What to buy

[clarkmike]

Hello everyone,

Our property is about 40 acres in southern IL. It's "hilly" for IL, but nothing like the terrain I grew up on in upstate NY. My sister calls if "flat". About 30 acres remain in production, but will slowly be added to a CRP tree program as that option presents itself. I've got 4 acres in CRP (wetland and waterways) that I need to maintain. When we are done with our property, we'll have most if not all in trees. I need to maintain a 900 foot driveway (move snow and grade as needed). I want to mow the area around my wetland and plan on establishing a trail around the edge of our property for riding go-carts and running. In addition, I need to pull logs out of the treeline as I cull out the dead stuff and make firewood out if it.

I believe I may need about 35 hp, FEL, a bushhog and perhaps a finishing mower. I'm not sure about the requirement for 4WD. I'm open to any brand that has a strong reliability record. Of course I want to keep my cost down. Value/capability, not brand are most important to me (I drive a Korean car).

Which Kioti would you recommend based on my land? They look great, and I find my two Korean cars to be very reliable so I'm inclined to favor the Kioti.

I've narrowed my seach down to Mahindra and Kioti tractors.

I've got a Kioti and Mahindra dealer about 30 minutes from the house. The Mahindra guy sells John Deere primarily and is really pushing the Green tractor over the Mahindra. The Kioti dealer has other brands but is not pushing any specific brand. In fact, the Kioti dealer was very helpful and took quite a bit of time to help me.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[albmn10]

Hello Mike, its good to have a dealer that will take the time to answer your questions, and follow up with good service. In the Kioti lineup , either the Ck30, Ck35 or Dk35 would suit your needs just fine. How big of a brush hog do you want to use? Matt

 

[DK35vince]

For your acreage I recommend at least a DK 35 or 40 (the 40 offers a much stronger loader).
I own a 2001 DK 35 (around 1100 hours) that I use on 15 acres. Its a good size/fit for 10 to 20 acres. Its been a very good tractor for me and I recommend one. I run a 6' King Kutter brush mower and a 7' rear finish mower, no problem.
Of course a few more HP and a stronger loader never hurts, so if you can fit the DK 40 in your budget, I would do it.

 

[ToadHill]

On my 87 acres in upstate NY I have yet to find anything except major earth moving that my DK35 hasn't been able to handle.

 

[clarkmike]

I guess the DK series is heavier than the CK?

My dealer was pushing the CK35. What do you think?

Mike

 

[MotorSeven]

Mike i would go for a 40hp 4x4. Like Vince said the loader is much more powerfull and the bucket is alot bigger. 4wheel dirve is extremly handy in many applications. I am on a big creek & things get soggy, so i have gotten out of trouble more than once by droping it into 4x4. Also, when usingt the loader 4x4 will allow you to get your bucket into whatever material you are trying to move. Without it, the rears will spin digging holes but not going anywhere. Same thing pulling logs...indispensable. Another thing i like is my HST. No shifting, just touch the pedal and for forward/reverse.
If you can swing the $ it is worth the few extra grand. It is a long term investment, so go as big as you can so you are not wanting to upgrade like me!
RD

 

[DK35vince]

My dealer was pushing the CK35. What do you think?

My opinion. The CK line is good 20 - 30 HP.
Need over 30 HP move up to the DK series.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'd vote for the DK40se with KL401 loader. I have one and am very pleased with it. I also think it is the sweet spot pricewise in the new DK line.

As others have mentioned, it offers much more loader capacity (nearly double) for not much extra $$ than the otherwise almost identical DK35se. If 35hp is adequate and you don't really need a powerful loader then the DK35se would be fine. The DK45se offers about 4 extra horsepower but I think is otherwise identical to the DK40se. When I was looking the DK45se cost a fair amount more and I wasn't really looking for the extra HP.

 

[clarkmike]

Hello again,

I spent a couple days tractor shopping at three Mahindra dealers and my Kioti shop. The local Kioti guy showed me a CK25 gear tractor today. I ran it around the dealership and I was really impressed. Everything seems well laid-out and strongly built. I'm comparing directly against a Mahindra 2615 and the Kioti seems heavier and more solidly built. The price is a bit more expensive, but not much.

The Kioti guy offered me the CK25 with KL130 loader and 60 inch pin-on bucket for $14,900 if I finance or $14,000 cash. He can get me into a CK30 gear drive for $16,750 financed. How do these prices sound?

Most of you have recommended a 35hp tractor or more. Can a 25 hp gear tractor do the work I've described?

He didn't have any DK tractors in stock today, but should receive more in the next couple weeks. How much can I expect to pay for a DK35se?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Gittyup]

I have the CK25. Good, solid tractor. Great for ground engagement. But, if I were mowing with it, I'd want more pto hp. It sounds to me like the 40 is the right size for your needs.

