Which one - Used 2006 Kubota M7040 or New Kioti DK55se

dlsinc · Nov 10, 2011

Hi everyone - this is my first post and I wanted to say this is an amazing forum...what a source of information!

I'm relatively new to the tractor world here and at the outset let me apologize for what may be a long winded posting.

We have a property about 100ac, lots of rolling hills, bush, hardwood, streams, bit of an apple orchard as well. Also - about 800meters of unassumed road that we need to blow snow on in the winter. Summer months it's more about property maintenance, bush hogging and also we've got to build an outbuilding...and it will always be our primary material handling machine for our business. Lifting capacity is definitely a concern

I've been shopping for about 3 months now for the right machine. I've test driven about 7 used machines all with pretty low hours (under 1500hours each) - JD, agco, branson, zetor - but none of them felt that great....again these were used machines so in each case there seemed to be a few kinks on each of them that needed to be sorted out.

A little disheartened, and not wanting to put 27k+ into a machine that I wasn't overall 100% satisfied with - I decided to take a Kioti out for test drive, got a great dealer near me (25kms). I was sold, the DK55se felt like a good fit with the cab, power, features albeit a little stripped down (no hst) but the price is right - quoted around 32k for it w/ FEL.

So scanning the internet and reading up on this tractor - and overall pretty stellar reviews for the Kioti's - I stumbled upon a used machine from another larger dealer about 100kms away - a 2006 Kubota M7040 with about 800 hours - priced at 36K. Machine was never used for farming and it doesn't look like the 3pth has ever even been connected to anything!

I liked this machine a lot as well. So my dilema is - New Kioti DK55se or a used Kubota 7040 w/ 800 hours.

The price is close enough for me to consider the Kubota, but I'm not sure I should even be looking at it! I don't know which one to go with, I like the comfort of knowing a Kioti is under warranty, and so many great things I've heard - but there's the flip side of the Kubota being a bit more powerful, though I'm not 100% sure that the lifting capacity is far off the Kioti.

Both are 4wd, both have cabs, Kubota has HST, kioti does not but I think i could order one with and just pay a little more - the unit at the dealer didnt' have it. Both feel great - the Kubota just a bit longer, and I can say that the cab and placement of things in the Kubota was very nice. I'm also not completely sure about the electric PTO and 4wd engagement on the Kioti but not too concerned about that.

I think that's about it - I'm just stuck trying to figure out which one to go with. Looking to put a pull type blower on the back of either of these, my bush hog, pallet forks, and all sorts of other goodies when the time comes...but for now not sure which one!

Any insight would help. Okay - thanks for reading the novel and look forward to hearing from anyone!

art · Nov 10, 2011

The 7040 does not offer hydro but does offer a hydraulic forward reverser. For 100 acres I'd say go big!
For the large number of kubota's sold and the low warrantee rate I'd feel quite safe with one with 800 hours on it!

Grandad4 · Nov 10, 2011

To some measure, you're looking at an apples vs. oranges comparison, because those tractors are not equivalent to each other. The 7040 is something between a 5% and 10% bigger tractor than the DK55. Putting aside the new vs. used aspect, the size difference needs to be sorted out for your situation. While you often hear people say "Go larger if possible", you need to decide if that really makes sense for what you figure to be doing. Just by the acreage you have, I'd probably think larger, but only you can really make that call.

The new vs. used and brand things can also be tricky. The Kubota is the more costly model to begin with, but it has some good features, such as wet clutch vs. dry clutch, a shuttle transmission vs. standard (sorry, you don't get HST on ag-framed tractors above about 60 hp.). But the Kioti is no cheapie either and has some nice features.

Kubota will hold its resale value better, but it's already a used machine. There's a certain risk with anything used, but 800 well-maintained hours shouldn't scare you off.

