Getting a CK20

[IXLR8]

What are your other needs besides a bit of FEL work? You said 60% mowing, what is the other 40%? If it is just a bunch of FEL work, no concerns for PTO power, and the 20 fits you... then get the 20 and the trailer and start having fun. If PTO power and several rear attachments are in your future, I would be leaning towards the 25. The loader on the 20 is almost a powerful as the loader on the 25. Go look for posts, or the photos, by 'Island Tractor', it is amazing what he moved with his 20.
By the way, my neighbor drove over my septic fields and tank with his JD5105 with loaded R1's, I believe he said he was pushing over 4500lbs... no issues. Mowing weight is about lbs/sq ft, if you have more tire area to spread the weight around... then the lawn can tolerate a heavier tractor.

 

[gilbertmsg]

My 2 cents, just got my CK 20 home and I was in the very same situation. I have 10 acres to take care of, with most of it mowing with a 60" finish mower and now that I have the smaller tractor, I'm glad that I did. Lots easier getting in/out of barn and moving around my property. The 20 has plenty of power for anything I have asked it to do., i.e. moving horse poop and grading of 600' drive. I think you will find you have plenty of tractor and something to move it with when needed.

Eddie

 

[Albi]

My 2 cents, just got my CK 20 home and I was in the very same situation. I have 10 acres to take care of, with most of it mowing with a 60" finish mower and now that I have the smaller tractor, I'm glad that I did. Lots easier getting in/out of barn and moving around my property. The 20 has plenty of power for anything I have asked it to do., i.e. moving horse poop and grading of 600' drive. I think you will find you have plenty of tractor and something to move it with when needed.

Eddie

Great, thanks for the input.

 

[Dmace]

Mowing is about the only thing I haven't done with my CK20HST so I can't help you there but I have done a ton of yard work and tree removal with it and have been impressed. It's amazing how powerful the loader is and the backhoe is almost too powerful. It drags the tractor around even when anchored down pretty good. When pulling big stumps, I hook it to my pickup truck just so it won't move.

You will be very happy with your choice, I bet it makes a great mowing machine and the HST, cruise control and suspension seat will make it more fun than work.

 

[Gittyup]

I know people mow with big machines. I guess it depends on your grass and yard layout. It certainly can be very effective, especially on a huge, open lawn. But, in my case, the ROPS would always be in the way, and I would constantly have to watchout for the bush behind while also watching the ones in front. I can't imagine mowing wih anything other than my garden tractor. Then again, my GT is an awesome and fast JD425 AWS. Not everyone has this luxury. I think the CK20 is the better choice for the original poster, unless he can afford two machines.

 

[Albi]

I know people mow with big machines. I guess it depends on your grass and yard layout. It certainly can be very effective, especially on a huge, open lawn. But, in my case, the ROPS would always be in the way, and I would constantly have to watchout for the bush behind while also watching the ones in front. I can't imagine mowing wih anything other than my garden tractor. Then again, my GT is an awesome and fast JD425 AWS. Not everyone has this luxury. I think the CK20 is the better choice for the original poster, unless he can afford two machines.

Can't afford 2 machines. I have a 15 year old JD GX75 9hp rider, but I don't know how long it will last. It took me the better part of 3 hours to mow the cleared part of my property, about 1.2 acres with it. Part of my grass is St. Augustine and the other is Bahia. The other 1.3 acres of my property is wooded with rows of Bahia grass in between the pine trees. Each row is about 15 feet wide. There are some trees that need to be knocked down and stumps to be removed, none too big. Then there is about 8 truck loads of dirt that were dumped before I bought the property, I need to use this dirt to do some grading and filling some holes and ruts.

Albi

 

[mab]

Hi Albi and all the others readers of this forum. For what its worth I went through exactly the same deliberations 2 weeks ago; ck20hst or for not much more money, ck25hst. My uses were also for mowing and loader work on 3 ac. My local dealer dropped off a ck25 for me to clear snow and try until a ck20 came in. I put about 8 hours on it. Although the ck25 was a great machine with some features not on the 20 (3 ranges, tilt, etc) I ended up buying (and loving) the ck20. I am finding the manuevrability (sp?) of the smaller machine means I can get into tighter spaces with less chance of damage and the fel seems very powerful. This new kioti is replacing a 40hp IH 414, so I guess having a smaller machine I can use in more spaces was more important than having the weight and heft of a larger tractor IMHO. I would also like to thank all the contributors to this site -where I lurked for months before buying - to help me make a more informed opinion. A great resource! Thank you.

 

[Albi]

Hi Albi and all the others readers of this forum. For what its worth I went through exactly the same deliberations 2 weeks ago; ck20hst or for not much more money, ck25hst. My uses were also for mowing and loader work on 3 ac. My local dealer dropped off a ck25 for me to clear snow and try until a ck20 came in. I put about 8 hours on it. Although the ck25 was a great machine with some features not on the 20 (3 ranges, tilt, etc) I ended up buying (and loving) the ck20. I am finding the manuevrability (sp?) of the smaller machine means I can get into tighter spaces with less chance of damage and the fel seems very powerful. This new kioti is replacing a 40hp IH 414, so I guess having a smaller machine I can use in more spaces was more important than having the weight and heft of a larger tractor IMHO. I would also like to thank all the contributors to this site -where I lurked for months before buying - to help me make a more informed opinion. A great resource! Thank you.

Well, it's here. The Ck20HST. I have to dig out my digital camera for pictures. I'll post my impressions after this weekend when I can put it through it's paces.
Thank again to all

Albi

 

[Dmace]

Well, it's here. The Ck20HST. I have to dig out my digital camera for pictures. I'll post my impressions after this weekend when I can put it through it's paces.
Thank again to all

Albi

Congrats! Looking forward to some pictures.

 

[IslandTractor]

I loved my CK20 HST. Great all around performer. I used a 5ft finish mower which was great. I don't know if the extra hp they added this year will do much but my only real complaint about power had to do with the 2 speed hydro. I needed a middle range for my relatively hilly mowing jobs. I couldn't head up hill in high and low speed was too slow. If you have flat areas then mowing in high should be fine.