Final buying help

[hiker88]

I am getting closer to my purchase. I have had very good experience with, and good feed back about a fairly local Kioti dealer. I also really like the weight of the units for their size. My dilemma is picking between 2 models - the CK20hst or the ck30 hst.

I guess I am worried about the shrinkage factor when the new tractor comes home that I've read about so much here. If money wasn't a factor, I'd probably just go with the 30 - but I can't say money isn't a factor. I looked at the ck 27, but the difference between the 27 & 30 is fairly negligible - the difference between the 20 and the the other not is not negligible.

I'll be using the tractor on about 2.5 acres of densely wooded property. The primary use of the tractor will be to run a rear mounted snowblower on my 300 ft driveway(open to suggestions on size), to pull a firewood trailer around the property and for some woods work dragging downed trees etc and FEL work. I won't use either unit for mowing - but my winter prep involves moving about 2 chords of wood from my drying area to just outside my walkout basement which means I will have to do some lawn traversing.

I plan on loading the tires and making or obtaining some type of ballast for the 3pt for the woods work. Speed will not be a factor for the kind of work I have in mind. My biggest concern with the 20 would be the stability when I get it in the woods etc with the narrower wheel base and if it has enough HP to run a snowblower. I can always cut trees down to size for lifting so not as concerned about its lifting capability. Someday, I would love to have a chipper for it, but could always get a dedicated unit like I do with my splitter.

I'd really appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

 

[wolftree]

Yours might be a case of the snowblower dictating which tractor to run it. I would look over the blowers real good for sizing, horsepower and other factors and pick a blower first and then a tractor that fits it instead of the other way around.

As you said, the other tasks are secondary to blowing snow.

 

[Wagtail]

Just as wolftree says. We love to talk tractors here, but when it comes down to it, it's the implements that we use that determines what the best tractor is for us.

You've practically made your decision for the 30 by saying,"My biggest concern with the 20 would be the stability when I get in the woods... and if it has enough HP to run a snowblower." :2cents:

 

[dave1949]

True about the implements, but 300' feet of driveway is within big walk behind blower capabilities. I can't see that you need to go big on a blower. What is the recommended width of a blower for the CK20? If it will run a 4' blower (wide enough to clear your track width?), I'd say you are good to go there. Especially assuming you will have a FEL for backup.

I would lean toward the CK20 myself if you are looking to balance cost and usefulness, and aren't we all? 2.5 acres seems within it's usefulness. It would run a 4" chipper, splitter, etc., you just need to scale the implement to the HP and enjoy the savings. How much work can 2.5 acres create that has to be done in a hurry?

 

[hiker88]

Well, I went back to the dealer this afternoon and I think I have struck a compromise.

I am leaning towards a ck30 gear. My biggest concern with a gear was not being able to go slow enough in the woods at full power. However, in 1 low the unit moves along at just about 1 mph and that seems safe for creeping in the woods. My property is pretty darn rugged, and I think it'll be safer to have the heavier tractor with a wider stance especially when I start yarding.

I'll give up some of the convenience of the hst, but the savings do make things a bit more maneageable.

 

[TSO]

I used to own a CK 20HST. Great little tractor. It was very maneuverable through and around wooded areas. The CK 30 is not that much larger, but it is larger, and that might decrease your access in the woods.

That tractor is a little work horse, and it always worked hard for me. I agree with the other guys though, in regards to the snow blower. However, I will add a twist. Personally, I would not want to drive backwards over a great distance repeatedly, pushing a snow blower like that. Not to mention the cost of those things these days. I think you would be better off going with the CK 20, and grabbing a 5ft light duty back blade to move the snow with.

You can probably find one used on Craigslist for around 200, and it can serve other purposes for you as well. It's very easy to move snow with a back later, just angle it one way and make a few passes. It will move snow on your driveway faster than a snow blower will.

The extra time and money you'll save will help you enjoy more hot chocolates during the cold winter.

Another thing, even though there is a price increase going to the CK 30, it will also add some more features you might wish you had on the CK 20. The transmission on the 20 is only a 2 range, whereas its a 3 range on the 30. Having that middle range comes in handy. You also get more horsepower, more front and rear lift, and the option of a quick attach loader.

Having a quick attach opens you up to a whole new world of additional implements for the front, including quick attach Forks, grapples, and other things.

If you want to see what a ck20 can accomplish, look up "digging a pond with ck20" on YouTube.

 

[TSO]

I would also like to suggest you get the HST trans over the gear. I've had both. I will not go back to gear tractor unless that tractor is meant only for field and plow work. With the HST, you won't have any regrets !

 

[Grandad4]

I would also like to suggest you get the HST trans over the gear. I've had both. I will not go back to gear tractor unless that tractor is meant only for field and plow work. With the HST, you won't have any regrets !

The HST would probably be a better choice for snowblower work since it lets you slow down the tractor speed for heavy drift situations without reducing engine rpm. A gear unit doesn't give you that capability... your speed is pretty much fixed at whatever it does with the engine at pto speed. If it's not slow enough, too bad. If you never have heavy snow or drifts, probably not a concern; otherwise something to think about. Same can be said about using a rotary tiller.

 

[dave1949]

The HST would probably be a better choice for snowblower work since it lets you slow down the tractor speed for heavy drift situations without reducing engine rpm. A gear unit doesn't give you that capability... your speed is pretty much fixed at whatever it does with the engine at pto speed. If it's not slow enough, too bad. If you never have heavy snow or drifts, probably not a concern; otherwise something to think about. Same can be said about using a rotary tiller.

I've had that experience once in great awhile. To help a new tractor person, it would be more accurate/useful to say what does happen. You shove in the clutch and wait for the blower to clear itself, then go on. You can also raise the blower to leave say 6 or 8 inches on the ground, then make a second pass to clean that off.

 

[Grandad4]

Thanks for the additional comment, Dave. If the tractor has good power for the size of implement, it would take a lot to bog it down; if it's on the underpowered side, a lot of clutching while turned around to look backwards at the snowblower would be tiring for an old galoot like me!