Wildfire
Active member
Equipment
Kubota L5740 HSTC3 and a Kubota ZG222Z, 2013 BX25D,Custom Toyota fork lift.
Here's why I decided to go with Kubota.
Late last summer (2008) I decided to retire my 1993 GMC truck that I've used for plowing for 13 years and look into purchasing some type of tractor. The tractor will be used for only one thing and that's snow clearing. At the end of the winter it will be parked and not used again until the next winter season so my reasons for needing a tractor might be much different than some of yours.
I started out looking at the Kioti. At the time the new Kioti DK45 Cabed HST model was just coming out but the dealer never had one in stock. I liked them so much I told the dealer to order one and was happy with my decision until I noticed a Kubota L4240 Grand L series cab model on Kubota's lot. Both the Koiti and Kubota were very nice machines and made it very hard to figure out which one best suited my needs.
I'm not someone new to operating equipment. I operating equipment for a living at one time racking up over 20.000 hours on all types of machinery including 966, 988 and 992 Cat loaders being just a few so having extensive hours operating I had half an idea what to expect from a small tractor with a FEL.
Anyway, after seeing the Kubota I noticed it had a number of things that I liked much better than the Koiti such as rear defrost on all three windows (Kioti never had rear defrost). The Kubota had front fenders which the Kioti never had. The tilt steering column on the Koiti would only tilt from the wheel where as in the Kubota the full column would tilt. The two dealerships are only about two miles from each other so I would go back and forth sitting in each machine and after a few trips doing that I got the feel for both machines and the Kubota had the fit and finish over the Koiti hands down.
Now I looked at the pricing of both units. I live on an island called Newfoundland. Living here dealers have the attitude of "Take it or leave it, that's our price and that's it". It's not good for the consumer so haggling is much tougher for the buyer.
Both units were around the same price so that made the decision harder. The Kubota was about $2000. over the cost of the Koiti but you could see why when comparing the two tractors because of all the little "Extras" on the Kubota.
Anyway to continue on here with my little boring story and to keep it as short as possible I got a little over $5000. off the Kubota because the tractor had 19 hours on it. The dealer had it on there lot and would use it from time to time to show customers and move a little snow. I didn't mind that because I really liked the tractor. It looked as if it was just built. It was 100% clean. Plastic still on the seat and all.
When I went to purchase the Kubota the salesman said "We know of your reputation on how you like to look after your stuff so we're including both the shop and factory service manuals with the tractor at no extra charge. He also said that seeing the tractor got 19 hours on it when it hits 50 hours come in and we'll give you all the fluids and filters for free to do the 50 hour service. Wow I was impressed and when it hit the 50 hour mark they stood to there word and did what they said they were going to do.
While I was in the office I told them I wanted the best snow blower I could get for the tractor so they had the Kubota L2674 Blower put on it that came with the drift cutters and all the hydraulics to operate the rotation and deflection and I got a third function valve installed at the same time because I wanted to adapt my trucks plow to the tractor and use it for snow clearing which I did and anyone can search my posted and see how that turned out.
The salesman delivered the complete unit a few days later which is 60 miles from where I live. A few days later he retured with two Kubota jackets for me and the wife. I still very much appreciate him doing that!
The machine now has 89 hours on it and I can honestly say it's been the best winter I've ever had.
The throttle advance setup on this tractor makes it one of the best items that the tractor has for snow clearing and an item which I never thought about at the time of purchase. You can operate this tractor as if you were plowing with a pick up. As soon as you push on the forward foot lever the throttle picks up and she starts to move. It's the exact same way it worked on all the high end Cat equipment I used in the past.
The HST Plus is a transmission that's years ahead of it's self. I just love the way that works and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing. Some of the Koiti guys will say that the lifting capacity on the Kubota is less than the Kioti's. I don't know and I don't care to be honest because I haven't had anything yet that would stop my little beast. The beefy 854 FEL with the quick change system is perfect and does a perfect jobevery time.
The cabs on the Grand L series tractors are second to none. There quiet and very well designed. Not one draft gets in the cab. I've been out in weather where I could hardly see the plow yet had to remove my jacket due to the warmth of the cab. One of the only things I didn't like about the cab was the fact that the wiper didn't have a wiper delay but I found a way around that and I just love the wipers now.
I guess you can tell by now that I'm pleased with my Kubota and the selling dealer. The two have exceeded my expectations. I'm actually not looking forward to this winter ending. I have a few really good snow clearing contracts and even my customers have noticed the better job the tractor does over my old truck. I'm an avid motorcycle rider and I ride a fully loaded Goldwing and if I had to pick between the bike or the tractor I would pick the tractor hands down.
I hope someone gets something out of this in the way of information. I can only speak for my Kubota L4240 Grand Cab L series tractor but this is one fine piece of equipment and my hats off to those responsible for designing and building it. This ones a keeper. I call my Kubota the "Kioti Killer.
