Any happy CK35 owners?

[chsdiyer]

I'm looking at a newer CK35 and plan to use the front end loader (and pallet forks) a good bit. In reading up on this tractor, it seems there are a lot of unhappy owners with the front end loader performance. I've also read a lot of other reviews of issues people have had with this tractor. The alternatives I'm looking at are the LS XG3025 and Kubota L3200 (yes, i've seen the 35 page L3200 vs CK35 thread). Anyone have any good experiences with the CK35 or am I better off looking more at the LS which seems to have far better front loader specs?

 

[N2DFire]

First question - Older CK35 & KL130 loader (Tier III 2015? and older) or CK3510 & KL4010 loader (Tier VI 2016 & up) because they have slightly different specs.

Second Question - and I'm not trying to be an @$$ - but where are you seeing these unhappy owners at & what type of performance issue are they unhappy with?

I can only find one thread here with 2 posts about the new CK3510 / KL4010 loader & an issue when using pallet forks.

I ask because generally speaking if you find someone unhappy with the tractor performance they are asking it to do more that it's capable of and probably should have bought a larger tractor to begin with and I just want to make sure that's not the case here.

For example - My Father and I "Co-Own" our tractor (Well he paid for it but I end up running it most of the time LOL). I know we were slightly "disappointed" when we discovered it wouldn't lift *all* round bales of hay (dry 4x4 No problem, green 5X5 or larger - forget it) but . . .
1) We didn't think about that when we bought it because we weren't moving round bales then.
2) We don't move that many round bales now anyway (maybe a dozen a winter) and it's only for place to place transport not stacking / unstacking so we're eventually going to make a 3pt hay spear.

If those were considerations when we bought it, we would have stepped up to a DK40 (and almost did anyway).

All in all we have done quite a bit of loader work including dirt moving (rebuilding a pond and excavating for retaining walls), spreading asphalt millings, and LOTS of grapple work and so far I have not once been disappointed in what the tractor / loader can accomplish - I just have to remember to work inside it's capabilities. As my father is fond of reminding me, it's a 35hp farm tractor not a D9 dozer.

 

[chsdiyer]

Steve,

Thanks for the response. It's a 2015 CK35. The comments that i've seen have been on this forum or maybe another as well. Commonly people said they either didn't get the CK35 because of the loader limitations or they did get it and were disappointed. One example is .... Kioti CK-35 Tractor Review - YouTube. He mentions he had an older CK 30 and was not happy with the performance of his CK35. In the comments section this year someone asked how he was liking it after a while and he mentions he would not buy this tractor again. I've read several people complaining about hydraulic leaks as well as smoking issues during it's regen cycle. Also saw multiple complaints about the rocker peddle sticking. I'd been set on the LS or a Kubota but I have the opportunity to get this CK35 for 14k with a finish mower and disc plow (if that's what it's called). I'd really like the front loader to be able to lift a lot which is what drew me to the LS, but this seems like a very good deal on the kioti. But i'd rather spend a little more if the other tractors are better performers and more reliable. And no offense to your questions...I should have backed up my statements better. Thanks for the response!

 

[finn1]

If your primary use is a loader and forks, consider a skidsteer.

I traded my Deere skidsteer foe a new CK4010, and find that the visibility and capability of the skidsteer is far better for front end work.

The CK has a nice cab and will be better for snowblower use and, of course three point work.

 

[chsdiyer]

So we average 1/2" of snow here a year and really it's more like none. I do intend to use the front end load a lot for things such as moving gravel, moving sections of trees to mill, moving brush to a pile to burn, moving construction supplies when we build our house (not pallets of stone or grass). If I need to move super heavy stuff I can pay a friend with a skid steer. The three point strength would be nice for grading the property and raking out all the roots left by the dozer that cleared the land, as well as cutting the grass (which at the moment is brush).

The LS is definitely weaker in the PTO, but has a 1600lb front load lift capacity.

The L3200 is also a good deal at 17,500 with forks, brush hog, and box blade. 2013 with 84 hours. But to ship here makes it almost too expensive.

 

[chsdiyer]

Well, it's a moot point now. Even though I had a day or so left to pay on ebay, the guy decided to sell it locally instead. LS it is.

Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback!

 

[N2DFire]

Well, it's a moot point now. Even though I had a day or so left to pay on ebay, the guy decided to sell it locally instead. LS it is.

Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback!

Well that's a bummer but hey - it just wasn't meant to be.

