First Time Buyer

[Roxburyeric]

Hello to everyone, I've been lurking on the site for over a year while researching tractors. I hope to buy a tractor sometime in the next few months. I have a 3.5 acre lot with a house we built 6 years ago in CT. 2/3 are woods and 1/3 house and lawn. I am in the process of a major lawn improvement, adding 1/2 acre of grass to the existing 1/2 acre. I will be using the tractor for moving dirt to shape the new and old yards, dig some stumps up and finsh the yard. I know that I want a FEL and backhoe and would probably borrower/rent a york rake to do the yard. I have been looking at the CK20 hydro and CK30 Hydro, leaning towards the CK20 for long range uses and pricing (possible mowing and misc. projects). Some questions: Should I keep my cub Cadet 2135 lawn mower or get a MMM or rear mower for the new tractor (some trees and flower gardens in the yard). What about the backhoe; I like the sound of the 4point mount and thumb on the new woods models vs. the kioti subframe. What are the pros and cons of each? Thank you all for your help.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Welcome Eric to TBN.
It is very easy for us to tell you that getting a backhoe and XX implements is a great idea, it's not our money. I have to say, however, that I bought a backhoe with my CK20, and I'm glad I did. It has gone a long way to paying for itself in not hired-out work, and I still have it when I need it.

You talk about renting equipment and that can be where the rubber meets the road. Many rental agencies don't keep on hand implements for smaller tractors. Often you have to have at least a 30HP tractor to run many of the implements they have available. That's something you should check around for before you decide which to buy.

If I were doing it over now, I probably would buy at least the CK25, and probably the CK30 just for those times when I want/need more power. Also, I like the telescoping hitch arms and hitch stabilizers on the bigger CKs.

I personally decided not to buy any kind of finish mower for the tractor, opting instead to buy a Hustler brand zero turn mower for the lawns. Yes, it's more engine to keep up, but I prefer to do it that way and save the tractor for real jobs. With the great warranty on Hustler, I should have it for quite some time.
I think I would keep the Cub and if you need to buy a finish mower in the future, I personally still would go with a rear finish mower as opposed to a belly mower simply because it's an easier hook up, and I can back a rear mower into and around anything pretty much. A belly mower may be a little easier on the maneuvering side, but not on the hook up side.

If you do go backhoe, I agree, go with the Woods. Keep in mind though that Kioti financing does not include other branded products, but your dealer can probably set you up for a good rate on anything extra that you may buy.

Good luck with your search.
John

 

[Oleozz]

Just my opinion Eric but I would keep the Cub. I used a Woods 6 ft. finish mower and it gave a nice cut but became a pain to take it off and on when I was switching between it and the Bush Hog. You also lose your ability to mow close and end up doing a lot of trim work with the push mower.
Good Luck in whatever you decide.

 

[415]

Welcome Eric
Rick is on his way to drop off my CK20.I got the woods70x with the thumb and a woods 72 inch rake.You are welome to come by and check it out,I'm in Northfield.

 

[Dodgeram]

Eric,
Like the others have said.. welcome to TBN.
I just came in from playing...er...I mean working the boxblade I got with my Kioti.
I can tell you, if you set that thing with the right pitch, it will do a fantastic job of digging and leveling /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I haven't had the opportunity to use the BH much, but the times I have used it, it was worth it's weight (cost) in gold.
As for the cub, I would keep it. I have a JD 25 hp garden tractor with a 54" mower I plan to keep for the wife. Maybe it'll keep her off the Kioti /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I have the Rhino 75 BH, and with the exception of the diverter valve (see the KB thread), I find it installs easily and will dig everything I have thrown at it.
Again, welcome to the most useful Tractor site around.
Tom

 

[wallace]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Welcome Eric
Rick is on his way to drop off my CK20.I got the woods70x with the thumb and a woods 72 inch rake.You are welome to come by and check it out,I'm in Northfield.
)</font>



Here we come /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[coasterez]

Hi,

I just got a CK25 gear with rhino 75 and loader. Haven't had it long. But, have been using the backhoe a good bit to remove stumps. So far, it's seems to be a great machine. I too considered the CK20. But opted for the bigger and heavier machine for only a few more dollars. I also thought the bigger machine would appeal to a broader market if I ever were to sell it. However, the CK20 will fit into much tighter spaces, if this an issue for you.

I own a JD425 HST that I mow with, and I would never go back to a manual tranny for mowing or plowing snow again. But, my opinion is that unless you are planning to mow or move a lot of snow in tight quarters, that the HST isn't needed. The shuttle shift makes the manual tranny more than adequate. With HST you lose a little power too.

I agree with the others, that you should keep your Cub. The roll bar on the kioti's will get in the way when you go to mow close to trees. And with the FEL, it's just to big for mowing anything other than fields, I think.

No matter which you pick, I think you will be happy with it.

 

[ccdck20hst]

Eric, good to hear another Kioti will be coming to the general area. I have a CK20HST TLB with the backhoe from Kioti. I leave the backhoe on and cut my grass on my small lot here in Goshen with my trusty (16 years of age now) old cub cadet. I have found when using the CK20 in the yard to move dirt etc, that if I do not vary my path of travel, after (have R4s) three or four trips over the lawn the lawn developes slight indentations. I guess if I took off the backhoe this would lighten the tractor by about 750 Lbs and perhps help a little in that regard. As I recall other posts state there is more ground clearance with a Woods backhoe frame and it may make it easier to use a mmm too. As I recall the entire Woods mounting frame does not have to come off. I use the backhoe I have some for various things, but a thumb as available on the Woods is really desireable to move things like rocks of which there are plenty here and maybe in Roxbury. Also I think the Woods might have a slightly longer reach? Any idea what the "standard size" (maybe you get your choice?) bucket is you would get with the Woods? One thing about the backhoe is that it takes up a little more room when you store the tractor - I keep mine in the garage with the hoe swung off to one side since the garage is only 20 feet deep. This size tractor was just right for me since I had very little experience with tractors before getting this. Some say as I recall that the lifting capacities are not that much different for the CK25 in comparison with the CK20 but I think the pto hp is noticeably higher- all I know is that the ROPS on the CK20 is less than the height when up, than my garage door opening so I do not have to fold the ROPS down to get the CK20 inside. I think the CK25 is a little taller - still also that is a nice machine too! Good luck with your purchase and enjoy it! Charlie

 

[Roxburyeric]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Sounds like I should just keep the cub to mow with (I will admit it makes it very easy to mow and it is already paid for). 415 - sounds like you got the TLB setup I have been looking at. I would love to take you up on your offer to come check it out after Wallace drops it off. I am still thinking about the CK30 also.

 

[CT_Jeff]

I can't add to much to what has already been said. There are alot of knowledgable people here on TBN.

But if you want to try out a CK20HST and kioti backhoe, and you can try the rear finish mower also, just let me know. I am in Colchester. I gave my lawn tractor to my son-in-law when I bought the Kioti. The rear finish mower does mow well in the open area of my lawn, but right around the house, well a bit more of a pain, so I just go slow. Should have kept the lawn tractor though!

Most people will tell you to buy bigger, but for 3-4 acres, I don't think you can beat the CK20. Some larger rocks and stumps have taken me quite a bit of time, but I have not found one that I could not get out. Besides, it gives me a reason to be outside and on the tractor.