Buying Advice New Guy

[ScoopCzar]

Hi. I'm planning to buy a PT425 within the next 9-12 months and am trying to learn all I can before I take the plunge. I'm glad this PT forum is available as a resource.

 

[creekbend]

:tractor::welcome:

 

[woodlandfarms]

Buy a 1430

Can you tell us a bit more about you, your property and what you want to accomplish? 425 is a great machine.

Carl

 

[ScoopCzar]

I have virtually no experience with tractors other than an old Gravely that my dad owned when I was growing up. I own a few investment properties that I am fixing up and renting or selling and plan to do more of that. My biggest property is about 50 acres on a mountain in Western NC--a family place, not something I'd ever sell. I plan to use the PT for gravel road maintenance, brush hogging, trail building, landscaping, and some mowing and gardening. I have made the pilgrimage to Tazewell and demo'ed a 425 with mini-hoe, brush cutter set up with finish mower head, and 10 cu bucket. I've been reading up and watching videos online for a couple of years. Next summer, most likely, I plan to buy one (unless I get convinced something else would be better). I decided to go ahead and sign up on TBN so I could run some of my ideas by you guys to see what you thought of them. Thanks for the welcome!

 

[ScoopCzar]

Specifically, as a starting collection, I'm thinking of buying
the 425 with bar tires,
the mini-hoe plus thumb,
the 5 cu rock bucket plus teeth,
the brush cutter plus finish mowing head,
and the forks.
Also on my list is the snow/dirt blade with cutter bar and wheel kit, but stuff adds up fast and I have a good drag for the road made of steel rails and tractor blades, so I may hold off on the PT blade setup for a while.
I'm also planning to buy the following 5'x12' trailer from Lowe's:
Shop Carry-On Trailer 5' x 12' Mesh Floor Utility Trailer with Gate at Lowes.com

I'm thinking that I can do a lot of things with those attachments. I may add a post-hole digger before long also.

Any advice based on what I've laid out so far? Carl, I'd be happy to hear your pitch for the 1430.

 

[woodlandfarms]

As my mopar friends would say there is no replacement for displacement. There is very little a 425 can't do. It is just how long do you want to do it. I have 40 acres and I know from clearing my land it would have been a long long time with a 425. There are some nice used 1430 around. My opinion is that a 425 is good for 5 acres and general maintenance but to get into land clearing a larger machine would be a better bet.

But remember that the pt is pretty marginal in ground engagement. It doesn't really plow or bull doze.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I looked at you order...

You are going to want a grapple. I would reconsider the back hoe. And get a bigger trailer.

I have had my pt for 5 years now and still have 3 attachments I lust for. No problem taking your time to get what you want. Look at Craigslist for implements. You can adopt many to the pt pretty easily.

Oh also I am not sure about the fine cut heads.

 

[ScoopCzar]

Thanks for the feedback.

I think you're right -- I should get a bigger trailer. I'm going to consider the 6'x12' from Lowes but I'll also see what's available used when the time comes.

I don't think I need a true backhoe and would rather opt for the lower center of gravity with the 425. My mountain land makes safety an bigger factor re tipping. One of my longer term investment properties is also 4 hilly acres. Plus I like the idea of moving the mini-hoe easily from one digging spot to the next without setting up a stationary backhoe.

The thumb is a cheap addition to the mini-hoe that will grapple stuff. So I'm thinking I'll see how far that takes me before I consider a grapple bucket.

I'm not planning to do massive clearing, so I think the smaller machine will work well for me. You can buy a number of attachments for the $6k difference between the 425 and the 1430.

You mentioned doubts about the fine cut heads. Do you think the hinged blade of the brush cutter does a good enough job on grass?

 

[KentT]

Thanks for the feedback.

I think you're right -- I should get a bigger trailer. I'm going to consider the 6'x12' from Lowes but I'll also see what's available used when the time comes.

I don't think I need a true backhoe and would rather opt for the lower center of gravity with the 425. My mountain land makes safety an bigger factor re tipping. One of my longer term investment properties is also 4 hilly acres. Plus I like the idea of moving the mini-hoe easily from one digging spot to the next without setting up a stationary backhoe.

The thumb is a cheap addition to the mini-hoe that will grapple stuff. So I'm thinking I'll see how far that takes me before I consider a grapple bucket.

I'm not planning to do massive clearing, so I think the smaller machine will work well for me. You can buy a number of attachments for the $6k difference between the 425 and the 1430.

You mentioned doubts about the fine cut heads. Do you think the hinged blade of the brush cutter does a good enough job on grass?

I have a 425 the grapple bucket, rock bucket, LM bucket and mini-hoe with thumb... in addition to a few more attachments.

IMO, I'd get the grapple bucket and not get the rock bucket. The grapple bucket is the same bucket size as the rock bucket, and has longer teeth on it. It will dig even better than the rock bucket, and there is simply no substitute for the grapple when it comes to moving brush and debris. It's even great for clearing the old garden plants out of the garden in fall.

Because the minihoe is on about a 4 ft boom, it will not lift nearly as much weight as the grapple bucket due to the different leverage -- in addition to the fact that it can't be used to scoop up debris like the bucket.

As far as mowing with the rough cut mower, it does a decent job on long grass like fescue, if you keep the blades sharp. However, because it spins much slower than the finish mower, it wil not do nearly as good a job when it comes to fine, lawn-type grasses like bluegrass.

 

[ScoopCzar]

I have a 425 the grapple bucket, rock bucket, LM bucket and mini-hoe with thumb... in addition to a few more attachments.

IMO, I'd get the grapple bucket and not get the rock bucket. The grapple bucket is the same bucket size as the rock bucket, and has longer teeth on it. It will dig even better than the rock bucket, and there is simply no substitute for the grapple when it comes to moving brush and debris. It's even great for clearing the old garden plants out of the garden in fall.

Because the minihoe is on about a 4 ft boom, it will not lift nearly as much weight as the grapple bucket due to the different leverage -- in addition to the fact that it can't be used to scoop up debris like the bucket.

As far as mowing with the rough cut mower, it does a decent job on long grass like fescue, if you keep the blades sharp. However, because it spins much slower than the finish mower, it wil not do nearly as good a job when it comes to fine, lawn-type grasses like bluegrass.

I appreciate all the good advice. I can see that I'll want that finish blade disk for the brush cutter. A couple questions about the grapple bucket. Are the teeth removable/replaceable? It looks like they are in the picture. Can the grapple be removed? Does it ever get in the way of what you'd want to do with just the bucket?