JonFields
New member
Hi Power Trac Forum,
I'm considering a Power Trac, either 425 or 1430, and I would appreciate some advice, and have a few specific questions.
I own around 7 acres of woods with a thick infestation of invasive honeysuckle, and quite a few dead ash trees from Emerald Ash Borer . There are two small creeks on the property, and consequently there are some slopes ranging from 15-25 degrees, with a few 30 degrees. My goal is to get the woods relatively cleared of the honeysuckle, and then maintain it so that it does not return. I would want to gradually drop the ash trees and cut them up for firewood.
My plan is to clear the honeysuckle in sections by killing it in the late fall with glyphosate, and during the winter cut it and burn it. To prevent it from returning long term I will plant native grasses, and mow it a few times a season with a brush or flail mower.
Because of the slopes, and also with the desire of not tearing up or compressing the soil too much, I have ruled out something like a Bobcat with forestry mulcher (Fecon etc). Plus, that only solves the problem of initial removal, but not long term maintenance.
Because of the slopes and the need to maneuver around trees, I am fairly sure a conventional CUT would not be a good choice (although a PTO driven chipper would be nice).
I have looked at Ventrac, but am concerned about the price and the ground clearance. To get a Ventrac with rough cut mower, loader, etc is quite a lot - and they do not have a grapple for the loader which I think I would need a lot.
That has lead me to Power Trac, which seems to have what I need at a better price. I am able to maintain the equipment myself, as I am mechanically inclined. However, I have some specific questions about operation on slopes:
- Would a 425 or 1430 be able to handle 15-25 degrees, with an occasional 30 degree slope safely?
- Does PT offer, or has anyone put duals on a 425 or 1430 (I know the extreme slope mowers have them standard)
- What slope are the engines rated for?
Also, for the specific application of cutting the larger honeysuckle close to the ground, I would be interested in either buying or fabricating something like a tree saw that fits on skid steers (e.g. Turbo Saw). The largest that the honeysuckle can get is around 4" in diameter. It should be able to cut the stem flush with the ground, so a blade similar to a stump grinder blade turned 90 degrees, that can tolerate that would be ideal. Has anybody found or thought or created something like that?
Thanks in advance!
I'm considering a Power Trac, either 425 or 1430, and I would appreciate some advice, and have a few specific questions.
I own around 7 acres of woods with a thick infestation of invasive honeysuckle, and quite a few dead ash trees from Emerald Ash Borer . There are two small creeks on the property, and consequently there are some slopes ranging from 15-25 degrees, with a few 30 degrees. My goal is to get the woods relatively cleared of the honeysuckle, and then maintain it so that it does not return. I would want to gradually drop the ash trees and cut them up for firewood.
My plan is to clear the honeysuckle in sections by killing it in the late fall with glyphosate, and during the winter cut it and burn it. To prevent it from returning long term I will plant native grasses, and mow it a few times a season with a brush or flail mower.
Because of the slopes, and also with the desire of not tearing up or compressing the soil too much, I have ruled out something like a Bobcat with forestry mulcher (Fecon etc). Plus, that only solves the problem of initial removal, but not long term maintenance.
Because of the slopes and the need to maneuver around trees, I am fairly sure a conventional CUT would not be a good choice (although a PTO driven chipper would be nice).
I have looked at Ventrac, but am concerned about the price and the ground clearance. To get a Ventrac with rough cut mower, loader, etc is quite a lot - and they do not have a grapple for the loader which I think I would need a lot.
That has lead me to Power Trac, which seems to have what I need at a better price. I am able to maintain the equipment myself, as I am mechanically inclined. However, I have some specific questions about operation on slopes:
- Would a 425 or 1430 be able to handle 15-25 degrees, with an occasional 30 degree slope safely?
- Does PT offer, or has anyone put duals on a 425 or 1430 (I know the extreme slope mowers have them standard)
- What slope are the engines rated for?
Also, for the specific application of cutting the larger honeysuckle close to the ground, I would be interested in either buying or fabricating something like a tree saw that fits on skid steers (e.g. Turbo Saw). The largest that the honeysuckle can get is around 4" in diameter. It should be able to cut the stem flush with the ground, so a blade similar to a stump grinder blade turned 90 degrees, that can tolerate that would be ideal. Has anybody found or thought or created something like that?
Thanks in advance!