RK Tractor reviews???

[RK Tractor Guy]

Yes I truly enjoy watching Mike and his youtube channel. I think he is doing a great job so far of showing how those tractors operate. Yes he does push some of the products, but don't we all try and sale our friends and family on the stuff we purchase. I actually went to my RK store this morning and their tractor inventory was the lowest I've seen it. Joe is moving some tractors in my area for sure. I hope that continues for them and for us as a community here in NC.

Mike is a great guy, his wife Melissa and whole family too. If you view video #124, link below, he describes how the RK Tractors partnership came about. I’m “this guy from Rural King” that Mike talks about.

#124 NEW TRACTOR! And Here's How It Happened - YouTube

Yes, we have gotten low on inventory, sales far ahead of plan, but we have lots of tractors inbound. We saw sales go through the roof in March, and we increased orders significantly right then but with lead times such as they are, we are only now about to see the inbound inventory align with the sales volume.

 

[majorwager]

Uptaker73,
Recently responded to a person in NC purchasing their new tractor, They were viewing orange when I suggested a look at RK. They responded with surprise at RK pricing and features. Don't know which way they will decide but once that RK seed is planted, very difficult to ignore that little voice of value pricing as they continue the quest for a tractor purchase, Suggested the Morgans video as well but many other members had alternate suggestions. The OP stated they were experiencing temporary sensory overload but when the dust settles, RK is difficult to ignore.

 

[majorwager]

Uptaker,

The thread I referred to is "help me buy a compact tractor." Even the yanmar factory rep chimed in w/ a list of NC yanmar dealers. This brings me to my point. RK has the best factory website because it is also the dealer website. From the RK website, consumer can move directly to purchase mode. CAN NOT do that WITH other factory web page. They must refer you to a dealer. Than breaks the chain of product interest. Other factory websites are reluctant to answer consumer questions, even pricing is just list without any discussion, Go Talk to our dealer.

Plus the RK website is super consumer friendly, These are our tractors, these are the specs/features, this is the cost, this is where the nearest store for purchase is located. No one has better internet friendl content, The questions are answered before the consumer even asks!.

Note:The OP posted under general buying forum, NOT a brand specific forum, was surprised by yanmar factory input.

 

[uptaker73]

Awesome thanks for the information. I totally agree the RK website is super user friendly. I'm in the process of taking care of a few projects on our house. But as soon as those are done it's definitely going to be purchase time for a tractor.

 

[s219]

Please understand what the word average means. Go get a quote for a Kubota L5460HST equipped as an RK55HC is. You can configure the Kubota on their website, and make sure you add in all of the optional features on a Kubota such as rear remotes, audio system, work lights, drawbar, etc., all of the things standard in an RK55HC. You can go to rktractors.com and select the 澱uild your own function.

RK will be at $29,998 and the Kubota $52,307. Take 15% (more like 10% but let痴 do 15% for this purpose) max off that to get to selling price and the Kubota is $44,460. That puts the RK $14,462 under the Kubota - selling price. The Kubota sells for 1.5 times the price of the comparably equipped RK, plus the RK has $400 of RimGuard liquid tire ballast in the rears plus an 8-year, 3000 hour powertrain warranty vs 6-year, 2000 hour for the Kubota.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the RK doesn't have anything remotely like the Grand L's HST+ or other digital control (fly by wire) features. That alone isn't worth $14K, and there are other advantages like this on the Kubota that still don't add up to $14K. But I have seen over and over on this website where someone compares tractors on dollars and paper specs and misses a whole lot of little details that could be super important. Sometimes people pick this stuff up when testing the tractors, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they don't even bother comparing.

I am very familiar with the TYM T554 which I assume is the same or very similar to the RK55 -- is that the case? If so I can attest that it's a very nice tractor. I think someone cross-shopping that machine with a Kubota Grand L will notice a bunch of things that make the Grand L compelling, but whether or not they want to spend the extra money is subjective.

When I looked at the TYM T554 it was only slightly more expensive than the price you quote for the RK55. Because of the way people perceive brands and values in the tractor market, I would be more interested in seeing price comparisons to peers like TYM, Kioti, and LS. It's easy to look like a bargain compared to Deere and Kubota, but not so much with these other brands. They have been undercutting Deere and Kubota for a long time.

 

[majorwager]

S219, I have a basic kubota. Does NOT have the sophisticated HST, I have had folks try to explain the difference but honestly it eludes me, believe it is a feature that must be personally experienced. That said, I have driven hst transmissions since the early 90's.

Difficult for me to imagine just how much more I could accomplish w/ stahl guard and whatever. When the engine reaches maximum limit, I retract the tractor motion. I can do this w/o a device.

I also am framiliar w/ power reversing shuttle transmissions. Had a funk reverser on a lull in the 60's, nobody knew what that was in a sea of tractor gear transmissions. The point is there becomes a time where some advancements are more about marketing and less about production.

Admittedly, not familiar w/ the enhanced kubota. For someone who has driven tractors since the age of 7, I do not feel that I am truly missing out. Certainly not to the tune of thousands$$$$. I have a radio in my P/U that compensates the volume if there is competing noise like an open window, never use it. Habitually I reach for the volume knob when the controls are on the steering wheel.

