Help please! CK2510 or CK30?

onelostdogg · May 12, 2015

Hi all,

Shopping for my first tractor. I have zero experience and am still trying to learn all the basics so that I am happy with my decision. I will be using it mostly for moving mulch, topsoil, sand and firewood in addition to plowing and maintaining our 900' steeply sloped gravel driveway. Eventually I would like to buy a grapple for moving large rocks and for brush and downed tree removal on our 8 acres of woods on the north side of a ridge. No mowing as that is done with a lawn tractor.
Today I went to our local Kioti dealer, who has a very good reputation in the area. He is about 15 miles away. We also have a Yanmar dealer about 5 miles away.

The Kioti guy gave me two quotes: CK2510 Hydro with loader and 50"bucket, rear remotes ran to the front and SSQA 17,100 out the door. The other quote is CK30 Hydro set up exactly the same way except 60" bucket for 20,400 out the door.

I am looking at the specs for both and the CK25 will meet my needs very well. Loader specs on the 30 seem to be only maybe 10% higher in most numbers I think.

So my question is Is the larger heavier frame and a little bit more capacity worth the extra $3,000 when the CK25 would most likely be enough tractor for my needs?

Please give me all the opinions you care to. What things am I not considering that I should be?

The extra 3K would not be a strain but don't really want to spend more than I need to.

Thanks in advance everyone for your help.

Edit: Completely forgot quote on Yanmar EX3200. Same setup for 23,200. But on paper the numbers don't look as good (?)

John

Teachu2 · May 12, 2015

I have yet to meet someone who complained that they bought too much tractor....

Billrog · May 12, 2015

It's well worth the extra $3,000 if that's what you need but not necessary if you don't require a larger tractor.

Teachu2 · May 12, 2015

in addition to plowing and maintaining our 900' steeply sloped gravel driveway

Here's where the extra 900lbs of tractor comes into play - it will plow much better, has a wider bucket, and handle a bigger, heavier box scraper.

Gittyup · May 12, 2015

Hydraulic flow, 3 range tranny, and weight set the CK30 apart. All important qualities for diggers.

paulfun9 · May 13, 2015

CK2510 standard
Foldable ROPS Hydrostatic Power Steering Rear PTO Headlights Safety Lights Cup Holder Electric Panel Wet Multi-Disc Brakes Joystick Valve Adjustable Seat Parking Brake - See more at: CK2510 HST Compact Tractor | Kioti Tractors

CK30 standard options
Foldable ROPS Hydrostatic Power Steering Rear Differential Lock Front & Rear PTO Single Lever Joystick Control Headlights Safety Lights Wet Disc Brakes 3-Point Hitch Speed Adjuster Safety Start Switch Seat Belt Suspension Seat with Reclining Backrest Bevel Gear Front Axle Tilt Steering Telescopic 3-Point Hitch Ends Telescopic Stabilizer Removable Draw Bar Crank Adjustable Lift Rod Cup Holder Flip-up PTO Guard Dry Single Clutch Crank Adjustable Lift Link Foot Throttles (mechanical) Cruise Control - See more at: CK30 HST Compact Tractor | Kioti Tractors

Then consider that the extra PTO HP, HYD flow, 561 LBS lift on the 3 point, 882 LBS more weight, 3 SPD hydro compared to 2, will do for you with all the jobs you have in mind. For me just glancing at the specs tells me that with your intended use you will be much better off with the CK30 in the long run.

Amvcane · May 13, 2015

I'm with Gittyup, 3 speed tranny and increased hydro flow sold me. I went to buy a ck 20 and left with a CK35.

tman1020 · May 13, 2015

Both tractors are very nice but for what you are describing I highly recommend the CK 30. The extra weight power and features is well worth the price difference. Look at it this way if you had both tractors sitting in your shed you would most definitely use the CK 30 for all of the tasks you mentioned. They both will work but the CK 30 will do it better.

VictorW · May 13, 2015

I have a CK30hst and owned it for 10 years now. The 2510 your looking at is similar to the older CK20hst. Yes it is a little hard working tractor for it's size but not equal to the CK30hst. As mentioned, the 30 has more weight to hold the tires down for traction, 5.5hp more, 3 speed ranges, bigger tires, more hydro flow, and a bunch of others that were mentioned. Members had said the older CK20hst with only 2 speed ranges was ok but the low was to low and the high was just for highway travelling and wished there was a middle range. I do very similar work to what you mentioned and wouldn't want less of a tractor.

davrow · May 13, 2015

And you mention a grapple. On the CK2510 you lose lift capacity equal to the weight of the grapple. The CK30 has more lift, so even with the grapple your lift is higher than the CK2510 without a grapple! Go with the CK30. That 3-range tranny makes a big difference for me.

onelostdogg · May 13, 2015

Thanks all for your advice. I feel a little silly but you all make it sound like a no-brainer. I have been reading and learning on this site for almost a year and can't tell you how much you all have helped me. Heading to dealer Friday for a shiny new 30! Can't wait to get her nice and dirty!

scrimshaw · May 14, 2015

I have had a ck2510 for about 1 month. It has done what i need it to do. I like its slightly smaller size for maneuvering in the trees , and it fits in my garage , so i will not need to build a new pole building (yet). . 3 speed hst would be better. I also have a lone steep driveway ,( maybe 300 feet. ) I will eventually get the a snow blower for this job. An ssqa would be nice also. I just didn't want the larger frame, and most of my tasks are not that big, just moving dirt and snow. My tractor is a huge improvement over a wheel barrow, shovel and 4 wheeler.

