FWIW, I went through generally the same process when deciding what to buy for our 10 ac., mostly wooded central Virginia home. The only additional thing I do that was not in your list is maintaining the 1.25 mi. twisty gravel road from our driveway to the paved county road.
I ended up with a Kioti CK3520SE Cab. I had been looking at the CK2620SE, mostly to minimize cost, then the 2620 cab model (decided the cab was a necessity, but still looking at the 25 HP to save money). My wife pushed me to get the 35 HP model, in part because we heard from several sources that the most common mistake by new tractor buyers is buying too little hp to save money, and then having to endure paying more to make up the trade-in loss on a higher HP tractor. Based on the tasks undertaken to date, 35 HP has turned out to be the better choice. For example, some of the gravel drive work may not have been handled well by the 25 HP model.
FWIW2, for Florida, *definitely* get the cab. I'm about to turn 65, and even at my (relatively) young age, I'm finding the summer heat to be much more draining than a few decades ago. I also hate bugs, and have hay fever issues that the Kioti's cab pre-filters greatly help with (not to mention knocking down the amount of inhaled dust/dirt).
Maybe it's the difference between 25HP and 35 HP, but I have not noticed a significant power drop when the AC is engaged.
And despite the general dislike for the greater than 25 HP emissions controls, I'm ok with the latest Kioti system (it helps that I do a fair amount of emissions-related patent work in my day job, so I know how these systems work). The one benefit of the DPF-equipped engines is the significantly cleaner exhaust -- and I don't mean the "save-the-planet" benefit, I mean the important-to-me benefit: standing near the exhaust I notice *far* less "diesel smell," which means much less carcinogenic particulates are reaching my lungs. Low-sulphur fuel helps reduce the smell, too, but not having to breath as much particulate is a good thing.
p.s. - almost forgot: life is significantly quieter in a closed cab. I can drive without hearing protection in situations where hearing protection would be absolutely necessary on an open station tractor.
I ended up with a Kioti CK3520SE Cab. I had been looking at the CK2620SE, mostly to minimize cost, then the 2620 cab model (decided the cab was a necessity, but still looking at the 25 HP to save money). My wife pushed me to get the 35 HP model, in part because we heard from several sources that the most common mistake by new tractor buyers is buying too little hp to save money, and then having to endure paying more to make up the trade-in loss on a higher HP tractor. Based on the tasks undertaken to date, 35 HP has turned out to be the better choice. For example, some of the gravel drive work may not have been handled well by the 25 HP model.
FWIW2, for Florida, *definitely* get the cab. I'm about to turn 65, and even at my (relatively) young age, I'm finding the summer heat to be much more draining than a few decades ago. I also hate bugs, and have hay fever issues that the Kioti's cab pre-filters greatly help with (not to mention knocking down the amount of inhaled dust/dirt).
Maybe it's the difference between 25HP and 35 HP, but I have not noticed a significant power drop when the AC is engaged.
And despite the general dislike for the greater than 25 HP emissions controls, I'm ok with the latest Kioti system (it helps that I do a fair amount of emissions-related patent work in my day job, so I know how these systems work). The one benefit of the DPF-equipped engines is the significantly cleaner exhaust -- and I don't mean the "save-the-planet" benefit, I mean the important-to-me benefit: standing near the exhaust I notice *far* less "diesel smell," which means much less carcinogenic particulates are reaching my lungs. Low-sulphur fuel helps reduce the smell, too, but not having to breath as much particulate is a good thing.
p.s. - almost forgot: life is significantly quieter in a closed cab. I can drive without hearing protection in situations where hearing protection would be absolutely necessary on an open station tractor.
