Look at the Kioti. I have had 3 and all have worked out great. Currently have a DK45 HST

 

Have you had good luck getting parts too? That's my main concern. I've had issues before with stuff that wasn't a big name trying to get parts or find the right part.

 

My dealer can drop ship parts overnight if needed but have never needed anything that caused a work stoppage

 

I have been comparing tractors myself. Looked at Massey Ferguson 2706e (59hp, 4k pounds))and 1749 w/cab (49hp, 4k pounds). John Deere 4000 series. LS, Yanmar. The Massey had the best specs for comparable tractors of the brands at the best price. My biggest requirement was the loader lifting capacity, I wanted to be able to lift a 2000 lb skid onto and off my trailer. My local dealer did a test with the 2706e, it lifted and moved a 2400lb skid. You would want counter weight and the engine was at full throttle. Not a lifting capacity you would regularly want to move, but it will do it.

 

My biggest concern was actual pto hp. Most of off brands had hard time getting th pto hp
Also wanted the reliability. If tractors down I'm down.

 

I've owned my Kioti DK 35 for 16 years.
Never gives me any problems. Nice machine.

Parts are no problem at all from what I can tell.

 

Kubota is a real nice tractor. a pre emissions one will last forever

 

We purchased an LS a few months ago. XR3135 IIRC. Or it might be XR3531. Too soon to judge it. It don't seem to lift as much as the specs would led me to believe. $28k for tractor, FEL, and backhoe, box blade, tiller, front aux hydraulics, shorter front bumper (I preferred the "lessors" model's bumper since it allows FEL to get closer to truck.). I didn't want the LS initially but it is growing on me... My heart was set elsewhere....
We spoke with a local Kubota dealer. Got told $36k for a new B26 TLB. Eff that! I don't see paying over $25k for a machine like that. Kubota is expensive now new... With their flimsy cheap feeling steps and floor.

 

I purchased a new kioti this year, the tractor is beautiful. It'll give a Deere or kubota a run for their money, and for the 60 grand it cost me, it should. I looked at other brands, I liked kioti the best. Another guy I know runs a bunch of them and if they weren't a great tractor, he wouldn't be running them either.

 

Look at Mahindra. They are the largest tractor manufacturer in the world. I don't own one but they must do something right to have that status.

 

The only "off brand" that I would steer clear of is Branson. I have heard stories from several around here that have purchased them who have had major issues. Most all of them have with either the drive train or hydraulics.

 

I bought a Branson. A smaller 2400h. So far it is doing great never had a problem with any kind. It's been 5 years and the only issues I caused.

 

We've got a LS g3033h had it new since 2014....love it. Wouldn't buy a big name brand one this does everything we need it to do. The lift capabilities aren't what everyone claims any tractor to be because they calculate the lift capacity at the pins. The farther out from the pins you go the less it can lift.

 

I love my kioti dk 40sr hst. It’s an absolute beast! It’s been perfect for the 5 years I’ve owned it. Loader is one of if not the strongest in its class. Hydro gpm is also very good. It comes standard with ssqa, extendable rear links, rear lever to lower 3pt., tilt cruise rear remote, suspension seat. Great tractor.
Now, the newer dk’s Are a little lighter duty I believe. Like a cross over between the older dk and ck tractors. I think the nx line is comprable to the older dk’s. I would by the same tractor if I had to do it over today.

 

i'm a deere guy. I've heard kioti doesn't hold up in commercial work

 

I don't believe any compact tractor is made for commercial work. That being said, I'll take my dk40 se over any other 40 compact tractor, certainly over a Deere compact. The kubota L45 is a commercial built machine as is a b26, both fine tractor models. As is a JD110.

 

Buy the kubota, then down time and parts will never be a worry! 20 years of year round kubota use here, thousands of hours on 4 different models. Never once had a tractor break down on a job!

 

Subcompact and compact buy kubota. Bigger than that go green.
I’m sure “off brands” will work just fine for homeowners that have one operator, low use, someone that cares about it around it, but I’d pay the few extra grand and make it the right color

 

I've owned my Kioti DK 35 for 18 years now. (2165 hours)
Been an excellent tractor.

 

The main thing to consider is if the dealer you are buying from is capable carrying out the warranty if you got serious issues. Here is an example. LS makes New Holland tractors up to like 70 or 80hp. All your New Holland dealers have certified mechanics capable of anything. My LS dealer near me is hardly capable of much more than an oil change. So if crap really hits the fan you might need to take your LS to a New Holland dealer if they will work on and no they won't except your warranty. Bobcat tractors were kioti and Mitsubishi makes some of mahindra.

 

I have a bx 24 kubota and a 1998 new holland 1925 , no complaints . I would stay away from the chinese tractors , like northern tool sells . And the russian tractors Belarus

 

Interesting thread... Deere is great at marketing. It's why most people don't know how many tractors JD buys from other suppliers. Their largest supplier is Yanmar (Japan) for most compacts and subcompacts, including your 2305. Carraro (Italy) builds some utility and specialized for JD

Mahindra DOES build the most tractors in the world, and bought Japan's Mitsubishi last year (think Cub Cadet except CC-Yanmar, compact IH, etc.).
Mitsubishi build some Mahindra, and built IH and some Cub Cadet.

LS (formerly LG/GoldStar) builds compacts for New Holland and Case IH, as well as their own and others. Mitsubishi provided technical asst.

Branson is part of Kukje, which has built John Deere tractors over the years, and was purchased by TYM in 2016. Kukje originally had technological agreements with Yanmar and John Deere.

TYM (Tong Yang Moolson) has tie ups with Case IH, and has supplied some Mahindra, and the current RK Tractors, among others. Technical asst came from Iseki.

Kioti (DaeDong) received technical assistance from Ford, and later New Holland, and build the Bobcat tractors.

