Buying Advice ck20 or ck27

[IslandTractor]

Thats exactly why i am looking at both machines because once the house is done there will be 2 acres to finish mow 4 acres to brush hog and the never ending hunt for fire wood plus snow removal

Those are not really such large numbers that I would clearly favor the 27. I managed almost exactly that much mowing and bush hogging with my CK20 using a 4ft bush hog and 5ft finish mower. If you are bush hogging a couple of times a year the 4ft mower is not a big disadvantage. If you are hogging five or six times a year then the incrimental advantage of a five foot mower certainly start to add up. The flip side is that it is cheaper to buy and easier to store the smaller implements.

If the property to be mowed regularly is hilly I would remind you that the CK20 HST is only two range and it can mow in high only in flat areas so you will be forced to mow in low which can be aggrevating if the land is smooth and would otherwise tolerate faster speeds.

Bottom line: there is no "wrong" tractor here. Both can do the jobs and you just need to pick between smaller, less expensive, compact and bigger more capable and faster.

 

[RunninOnEmpty]

I too was torn between the CK20 & CK27 & decided on the CK20 HST.
For my needs (loader work & mowing) I could not justify the larger CK27.
I've been moving a lot of fill, large stones & tree stumps & am very impressed with this machine!
Folks have to told me to go bigger than what I need, but I'm very pleased with my decision.

 

[whiskywizard]

I hemmed and hawed between the CK20 and 27 too. I chose the 20 hydrostatic and put the savings toward a ZTR mower. Of course, the tractor will cut grass, but with its weight, and loaded rear tires, it's really too heavy for that task. Especially in the spring. The fact that the 20 won't race up a hill in high has had no impact on me whatsoever.

 

[grizzlydave]

Well i wouldnt say ray race up a hill , it'll race to the hill then stall on it ! I drove the gear ck20 yesterday man what a differance ! I believe i will go this route it had no problems on the same hill that stalled the hydro in high

 

[IslandTractor]

Well i wouldnt say ray race up a hill , it'll race to the hill then stall on it ! I drove the gear ck20 yesterday man what a differance ! I believe i will go this route it had no problems on the same hill that stalled the hydro in high

Again, depends on what you are doing with the tractor. If it is mostly construction then high gear or high range hydro won't be used that much and hills are not usually a big issue either. HST is real useful if you are doing a lot of loader work or tight manuvering though. If you do have hills that you traverse in the course of daily business then yep it makes a difference and the 2 speed HST is a disadvantage. I don't know why Kioti has failed to add a three range hydro to the CK20. Kubota did it for their B range about two years ago and it cannot be that big a deal.

 

[earljr59]

Grizzly Dave, I am glad to see you looking at the Kioti tractors.Was at a dealer recently and they all are nice and i would love an enclosed,air conditioned cab.But thats off subject. I think you will like either size and glad you got so many good comments.With that said,I must add on size I can honestly say I have never once wished I had went with a smaller size. Not one time.

 

[grizzlydave]

Thats the one thing i do not want happening (wishing i wouldve gone bigger) But after hearing what everyone has to say i think the ck20 gear will be the right machine

 

[VictorW]

I think you're picking the one that will do overall best for you. The CK27 might be better for your beginning jobs, get done a little faster, but then once they're done, the CK20 will work great for the finish work and the never ending yearly work.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think you're picking the one that will do overall best for you. The CK27 might be better for your beginning jobs, get done a little faster, but then once they're done, the CK20 will work great for the finish work and the never ending yearly work.

Good point. My DK40se gets big jobs done many times faster but there are MANY times I wish I still had my CK20 or even a BX24 to get routine chores done. Storage is a consideration as well. My CK20 would fit in the barn with grapple and bush hog attached and still leave room to walk around and behind. The larger tractor just fills the space and I cannot close the doors unless I dismount the grapple before entering.

Small is beautiful.

 

[charleyfarmall]

I agree with Gittyup. Everything you are doing will be done more easily with a 27 or 30. The tractor isn't so big that it get's in the way. I have done hours and hours around buildings with my CK27HST and wouldn't really go smaller.