What Horsepower/what tractor?

[Threepoint]

@MajorWager - Thank you for the feedback! I agree with the 'get as much as you can afford' and while I don't have much concern for size (my property is fairly open) I want to be able to park under my awning so I didn't go with the next size up (NX45). The difference in those two inches means parking under an awning vs parking outdoors. [snip]

Handcuff, if you need just two more inches of clearance to get an NX45 under your awning, and you were figuring the height with R4 tires, you could lose another two inches just by going with R3 turfs instead. That might be a better choice for your application anyway. :scratchchin:

 

[CMV]

Or fold the ROPS? I replaced the shoulder bolts (with NYLOCKS!) with some red head hitch pins. Takes maybe 20 sec to fold/unfold them. Have to do that to get into shipping container home for it.

 

[Sparkeee24]

The fact that you are considering greater hp now, seems to me, will not just vanish. I think you will really enjoy the nx series more. Secondary note, the cab really helps with concerns for weathering as most items that deteriorate fast are under the cab. I would get the tool you want for the job, and upgrade or problem solve the tool box to contain it afterward. It's not going to rot away in 6 months while you work out a storage solution

 

[CobyRupert]

Power (horsepower) = Energy/time

The amount of power a 5' (or 6', 7', 12' or 15') mower requires depends on how fast you want to mow. Period.

Cutting an acre takes "x" amount of energy. Doesn't matter if you do it with a 3 hp -18 inch mower in 3 hours, or a 100 hp 15' mower in 6 minutes. It takes the same amount of energy.
Same with driving up a hill towing a 10,000lb trailer. It takes same amount of energy no matter if you doing it with a 20 horsepower tractor at 4 mph, or have a 300 hp truck doing it at 60 mph. Same amount of energy. It just takes 15 times longer with the tractor.

That being said, realistically you run out of gears, weight, or tractor is too light to handle lifting the implement.
Also remember that not all mowing conditions require full power (that is: the grass is not very tall, or you don't always want to travel maximum speed).

Horsepower is how fast you can deliver the required energy.

 

[Threepoint]

Handcuff, if you need just two more inches of clearance to get an NX45 under your awning, and you were figuring the height with R4 tires, you could lose another two inches just by going with R3 turfs instead. That might be a better choice for your application anyway. :scratchchin:

A couple of other points. Just occurred to me that you might have been figuring overall height based on Kioti's website specs, which as I recall give height based on R1 ag tires. If so, R3s would put you at four inches lower!

As for frame size, I remember (from your other thread?) that you currently have a Kubota B2400. Be sure you spend a lot of time at the dealer's yard test driving the models you're considering. The NX is not nimble by any stretch! When I got my NX with cab, I kept my B2150 open station tractor. Really glad I did, as it is my go-to machine in close quarters. More maneuverable and quicker for smaller jobs. I think you also said that you'd like the comfort of a cab. It this will be your ony tractor, you may be better off staying with open station for your particular uses. But, if you're able to keep your B2400, then go for an NX cab, no question! The cab model also has a much lower overall height than the ROPs configuration.

 

[handcuff]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I appreciate it.

The NX isn't that much larger than the DK, but it is larger. In thinking about it, I decided I was going to step up to the next engine size in the same frame - I talked to the dealer today and he swapped the order to a DK4710.

I thought about keeping the smaller tractor, but the $ from the sale is what put my wife over the edge on getting a new tractor...without those funds, I'd be stuck with the old one.

 

[bigcut]

CMV,
Hope this isn't off subject, but a few curiosity questions:
What led you to select the NX4510 over the DK4710SE, since they are so close ?
What led you to select Kioti over LS ?
I'd appreciate your thoughts.

You can PM if you prefer. I'm pondering these same points for myself. That's why I ask.
Thanks,
John

 

[CMV]

CMV,
Hope this isn't off subject, but a few curiosity questions:
What led you to select the NX4510 over the DK4710SE, since they are so close ?
What led you to select Kioti over LS ?
I'd appreciate your thoughts.

You can PM if you prefer. I'm pondering these same points for myself. That's why I ask.
Thanks,
John

DK didn't have HST option when I was shopping. Initial price quotes for a DK HST put them at same price as NX - or within couple hundred bucks. True availability/ship dates weren't known either - I didn't want to plan on Jul-Aug and then find out there was some production delay or whatever. But at the time it just wouldn't have made sense to get DK over NX unless you wanted gear/shuttle and none of the SE options - otherwise get the bigger machine and loader for same $. Now that the HST DK are available no idea what the real price is on them - was working off estimates.

I need loader lift height. That's why LS quickly got crossed off my list even though the little LS I had at the time I liked. But I need as close to 8' dump clearance as I can get and LS just don't get there.

Mrs CMV also part of the process. When we went for her to look at CK3510 and make sure it would adjust to fit her too, she started climbing on others. When she hit the NX she said "get this one! The seat is much more comfortable". We had the LS on trailer that day to get its trade-in estimate. So she suggested parking them next to each other and comparing loaders vs just comparing on paper. With all 3 parked in a row, loaders at full height, it was really obvious. Had DK HST been there that day, it would have gone into the comparison too and maybe would have won. NX is bigger than I need for 99% of what I do with it. But she pointed out that if the main reason to upgrade from the LS was to get a bigger/higher loader, the CK really wasn't THAT much of an increase - esp parked next to the NX. So if the primary reason was to get bigger loader, then get the most capable one even if it costs a little more.

 

[bigcut]

Your wife is a pretty smart cookie.....Is she available for consultation work ???

I didn't realize that the DK didn't have HST when you made your decision at the time.

What do you think of the NX4510 HST with Cab, vs, DK4710 SE with the hdro and cab ?

Is the cab and seat any better/bigger in the NX vs, the DK (I realize the frame is slightly larger) ? Let me know what your wife thinks. I rely on my wife as well for many decisions. After all, that's why we married them, right ?

 

[CMV]

I got open station - would love a cab for mowing, but I go into the woods too much and use a shipping container for storage so that ruled out a cab for me. Budget did also. So can't comment on that at all.

I think you will find the 2 very similar in capability. Maybe a little more room inside the NX. For my open station, I can get on/off either side easily - since I skipped over DK entirely don't remember much about them. Might come down to $, does one have more remotes, can you get in/out both sides, etc. something like that will separate them for you I'd guess.