Glad I found this place!

[Jaybr]

I've been tractor shopping for a couple weeks now, planning to purchase something by the end of the month. I'll be getting loader, backhoe, rotary cutter, and box blade with the tractor.

I'll be using the primarily on my 37 acre property. The property is mostly wooded, and will probably stay that way. I will use the tractor for alot of landscaping work (just finished new house), maintaining 1000' gravel driveway, some mowing around the driveway, tilling small garden, cleaning up fallen trees, etc.

I'll also take the tractor to my hunting club occasionally to mow and maintain roads.

I've been looking at the Kubota B2630 and really like the size of the tractor. I stopped by the Kioti dealer last week and was very impressed with the CK25 and CK30. I've found very little information about kioti quality and reliability (until now).

I can get the ck25 for roughly $3k less than the Kubota, and if I go the the kioti I will probably go with the gear instead of HST and use the savings to upgrade to CK30.

I've just read the long thread discussing trailers, trucks, and tractor weight. I'll be purchasing the trailer with the tractor, so if I need a 20' 5 ton trailer that's what I'll get. Truck is rated at 9400# towing, so I don't see that as a problem either.

So give me your oppinions?

I'm sure there are situations where the smaller B2630 will be an advantage, I'm also sure the opposite will apply at times.

How reliable have your Kioti's been?

 

[albmn10]

Hello Jay, welcome to TBN. In all fairness the two tractors are really not comparing apples to apples.. The ck30 your interested in is a much more heavy duty tractor then the B2630. They both have similar bells and whistles, but the ck30 will run implements a foot bigger across the board. The kubota will be a better finish mower but for brush hogging,making trails and adding a backhoe id have to say the kioti will handle your tasks with much less strain on the machine. Your 20' trailer lenth is right on.. I have a 18' dove tail trailer for my ck30 with a Woods80x backhoe and it fits , but doesnt leave much wiggle room. My total weight is around 7300lbs and you having a 9400lb capacity will have no problems. As far as reliabilty, Both machines should be excellent. My Ck30 is just over 2 years old, its been a great machine. Id suggest you take them both out for a test drive anyway, see how they feel to you. Good luck.. Matt

 

[Jaybr]

Thanks for the insight Matt.

One big question going through my head is will the extra weight of the Kioti wreak havoc on my lawn? Alot of the landscaping work I'll be doing is around the house.

I also don't planning on clearing alot of my property, but I will most likely be putting some trails in around the place to ride the ATVs on. I assume the smaller size of the Kuboto and tighter turning would be an advantage here.

After reading all the post here I'm comfortable with the Kioti brand, have a great local dealer too. I just want to make sure I'm getting the right tractor for my needs.

 

[Dodgeram]

Jay,
I cut the grass with mine w/ a Woods 72" RFM all season.
I'm almost finished moving, utilizing the FEL, 15 ton of red-barn rock to the flower beds for mulch.
I've moved about 70 pieces of 2x2 Flagstone (10 pieces at a time) across the yard.
I continually run across the lawn with the BH attached.
All with no adverse effect on the Grass.
That being said, if the lawn is wet after a heavy rain, I wouldn't even try driving on it because of the weight.
Tom

 

[kentrodngun]

One big question going through my head is will the extra weight of the Kioti wreak havoc on my lawn? Alot of the landscaping work I'll be doing is around the house.

I also don't planning on clearing alot of my property, but I will most likely be putting some trails in around the place to ride the ATVs on. I assume the smaller size of the Kuboto and tighter turning would be an advantage here.

Jay, tire selection will matter a great deal too. Personally I have AG tires because my property is hilly and I've got lots of springs (aka wet areas). I maintain long, winding, very hilly logging roads and brush hog some very challenging areas. Traction is my major concern and it is rare that I wish I had turf or industrial tires. But that's me and my needs.

