Thinking of DK35SE over CK35. Am I Crazy?

[woodyacres]

Yota,
Glad to see you come over to DK-side! As I mentioned before (and I am glad you did your homework of actually measuring) I went through the same exact thought process. Go with the DK, I did and I don't regret it one bit. The DK has a wider base than CK so, I presume the stability is better, but I don't have a CK to compare with. As for the weight, I have a septic system and live in the woods. My ground very seldom totally dries out, especially in the woods. The only time I have any issues are in the spring when the 8" of topsoil is mush. But, even then I can't even drive my little garden tractor in the woods without sinking in. I don't mow with it, because my actual grassy yard is so small, but I cut through it a lot and hardly make a dent.

Go for the DK35, you will be happier and in a year you will be mad you didn't just get the DK40!

 

[Arky217]

I find myself in sort of the same situation.
From the dealers in my area, the price jump from the CK35HST to the DK35SEHST is roughly $2000, and from the DK35SEHST to the DK40SEHST, the price jump is also roughly $2000.

I also was looking hard at the CK35HST, but now it seems to make more sense to me to jump up to the DK35SEHST when I consider the extra features vs the price jump.

But where does one draw the line ?

At one time, I was strongly considering the DK40SEHST mainly for the large increase in loader lift capacity and also because the specs on Kioti's site show the loader lift cap. of the DK35 to be about the same as the CK35. I later learned that there is a misprint in the specs. and the DK35 is about 300# more.
But what has caused me to not act yet is:
1) I let the free loader program slip by me and then I just didn't really want to part with that much money (retired on SS).
2) I'm limited to a Chevy Silverado 1500 for a tow vehicle if I want to move the tractor; wasn't sure if it could handle the DK40 weight. (Still not sure about it handling the DK35 weight)

But I'm still confused as to just what is the best breakpoint when considering price vs features.
At the moment, it seems to me to be the DK35SEHST (but what do I know )

What think ye,
Arky

 

[IslandTractor]

I too looked at the various DK models before deciding. The DK35 has all the advantages of the larger more 'lux' features of the DK series over the very competent CK line. The DK40 doesn't add much HP (3) but does add a much
ore powerful loader and upgraded axles/tires to handle the extra loader. Going up to the DK45 adds PTO power to the DK40 package.

To me the DK35 would be a great general purpose unit. The reason to move to the 40 is if you need max loader capacity and the rationale for the 45 is if you need max PTO.

 

[MotorSeven]

I traded up from CK30 to the DK40SE...they seem identical in the stability arena....I dont have any hills....RIDGES! I am up them all the time skidding out logs & the 4WD & HST are about as safe as you can get.
I would say go with the DK35 & HST. Having a loader that can lift/do more is pricless. I would never buy another tractor that wasn't HST....I really love it.

RD

 

[Arky217]

I too looked at the various DK models before deciding. The DK35 has all the advantages of the larger more 'lux' features of the DK series over the very competent CK line. The DK40 doesn't add much HP (3) but does add a much
ore powerful loader and upgraded axles/tires to handle the extra loader. Going up to the DK45 adds PTO power to the DK40 package.

To me the DK35 would be a great general purpose unit. The reason to move to the 40 is if you need max loader capacity and the rationale for the 45 is if you need max PTO.

Island Tractor,
I haven't seen these tractors in person, but a dealer told me that the axles on the DK35 and the DK40 are the same. Do you know for certain that the DK40 has stouter axles ?

Thanks,
Arky

 

[CowwFace]

Hey Yota,

I got my DK40SE HST about 4 months ago and used it for some road grading and it did great... However, just recently I used it for our 41" of snow that fell earilier this week.. and I am amazed at what a heavier machine like this can push, and Lift. I was pushing snow piles 4-5 feet tall, and lifting full buckes of semi-wet snow no problem.

My advice would be to get more tractor than you think you will EVER need. If you get something less than what you need you will not be happy with it.

Carry on,
Phill

 

[IslandTractor]

Island Tractor,
I haven't seen these tractors in person, but a dealer told me that the axles on the DK35 and the DK40 are the same. Do you know for certain that the DK40 has stouter axles ?

Thanks,
Arky

I haven't measured them but if you look at the specifications, one big difference between the DK35 and the DK40/45 is the tractor height and wheel size and I think that is related to the bigger axles. I tried initially to get a DK35 with the KL401 but they wouldn't allow it. The only reason I can think of is related to the axles as otherwise the DK35 is virtually identical to the DK40 and 45.

 

[MichiganIron]

There is a significant difference in size between the DK35SE and the DK40/DK45SE Tractors.

 

[Yota_85]

There is a difference in size between the DK35 and DK40. As others have said, it is due to larger axles and bigger tires. The axles are not just more heavy duty, but physically wider, accounting for the DK40's wider stance. The heavier front axle is why the loader can lift much more than the KL351. The front axle on the DK35 just couldn't handle 2800 lbs or so.

However, believe if or not, the tractor frame itself is the SAME SIZE as the DK35. I spent over an hour measuring the two side by side. The bigger tires, wider axles and bigger bucket (72" compared to the 66" on the DK35) make the tractor SEEM a whole lot larger. And according the the tape measure, it IS larger, though still the same frame tractor.

I have a old Farmall Cub that shows this alter ego also. It has 12.5 X 24 tires on the rear. These are much larger than the tires originally equipped with the Cub. They are spaced out at their furthest setting, as is the front axle is adjusted wide, to roughly match the track of the rear tires. Because of this, several people, who know there older tractors pretty well, don't recognize it's a Cub until they get close. It just SEEMS a whole lot larger than the average Cub.

The DK40 is different, as it's heavier axles add weight to the tractor also. (I guess the larger tires/rims account for some added weight also)
So if you are using weight as a measurement of tractor size, then yes, the DK40 is larger than the DK35. But if you (could) take a DK35, put DK40 axles, tires & rims on it. It'd be the same size as a DK40. Though I think the hydro pump is upgraded some on the DK40 also to help out with the large loader.

It was because of this extra width and height, that made it tough for me to go with the DK40. The 40 needs 6' implements to cover it's tracks, whereas the DK35 can get away with 5' implements. Since I had some 5' implements, I wanted to reuse these on the DK.