CK or DK

[KEROSENEDRVR]

Would I be happier with a CK 30 or DK 35-45? Uses include: maintaining 15 acres of rolling foothills, medium rockiness, mowing, digging w/BH, maintaining 3 miles of gravel driveway, etc. I predict medium to moderate use. No commercial use. Comfort is a factor also as I am 6'2".
Questions and comments are much appreciated.
BTW, whoever put this forum together is awesome. This is by far the most useful site on the net.
Thanks in advance.

 

[DK35vince]

I use a DK 35 on 15 acres and very similar uses to yours and find it a nice size for my uses.
I would not want to go any smaller in size (just my opinion).
I run a 6' brush mower, 6' finish mower (hoping to upgrade to 7' in the future), 6' boxblade, 7' backblade.
I also run a Rhino 85 (8 1/2' digging depth) backhoe on my DK 35 and the tractor/backhoe combination work very well together.
Good luck

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but it seems like you have picked the brand and are trying to figure out what tractor fits your needs. I am not trying to criticize, but it seems backwards to me to pick the brand instead of the machine. My suggestion to you is to lay out each of the tasks you need to do and estimate how much time will be spent as a % of the total time per year on each of those tasks. For example if you think mowing the lawn is going to occupy 40% of your time, and FEL work is 20% of your time, and box blade work is 15% of your time, etc etc. How many acres are you mowing? How many are you bush hogging? How deep do you need to dig with the back hoe and what are you digging (some tasks are better left to professionals or easier accomplished with a rented track hoe). 3 miles of box blading is a lot, is that drive established or are you cutting it in and then maintaining it (and are you sure that is the correct measurement as that is over 15,700 feet long!) Then go to the dealers in your area and talk to each of them, lay out the amount of land you have, what you want to do with it, what you believe your labor priorities might be and ask them if they think your estimates are correct. Then ask them for their recommendations on what tractor suits your tasks. Rule out any dealer that doesn't treat you well, doesn't have a good parts/service department, and any that has a bad reputation in your area.

Also, you mention comfort. Does that mean you'd like suspension seats, HST transmission, good ergonomics, or are you just referring to a large operator's platform? Personally I consider the brand last and the tasks first. Then I find the best machine for the tasks, that also fits my personal criteria for comfort/features/ergonomics, regardless of the brand. JMHO.

 

[Rollerskate]

I had a CK20, then bought a 10 acre place. I loved my CK but after driving a CK30 and a DK35, it was an easy choice for me: DK35. I thought it was much easier drive, liked the location of the controls, felt roomier and the seat was more comfortable. DK has slightly less ground clearance but unless you are going over some rough terrain that shouldn't matter. I barrowed a friends Kioti 72" finish mower this past weekend to do the fields. I may have to get one of my own, but would go for a 84". Just need to figure out if I want to get mow frequently or not. If not, I'll stick with the cutter. Almost forgot, I thought the DK was quieter than the CK too.

They are both great machines so I am sure you will be happy with whichever you pick, but for 15 acres, I suggest the DK. You will like being able to get larger implements.

Enjoy.

 

[To20Chris]

Usually, I just try to figure out what Bob likes, then I recommend the opposite. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

So what did I recommend that you would suggest differently?

 

[KiotiJohn]

Between the choices you mention, I'd go for the DK45. Apparently you'll have a very long road to maintain, and the DK45 can carry larger implements. It's a very good strong machine, well laid out, and with the synchronized shuttle tranmission and synchronized gears, it's pretty easy to use as well.
Cub Cadet thought enough of the DKs to rebadge them with their brand, but I think they're generally a little more expensive through Cub.
While I'm sure you could get by with the DK35, the extra mass and power of the 45 will probably save you some time and effort, if it fits within your budget.
Try to get the dealer to bring each of the models your interested in to your home with a boxblade and maybe a rotary cutter, loader, so that you can see what they each can really do in real life applications. John

 

[KEROSENEDRVR]

Bob,
I didn't take your response the wrong way...Good one tho To20Chris. I guess I forgot to mention that I am set on a Kioti as opposed to anything else because I happen to have a Kioti dealer about 5 miles away who happens to be a pretty good friend of mine. Not to mention the fact that everyone on this site raves about their Kioti's. I looked seriously at the green machines, but can't bring myself to pay thousands more for the color of the paint.
My point in asking the questions I did to the forum was to solicit responses from the group about whether I would be successful with a CK30 or would need a DK for the work I described in my original post. As for the air ride seat, I have enough natural padding that I don't need an air ride seat. My point in mentioning comfort was as I said in the original post, I am 6'2" and sure don't want to sit with my knees under my arm pits.
For the guy in PA, thanks for your constructive input. You sound like you use your Kioti for the same uses I will.
Thanks to all who responded. Please continue to educate me.

 

[KEROSENEDRVR]

By the way...I'm sure my driveway is 3 miles long, I drive it everyday.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

OK then you have a good reason to pick the brand, that said, I've not used but I have looked at the CK & the DK. I would think the CK would be more comfortable, but that is just a guess based on sitting on one for a few moments . . . which is certainly not much to go by! The reality of your jobs, however, seems to scream for the DK and at least 35hp but in your case, more might be much better. Again, your descriptions of how much time will be spent doing the various tasks is lacking, so I'd hesitate to recommend any specific configuration without knowing more details.

As for Chris, he's a good guy, but in many discussions I often favor the highest HP to modest weight & small size ratio, especially so if the tasks at hand are PTO related. Chris favors the bulk is better school of tractoring. I believe it is because I don't know anyone with a CUT who does not use it for mowing and Chris seems to know few who use them for mowing. So we have frames of experience, but we both like old tractors.