Avant 420 demo

Mcfarland tree · Apr 29, 2014

I was able to use the avant 420 for a couple hours on Friday. It rained all day and the salesman still drove a couple of hours each way to let me use the machine around the grounds of our shop.
The ROPs has top to keep the rain off with a plastic window in it so you can look up. A nice feature when working with trees.
It has 1 front wheel drive and the opposite rear wheel drive until you flip an electric switch to engage the full for wheel drive. We kept it in full for wheel drive since I got stuck slipping on the wet grass on a small depression in the lawn with the bucket full of asphalt millings. It was teetering on the two none drive wheels not allowing the drive tires to get enough traction. Flip the switch and I was moving again no problem. This was my first time on an articulated machine so I have no idea if this function is worth while as I have not seen this mentioned with a pt

This thing has a seat warmer. It was 45 degrees and raining. I used it

It weighs about 2000 pounds and is rated to lift 1200. We were able to load several oak logs 10 ft long and 18 inch diameter onto a trailer without to much trouble. This thing will lift the back end off of the ground without hesitation if you try to lift more. The salesman said there are optional counter weights available. The extendable boom was nice to push the logs across the trailer after they were set on the deck.

The forward and reverse peddles are set on the right side and close together. It was easy to have your foot on both at the same time if you are wearing boots.

It is a sharp looking machine and we did no lawn damage fully loaded and driving in figure eights which is why I am looking at the articulated loaders. I have used skid loaders with tires and tracks and have done turf damage with both but this was just impressive in the wet ground and grass.
I am concerned with the plastic body on this. I am quit sure we will have the panels cracked and broken before too long even doing our best to be carful. We are in the brush and thicket too often to say it won't be a problem.
I did take some photos and short movies with my phone I will try to see if I can figure out how to get uploaded
Also unit with bucket and forks almost 25k
Waiting to see the power trac

cqaigy2 · Apr 30, 2014

Thanks for the write up. It will be interesting to see how you compare the two machines.

sirmombo · Apr 30, 2014

If the Avant 635 wasn't more than twice price of the PT 1430, I would have probably bought it. It looked more refined with better ergonomics. The PT looks like a bunch of off the shelf parts bolted together. Although there is a JCB dealer nearby that sells and services the Avant, I was more concerned about service on it. Any competent mechanic can work on a PT and most of the parts are available from a lot of sources. Nearly all of the parts would be easy to find even if PT went out of business. The Avant has a Kubota engine, but most of the parts seem to be Avant specific. I was also concerned with the plastic body parts.

I am very happy with the 1430. It pushes large amounts of brush, loads large enough of manure (even frozen), lifts large trees, and moves huge piles of snow. I was surprised how good the traction is in snow. A couple of wires broke running to the starter solenoid and the throttle cable had to be replaced. The PT is extremely easy to service and these issues were easy to fix.

KentT · Apr 30, 2014

Mcfarland tree said:
It has 1 front wheel drive and the opposite rear wheel drive until you flip an electric switch to engage the full for wheel drive. We kept it in full for wheel drive since I got stuck slipping on the wet grass on a small depression in the lawn with the bucket full of asphalt millings. It was teetering on the two none drive wheels not allowing the drive tires to get enough traction. Flip the switch and I was moving again no problem. This was my first time on an articulated machine so I have no idea if this function is worth while as I have not seen this mentioned with a pt

Interesting....

The PTs have full-time 4WD, that actually functions more like all-wheel drive in a car instead of mechanical 4-wheel drive. I'm not sure when the 2wd mode would be preferable unless perhaps on pavement or hard surfaces. I've found no down-side to the PT system as far as traction, turf damage, etc.

You'll likely find the PT to be a bit "crude" in comparison to the Avant. They're simple machines, made of heavy steel plate, that just seem to work, and work quite well...

BobRip · May 1, 2014

We PT owners are of course a little biased towards the PT. I have often said it was the best money I ever spent. It will be good to hear yours PT review since you don't have a horse is this race.

MuncyBob · May 2, 2014

As cool as they look, the plastic body would be a deal breaker for me. I take my little PT in places I would hesitate to take something made of plastic. You could have a real nice PT package for $25k.

cqaigy2 · May 3, 2014

Farmall140 said:
As cool as they look, the plastic body would be a deal breaker for me. I take my little PT in places I would hesitate to take something made of plastic. You could have a real nice PT package for $25k.

Like the time i was backing up at a good clip into a good sized tree and knocked a good and dead limb loose, that was sitting a good ways up the tree. Landed on the rops and gave me a good scare. But all was good, including me and the pt. I'm trying to be more positive in my posts. But the point is the pt is a little primitive but well built.

BobRip · May 4, 2014

cqaigy2 said:
Like the time i was backing up at a good clip into a good sized tree and knocked a good and dead limb loose, that was sitting a good ways up the tree. Landed on the rops and gave me a good scare. But all was good, including me and the pt. I'm trying to be more positive in my posts. But the point is the pt is a little primitive but well built.

Primitive is not the word I would use. It is appropriately built for working in a tough tree infested environment.

woodlandfarms · May 5, 2014

The issue of plastics has been addressed a number of times on the forums of the majors as they have switched most body components over.

Having read the notes, I personally don't feel it is a bad thing. Both damage about the same, with plastic having a bit better time at not coming back dented, but of course irreparable if torn. Many reasons I would not have an Avanti, but the plastic body is not one of them.