At a time when so many things are "hard to get', the Rural King closest to us has at least one of each size machine and 3 of the RK25 machines, which is their updated machine that is in the same size and HP class as the Deere 1 series. Actually, its a nice looking machine. Also, for anyone looking for a 3ph implement, you should consider the RK as they had more implements in stock the other day than my Deere dealer had. Most of the 3ph implements are made by King Kutter and are sold at RK locations at very attractive prices.......
When you look over the machines carefully, they are not the cheap throw away machines which many often claim them to be. TYM is a respected manufacturer who has been in the tractor building business for a long time, roughly 70 years. While there are issues with the service structure for these Rural King machines, as the Retail Stores serve as the "Service Department" and being a start up venture, they don't have the volume of machines to staff a full line service department, as does for example, John Deere or Kubota, etc.
But the machine's themselves, have many well thought out features and the machines standard equipment offering includes what are optional on many other machines, such as a pair of rear remotes are standard on the Rk25, where adding them to the 1 series at the dealership is a $2,000 expense. They use the same Yanmar engine as does Deere. Many of their components are actually built more robust than on comparable machines. Look at the size of the loader cylinders and a number of other components and they are not cheap throw away options like on some China built machines.
One interesting aspect of these machines is they are going to push Deere to innovate and also perhaps increase their list of standard equipment to include such things as a set of rear hydraulic remotes as standard. Or maybe to increase the machines capabilities. Competition is a good thing. Now, these RK machines are such a small percentage of the SCUT market. But I assure you Deere is watching what TYM and others are doing with their products. They would be foolish not to.
The machines are priced such that the new 1025r Deere with the Mauser cab and a 120R FEL is $28k. That's the same price as the RK 37hp Hydro machine with the FEL and a cab with heat and air conditioning.
Rural King also has added another interesting feature, they offer a cab on their RK24 model machines, which is comparable to the 1 series in size and horsepower. You can add a nice looking cab for $2,999 and $500 for installation, which brings the cab on the RK24 to exactly 1/2 the cost of the Deere Mauser cab.
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Now, don't get me wrong, I am not promoting these machines nor am I rushing out to trade in my 1025r. I will say that the RK machine's are not "junk" as so many are quick to point out about them, without ever having personally inspected the machines and sat on them, etc. An open mind to looking at new ideas and products and options is always a good idea to help us learn and stay abreast of what's really going on in the marketplace for the machines we are interested in.
Are there issues with owning an RK machine, as compared to the Deere machine? Certainly. Specifically, for the buyer who relies on the dealer to service their machine and take care of everything, the level of service and capabilities are vastly different than Deere. However, the price difference between the machines is also worth noting.
$15,999 gets you the RK25 with a FEL, for another $3,500, you have a cab with heat, which is a nice looking cab and appears to be similar in many ways to cabs placed on these SCUT machines. For $19,500 you have a 24hp SCUT with a FEL and the cab. That's about $9k less than the same equipped machine from Deere. That's 1/3rd less.........
I think the largest issue with those buying these tractors is that many are 1st time tractor owners. They are not equipped nor experienced in the ownership, operation and service of these types of machines. They are drawn by the price, but don't expect to have to concede anything in order to own one of these machines. In other words, they compare to the Deere, expect Deere level service and hands on attention, yet they saved 1/3rd of what they would have spent to buy the comparable Deere machine.
That price concession exists for a reason. After all, Kioti and other Korean brand tractors which are sold through dealer networks, aren't 1/3rd less than Deere, they are perhaps 10% less, and sometimes very similar in price. But they offer an established dealer network to support the machines. The Kioti (for example) dealer network isn't nearly as comprehensive as Deere, but the dealers Kioti does offer are generally tractor and machinery dealers, not retail stores. They are equipped and experienced in working on tractors and machinery. Servicing tractors is not the same as servicing lawn mowers.......
Yes, there are some issues. But simply dismissing these machines as "junk" isn't accurate nor really respectful of what RK is offering. For the right customer, they can offer a low cost solution.
The right customer needs to be the person who can make basic repairs and is equipped and willing to tighten something loose, replace something damaged or worn out in the normal course of operating the machine. Make the minor adjustments which come with owning any machine.
Anyone who buys an RK machine and is expecting Deere level service is going to be disappointed. Perhaps the best way to describe these machines is to say for the experienced machine owner / operator, they offer a low cost entry to a larger size machine with greater capabilities than offered by Deere, Kubota, etc.
Do they offer the same resale value as Deere and others? Frankly, they probably offer less of a percentage of capital loss than higher priced machines. Most used Deere machines are worth about 55% to 70% of what was paid new for them. If a 4 year old 1 series with 200 hours on it would bring 60% of its new price, that would mean the 4 year old RK24 with FEL machine would be selling for $9,000 based upon the same drop in percentage of original purchase price. Anyone experienced in owning tractors knows that a 4 year old 25HP SCUT with a FEL for $9k is something worth taking a look at.
If you haven't looked at these machines in person and are at all interested in tractors, I encourage you to stop at an RK store which sells tractors and spend a few minutes looking the RK tractors over. They are also a source of 3ph implements at a very affordable price. The implements are made by King Kutter, which are owned by many Deere machine owners here on GTT.
