Buying Advice Tractor For Tree Work

[N2DFire]

Ok - I'm going to preface this to say that I'm not "Brand Pushing" (but I will admit I'm kinda partial LOL) and definitely not trying to muddy the waters even more - but based on the specs you listed - have you looked at Kioti brand?

The only way you can look up dealers is by Zip Code and Tampa has a ton of them so I just picked a random one but there are 3 dealers listed w/in 100 mile radius so it might be worth your time to at least call for a price see if it's worth the drive / time to go look (That's how they got us lol).

Specifically look at the CK2510 and a CK2610 (for weights I chose the HST models which are slightly heavier) - this is their "No Frills" light weight series.

The 2510 comes in right between the Kubota BX and the L2501, and the 2610 is pretty much toe to toe with the L2501 with differences in inches and a few hundred pounds.

Kioti CK2510:
Maximum Lift Height to pivot pin 87.8 in. (2,230 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Level 84.3 in. (2,141 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Dumped 67.2 in. (1,706 mm)
Reach at Maximum Height 31.5 in. (800 mm)

Weight w/ Ag Tires w/ ROPS 2,260 lbs. (1,025 kg) (Plus Loader weight & Ballast)

Kioti CK2610:
Maximum Lift Height To Pivot Pin 98.4" (2,500 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Level 88" (2,234 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Dumped (45 Degrees) 74" (1,864 mm)
Reach At Maximum Lift Height 11.3" (286 mm)

Weight w/ Ag Tires w/ ROPS 2,701 lbs. (1,225 kg) (Plus Loader weight & Ballast)



While researching the specs - the "Reach At Maximum Lift Height" jumped out at me. I hadn't thought about it before but that's going to come in to play with you loading a trailer as well.
Might not be *as* important, but being able to reach closer to center while piling higher also helps.

Even if you're not interested in the Kiotis, you might want to see how your other choices compare to one another here and see if that factors in to your decision.

 

[DrCornwallis]

Ok - I'm going to preface this to say that I'm not "Brand Pushing" (but I will admit I'm kinda partial LOL) and definitely not trying to muddy the waters even more - but based on the specs you listed - have you looked at Kioti brand?

The only way you can look up dealers is by Zip Code and Tampa has a ton of them so I just picked a random one but there are 3 dealers listed w/in 100 mile radius so it might be worth your time to at least call for a price see if it's worth the drive / time to go look (That's how they got us lol).

Specifically look at the CK2510 and a CK2610 (for weights I chose the HST models which are slightly heavier) - this is their "No Frills" light weight series.

The 2510 comes in right between the Kubota BX and the L2501, and the 2610 is pretty much toe to toe with the L2501 with differences in inches and a few hundred pounds.

Kioti CK2510:
Maximum Lift Height to pivot pin 87.8 in. (2,230 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Level 84.3 in. (2,141 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Dumped 67.2 in. (1,706 mm)
Reach at Maximum Height 31.5 in. (800 mm)

Weight w/ Ag Tires w/ ROPS 2,260 lbs. (1,025 kg) (Plus Loader weight & Ballast)

Kioti CK2610:
Maximum Lift Height To Pivot Pin 98.4" (2,500 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Level 88" (2,234 mm)
Clearance w/ Attachment Dumped (45 Degrees) 74" (1,864 mm)
Reach At Maximum Lift Height 11.3" (286 mm)

Weight w/ Ag Tires w/ ROPS 2,701 lbs. (1,225 kg) (Plus Loader weight & Ballast)



While researching the specs - the "Reach At Maximum Lift Height" jumped out at me. I hadn't thought about it before but that's going to come in to play with you loading a trailer as well.
Might not be *as* important, but being able to reach closer to center while piling higher also helps.

Even if you're not interested in the Kiotis, you might want to see how your other choices compare to one another here and see if that factors in to your decision.

I actually had not looked at Kioti, but I'm certainly willing to go take a look. I simply hadn't considered them as I haven't "heard" much about them. I hadn't even heard of them until I started looking here. I don't know anyone who owns one personally either. Ok paper, the specs look very good. As does the LS, which I still plan to go look at as well. I'll probably go look at LS and Kioti on the same day as both dealers are about an hour north of me in the same town.

 

[DrCornwallis]

On paper, it looks like the LS XJ2025H wins.

Specs:

-Overall length with 3pt (in.): 103
Wheelbase (in.): 59

-Min. overall width with IND tires (in.): 44.9

-Height to top of ROPS (in.): 92.3

-Total weight without ballast (lbs.): 1,609

-Loader will lift 1270 lbs to 85in.

It seems very close to the same size and weight as a BX but cheaper and can lift quite a bit more. The width is very appealing to me, at 44.9 in it will go through gates.

From what I can tell, between the Kioti CK2510 and the LSXJ2025H, the specs are virtually identical, except the Kioti is quite a bit heavier.

 

[N2DFire]

I actually had not looked at Kioti, but I'm certainly willing to go take a look. I simply hadn't considered them as I haven't "heard" much about them. I hadn't even heard of them until I started looking here. I don't know anyone who owns one personally either. Ok paper, the specs look very good. As does the LS, which I still plan to go look at as well. I'll probably go look at LS and Kioti on the same day as both dealers are about an hour north of me in the same town.

Again I'm not bashing any brand at all but Kioti gave us the best value for the dollar at the time but the LS models we internet shopped seemed good on their price point too.

When we were tractor shopping a couple years ago, I didn't see anything at all wrong with LS and there were some good remarks from other owners here. The only drawback I could come up with was (as I was told) LS makes the New Holland Boomer series tractors and Dad just couldn't get comfortable on one of those - felt too cramped. Since there weren't any LS dealers relatively close by, we just never made the effort to travel to go look in person.

I hadn't thought about the width / gate issue. That is definitely something for you to consider for your usage.

 

[DrCornwallis]

Again I'm not bashing any brand at all but Kioti gave us the best value for the dollar at the time but the LS models we internet shopped seemed good on their price point too.

When we were tractor shopping a couple years ago, I didn't see anything at all wrong with LS and there were some good remarks from other owners here. The only drawback I could come up with was (as I was told) LS makes the New Holland Boomer series tractors and Dad just couldn't get comfortable on one of those - felt too cramped. Since there weren't any LS dealers relatively close by, we just never made the effort to travel to go look in person.

I hadn't thought about the width / gate issue. That is definitely something for you to consider for your usage.

The width issue isn't a huge issue, it's not going to keep me from considering or not considering a tractor but it would be nice. A lot of homes around here with gates seem to have about a 50in ish gate. I can get my 48 ZTR through with about an in to spare on either side.