 

[mark.r]

I second what others have said, go DK series if you can . . . based on what you said your work is going to be. I don't have nearly as much acreage as many people here but I use every bit of the horsepower that my DK45SE has. I just finished up moving 70 tons (yes, you read that right) of agregate gravel/stone dust today for a driveway and horse stalls. DK never missed a beat. I run a 7ft. rear blade, 7ft. finishing mower, and a 6ft brush hog and more than likely could go up a foot on each one if a needed to as the the tractor pulls each with out issue. As far as what you said you will be doing, 4wd is must.

 

[RedDog]

I would see how much the guy with the 2006 DK45 wants for it? I know you are in New York, but I do not know where this guy is at????

I never have understood why people do not put there general location,,, must be fear!!!

 

[clarkmike]

Hello everyone,

I'm getting quotes on the DK series this week. If I can swing it, I'll get the DK.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[albmn10]

Hello Mike, just curious what the dealer quoted you for the ck35? Another option you can consider if you want to stay smaller is the ck30 or ck35 with a Woods LC102 loader.This loader comes in 60 and 66",(11.6, 12.8 ccft )perspectively, id recomend the 60" for better digging capability. They are both very large capacity compared to any of the current cut loaders. It lifts more then the dk35 by 240lbs and enables you keep the smaller frame of the Ck model. The Ck35 would enable you to run a 6 ft brushhog just like the Dk35. The Ck30 would only run the 5ft brushhog. They also come in orange and match the Kioti very well. I run the Woods 1012 on my Ck30 and its all the loader ive ever needed. No problem loading 1500lbs logs onto trailers. Ive even moved 1800lb concrete slabs which are littered on my property from a previous owner.. Just throwing some more options your way.. If you have any more questions , feel free to message me.. Good luck again.. Matt

 

[VictorW]

I have a CK30hst and it works well for the jobs and ground I have. From what you explained, I agree with most of the others in that you would be better off with a DK35. If you could swing it, the stronger loader on the 40 would be great but cost is a factor. As far as the 25, it's the same as mine with 5 less ponies and I think a little to weak for your jobs.

 

[mark.r]

Wow, a CK35 can run a 6ft. brush hog? That's impressive. Maybe I should have bought a 7 footer.

 

[clarkmike]

Hello again,

Great feedback everyone. I'm just soaking it all in.

I like the Kioti CK25 I drove at the dealer last week. It it a bit smaller than I'd like, but I'm working on getting into something larger. Questions for you guys..

Have you suffered any cracked welds on the loader or tractor? I've read reviews that noted problems like this on the CK series tractor.

What kind of speed do you have with the FEL or other attachments? How does the bucket speed compare to other CUTs? I haven't tested any Mahindra tractors yet, but plan on doing that next week. I'm interested in your thoughts.

Is there any one thing I need to watch for on the CK series tractor?

What do you like the most about your CK tractor?

What do you dislike about your CK tractor?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Mastertech]

Only thing I dislike about my CK30 is the height of thr ROPS. Or maybe I just need to get a taller door on the barn. Hey, an new barn. Now there is an idea. Hope my wife dosn't read this!!!

 

[IXLR8]

Hello again,

Great feedback everyone. I'm just soaking it all in.

Is there any one thing I need to watch for on the CK series tractor?

If you get a used machine, check the loader arms. If the torque tube that runs from one arm to the other goes thru the arms... then that is the new loader and you'll have no issues. If the torque tube just welds to the arm, then there has been some cracking issues with that torque tube. The other way to tell, look at the data plate for the loader. If it is a 130 it is the old style, if it is a 130B, then it is the new style. Both loaders will say KL130 on the arms, you need to look at the data plate.

What do you like the most about your CK tractor?

The key in my selection was the ergonomics, it just fit me better than the others I looked at. The JD tractors were comfortable as well, but too much money. On a side note, my tractor came with V-bar chains on all 4 wheels, after working with them this winter... I will never have a tractor in snow country without them.


What do you dislike about your CK tractor?

I wish I had bought it sooner, I wish I could afford a cab for it. Actually, I have only put 20 hrs on it in the month that I have had it and I have found nothing to dislike.

Thanks,
Mike

Hope this helps

 

[Gittyup]

I had the infamous loader cracks. But, they were not welds that cracked. New loader is no problem. No other cracks or problems.

I like the weight and hydraulics best. The loader could be a little more powerful. PTO neutral could also be easier to find. Platform not as open as I would like; gear shifter in the way. Shuttle shifter is a little stiff. For the most part, these are just petty complaints. Tractor is great. Loader speed is plenty fast at normal running rpms.