IslandTractor · May 14, 2015

I owned a CK20 HST for several years. It is a great tractor and can do virtually anything the CK30 can do though in some cases more slowly.

As others have pointed out the advantages of the CK30 (mostly the 3 range HST), I will focus on the relative pluses of the CK20 sized machine. 1) Virtually identical loader capacity in a more compact footprint. 2) less weight on your lawn but plenty of heft, 3) easier to store, 4) more maneuverable. 5) the CK30 is ten years old, the CK2510 presumably has incorporated a few new features (I've never seen one).

I'd never knock the CK30 but unless you have a specific need for the larger frame size, the CK2510 will certainly do all the work you described. The extra HP on the CK30 is necessary to haul it's larger carcass around. Pound for pound the 2510 has higher HP/weight.

I loved my CK20. The only two things I did not like were the non suspension seat and the 2 range tranny. The CK2510 must have a better seat and the extra HP probably mitigates the tranny issue.

Either one will serve you well, but with the same budget you could buy $3000 of implements if you go with the CK2510. Don't forget that implements make the difference. A CK2510 with a grapple, hydraulic third function controls, rear remotes, and hydraulic topping lift could be had for the same money as a stock CK30. Thus equipped, it would beat the snot out of the CK30 on many tasks.

TJP89 · May 15, 2015

The CK2510 is a SCUT, the CK30 is a CUT. The frame, the 3 speed HST, and the other bumps make it well worth the 3K. On the HST, when I use my CK35, it is almost always in MED, with a 2 range HST, I think I'd constantly be changing ranges to find the right speed/power ratio.

IslandTractor · May 15, 2015

TJP89 said:
The CK2510 is a SCUT, the CK30 is a CUT. The frame, the 3 speed HST, and the other bumps make it well worth the 3K. On the HST, when I use my CK35, it is almost always in MED, with a 2 range HST, I think I'd constantly be changing ranges to find the right speed/power ratio.

I don't think the CK2510 is much different in size and weight than a CK20. Nobody considered the CK20 a SCUT as it was (almost literally) twice the weight of the Kubota BX series which defined the SCUT category. SCUTs don't weight over a ton and don't lift over 1000lbs.

Not disputing that the CK20/CK2510 is smaller than a CK25/27/30/35 but I wouldn't call them SCUTs. Think of them as younger brothers of the CK30!

I do agree that a mid range would be the one thing that absolutely would improve the CK20/2510 though. I didn't find the two range a problem for doing most things but I hated it when mowing. I have to mow up and down a slope and needed to shift range to get back up the hill. My single biggest complaint about the CK20 which was otherwise brilliant.

tman1020 · May 15, 2015

I maintained a property with a kioti LB 1914. It was the predecessor to the CK 20 with a shuttle shift. Very similar in size weight and power to the CK 20. It did all of my tasks that I asked it to however it did struggle with power and weight at times. Especially when moving snow. I now maintain the same property with a CT 225 (basically a CK 30 with 2 less horsepower).
CT 225 does all same tasks better and with less struggling. It is wider more stable and I can pull larger implements with it. I have a 400 pound cab on mine so It is quite a bit heavier then the LB was. Any negatives that have come along with the larger size for me have easily been out weighed by the slightly larger machine.

onelostdogg · May 15, 2015

Well the saga continues:

Last night I got a call from the Yanmar dealer. His latest offer is now below the price I was quoted for the CK30. So I went to Kioti as I was planning to do anyway and he will not budge on his price. He said a CK30/EX3200 is not an apples to apples comparison...that the 3200 would more closely compare to the CK2510. I dont think so. Am I wrong? Any opinions on what you all would do between 30/3200 with same equipment Yanmar being $400 less and reputable dealer 5 miles away vs. Kioti 20 miles away???

John

scrimshaw · May 15, 2015

I moved about 7 yards of top soil today with my 2510 . It went pretty quickly. In response to some other posts , the seat is airride and comfortable. No issues lifting , can lift a level full bucket at alit over idle. If I did this for a living I would want a bigger tractor. I started looking for tractor like a year ago, thinking 10-12 K to spend on a used one. Couldn't find what i wanted. Well a few thousand more I can get a new one , then a few thousand more I can get a bigger one , then I can get a bigger Kioti for the same price as a Kubota. It was a never ending trajectory up. Finally I just had to say to myself this tractor will fit my needs. If I need ( want) a bigger tractor in the future I will nit loose much selling and getting something larger. The extra money I didn't use will be spent on more implements.

KiwiBro · May 15, 2015

onelostdogg said:
Well the saga continues:

Last night I got a call from the Yanmar dealer. His latest offer is now below the price I was quoted for the CK30. So I went to Kioti as I was planning to do anyway and he will not budge on his price. He said a CK30/EX3200 is not an apples to apples comparison...that the 3200 would more closely compare to the CK2510. I dont think so. Am I wrong? Any opinions on what you all would do between 30/3200 with same equipment Yanmar being $400 less and reputable dealer 5 miles away vs. Kioti 20 miles away???

John

New 2014 EX3200 with loader ex PA dealer is $17300 on tractorhouse right now. How does that compare?

onelostdogg · May 15, 2015

Kiwi,
I have been watching that one on TH. I contacted them. Apparently they mostly sell lawn and garden type stuff. They are about 60 mi. away but would deliver for free. But since I have a close dealer wanted to try to buy from him. His deal is tractor, loader, loaded rear tires, 2 bucket hooks and rear aux hydraulics run to the front for a future grapple for 20,400 which includes 6% PA sales tax.