Kioti CK30HST vs DK35 & mower help

[Thump]

Hello all,

I need some help with a "now-and-later" question over sizing/purchasing a tractor and the kind of mower needed.

The situation as it is now: I have about 3.5 acres of horse pasture to mow in the mid-Atlantic area. The wif' likes to keep it looking somewhat neat and level, knocking-off anything over 3.5" every so often. This pasture is gentle rolling, devoid of rocks, trees, brush and obstacles (other than the occasional $1 horse ;-) and "lawn-smooth" except for the "divits" caused by hoofs. We will continue to use a 62" ZTR commercial mower for the yard and "close-cutting" around the fence lines (I'm hooked on those darn ZTRs!).

In just a couple of years we will be moving to a small place out in Montana. I have a #8500 trailer for the equipment transport but I'm a little concerned about my 1/2 ton truck's towing abilities which is listed @ 7700lbs max (has HD tow package). The situation out there is 20 acres of pastureland to mow but just how much mowing will there be with only 15" average precipitation a year? It's currently tilled farmland; smooth, very gentle rolling, no rocks, no brush or trees and no obstacles (a "clean slate" so to speak). There will only be one or two horses on this pastureland and I will continue using a ZTR for the yard and fence-line trimming.

The tractor decision has come down to a CK30HST or a DK35. Both the wif' and I have driven the 35 and find it quite nimble and easy to operate, particularly for a gear. There doesn't seem to be a large differince in price between the CK30HST & the DK35 (with it's rebate) so the price is not such an issue either. Anticipated FEL work is somewhat limited mostly to moving manure, wood chips and light landscaping.

On the mower side of things, I was looking at quality 6' rotarys verses a Kioti's 6' rear discharge finish mower. Obviously it could take quite awhile to do the 20 acres with a 6 footer but maybe with low grass yields and no obstacles, etc. I could keep the ground speed up somewhat to make it more manageable. I'd prefer to buy once & keep it maintained verses buying something for the situation now, selling & buying again out there. The one plus I find desirable about the finish mower is with 4 wheels I can move it around inside the storage building by hand if needed.

Any and all advice to both these problems will be greatly appriciated.

Thump

 

[Muhammad]

As for the mowing... you're right about keeping the ground speed up. Or hoping to, anyway. With the relative dryness of Montana, a rotary cutter should have no problem at a reasonably increased speed. You just have to get a feel for the situation.

Also, this could be a good example of when a larger, light-duty rotary cutter might make sense. Rotary cutter ratings and recommendations consider a variety of uses, and most people use them for initial cutting down of very rough areas.

But if your land is already very light pasture with dry grass, going up to a 7' standard duty cutter (Bush Hog's SQ84T 84" dual-blade light duty cutter, for example) is completely reasonable. The BH I mentioned is rated for 25-50HP and weighs 720lbs, so either machine you're looking at can handle it without a problem (so long as you stick to light duty applications).

Of course, you could always jump up to a 15' flex-wing rotary cutter... but that will set you back about $8k, and you'll need a larger tractor to handle it. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Thump]

Muhammad,

Thanks for the SQ84T tip! If I read you right, it sounds like a finish mower of any kind is out and my best bet is a single or dual blade light-duty rotary cutter.

Anyone have any opinons to help me select one of the tractors listed above? I'm really on the fence over which model to get.

Thanks,

Thump

 

[Muhammad]

Depends on what you want to do with the land. Finish mowing is generally for lawns, or something like them.

But if it's rough and generally cut when 6-12" tall, then a rotary cutter is going to be better for the job.

Post some pictures and I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions.

 

[Golfgar4]

Well, since the CK30 isn't yet available, I guess it would depend on whether you need the tractor now or whether you can wait. But since you're asking, I'm assuming that you can wait.

That being said, personally I would go with the DK35 for the following reasons.

1. It's available now.

2. It fits your budget.

3. Both you AND your wife find it a comfortable machine to operate.

4. You will have a higher PTO hp available than with the CK30. This could make a difference in the size of attachments that you might want/need in the future.

5. I've always been partial to the appearance of the DK's. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Markioti]

Thump,

What I would do is try out a CK30 when you can and make up your mind after the demo. It sounds like it's coming down to choosing either a hydrostatic or a gear transmission.

Mark

 

[DK45C_Dave]

We have the 84" Buhler/Farmking finish mower on our DK35. We were going to get a Bushhog type mower for rougher stuff but so far have not found anything the Farmking did not enjoy chewing up so I don't think that purchase will be necessary. The open rear discharge just scoots the occasional disagreeable objects right out the back without much comment. The Woods 990(?) would also work well behind the Dk35 and be even bigger and tougher yet.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Thump I have the CK20HST and it's a great tractor. For your purposes, I think I would go with the DK35 for the reasons already mentioned, PTO HP is higher, you may use larger implements, as well as other reasons, such as price difference probably isn't that great, you get 5 more engine HP, you get a little more weight which can help use the HP better. As to Muhammad's comment that you may be looking to HST vs Gear, the CK30 will come either HST or synchro/shuttle so Thump could have either of those. However, the CK30 is scheduled for a June appearance, but most seem to think it will be like the CK20 which was months behind debut date. I wouldn't worry, I'd just buy the DK35 and get to work. As for the mower, if you set the cut right on a brush mower, you can get almost as nice a cut as with a finish mower, with stronger cutting ability when you need it. I use only a 4' mower on my CK20HST, and it hasn't even bogged down in pretty tall stuff. You could easily go with a 6 or 7' mower and keep that pasture beautiful and have the brush cutter in case you need to cut down larger brush as well. Let us know how it goes. John

 

[Thump]

Guys,

Thanks to all for the recommendations. We decided to plunk down our bucks on the DK35...I just wish it had the built-in cupholder /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif . The dealer will have it all to us next week /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

For now, I'm going to gamble with a 84" rear discharge finish mower for a couple of reasons. The pasture does look pretty much like a lawn except for the patties for which I'm getting a chain harrow and believe it or not the wif' actually enjoys mowing it every couple of weeks! Also due to our currently limited shed storage area the "roll-around" ability and minimal depth of a RFM should help some. I can still pickup a smaller rotary locally and store it under a tarp if it becomes absolutely necessary.

Thanks to all and wish us luck!

Thump

 

[KiotiJohn]

congrats Thump. I know you'll love that tractor. It's a lot of fun to use. You're right about the mowers, you can always pick up a rotary later and that finish mower will probably do you a good job. John