One year on...still the Swiss Army Knife of the farm
Twelve months on, Scott Brown still can’t fault his Kioti TL750. Now with around 150 hours on the clock, the Kioti track loader continues to go “tremendous” on his Upper Pinelands property in Queensland, proving itself as reliable, versatile and tough as the day it arrived. “We’ve had no faults with it at all,” Scott says. “It’s just been going really well.”
Most of the TL750’s work has centred around mulching, particularly in scrub and bush country. Scott regularly uses it to doze and mulch regrowth back into the soil, along with heavy grass work.
On the dairy side of the operation, the TL750 has also become a key tool for mulching leftover forage stalks after the cows have finished grazing.
“Instead of slashing it, mulching smashes it up much better and spreads it evenly,” he explains. “It helps everything rot back into the ground properly.”
That adaptability is exactly why the TL750 earned its nickname of the “Swiss Army Knife” in the first place.
With a wide range of attachments available, Scott says changing from one job to the next is quick and simple.
“You can put so many different attachments on it,” he says. “It’s just a matter of flicking a lever, changing the hoses and you’re onto the next implement.”
The machine’s slide-up door continues to be one of Scott’s standout features. Not only does it make getting in and out easy, but it also adds practicality during everyday work.
“If you’re just talking to someone outside, you don’t have to swing a door around – you just push it up,” he says. “It also means you can run a lot more attachments that you wouldn’t be able to with a hinged door.”
Day-to-day ownership has been just as positive. Scott keeps on top of servicing with support from his local dealer and says maintenance is straightforward, even in the dry, dusty conditions the machine works in.
“It’s easy to blow out the machine, radiator and filters,” he says. “You undo two bolts and the radiator hinges right around so you can clean it properly. You can also tilt the cab straight up and access everything under the seat – it makes it easy to keep an eye on things.”
As a dairy farmer running multiple machines, including tractors and excavators, Scott sees the TL750 as another essential tool in the shed. But in his terrain, tracks make all the difference.
“We’ve got a lot of box thorn around here,” he says. “If we had a wheeled loader, we’d be changing tyres all the time. With the tracks, it’s just no worries at all.”
That added stability has also improved safety, particularly when mulching on hillsides.
“You’ve got more meat on the ground,” Scott explains. “It’s heaps more stable, especially when you hit rocks or work along slopes. You just feel more secure.”
When asked what he’d say to someone considering a TL750, Scott doesn’t hesitate – and he’s already put his advice into action.
“One of my mates is actually buying one at the moment,” he laughs. “I’ve told him plenty of good things about it. I reckon if Scott Brown can’t kill a skid steer, anyone should be able to buy one and it’ll be good for them.”
A year on, the TL750 has firmly cemented its place on Scott’s farm. Still versatile, still reliable and still earning its reputation as the Swiss Army Knife he relies on day in, day out.
