Buying Advice Why do I keep 'what if-ing'?

[crank73]

Good day everyone,

Here we go again. Another one of us seeking advice from the 'experts'. I have been trying to get smart on tractors over the last few weeks. I've been living on a 10 acre acreage with a couple of horses and a barn for the last 10 years. I've been using a quad and blade in the winter to move snow around and a snow blower when it needed to be moved. I've used a lawn tractor to mow my 2 acre lawn and the other 8 or so acres are for my horses.

I've decided that it's time to step up and make life a little easier (and more fun) and buy a little tractor. I am ready to buy and I am looking at the Kioti brand and my thoughts keep coming back to the CK20. My problem is that I keep finding reasons that make me think that the CS2410 would be better which quickly change to thinking the CK30 would be better. As you can see I'm all over the shop with what to get. This is mostly due to the fact that I have never sat on a tractor or even watched what a tractor can do. I did drive to a dealership last week and putted around the parking lot on a -20, but I just can't picture how much work can be done with a tractor and equate that work to the size of the tractor.

To me, i think the physical size of the CK20 is perfect, my only worry is the PTO HP. I plan to do alot of Snow blowing in the winter and when I compare the PTO HP of the CK20 to the CS2410, it makes me think that the CS would be better. Is the 16 PTO HP of the CK20 adequate to power a 60' Snowblower without experiencing 'bog downs' due to loss of power? Same question reference a rototiller? I like the CK20 over the CS2410 due to its physical size, its weight, and its loader specs. I would use the loader to move pallets with 'stuff' on it as well as trees, and I'm sure I would want to do work that I don't even know is possible. I'm just worried that the 22 HP (16 HP PTO) will make me regret buying the CK20. I know that people are saying that the HST has a hard time going up hills in High, but my property is flat. The fact people are saying that makes me wonder if the CK20 is too heavy for its 22 HP engine.

I'm not against getting the 30, it is just physically a bit to big for my storage setup (future implements in mind as well) and 2-3000 dollars more.

Anyways, any help (or confirmation or reassurance) that the ck20 has adequate PTO HP for some of my intended use (3ph SnowBlower, tiller) because I have been what-if-ing this for the last week going round and round in my head hoping I make the right purchase.

Thanks in advance.

 

[murphy1244]

The thinking goes here is what ever size you choose, jump one size up.

 

[k0ua]

I have never owned a CK 20 or 30 for that matter, but so many guys come on here and lament that they wish they had bought "the bigger one". They always get it home and use it for a while and wish for more. The running joke is that "tractors shrink when you get them home".. We have heard it countless times.. The last 4 years I have had 3 tractors, I went bigger and more powerful each time.. present is a DK35se. I mostly move rock and materiel's with the Front End Loader, and do a little mowing and grading, but it is brawny power I am looking for.. I have seen the time occasionaly when I wanted a smaller tractor in near the wife's flower beds, spreading mulch.. but not very often. Most of the time. I wish I had a bigger tractor yet.. I have 7 acres mostly wooded and can operate a tractor on maybe 3 or 4 and a DK35se.. a much larger tractor than anything you have mentioned. Of course small tractors have some virtues too, More nimble to get around between obstacles. is the biggest advantage, of course cost is important too Hopefully others can soon comment about the uses you mentioned. Be sure to get a Hydro-stat with snow blowing, as I have heard you need really good control of ground-speed with snow blowing and tilling. I sure enjoy my hydro on my larger tractor for FEL work. Not that I haven't owned and used Gear tractors, because I sure have, but I prefer a hydro hands down for most tasks. Maybe not plowing or mowing in an open field with only turning once in a while. But anything that requires speed and directional changes.. its Hydro for me. Good Luck on your hunt.

James K0UA

 

[jeff9366]

Collect a Kioti brochure for each of the models you are interested in. Then create an Excel spreadsheet and enter the specs for the models. Ponder the entries.

My local Kubota dealer is reliable AND CLOSE. The Deere distributor in town may be equally reliable, but Kubota service and advice has been so good I only think "KUBOTA". If you feel "good" about the Kioti dealer and he is CLOSE, put your questions to him.

You will not notice 2-5 horsepower increments. It takes a 50% horsepower increase to make difference you will feel.

Use the T-B-N SEARCH function to research each Kioti model you have interest in.

In terms of general T-B-N information a 25hp/4-WD [Kioti~Kubota~Deere~Yanmar~etc.] are going to produce the same.

Follow the two KIOTI Forums. We all second guess ourselves, with every tractor and every implement.