Late last summer (2008) I decided to retire my 1993 GMC truck that I've used for plowing for 13 years and look into purchasing some type of tractor. The tractor will be used for only one thing and that's snow clearing. At the end of the winter it will be parked and not used again until the next winter season so my reasons for needing a tractor might be much different than some of yours.
I started out looking at the Kioti. At the time the new Kioti DK45 Cabed HST model was just coming out but the dealer never had one in stock. I liked them so much I told the dealer to order one and was happy with my decision until I noticed a Kubota L4240 Grand L series cab model on Kubota's lot. Both the Koiti and Kubota were very nice machines and made it very hard to figure out which one best suited my needs.
I'm not someone new to operating equipment. I operating equipment for a living at one time racking up over 20.000 hours on all types of machinery including 966, 988 and 992 Cat loaders being just a few so having extensive hours operating I had half an idea what to expect from a small tractor with a FEL.
Anyway, after seeing the Kubota I noticed it had a number of things that I liked much better than the Koiti such as rear defrost on all three windows (Kioti never had rear defrost). The Kubota had front fenders which the Kioti never had. The tilt steering column on the Koiti would only tilt from the wheel where as in the Kubota the full column would tilt. The two dealerships are only about two miles from each other so I would go back and forth sitting in each machine and after a few trips doing that I got the feel for both machines and the Kubota had the fit and finish over the Koiti hands down.
Now I looked at the pricing of both units. I live on an island called Newfoundland. Living here dealers have the attitude of "Take it or leave it, that's our price and that's it". It's not good for the consumer so haggling is much tougher for the buyer.
Both units were around the same price so that made the decision harder. The Kubota was about $2000. over the cost of the Koiti but you could see why when comparing the two tractors because of all the little "Extras" on the Kubota.
Anyway to continue on here with my little boring story and to keep it as short as possible I got a little over $5000. off the Kubota because the tractor had 19 hours on it. The dealer had it on there lot and would use it from time to time to show customers and move a little snow. I didn't mind that because I really liked the tractor. It looked as if it was just built. It was 100% clean. Plastic still on the seat and all.
When I went to purchase the Kubota the salesman said "We know of your reputation on how you like to look after your stuff so we're including both the shop and factory service manuals with the tractor at no extra charge. He also said that seeing the tractor got 19 hours on it when it hits 50 hours come in and we'll give you all the fluids and filters for free to do the 50 hour service. Wow I was impressed and when it hit the 50 hour mark they stood to there word and did what they said they were going to do.
While I was in the office I told them I wanted the best snow blower I could get for the tractor so they had the Kubota L2674 Blower put on it that came with the drift cutters and all the hydraulics to operate the rotation and deflection and I got a third function valve installed at the same time because I wanted to adapt my trucks plow to the tractor and use it for snow clearing which I did and anyone can search my posted and see how that turned out.
The salesman delivered the complete unit a few days later which is 60 miles from where I live. A few days later he retured with two Kubota jackets for me and the wife. I still very much appreciate him doing that!
The machine now has 89 hours on it and I can honestly say it's been the best winter I've ever had.
The throttle advance setup on this tractor makes it one of the best items that the tractor has for snow clearing and an item which I never thought about at the time of purchase. You can operate this tractor as if you were plowing with a pick up. As soon as you push on the forward foot lever the throttle picks up and she starts to move. It's the exact same way it worked on all the high end Cat equipment I used in the past.
The HST Plus is a transmission that's years ahead of it's self. I just love the way that works and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing. Some of the Koiti guys will say that the lifting capacity on the Kubota is less than the Kioti's. I don't know and I don't care to be honest because I haven't had anything yet that would stop my little beast. The beefy 854 FEL with the quick change system is perfect and does a perfect jobevery time.
The cabs on the Grand L series tractors are second to none. There quiet and very well designed. Not one draft gets in the cab. I've been out in weather where I could hardly see the plow yet had to remove my jacket due to the warmth of the cab. One of the only things I didn't like about the cab was the fact that the wiper didn't have a wiper delay but I found a way around that and I just love the wipers now.
I guess you can tell by now that I'm pleased with my Kubota and the selling dealer. The two have exceeded my expectations. I'm actually not looking forward to this winter ending. I have a few really good snow clearing contracts and even my customers have noticed the better job the tractor does over my old truck. I'm an avid motorcycle rider and I ride a fully loaded Goldwing and if I had to pick between the bike or the tractor I would pick the tractor hands down.
I hope someone gets something out of this in the way of information. I can only speak for my Kubota L4240 Grand Cab L series tractor but this is one fine piece of equipment and my hats off to those responsible for designing and building it. This ones a keeper. I call my Kubota the "Kioti Killer.
