe on the CK20 and the Kubota dealer freaked about saying the tracors aren't capable of using those attachments??? This dealer has the abolute best price on tractor and loader but has almost no attachments in stock and doesn't seem to excited to sell them or offer a package deal. Same layout as Kioti so similar issues but this one has a standard seat. Whyt this has theshort warranty also baffles and concerns.

Any advice is appreciated. THANKS!!!:thumbsup:

 

[jobguy]

I have a Bobcat CT120 (same frame as the CT 122) 14 pto hp and love it. I use a 60 inch tiller in my sandy loam soil (if I had clay or rocks I think I would get a smaller tiller). The dealer is about 10 min. from my house and is very helpful. I maintain 6 very wet acres. Mostly mowing, pulling buckthorn and a lot of bucket work (snow removal). I have turf tires which work very well even in snow. I have a low and high range Hst. High range is only for getting around faster, have to use low range to accomplish any work at all.
I would go with the local Kioti dealer. He has a solid reputation, right?
The others with a 120 mile drive is way to far away should you need anything from the Dealer.

 

[TripleR]

I am not familiar with Kioti/Bobcat, so I can't help you there. I do know several people on the Kubota forum with a 2320 who really like them.

I don't think you can buy a bad tractor from Kubota or Kioti/Bobcat, so I would pick the one that "fits" you the best.

120 miles is a bit of a drive, but unless you plan on having them do the maintenance it is not a big deal as you can order stuff from Messick's or other locations. Just get your maintenance items for the upcoming year when you pick your tractor up.

 

[TRR]

Well, can't give you any advice on the dealers - sounds like 2 of the 3 are good and the 3rd is ok. So my comments will be a little more generic. It is going to depend on what you use the tractor for. The layout of the cab will be important, it needs to be comfortable for you. If you're getting on and off frequently, besure you have room to do that easily. Watch out for overhead clearances like a canopy. They are harder than heads. If you do anything with ground engaging attachments, plows, box blades, etc. weight is good.

I believe the Kubota comes with a skid steer attachment for the loader, or at least can be gotten with one. Also, since it looks like you are looking at new tractors, distance from the dealership may not be an issue because you're unlikely to have any problems with the tractor at least in the warranty period. (My Kubota with ~1800 hrs has been in once in 25 years for a ROPS installation and tire replacement). I don't have first hand knowledge of Kioti, but from what I've heard, it compares favorably to kubota.

 

[TripleR]

Some people make a bigger issue out of weight than it deserves. I have found it is much easier to add weight than take it away. Look at just about any farm tractor and it will have weights added in the front and often in the back with fluid in the tires and/or wheel weights.

Bottom line is if you need more weight, you can always add and tailor it to the task at hand, more for pulling etc and less for mowing and activities where weight is not an advantage.

 

[art]

Just some thoughts, 6' is to big of a brush cutter for any of these units, stick with a 5'!

To add the skid steer Q-tach is nice on many units but the problem that I see here is that with adding 150 to 200 lbs to the loader for the Q-tach and moving your load further away from the tractor you are going to really reduce what you can carry!

As far as the bucket being flimsy on a Kubota, it is extremely rare that we have to touch them as far as reinforcing or any other damage other then to weld hooks on the top.
Kubota not only builds the tractor but also the loader so they normally are built quite well structually and have not had problems with breakage because of this balance.

The weight issue is brought up from time to time but in this industry or any other you have to look at what you are going to do and how! To have to run carrying more weight then what is needed for the bulk of your work just means you are burning more fuel and possibly stressing components for premature failure. It is good to be able to add the weight where and when you can benifit from it the most.

I do feel your in need of a backhoe for some of your work.

 

[Fugowwee]

So went shopping with my wife as she will need to drive the tractor as well when I am gone which is a fair amoubt of the time. We went to the local Kioti dealer and he only had one new tractor a CK30 which is a pretty nice machine not a lot bigger than the CK20. His price was a bit high on the CK30 and a LOT high on the CK20 compared to other dealers and the Bobcats. His attidude came off as take it or leave it "here is my card but you won't need it". I was sorta suprised but oh well. We ran to the town with the other dealers and they were great. She drove around the Kubota dealer stayed late with us showed her all the functions and she liked it. They are nice machines. The Bobcat dealer REALLY stepped it up! He had said when I saw him last week just call and he would come over and let us at em and he did. He came over and did the whole walk through on the CT122 tractor and then turned her loose on it. They also had a CT335 that he had her try and she LOVED that but agreed it was too big for our needs.

So after driving we are down to the Bobcat or a Kioti reason being my wife was WAY more comfortable on the Bobcat. Little ergonomics issues made a big difference for her.
*Rocker style forward/reverse pedal.
*Base model seat was more adjustable than Kubota also had a bit more suspension.
*Steering seemed smoother.
*Side grab bar placement for getting in.
*CT335 Upgraded seat is AWESOME!
*CT335 Tilt wheel made it way more comfortable.

Now I have a new issue the price on the CT122 is VERY righteous (at least I think so) do I spend the extra about $5000 for 30% more tractor a CT225 in only a slightly larger package? Which also adds the super awsome seat and a tilt column?

Thanks everyone for looking.:thumbsup:

 

[TripleR]

Buying a tractor is a long term investment, so we always get the added features, so I would get the one with a little more power, tilt and better seat.

 

[jake98]

Five acres, and a dealer in town, would point me to the CK 30. I don't have any issues with the seat (other than I don't get to sit in it often enough) or tilt steering. I'm 6'.
Everybody says 'get all the attachments you can for a package deal' but I don't buy that either. Get the cheap ones first, there's a learning curve to it..

 

[ChuckinNH]

Unfortunately, most dealers feel that the skid steer type of quick change for the bucket is just too heavy for the smaller B's like the B2320. The Kubota QA for the B3200 will fit though, and it is pretty light. I use one, and have forks to go with my bucket, and like that set up a lot.

Although there are several CK20 users here that like that tractor, I have spoken with Kioti mechanics that don't care for it as much as they do other Kiotis like the CK30. None of those other tractors have a mid pto so keep that in mind too if you ever want a snowblower, front blade, etc.