Hi everyone. I currently own a 1957 Ferguson F40 and it's an awesome machine. It's all I have for moving snow and of course it's limited in that it doesn't have 4 wheel drive or a loader. I'm looking for a compact tractor with 4x4, HST, and a loader. It will be used for the typical hobby farm stuff - I have some woods, some pasture, some ag fields - a total of 51 acres. I had made my mind up to get a Deere because of reputation and there are dealers everywhere around here (NW Wisconsin). However, I recently started learning more about Kioti and I'm starting to lean that way. They seem more well equipped for less money and people seem to be reporting good reliability. For the Deere's, I was looking at the 3X20 series (precursor to the 3R series). I was really struggling to find something with reasonable hours for less than $15k which is my approximate budget. I have found a few 3X20 tractors, but they're usually 15 or so years old and have 1500 hours (not a ton for a John Deere I know) to 3500 hours. I'm reasonably mechanically inclined, but I don't enjoy wrenching and for lots of the year, I just don't have the time. With a Kioti, I can get a newer 2610 which will lift a lot more than the 3 series Deeres and it they are new and shiny. Here are examples of what I'm looking at. Thoughts?
Deere 3520 - $13k
Deere 3720 $16k
2020 Kioti CK2610 $14k (stronger loader 1970 lbs)
2017 Kioti CK2610 (weaker loader - 1250 lbs)
The 3720 is my dream tractor, but it has a lot of hours. I would like to do 4x4 round bales with it. I can add remote hydraulics to the Ferguson and use that though. I'd buy the older Kioti right now, but it has the lighter loader and that gives me pause.