Sorry to say, this is not a slam-dunk choice... a person could decide either way with good reasons backing their decision.

rasimmo · Nov 10, 2011

If you look through any of these type of threads, you will see a lot of things about the dealer. I would take that into consideration. How far away, what kind of reputation, how they treat you, and the list goes on and on. You will always need some type of parts and service in the years to come.
If it was me I would buy the Kubota. I have a really good dealer about 20 miles away, I don't even know if there is a Kioti dealer within 100 miles of me. That is just an example and something to consider. Your situation may be completely different.

flusher · Nov 10, 2011

You need to get more specific about the jobs you want to do with the tractor, the time available for these jobs (all week, only weekends, etc), and then size the implements accordingly. This will determine the horsepower (pto, drawbar, not engine hp) needed. Then go tractor shopping. You have a sizeable property. What you want to avoid is buying an undersize tractor and then regretting that decision.

IndyIan · Nov 10, 2011

How close is the nearest Kubota dealer? I had a similar decision of used Kubota vs new Kioti, but I have two good Kioti dealers much closer than the Kubota one, plus I wanted a HST, which the used Kubota's didn't have.
Also a DK40/45/50 with a counter weight should have no trouble lifting two apple crates but the DK55 has a self leveling loader available and is 1000lbs heavier which may help with the pull behind blower?
Either way I think you'll be happy though.

TripleR · Nov 10, 2011

All I can do is pretty much echo the good advice given by others. I really like Kubotas, but Kioti makes really good tractors. I doubt you will be disappointed by either; 800 hours is nothing on that tractor. I buy new or used.

Don't focus on acreage, but rather as mentioned tasks to complete. We use our biggest tractor primarily on our smallest farm.

dlsinc · Nov 10, 2011

Hey thanks everyone for the input - it is a tough decision. I'd say the closest Kubota dealer is probably 30Kms away - but the dealer I'd be buying from is about 100kms away...to make it even more difficult of a decision the dealers that I'd be going to for either Kubota or Kioti are about the same distance. That being said - I've been going to the Kioti dealer a LOT since making this move up here for other stuff and feel very comfortable with them - they've got a great rep in the area. I can't say the same for the Kubota dealer but that's only because I've never dealt with them. I know I may be answering some of my own questions here.

After a bit of research I realized the DK55 isn't offered in w a hydraulic fwd reverse so the tractor I test drove at the Kioti dealer is basically what I'd end up with. Also forgive my misuse of terminology I'm consistently getting confused with hydrostat transmission vs hydro fwd rvers, amongst the other things...

We'll be moved in full time by next fall up there and I would imagine that we'd be using the tractor about 3 days a week with the various tasks involved with material handling in my business (primarily dragging logs out of the bush and the pallet forks, FEL lifting type work) I know we'll get a log splitter on there and the bush hog will be well used too.

Another issue is that the used Kubota has the industrial tire and the Kioti I can choose the AG tire still in that price. I don't want to change the tires on the Kubota cause that will cost some more $$ but I'm not completely sure how the industrial tire will fare in the bush, but saying that it'll definitely be kinder on our 3/4 crush area around the outbldg. I just never want to be in a position where the machine can't do what I need.... As well I believe the Kioti has two sets of rear remotes and the Kubota only has one set...not sure if this will become an issue later but just a thought about increased cost of the Kubota if we were to need this...

I really wish it were easier cause I'd have made a decision by now! Anyways, thanks again for all your responses. I'll keep reading here and hopefully in the next day or two I'll pull the trigger on something ...either way it'll be orange!

bigbull338 · Nov 10, 2011

id go with the 7040 hydrolic shuttle kubota.1.the tractor 70 eng hp an 60 pto hp.2.the shuttle is easy to get used to.3.it has more weight than the other tractor your looking at.

IndyIan · Nov 10, 2011

If you've got alot of hilly terrain and clay soils like I do, I think Ags are a plus, especially new sharp ones! My main trail to my woods has 100' section at around 20 deg and if its wet I can still spin a little going up.