RK21 shopping experience

[JTKub]

This forum doesn't seem to get much traffic, so I figured I'd post an RK tractor shopping experience I had recently.

I'm over 100 miles from the nearest Rural King store, but being curious about the RK21 SCUT, I priced one out online. Part of that process sends your inquiry and required contact info to your nearest RK store, or store of your choice. I got a call back from a store manager the next day. Nice fella. Seemed to know their tractor line pretty well. He mentioned RK has their own parts distribution center/network. When I asked about the ability to get parts from TYM, his response was 'RK machines are built to RK specs, not TYM, so it's best to stick with RK parts/service'. I get that for the stickers on the machine and some of the cosmetics, etc. Other than that, I think we all know what it is.

In terms of price, buying an RK21 with loader and 54" mower is about $15K with their current cash incentives. This is thousands less than some of the 2025 model year TYM T224 prices I got.

You do have to arrange your own pickup/delivery with an RK, so that's a factor as well. They have no problem selling to out of state buyers.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I'd like to see them stick with this so long as Rural King as an entity exists; I think it's a cool concept, and I am pretty sure they've already outlasted Cabella's.

They, so far, seem to be taking it more serious.

 

[mike0000]

I’m wondering what changed with my local RK, (Jeffersonville In) I seriously looked at the tractors but decided against purchasing. I ended up buying a different brand. My local RK no longer stocks the tractors, but I occasionally see a tractor outside the repair/service area. Anyone else notice their RK no longer stocking tractors?

 

[R Barger]

I’m wondering what changed with my local RK, (Jeffersonville In) I seriously looked at the tractors but decided against purchasing. I ended up buying a different brand. My local RK no longer stocks the tractors, but I occasionally see a tractor outside the repair/service area. Anyone else notice their RK no longer stocking tractors?

I had 2 different RK's that didn't even seem interested in selling me a tractor so I also bought a different brand. If they are not interested in selling they wouldn't be interested in providing service.

 

[jjeff]

So far I'm really pleased with my rk 21 even though it's kept and used over 500 miles from the rk I bought it. A few months later I was in the area of that store I bought it they put together the initial 50 hr service kit for me to take up north some of . the filters were tym branded. Despite a few quirks For the price I paid I'd do it again if I was looking for that size of tractor. If anyone goes forward I'm very pleased with the r14 tires loaded tiny rear tires with no up charges I feel they do make a difference with that size of tractor.

 

[mike0000]

So far I'm really pleased with my rk 21 even though it's kept and used over 500 miles from the rk I bought it. A few months later I was in the area of that store I bought it they put together the initial 50 hr service kit for me to take up north some of . the filters were tym branded. Despite a few quirks For the price I paid I'd do it again if I was looking for that size of tractor. If anyone goes forward I'm very pleased with the r14 tires loaded tiny rear tires with no up charges I feel they do make a difference with that size of tractor.

I’m glad you’re happy and your tractor is doing well for you. I really liked the RK tractor I was looking at. I was just disappointed with how difficult it was to get information about it and having to come back later when their “Tractor guy” was working. I had a Branson for close to 20 years that I really liked but had a breakdown during Covid that had me waiting for a part to come from S. Korea as there were none in the US. That and the concern about the service I’d receive if needed from RK sent me to another brand.

 

[jjeff]

I’m glad you’re happy and your tractor is doing well for you. I really liked the RK tractor I was looking at. I was just disappointed with how difficult it was to get information about it and having to come back later when their “Tractor guy” was working. I had a Branson for close to 20 years that I really liked but had a breakdown during Covid that had me waiting for a part to come from S. Korea as there were none in the US. That and the concern about the service I’d receive if needed from RK sent me to another brand.

I definitely understood that aspect of hesitation I verbally worked something out with the rk I bought mine from I make valid attempts to shade tree repair stuff on my own verbally they agreed to send me replacement parts under warranty id either take pictures of parts replaced or take the old parts back down state with me to the rk. Admittedly overlooked checking everything like I normally do When I buy new like I usually do if you don't do it I recommend everyone that reads this does. They did overfill the hydrostatic and hydraulics when it heated up was leaking out the breather cap. I called the rural king let the salesman know what was going on, there stores head mechanic quickly called me back told me to look for certain areas where the fluid might be coming from I spent a hour or so being a shady tree mechanic isolated where it was coming from drained about a gallon of hydrostatic fluid from it double checking sight glass was in the red dot before the fluid didn't look visible cuz it was so overfilled and turned into quirk #1 l for me wish it had a dipstick instead. I was told by the head mechanic and sales guy they would make a legitimate attempt to travel over 500 to repair tractor if it was a more serious problem I'd put them up at my cabin til warranty repairs were done. The fact they even offered to try and do this was above and beyond my expectations. Because of this I even looked at a larger framed and more capable rk 25 to use on my hobby farm I call a wild life sanctuary down state. However my old 40 yr old used up kubotas keep running reliably and strong so no go on a rk 25 downstate another thing that surprised me kind of was cost of a service on rk tractors granted it's quite a bit smaller than my kubotas however buy genuine Kubota filters for everything I'm looking at 200+ dollars for just filters orings copper crush washers etc. rk bought all the filters I needed for well under 100 bucks 50 hr initial service filters only cost about 20 bucks and the rk pulled and packaged them for me to pick up before I arrived. I do supply my own engine oil, spec trans hydraulic fluid, and front axle diff lube though weather it's servicing my Kubotas or rk.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I’m wondering what changed with my local RK, (Jeffersonville In) I seriously looked at the tractors but decided against purchasing. I ended up buying a different brand. My local RK no longer stocks the tractors, but I occasionally see a tractor outside the repair/service area. Anyone else notice their RK no longer stocking tractors?

Yes. Several stores around here dropped tractor sales while others still carry the full line. Looks to me like the RK tractor website lists locations that still sell tractors.

Contact Us | RK Tractors

www.rktractors.com

 

[jjeff]

One of the major deciding factors for me was not only is this tiny tractor utilized as a Swiss army knife of sorts up there mostly for mowing the hills, it was over 10k less expensive than comparable JD 1 series and even bx series kubotas so worth the risk of possibly having to trailer it over 500 miles one way in the next 8 yrs if major repairs are required. Especially if you have the means and are comfortable doing it. Both the Kubota and JD dealerships both wanted to upcharge me over 400 bucks to fill the rear tires with rim guard which aren't much bigger than atv tires.

 

[JTKub]

One of the major deciding factors for me was not only is this tiny tractor utilized as a Swiss army knife of sorts up there mostly for mowing the hills, it was over 10k less expensive than comparable JD 1 series and even bx series kubotas so worth the risk of possibly having to trailer it over 500 miles one way in the next 8 yrs if major repairs are required. Especially if you have the means and are comfortable doing it. Both the Kubota and JD dealerships both wanted to upcharge me over 400 bucks to fill the rear tires with rim guard which aren't much bigger than atv tires.

Even for the little guys like the RK21, which is the same as the TYM T224, with subtle differences, the RK21 is almost $5K less than most of the 2025 model year TYM T224 quotes I got.