SORRY I CAN'T REPRODUCE FOLLOWING EXCEL SPREADSHEET IN SPREADSHEET FORMAT:

GRAND GRAND GRAND GRAND
B3300SU L3540 L3200 L3800 L4600 L3240 L3540 L3940
Engine Cylinders 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 4
Engine Gross HP 33 37 31.9 37.4 46.3 34 37 40.5
PTO HP 25 28 26.7 31.5 36.8 25 28 31.5

Overall Width - R4 57.9 59.8 55.1 55.1 62.4 59.8 59.8 66.5
Length 99.2 115.0 106.3 106.3 117.9 115.0 115.0 121.5
Ground Clearance - R4 15.6 14.0 13.4 13.4 15.2 14.0 14.0 14.6
Weight 1929 3395 2623 2668 3197 3395 3395 3627
Loader LA504 LA724 LA524 LA524 LA764 LA724 LA724 LA724
Loader Lift - minimum 730 1415 1182 1182 1726 1415 1415 1415
LA514 LA514
1021 1021
Bucket Width 54 72 72 72 72

Position Control no yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Draft Control no opt no no no opt opt opt

$ $19,000 $28,960 $22,110 $24,000 $30,646 $28,690 $28,960 $31,632

Price/Weight $9.85 $8.53 $8.43 $9.00 $9.59 $8.45 $8.53 $8.72

HD Round Bucket - 66"?
Three Remotes Rear
R4 Industrial Tires
Height w/ROPS Folded 69 77.5 77.5 77.5
SSQA?

 

[dave1949]

A general rule of thumb for PTO hp and snowblowers is 5 hp per foot of width. 16 PTO hp sounds too low for a 60" blower. You want something closer to 25 hp for that size. A 5' blower is a nice size because two passes gives you 9-10 clear feet of driveway.

 

[Wagtail]

Great advice (as always) so far. I was in the same boat as you 5 months ago and TBN helped a lot.

I thought that the JD 1026R would suit my needs. I discussed this with a neighbour, then started looking at the 2000 & 3000 series JDs due to the unforseen (to me) power/jobs capabilities. I then took my neighbour with me to the JD dealership (it seems that 'everone knows everyone else' here in Tassie). Although I did all of the dealing with the salesman, it was nice having a Mate 'nodding' or shaking his head out of the corner of my eye.

We settled on my 4105... less "pretties", more grunt and less $s than a top 3000 series.

So, if you can, bring a knowledgable neighbour with you. Oh, and make sure he (or she) gets a free hat in the deal!

 

[jenkinsph]

Great advice (as always) so far. I was in the same boat as you 5 months ago and TBN helped a lot.

I thought that the JD 1026R would suit my needs. I discussed this with a neighbour, then started looking at the 2000 & 3000 series JDs due to the unforseen (to me) power/jobs capabilities. I then took my neighbour with me to the JD dealership (it seems that 'everone knows everyone else' here in Tassie). Although I did all of the dealing with the salesman, it was nice having a Mate 'nodding' or shaking his head out of the corner of my eye.

We settled on my 4105... less "pretties", more grunt and less $s than a top 3000 series.

So, if you can, bring a knowledgable neighbour with you. Oh, and make sure he (or she) gets a free hat in the deal!

I think a 4105 or DK40 with hst would be a better size for 10 acres, if you go too small you won't be able to get enough done. Might consider whether being able to handle large bales will save you some money too.

 

[scaredychicken]

welcome to the TBN forum.

not sure if it is a factor in your considerations, ck20 is a discontinued model (2003 - 07 yrs); ck30 is a current model (since 2004 ->) and a bit more horsepower. the physical size may be no difference.

where in Alberta are you ? would the tractor need the cab option (I spent a few yrs in Edmonton, winters were a big adjustment) ? cabs would be extra size and expense and may not be available in all models considered. I think the other consideration is the proximity of a good tractor dealership. all the best with the tractor hunt.

see personal message also.

 

[crank73]

Thanks for the replies guys. I didn't start thinking about tractors until 2 weeks ago. At that point I was thinking sub compacts like MF GC2300 or Kioti CS2410 but after reading everyone suggesting to always pick your tractor then go one bigger, that's when I started looking at the CK20.

I'm wondering though, what's considered a bigger tractor, the CK20 (Weight) or CS2410 (HP). I'm sure you will all say the CK20 for its weight and loader specs. Maybe I'll consider a narrower snowblower if I go with the CK20.

By the way, what does T-B-N search mean?

 

[JJZ 109]

By the way, what does T-B-N search mean?

TBN is this website (TractorByNet). At the top of each page you'll see an option for "search". Click it, then you can type what you like in that field to search the site for any information pertinent to your subject. Good luck in your tractor hunt!