A PT-1445?

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Thank you for the advice. You can still tip the machine going up and down hill, when you turn up at the top. I know. It's almost happened to me.

Hey Peter, did you ever get any pictures of your 1445? I just really want to see some pics of one because I haven't really seen any pics of a 1445 (other than on PT site, and brochure)

 

[Rivco]

Thank you for the advice. You can still tip the machine going up and down hill, when you turn up at the top. I know. It's almost happened to me.

Hey Peter, did you ever get any pictures of your 1445? I just really want to see some pics of one because I haven't really seen any pics of a 1445 (other than on PT site, and brochure)

I've been following your posts...and I'm confused. You say that you and your dad are mainly mowing private residences, and you mow one property that might have an incline of 30 to 40 degrees. Why would your dad spend $32,000.00 plus attachments on a slope mower when he only has a few property maintenance contracts. (doesn't make sense ! ). Also you just posted earlier that you / your dad lost the one job that required a slope mower. Now you are interested in a 1445. If you need the lift capacity......stick with your dad's John Deere.

My first PT was a 180, I now own a 2425.( I use it in residential construction...and for my uses I do not need a larger machine!! ) The only reason I went with the 2425 was for the 7" lift HT. The 180, 422, and 425's are very strong and capable machines for general use purposes.

It sounds to me... like you are not sure what size machine you and your dad need. I would suggest that you take that trip to Tazewell VA. and start out by test driving the 180 and work your way to the 1850.
I hate to pull a reality check on you... but I have to call it the way I see it. Maybe you could get your dad to chime in here... and he might have a better idea about what size machine you two really need !!. Best of luck in what ever choice your dad makes.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

You see Rivco, were looking into Power Tracs as an all around replacement for our John Deere 5310 because the 5310 is just too big of tractor for us. Work is picking up, but the sizes of our jobs is not. We may even sell the 5310 if this continues. If we really need the 5310 then I we wouldn't be looking into Power Tracs and I wouldn't be on this PT forum.

We've had that land with the 40 degree hill since July last year. We had tried several different ways to mow. We had not one idea had to suceesfully do it ourselves. We ended up using one of those KUTKWICK mowers (which I hated) that we were able to use for awhile. So after that ordeal, I went out on a mission here on the Outernet back in early March in pursuit of a Slope Mowing machine that could do more and was better than the KUTKWICK. Thanks to you guys and this Forum, Power Trac was the one. After a lot of deciding and research, we settled on the 1850 Slope Mower.

But a week ago, he land was sold (we were mowing for the Realty as it has been for sale since we started mowing it) and now we don't really need the Slope Mowing capabilities (although the sale has not yet gone through, it probably will) But it's still about 3 weeks before we head to Tazewell so we have plenty of time to research and do other stuff. The trip will be the deciding point, too

 

[Bob999]

We ended up using one of those KUTKWICK mowers (which I hated) that we were able to use for awhile.

I would be interested in the reasons you disliked the KUTKWICK mower. What model were you using and what was your experience with it?

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

I would be interested in the reasons you disliked the KUTKWICK mower. What model were you using and what was your experience with it?

Bob, we were using the SuperSlopeMaster machine. We had tried the same model machine before it they were okay. This one we did not like. Whenever you mowed across a slope there was too much weight on the front and the machine would start to turn downhill This machine is rated to 40 degrees but it felt like at some points it was tipping slightly (but maybe thats just us). For ho big of deck is on it (72") and what it's rated to mow (40 degrees) and also for cutting high grass and brush, with only 38hp Yanmar Diesel, it seemed underpowered and it would bog down and you had to go extremely slow You also could not put any attachments on it like you can the 1850. Nor did it have or could have a Front Loader. Overall, It got the job done but it was not the machine for us. Power Trac is the way to go

 

[Bob999]

For ho big of deck is on it (72") and what it's rated to mow (40 degrees) and also for cutting high grass and brush, with only 38hp Yanmar Diesel, it seemed underpowered and it would bog down and you had to go extremely slow

I will be interested in your assessment of the power of the PT 1845/1850 as compared to the Kutkwick. I say this because the Kutkwick is a 3100 lb unit while the PT, with mower, is considerably heavier and when compared to the 1845 the PT has only 7 more hp and the same size deck.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Well, the Kutkwick is lighter but a good deal of weight is on the front end, plus Casters on the front so when mowing across a hill the machine wants to turn that way. The Power Tracs seem a lot better because i looks like a lot of weight is distributed the length of the machine if not than the rear weighted more. But the Power Tracs articulate instead of the Zero Turn on the Kutkwick (which was one nice thing on it) so the front won't always be trying to turn downhill. The versatility and Slope Mowing (1850) of the Power Trac 1445 or TSM Slope Mower will be the biggest advantage.
But if the PT won't be any better than the Kutkwick (yeah right) than there's gonna be one useless articulating tractor and two Very unhappy Landscapers (but I doubt it)
But taking the trip to Tazewell will help us find the right Power Trac. Hopefully by then the stitches (first time in my life as of yesterday) will be healed up so I can drive a PT!!!

 

[Bob999]

Well, the Kutkwick is lighter but a good deal of weight is on the front end, plus Casters on the front so when mowing across a hill the machine wants to turn that way. The Power Tracs seem a lot better because i looks like a lot of weight is distributed the length of the machine if not than the rear weighted more. But the Power Tracs articulate instead of the Zero Turn on the Kutkwick (which was one nice thing on it) so the front won't always be trying to turn downhill. The versatility and Slope Mowing (1850) of the Power Trac 1445 or TSM Slope Mower will be the biggest advantage.
But if the PT won't be any better than the Kutkwick (yeah right) than there's gonna be one useless articulating tractor and two Very unhappy Landscapers (but I doubt it)
But taking the trip to Tazewell will help us find the right Power Trac. Hopefully by then the stitches (first time in my life as of yesterday) will be healed up so I can drive a PT!!!

My experience with a conventional zero turn mower is that they are difficult to use working cross slope because they need to be front heavy to avoid flipping when working up slope. I also understand your comments about the multiple uses of the PT as compared to the single purpose of the Kutkwick mower. However, from the specifications the Kutkwick and PT slope mowers appear to be similarly powered when adjustments are made for weight and deck size.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

My experience with a conventional zero turn mower is that they are difficult to use working cross slope because they need to be front heavy to avoid flipping when working up slope. I also understand your comments about the multiple uses of the PT as compared to the single purpose of the Kutkwick mower. However, from the specifications the Kutkwick and PT slope mowers appear to be similarly powered when adjustments are made for weight and deck size.

Well the Kutkwick had too much weight on the front!
Maybe that machine had something wrong with it. It was kinda old, and had a lot of hours and had seen a lot of commercial work. It belonged to a good friend of my dad's who used it but he didn't really use it much then so he let us use it.
One thing Bob, I've heard it takes most of the 1845's power to run a deck and climb a steep slope. Have you had any instences with the 1845 bogging down?
Anyone who also has an 1850 has it had any instences of bogging down?

 

[Bob999]

One thing Bob, I've heard it takes most of the 1845's power to run a deck and climb a steep slope. Have you had any instences with the 1845 bogging down?

I posted earlier that it takes ALL the available power to run the deck and SLOWLY climb a steep slope with my 1845.