So we average 1/2" of snow here a year and really it's more like none. I do intend to use the front end load a lot for things such as moving gravel, moving sections of trees to mill, moving brush to a pile to burn, moving construction supplies when we build our house (not pallets of stone or grass). If I need to move super heavy stuff I can pay a friend with a skid steer. The three point strength would be nice for grading the property and raking out all the roots left by the dozer that cleared the land, as well as cutting the grass (which at the moment is brush).

Really the only place I see that loader lift capacity is an issue would be the trees to the mill. Gravel you will never fill the bucket with more than the loader will lift/carry. Same with Brush. Construction supplies you *could* exceed capacity but in reality it just means more trips with smaller loads. Not much way to make the tree sections lighter without making them shorter so it really is specific to what you need here.

The L3200 is also a good deal at 17,500 with forks, brush hog, and box blade. 2013 with 84 hours. But to ship here makes it almost too expensive.

Based on the Snow comments I'm guessing Charleston, SC and not WV LOL
I picked a random Zip code for Charleston SC and there are 5 Kioti Dealers between 95 & 120 or so miles from you. Our dealer was a little over 100 miles away and delivered for free (2014 prices we picked up our New CK35 Gear w/ Loader, filed tires & delivery for about the same as you're looking at here - no attachments though).

I'm not sure how much you're getting quoted for shipping on the LS, but it might not hurt to at least make a couple phone calls and get quotes on a CK3510 (or even a CK4010) just to see if it's "close enough" in price for New vs Used.

... smoking issues during it's regen cycle. ...

Just to clarify for future readers - the older Tier III emissions standard models are the CK series (i.e CK35) and it has no regen cycle, that's the new CKxx10 series that have to meet the new Tier IV emission standard. (i.e. CK3510).
I'm not 100% sure what year model the change happened but I do know ours is a 2014 Tier III.


Best of luck whatever way you go.

 

[chsdiyer]

Thanks for the continued info Steve!

It's hard for me to translate lift capacity to actual objects. Good to know the loader can always lift a full bucket of gravel. I found this nifty calculator that helped me understand how much various logs weight... http://www.forestryforum.com/calcs/log_weight.htm

Yes, Charleston SC. I've never been to Charleston, WV but I'm sure it's weather is quite different.

The LS shipping rates have varied from nearly free for the furthest dealer to 350-400 for the closer ones. I'm actually tempted to buy the Kubota because that guy has been the nicest I've talked to. I feel like all the dealers I talk to seem a little annoyed that I've called. They certainly don't respond to email request for info. Not like car dealers that's for sure. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try a Kioti dealer though the CK2510 is probably closer to my price range.

Thanks for clarifying the Regen. I'm not sure what I was reading. Perhaps I got confused because all I could find on Kioti's website was the CK 3510 and tractordata says the CK35 ran from 2006 - ... so I thought maybe the CK3510 and CK35 were one in the same.

Thanks again!

 

[chsdiyer]

Oh yeah, I had looked in to Kioti, but based on these package deals, I would say like Kubota they are out of my price range SPECIAL PACKAGE DEALS – Carolina Outdoors

The 17500 is my max which makes the Kubota tough with $500 shipping on top of that price.

 

[N2DFire]

Oh yeah, I had looked in to Kioti, but based on these package deals, I would say like Kubota they are out of my price range SPECIAL PACKAGE DEALS Carolina Outdoors

The 17500 is my max which makes the Kubota tough with $500 shipping on top of that price.

Sorry - I've been stuck in meetings the last day or so & they frown on me being on TBN instead of listening. :laughing:

CK3510 HST Package
$25,800
- $2,500 Assuming the Advantage 3.5 Ton in 18' ($2,995 Retail on Ebay)
- $900 Assuming the low end SBX60 ($776 - $905 on TractorHouse.com)
- $1100 Assuming the Razorback BH5 ($995 - $1295 on TractorHouse.com)

Puts it at around $21,300 for just the tractor. Granted it's been a few years since we bought ours but that sounds a little high to me.

HST has always added about $1,000 to the price also.

If you're willing to get JUST the tractor/loader and then buy used equipment off CraigsList then you should be able to get very close to your budget.

Our CK35 Gear w/ Loader, filled tires, and delivery (100 miles roughly) was w/in your budget in 2014. I think if you keep shopping around you can find "New" in your budget for just a tractor and should definitely be able to find used with some implements in that range.

Nothing wrong with the LS & Kubota tractors either and I'm not knocking any particular dealer but be cautious with any "Package" deal - a lot of times they offer very base model tractors at attractive prices then try to up sell you all the Add-on's. It's not a full blown bait & switch but it's very misleading to first timers and hobbiest (like me) that have minimal tractor experience / knowledge.

Best of luck what ever you do & feel free to come back here if you have questions. Lots of guys smarter than me here to help. :thumbsup: