New CK2610 Cab or CK3510 OS

Everything Orange · May 5, 2020

So I've been looking at getting a new CK3510SE to snowblow my yard. I live in a area that frequently gets 12"-18" snowfalls so more power is better. Trying to keep a budget I thought I'd go with the open station and build myself a cab out of wood. Now Kioti has come out with their new CK2610 Cab model. This is a nice tractor and a real game changer as far as I'm concerned! Now I'm trying to figure out which would be better. Will a 25hp be enough? If it takes more time is it worth it with the heat and radio playing? Would I be happy with my home built cab instead? Just looking for a little imput whether to go smaller hp with a nice cab, or bigger with an ugly homemade cab, but it'll work...

LS Tractor Owner · May 5, 2020

HP is HP, more is better... BUT ... that new factory cab on the 2610 is really nice! My vote is for the 2610....

arcadelt · May 5, 2020

My two cents worth. I have a CK4220 Cab, which has the comfort of a cab, but is also imbued with sufficient horse power.

A cab is great, but it has pros and cons. The main con is not having ready access in and out. So there is the minor pain of having to open a door each time you want to get in and out, but also it is not as easy to access controls when not in the tractor. This is particularly noticeable when you are doing a lot of small and varied jobs around the yard. The main pro is obviously comfort, but also noise reduction. This is particularly beneficial when you are doing long and repetitive jobs, such a mowing a large area or moving large amounts of stuff around.

Personally, not being a professional tractor user and a little older, I like comfort. However, we buy tractors to do a job, and so that's got to be the prime consideration...then comfort. I don’t have the issue of extremely cold temperatures, but do have hot conditions, so I know I would opt for a warm/cool factory cab as long as I first knew the tractor was up for the required tasks.

The Fred · May 6, 2020

I'll tell you this for free. Go ahead, snowblow your yard with an open station machine when the wind is whopping whipping and the temps are around zero.....HAVE EFFING AT IT! I did last Winter when my cabbed machine blew up. My beer froze, my face froze, my nutZ froze and I hastily fixed my cabbed machine.

The 2610 Gear I have did a great job with a 75 inch blower but my fuel is cranked to 35 hp or so. Not sure how bad a 26 hp hydro would work, my guess not too well.

THE DOGG SNOWPLOW DRIVER IN BOSTON BLIZZARD - YouTube

Everything Orange · May 6, 2020

But is a factory cab worth about $7000 more then my home built cab? I definitely wouldn't want to snowblow with an open station bit there's some pretty cool YouTube videos with cabs people have built for around $300. I'm thinking I'm better off with the 35hp and building something, but once you sit in that factory cab it's hard to shake the feeling you're making the wrong decision

The Fred · May 6, 2020

I love an open station for 3 seasons and cab for Winter. It's a tough choice if you buy one machine.

There's nothing like a heated cab for Winter, you are relaxed and when the wife is yelling out the window that it's dinner time you have a nice place to hide.

Do you have an idea how long you'll be blowing snow per session? I guess that would help me decide.

Don't forget safety, chances are if your home built cab looks like something from the Beverly Hillbillies it might not be safe if you tip over sideways and get a 2x4 stuck in your gut.

Also if you are buying for mostly snow and mowing in Summer then buy the turfs, they're cheaper and work very well in the snow. Steer clear of R4's for snow.

Everything Orange · May 6, 2020

I'm hoping this will massively cut down my plowing time. I've done it with a half ton for years and start way big so I still have room at the end of the season. The first storms take 2-3 hours with the truck. Really hoping by blowing into the woods I can cut it down to half hour or 45 minutes

The Fred · May 6, 2020

THREE HOURS? Buy the cabbed 60hp and be done.

If you insist on buying an open station to blow snow for 2 hours at a time try this first:

Go to the ice maker and pull out just 2 ice cubes, slide them down your butt crack. Next, before the ice melts in your butt cr4ack take a hand full of crushed ice and have your wife tuck it down your back.

Then buy her mini splits or AC for your house or buy a better plow for the truck you already own.

BrkMstr · May 7, 2020

Snow seems to be a real "hot" topic when it's to cab or not to cab, I never thought about it much, we get a few inches in my area, enough so it's kind of foolish to go anywhere until it's over anyway. Had no interest in the cab, I did not want the hassle of opening / closing - in / out or dealing with the height of it. I did get the front 66" blower, when the storm is over, I go out and blow it away, Insulated suit - sorrel arctic boots, I've never been cold, with the front mount I can easily send the snow with the wind, never been covered. I couldn't stay inside the cab anyway, when I'm done with the blowing I normally rake the roofs, shovel the areas that the machine can't get to etc. For those that have to get out during the storm I can see the need, but living in "snow country" not a lot moves till the clean up is done and my job does not require me to be on the roads until open / plowed, When I get done I go to work - bottom line cabs are nice for those who want them, but there are many that don't, don't want one on the Ski-do either, but I enjoy the snow........

Everything Orange · May 7, 2020

Yeah it's alot of money for a relatively small amount of time. I'm hoping the blower is going to cut my time down to under an hour because I can blow it in the woods and not drag it all into the yard. I've also still got the plow on the truck so if it's insanely cold or windy I could bust a path, then blow it away to full width when it warms up