Buying Advice Small CUT or large SCUT Advice

[Olympus]

I think I've talked myself out of the Bobcat. Closest dealer who would service it is about 4 hours away. Too risky because my luck I'll need service on something.

I was all set to just go with the cheaper option of the J2023, but just found out that the 3pt does NOT have position control. Now I'm worried about this because I spend a LOT of time grading my driveway. It's deep chat that does not pack and the driveway is up hill. People always peel out several times driving up and I have up go back and smooth it out again. I read a lot of comments from people about how they don't like models that don't have position control for grading jobs. My last tractor had it and I liked that I could make fine adjustments while grading. Is this going to be a big problem for me?

 

[Olympus]

What would my options be if I bumped my budget to $15k? I really hate to do that though.

 

[murphy1244]

What would my options be if I bumped my budget to $15k? I really hate to do that though.

How bout a Kioti CK series?

 

[Olympus]

I looked at the CK27 which is the same tractor was the Bobcat. Everything I like expect the dang treadle pedal for the HST. Problem is price is $16k cheapest I could find. I don't have that kind of cash and I'm really trying to stay away from financing if I can.

If the lack of position control on the LS is not that big of a deal, then that's the way I should go. I can safely pay for it.

I also have a brand new 4ft brush hog that I used on my last tractor. If I jump up to the CK27 or similar size tractor, the brush hog would be too small.

 

[murphy1244]

I looked at the CK27 which is the same tractor was the Bobcat. Everything I like expect the dang treadle pedal for the HST. Problem is price is $16k cheapest I could find. I don't have that kind of cash and I'm really trying to stay away from financing if I can.

How about a used DK?

 

[GManBart]

What would my options be if I bumped my budget to $15k? I really hate to do that though.

You could probably just squeeze into a G3033 Shuttle Shift for around $15K....it has position control. You'd probably have to call a dealer to clarify, because I just went back, and noticed that the website says manual position control, and the .pdf brochure lists it as hydraulic position control. My dealer is listing them for $15,750, but will negotiate a bit on the price:

LS 3033 Tractor Loader compact

 

[Olympus]

How about a used DK?

I've been scouring Craigslist several times a day for the last few weeks and there's nothing but junk on there. And no Kioti for sure. My local dealer doesn't have anything used and says he doesn't have any deals in the works for what I'm looking for.

 

[Olympus]

You could probably just squeeze into a G3033 Shuttle Shift for around $15K....it has position control. My dealer is listing them for $15,750, but will negotiate a bit on the price:

LS 3033 Tractor Loader compact

I thought about that. My LS dealer has the same model for $14,500. I just really want a HST. He said $700 more for a HST model.

 

[GManBart]

I thought about that. My LS dealer has the same model for $14,500. I just really want a HST. He said $700 more for a HST model.

I can't argue with that...HST is the bees knees for a lot of things!

 

[Olympus]

I can't argue with that...HST is the bees knees for a lot of things!

Do you have any advice on not having position control for my situation?

 

[Underdog57]

LS' quality is fantastic... And the J2023 might be enough for you. I had a CK20 HST before, and I worked it hard. It did a great job, but I mainly used it as a little loader tractor and only used the PTO fir post holes; do a YouTube search for "digging a pond with Kioti Ck20" & you'll see what I did with it.

Knowing how tough that tractor was, pound for pound, and being that the J2023 has more HP, hydraulic flow, and lift ... it makes me think that little J2023 will do fine.

I don't know how much "growing into it" you'll duo tho, alot of the things you'll do well be limited by the tractors wheelbase & weight, just depends on what you're doing with it.

Good luck!

Just watched your video with the CK20, pretty cool. I liked the cameo of the chicken! I didn't know you were a YouTube star! :drink:

 

[murphy1244]

Just watched your video with the CK20, pretty cool. I liked the cameo of the chicken! I didn't know you were a YouTube star! :drink:

That was one tough Tractor!

 

[GPintheMitten]

Yah, I liked the chicken photo bomb, too.

 

[Gittyup]

Yeah. Why not a CK20 or a CK2510?

Also, on the 4 hours to the nearest BC dealer. That would not scare me away. Dealer proximity is over rated, as long as it's a good dealer. How often will you need to go? Mostly likely never during the warranty period. Then you can get service by Kioti or a general mechanic. You could discuss the dealer's willingness to do field repairs and the associated costs while under warranty. I bought from 4 hours away. I had two warranty issues associated with early design flaws. In both cases, the dealer came to me and did the work at my house. We nogotiated to pay him $150 in travel costs each time. Worth it because I saved $thousands by buying from afar. And, in your case, the design is now mature and well prove. So the likelihood of needing warranty work is lower. Dealer prep prior to delivery will be the key to avoiding early visits. I've had mine for almost 8 years now. I've never been to a dealer with it. I also have a JD garden tractor. In 19 years of ownership, it's been to the dealer exactly once at year 4, out of warranty. In hind sight even that wasn't necessary.

 

[Olympus]

I've looked at the CK20. I really don't like the treadle pedal though. It's on my short list though. I'm going to find some time to get in the seat of one and see how badly I dislike the treadle. The CK20 vs J2023 is tough. 3 more hp, bigger hydro pump, more loader capacity, dual pedals, and longer warranty on the J2023, but no position control on the 3pt.

It really comes down to which am I going to hate more, not having position control or not having dual pedals?

 

[murphy1244]

I've looked at the CK20. I really don't like the treadle pedal though. It's on my short list though. I'm going to find some time to get in the seat of one and see how badly I dislike the treadle. The CK20 vs J2023 is tough. 3 more hp, bigger hydro pump, more loader capacity, dual pedals, and longer warranty on the J2023, but no position control on the 3pt.

It really comes down to which am I going to hate more, not having position control or not having dual pedals?

If your doing any 3 point blade work your going to have to have PC.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Have to have might be a bit overstated. I don't doubt it's good to have but I don't have it...never had it. If I ever had it, I might never be without it, but you can do blade work without it.

 

[Olympus]

When using my last tractor, I never used the little stop on the position control. I just kept my hand on the 3pt lever and made small adjustments while grading. If I was pulling too much, I'd make small increments up until I wasn't pulling so deep.

I just want to make sure I can make small adjustments. I do NOT want my blade coming out and dumping little humps of rock every time I try to raise it just a touch.

 

[TSO]

Just watched your video with the CK20, pretty cool. I liked the cameo of the chicken! I didn't know you were a YouTube star! :drink:

LOL - yeah, they like to be right up in the action. Almost every time I'd dump a bucket, they run to it searching for bugs & worms.

 

[GManBart]

Do you have any advice on not having position control for my situation?

Unfortunately (fortunately), I haven't used a tractor that didn't have position control, so I can't help much there. It should still be possible to do what you want, but it will slow you down quite a bit. The nice thing with position control is that you can just set the stops where you want the height to be set, and when you have to turn, backup, etc, you can raise the implement, and then immediately go right back to the previous setting without having to eyeball it, and adjust.