Some luxuries are more hype than function.

I look at Mike from Outdoors w/ the Morgans. He completes a ton of tasks. He doesn't dwell upon a few insignificant features that might be omitted from his RK tractor, although those tractors miss very few amenities.

Mike just pushes ahead and completes the tasks. I believe that is what a tractor is designed to do. That is what I do. I don't have an air seat in any of my tractors, but it is aftermarket spring/ shock absorber suspension. I always had them, air, in my large trucks. Will I install one in any of my tractors?
Likely NOT. Why? My tractor is a work tool. I don't feel deprived.

I perform the tractor task, put the machine away, and retire to my living room where creature comforts abound. Motto is tractor for work, my home is for relaxation, play, pursuit of happiness.


Hope you can see some folks, simply look at their tractor as a tool, and the work result is the real focus.

 

[s219]

HST+ (and associated throttle controls) is nice to have and makes the tractor a lot nicer to use and enhances productivity. If you're used to mechanical HST controls you will start to appreciate some of the features of HST+ very quickly. But it's not a must have -- I'd say it's a luxury "pro" feature.

I will be honest, I am not a fan of that Youtube channel. I am sure some people get something out of it, but I have a hard time watching any Youtube channel where someone tries to make a show out of what I consider to be routine work. And I really have a hard time with some of the technique and lack of experience. As I have said before, I have dozens of farmers on my road who are loaded with life experience and know how to use tractors and equipment and figure out problems. I don't get anything out of watching an amateur on Youtube. Might be a perfectly nice guy and have good intentions, but it's not for me.

 

[RK Tractor Guy]

Correct me if I am wrong, but the RK doesn't have anything remotely like the Grand L's HST+ or other digital control (fly by wire) features. That alone isn't worth $14K, and there are other advantages like this on the Kubota that still don't add up to $14K. But I have seen over and over on this website where someone compares tractors on dollars and paper specs and misses a whole lot of little details that could be super important. Sometimes people pick this stuff up when testing the tractors, sometimes they don't, and sometimes they don't even bother comparing.

I am very familiar with the TYM T554 which I assume is the same or very similar to the RK55 -- is that the case? If so I can attest that it's a very nice tractor. I think someone cross-shopping that machine with a Kubota Grand L will notice a bunch of things that make the Grand L compelling, but whether or not they want to spend the extra money is subjective.

When I looked at the TYM T554 it was only slightly more expensive than the price you quote for the RK55. Because of the way people perceive brands and values in the tractor market, I would be more interested in seeing price comparisons to peers like TYM, Kioti, and LS. It's easy to look like a bargain compared to Deere and Kubota, but not so much with these other brands. They have been undercutting Deere and Kubota for a long time.

As previously stated, go get actual quotes, out the door including assembly, freight and the product itself and compare to RK, no one, not even TYM is close, and keep in mind that with the latest upgrades, the RK55 has many features not included in the T554. 3-pt Hitch control from the rear, high back leather seat for example, plus it has HST sensitivity control, stall guard and all of the “fly by wire” features of the Grand L. RimGuard liquid ballast in the rears. Almost every customer that has comparison shopped RK tells us that they are looking at Kubota, Deere or Mahindra, the big three in terms of sales and brand equity. An honest assessment of those tractors will indicate that the price difference is all brand, not content difference. When we discuss our price advantages compared to the competition, we compare to the brands that sell 20,000 plus units per year, not 2,000 because that is where the market is.

We can agree to disagree, but the discussion should be based upon things that are real not presumed.

 

[RK Tractor Guy]

HST+ (and associated throttle controls) is nice to have and makes the tractor a lot nicer to use and enhances productivity. If you're used to mechanical HST controls you will start to appreciate some of the features of HST+ very quickly. But it's not a must have -- I'd say it's a luxury "pro" feature.

I will be honest, I am not a fan of that Youtube channel. I am sure some people get something out of it, but I have a hard time watching any Youtube channel where someone tries to make a show out of what I consider to be routine work. And I really have a hard time with some of the technique and lack of experience. As I have said before, I have dozens of farmers on my road who are loaded with life experience and know how to use tractors and equipment and figure out problems. I don't get anything out of watching an amateur on Youtube. Might be a perfectly nice guy and have good intentions, but it's not for me.

Not every is as highly skilled and experienced as you clearly are, but there are a lot of people that watch Mike’s channel to learn, or they just enjoy seeing him work on his projects. Fortunately, no one has to watch if they know so much already, and yes, Mike is a very nice man, and his family is great.

 

[Ford850]

RK Tractor Guy,
I like your input, and wish this thread can get back to the original intention... RK tractor reviews. Since RK is so new to the market and with it's unique marketing approach, I'm sure a lot of the new RK tractor owners are first time buyers. Have you thought about becoming a sponsor on this site? Maybe there's a way for RK to promote this site with each new tractor sale so those new owners have a place to go to get a lot of good answers to their questions about farming, tractoring, how to use implements, etc. Just a thought.