For the right buyer, these machines offer an affordable entry into the tractor world. For the buyer who requires a lot of hand holding and leans hard on their dealer, then perhaps these machines aren't the best solution as you likely won't find your needs met..............
![Image]()
When you look over the machines carefully, they are not the cheap throw away machines which many often claim them to be. TYM is a respected manufacturer who has been in the tractor building business for a long time, roughly 70 years. While there are issues with the service structure for these Rural King machines, as the Retail Stores serve as the "Service Department" and being a start up venture, they don't have the volume of machines to staff a full line service department, as does for example, John Deere or Kubota, etc.
But the machine's themselves, have many well thought out features and the machines standard equipment offering includes what are optional on many other machines, such as a pair of rear remotes are standard on the Rk25, where adding them to the 1 series at the dealership is a $2,000 expense. They use the same Yanmar engine as does Deere. Many of their components are actually built more robust than on comparable machines. Look at the size of the loader cylinders and a number of other components and they are not cheap throw away options like on some China built machines.
One interesting aspect of these machines is they are going to push Deere to innovate and also perhaps increase their list of standard equipment to include such things as a set of rear hydraulic remotes as standard. Or maybe to increase the machines capabilities. Competition is a good thing. Now, these RK machines are such a small percentage of the SCUT market. But I assure you Deere is watching what TYM and others are doing with their products. They would be foolish not to.
The machines are priced such that the new 1025r Deere with the Mauser cab and a 120R FEL is $28k. That's the same price as the RK 37hp Hydro machine with the FEL and a cab with heat and air conditioning.
Rural King also has added another interesting feature, they offer a cab on their RK24 model machines, which is comparable to the 1 series in size and horsepower. You can add a nice looking cab for $2,999 and $500 for installation, which brings the cab on the RK24 to exactly 1/2 the cost of the Deere Mauser cab.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not promoting these machines nor am I rushing out to trade in my 1025r. I will say that the RK machine's are not "junk" as so many are quick to point out about them, without ever having personally inspected the machines and sat on them, etc. An open mind to looking at new ideas and products and options is always a good idea to help us learn and stay abreast of what's really going on in the marketplace for the machines we are interested in.
Are there issues with owning an RK machine, as compared to the Deere machine? Certainly. Specifically, for the buyer who relies on the dealer to service their machine and take care of everything, the level of service and capabilities are vastly different than Deere. However, the price difference between the machines is also worth noting.
$15,999 gets you the RK25 with a FEL, for another $3,500, you have a cab with heat, which is a nice looking cab and appears to be similar in many ways to cabs placed on these SCUT machines. For $19,500 you have a 24hp SCUT with a FEL and the cab. That's about $9k less than the same equipped machine from Deere. That's 1/3rd less.........
I think the largest issue with those buying these tractors is that many are 1st time tractor owners. They are not equipped nor experienced in the ownership, operation and service of these types of machines. They are drawn by the price, but don't expect to have to concede anything in order to own one of these machines. In other words, they compare to the Deere, expect Deere level service and hands on attention, yet they saved 1/3rd of what they would have spent to buy the comparable Deere machine.
That price concession exists for a reason. After all, Kioti and other Korean brand tractors which are sold through dealer networks, aren't 1/3rd less than Deere, they are perhaps 10% less, and sometimes very similar in price. But they offer an established dealer network to support the machines. The Kioti (for example) dealer network isn't nearly as comprehensive as Deere, but the dealers Kioti does offer are generally tractor and machinery dealers, not retail stores. They are equipped and experienced in working on tractors and machinery. Servicing tractors is not the same as servicing lawn mowers.......
Yes, there are some issues. But simply dismissing these machines as "junk" isn't accurate nor really respectful of what RK is offering. For the right customer, they can offer a low cost solution.
The right customer needs to be the person who can make basic repairs and is equipped and willing to tighten something loose, replace something damaged or worn out in the normal course of operating the machine. Make the minor adjustments which come with owning any machine.
Anyone who buys an RK machine and is expecting Deere level service is going to be disappointed. Perhaps the best way to describe these machines is to say for the experienced machine owner / operator, they offer a low cost entry to a larger size machine with greater capabilities than offered by Deere, Kubota, etc.
Do they offer the same resale value as Deere and others? Frankly, they probably offer less of a percentage of capital loss than higher priced machines. Most used Deere machines are worth about 55% to 70% of what was paid new for them. If a 4 year old 1 series with 200 hours on it would bring 60% of its new price, that would mean the 4 year old RK24 with FEL machine would be selling for $9,000 based upon the same drop in percentage of original purchase price. Anyone experienced in owning tractors knows that a 4 year old 25HP SCUT with a FEL for $9k is something worth taking a look at.
If you haven't looked at these machines in person and are at all interested in tractors, I encourage you to stop at an RK store which sells tractors and spend a few minutes looking the RK tractors over. They are also a source of 3ph implements at a very affordable price. The implements are made by King Kutter, which are owned by many Deere machine owners here on GTT.
For the right buyer, these machines offer an affordable entry into the tractor world. For the buyer who requires a lot of hand holding and leans hard on their dealer, then perhaps these machines aren't the best solution as you likely won't find your needs met..............
