Same old story: Power Trac vs Ventrac

[v4brad]

I have a half acre lot with a gentle 4% slope in the front yard that turns into an 18 degree (approx 32%) slope in the back. The slope levels off at the bottom right at the edge of the property so it is sloped all the way down and from side to side. Think of it as a flat slab that is tilted 18 degrees. I have a few huge oak trees that generate bushels and bushels of leaves. I moved into this place last August so we've been through one Autumn and I don't plan on going through another without some serious power equipment to take care of the leaves. I did a little research and bought a John Deere x540 because it had a differential lock. It did fine going up and down the hill and even across the slope as long as conditions were perfect. Perfect means dry, not towing a load, not driving in leaves or any vegetation. I purchased a wonderful Craftsman leaf collection and chipper machine that you tow behind the mower and attaches via a 6" flexible hose connected to the side discharge chute. I got the x540 stuck several times and had to use my chain and come-along to get it out.

I decided I needed a 4WD tractor so I sold the x540 and found a JD X729 at the area JD dealer. The salesman told me the x729 wouldn't take a FEL (even though I'd seen one on YouTube) and that a 45 loader was very hard to get as they were not being made by JD any more. So okay, let's look at the 1023E. Rusty from James River Equipment brought one out to my place at 7:00am and we tried it on the slope. It was very unstable on the side slope - a little push and it would have gone over. The 1023E was fourteen grand with the FEL and 54" mower. Not a bad price but the tractor was not meant for slopes.

I was told by a friend to check out a Mahindra eMax as he thought they had a lower center of gravity than the John Deere. I was quoted over sixteen grand on the 22. Fourteen was pushing it to do some mowing, leaf collection and a little digging on my half acre so I kept lookinig.

Found the Ventrac online and loved the 3400 diesel on paper but it was quoted at over nineteen by the dealer. The 3400L was over 17 and a 3121 was quoted at fifteen plus. Then I found the Power Trac and it looks like the price might be right for the 422 but I haven't found out much about it doing slopes. Bob on this forum said in a post that the PT425 was a good mower but the Ventrac was better, that the 425 was good on slopes but the Ventrac was better.

Tazewell is a 4 hour drive from here so it wouldn't be too much trouble to get over there and see one but I'd be pleased to hear from any who have experience with the PT422 on slopes. Thank you in advance for your responses.

v4Brad
Tractorless at the moment

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

 

[Marks481]

1. I have a 22 degree slope in my back yard, which I mow across, and sometimes feels like I am on the limits of stability. In my case it is only a short section, if I was going to mow something that continued sloping down a further distance, than I think I would want a wider stance (like Kent now has on his PT425).

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/309538-425-w-1430-wheelmotor-boxes.html

2. Leaf and clipping collection. No stock leaf collectors available for the mower. I have pulled a lawn sweeper around, but don't do that any more as half the advantage of this thing is the ninja -like quickness, and it is hard to back out of corners when you jackknife the trailer. You can get some vacuum trailers, which I have always sworn I was going to do when I lived in the land of oak trees (but don't need it now that I am back in the PNW among pine trees).

3. I have a PT422; if I was going to do it all over again, I would but a PT425. Worth the extra $2500 (actually $2000 when you see the PT425 comes with the $500 ROPS which is optional on the PT422)... it is not just 3 hp, but higher front end lift, better wheel motors, and double steering cylinders.

 

[cqaigy2]

Welcome to TBN.

I have a 422 because I live on a hillside and it's heavily timbered, so i need to be able to maneuver around some pretty small areas. I initially borrowed a kabota with a backhoe and front end loader. It did ok if i was very careful and extended the backhoe toward the uphill, but my Wife caught me on three wheels one to many times and nixed that. I don't worry at all with the 422, i may push it as far as slopes go, probably beyond the rating for the engine but it's only for a short period. I did spring for the ROPS I haven't rolled the tractor, but have had some largish, 6", limbs fall out of the trees from approximately 70 feet and land on it. Scared the crap out of me, thought a tree hit me, but no harm. I mostly use the rough cut mower and bucket. I use it to haul my firewood out of the woods too.

Good luck on your selection and feel free to keep us posted with your thoughts etc.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Ventrac is a great machine and handles slopes well. This said, it is just a mower. You get a 425 and you now have an fel and the option for lots of toys.

You should read up here, but Power-Trac has minor fit/finish issues. They have no dealer support. You deal directly with the factory and they are quite helpful. IMO the pti is the swiss army knife of the tractor world. It does everything, but none of it exceptionally well, most if it just really good.

Can't answer the comments on slope work but I am sure it is good, mine is rated at 45 so it won't really ever go over.

 

[MuncyBob]

I have the 422 and hardly a level spot on my property. For awhile I was very timid going across slopes, just felt like I was going to tip(never have!). Now some 750 hours later I tackle the slopes comfortably, many times on 3 wheels while mowing. It will drift a bit and I find myself having to back up and come across the slope again due to the drifting but it's no big deal. Once the fluids get hot you will lose some ability to go up slopes. I use to have to shut off the mower and even lift it to get up a slope. Experience has taught me which areas to cut when fluids are cool and even when I need to mow up a slope backwards.

I hardly ever rake leaves anymore(we have several large maples so lots of leaves), just mulch them good with the mower and the next day you don't see the debris and it helps the soil. If I was to buy again I would go for the 425 and the 60" mower deck. Find a reason to visit the area up here and you can mow my slopes for me

 

[v4brad]

Thanks everyone. I would love to mow your slopes Farmall, Maybe I can make a motorcycle trip out of it sometime.

Growing up on a farm in Idaho our "modern" tractors were John Deere 4020's, but we had three old tricycle tractors, a Farmall model H, a John Deere model B and the other one was a Case or Allis Chalmers, can't quite remember.

 

[MuncyBob]

I should probably change my name here as the Farmall 140 left the stable 2+ years ago. I hardly ever used it since getting the PT and figured it needed to go where it could be useful. I still regret selling it though as it was in very good condition.

 

[ponytug]

Isn't the first sign of recovery letting go? :thumbsup:

I still miss old companions. You spend a lot of time with them and certainly get to know them well.

Stay safe!

Peter

 

[v4brad]

I spent the night in Bluefield and will be going to Tazewell in an hour to see the Power Trac 422 and 425. Report to follow.
The Ventrac dealer is going to bring a 3000 series to my home for a demo soon and then it will be decision time.