Massey Ferguson compacts are mainly built by Iseki in Japan, who also built Bolens, White, AGCO & Challenger compacts.

New Holland compacts are built by LS, Daedong, Shibaura (of Japan) and Carraro (Italy).

Case IH compacts are built by LS, Shibauara and Carraro.

Of note, Carraro (Agritalia) of Italy buils utility and specialized tractors for all of the majors: Case IH, John Deere, Claas, Massey Ferguson, Valtra and formerly Deutz-Fahr and others.

 

Kioti also built the rear ends and maybe the trans and other parts for kubota up until the 1980's. Daedong (kioti) has been building tractors sine the 1940's

 

I have a kioti dk55 cab, bought it new in 2008. I use it for commercial snow removal with a 84" pto snowblower. Don't know if it's the best but it's been a great machine for the last eleven years. I'm sure other brands are good too. I've had no issues/no down time at all. It has never failed to start even in negative temps and I don't plug it in, it stays on site. It has good power, bigger would always be better but I don't think I could go much bigger and still move it with a srw pickup. Cab is comfortable and laid out well and heater works very well. No issues with keeping the Windows defrosted at all. I do all my own service and other than filters which my dealer has in stock I haven't needed anything. Although I'm guessing now with the internet and express shipping you could have parts for any brand within a couple of days. If you need something fixed quicker than that and it's that critical to your business you need backup equipment.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion but I guess I can't agree with the comment about them not being suitable for commercial work since I've been doing for eleven years with no issues. Maybe I've just been lucky, I'm not trying to be sarcastic.I'm an owner/operator. I try to take care of my equipment as well as I can and use it but try not to abuse it. Admittedly I'm not brand loyal with any of my equipment. I've been a contractor for 30+ years, I buy what "talks to me" when I'm looking for something. I bought ford trucks for 20 years, great trucks. In 2005 gm started to have financial problems and they had some aggressive incentives, money matters that's why I'm in business. I've been in gm trucks since and they seem to work fine too.
Good luck with your decision. Buy what "talks to you". If you don't you probably regret it.

 

I do all my own service and other than filters which my dealer has in stock I haven't needed anything. Although I'm guessing now with the internet and express shipping you could have parts for any brand within a couple of days.

Yes.
I generally just order OEM filter kits through Ebay.
Any parts I need for my DK 35 I call or order online through https://www.michiganironandequip.com/.
Delivered to my door within a few days.

 

To me kubota tractors are like mack trucks. Kubota builds the motor, kubota builds the tranny, the frame, the pumps, the loaders, and so forth! Never any waiting on an outside vender for a kubota part! No offence to john deere, but they haven't manufactured their own cuts for decades!

 

As does Kioti.

 

I’ve been tractor shopping. I have a lot of dealers around. The Deere and Kubota dealers are huge. I’m looking at compacts and the 3E is really lacking. Completely stripped and expensive for what you get. I’d love to buy from them because I buy mowers and Stihl stuff from them but yea doesn’t compete.

The Kubota L series is really nice.

I have a New Holland and Kioti dealer too and I’m going to check out the Kioti CK4010SE and whatever New Holland that compares to that. Their models are confusing. The guys on the tractorbynet forum seem really hot on Kioti.

 

Ron:
l3301.
It’s amazing! Maybe not a ton of hours on mine during the past two years (250 hours).
But i use it for
Flail mowing
Grading roads
Farming (cultivation, towing disk, rototilling) etc.
front end loader with grapple
On and on and on. They are fantastic.
As stated above, it’s an in-house machine (designed and built). To slander Deere would be crazy. So I’m not slandering them. But sub and compact kubota. Bigger get Deere. Other brands rank em how u see fit.
There’s a reason so many companies use kubota engines in their machines. And the rest of their machine is up to par with their engines.
It’s like kubota didn’t change for cost purposes. They keep overbuilding machines and it’s apprent. But u pay for it.
But once, cry once.
Now on the flip side: U want to upgrade your mower. No clue what JD does on fleet. Meaning how many machines or how much money spent, but if you get a better deal and can get fleet, deere’s good obviously. Get the 950 or 960 your talking about and pick up a tractor too

 

Thanks for that. I know Kubota is a safe bet.

I have a z915e and it’s solid. May want some more power for next year and see no reason not to stick with Deere because my dealer is great. So I’m biased towards them but the 3E is lacking too many features.

Very light for its class
Aluminum rear housing
2 speed HST
Can’t remove the loader
Etc.

My Kubota Dealer is fantastic too. Almost bought a ZD from them just because of their customer service but can’t deny the 7 iron decks.

Still want to go check out the Kiotis though before I make a final decision. My gut is telling me L3901 though.

 

That’s a big boy tractor!
I have as much money In implements as the tractor. More probably. Bigger the tractor. Bigger the attachments. More money.
This is a dumb comment, but a tractor is worthless without the tools with it. That’s where the money is. And implements are like beer, very addicting.
I’m right now debating between an ABI tr3 or land pride power rake. Addicting I tell ya!

 

That's a big boy tractor!
I have as much money In implements as the tractor. More probably. Bigger the tractor. Bigger the attachments. More money.
This is a dumb comment, but a tractor is worthless without the tools with it. That's where the money is. And implements are like beer, very addicting.
I'm right now debating between an ABI tr3 or land pride power rake. Addicting I tell ya!

The 3901 is almost identical to your 3301. Same frame and weight. Just more PTO power for brush hogging and whatnot.

The 4701 steps up in weight and size. The Kubota Dealer kept telling me the l2501 was plenty. Kubota uses a big 100ci engine that's massively detuned to get under the tier 4 emissions. So probably a torque monster. But I don't want to regret not getting enough HP. That's exactly what happened with my 915E.