Wet areas always present a problem and I've torn up plenty of grass with the turf tires on my garden tractors. Key is to stay off if you can and, if you can't, GO SLOW. Seems a number of local landscapers around me use lighter weight machines with a narrower profile so they can navigate in the residential properties they service. It don't sound like this is your situation.

Me, I like the extra power angle especially if you are using a hoe, box blading that 1000 foot driveway and dressing up logging roads but a number of guys seem to do just fine with smaller machines (wanna be really impressed? - look at what IslandTractor accomplishes with his CK20). Lighter weight too. As to reliability, I have a Kioti, work it hard and it doesn't complain. Outside of a lot of noise concerning the loader issue, I haven't seen (Kioti) complaints way out of the norm.

Just curious as to what you tow with - 350 series? dually? 9300# is an impressive towing capacity! My Quad Cab Ram 2500 is about 1100 less than that (and the 3500 is 500 less than you too). Can't go wrong with a 20' 5 ton trailer either. Wish I had one. Good luck on your decision & keep us posted.

 

[Jaybr]

I tow with an 04 Titan CC LE with the tow package.

Been a great tow rig, pulled my 21' enclosed v-nose loaded with quads, camping gear, fuel, food, etc from VA to CA and back without a hickup. Wasn't at max capacity, but it was quite a load for 5500 miles.

I plan on getting industrial tires, and the yard is pretty firm and no soft spots. House is up on top of a hill, so drainage is very good.

 

[Steverino]

Jaybr, Welcome to the forum. The one thing that you will find here are opinions galore, some better than others and all worth exactly what you paid for them including mine.
Therefore IMHO the real treasure here at TBN is everyone’s experience and technical knowledge; there willingness to share it and for the most part the collegial reasoning together that transpires. With that said, I have the CK30-HST and for my money it is a value product. I am presently though PO’d with Kioti’s customer service regarding the KL-130 loader crack issue. That aside I would suggest that what it is as important as your selection of equipment is the dealer from who you plan to purchase it, and I would weigh that decision with equal weight. Unless you are the consummate do-it-yourselfer you are going to need support as “Stuff” happens and a good dealer will go a long way in keeping you in your seat working rather than pulling your hair out looking at a manual that is “English” challenged or typing endless complaints here on TBN. Good Luck on your decision. -Steve

 

[DK35vince]

How reliable have your Kioti's been?

I have no experiance with the CK 30 you are considering.
But the reliability of my 2001 DK 35 has been great so far.
I had a seal replaced on a tilt cylinder for the loader when the machine was new (warranty). At around 500 hours I replaced a tachometer cable ($8).
Currently at 940 hours.

 

[IslandTractor]

One big question going through my head is will the extra weight of the Kioti wreak havoc on my lawn? Alot of the landscaping work I'll be doing is around the house.

I also don't planning on clearing alot of my property, but I will most likely be putting some trails in around the place to ride the ATVs on. I assume the smaller size of the Kuboto and tighter turning would be an advantage here..

I am a Kioti fan but I think that for someone who is using the machine primarily on lawn and with mowing being a big part of the job that the lighter Kubotas would have advantages that should be valued as an important part of the purchase decision. If mowing is >50% of what you are doing and the mowing is lawn rather than pasture, I would say that the Kubota's weight advantage looms large in the decision. Quality is not the issue, weight is.

 

[albmn10]

Hello Jay, as far as will the ck30 wreak havoc on your lawn , that depends on the soil condition. If its wet , both machines will rut your lawn up.. My 600lb quad wreaks havoc on my lawn without horsing it when the ground is soft and wet like spring here in the North East.. I use a garden tractor for my finish mowing, its a 25 hp Cub Cadet that i mow about 2 1/2 acres with it.. Personally i like this approach much better being that the cost of my cadet is about the same as a mid mount mower on the 2630 kubota and gives you much better mowing capabilty around tight places .. Just another option you can consider.. As previously stated , weight out all your uses, test drive all machines your intersested in and get what your gut feels is best is for you.. Good luck.. Matt