In the market for a Ventrac

[DrTron]

Hello Everybody!

I just wanted to say "hello" and mention that I'll probably buy a Ventrac soon. We just moved to the States, bought a nice property and will obviously need something to help us keep it in shape.
We only have about 2 acres of lawn, but 5 more of woods where the tractor will hopefully be useful, too. I was thinking about a 3400, but my dealer advised against it as it is not that much cheaper than a 4500 and will probably be discontinued soon. So I've had my eyes on a 4500P with the 72" rear discharge deck (for mulching). The dealer seems to have a 4500Z demo he wants to sell, though. I guess I'll have to take a look at it.

Any insights on 4500P vs 4500Z? I really won't need the propane option.

Yours,
Michael

 

[kevin37b]

Talk to Moss road .OOPS he is PT .

 

[MountainBuck]

My dealer also pushed the Kubota engine. One of the techs even dissed the Kawasaki by complaining about the DFI.

I have had the P for about 2 years and while I have had some issues, none of them have been the Kawasaki engine. I do give it the best oil and only Ethanol Free gas.

The Kawasaki engine is the only engine that is rated for 30 degrees continuous use. So that may also be a factor for you.

 

[johara1]

My dealer also pushed the Kubota engine. One of the techs even dissed the Kawasaki by complaining about the DFI.

I have had the P for about 2 years and while I have had some issues, none of them have been the Kawasaki engine. I do give it the best oil and only Ethanol Free gas.

The Kawasaki engine is the only engine that is rated for 30 degrees continuous use. So that may also be a factor for you.

I would not worry about the gas, it's injected. only issue I had was a leaking water hose in between the rubber and the braid. Cheap to run and powerful..... jim

 

[MossRoad]

Talk to Moss road .OOPS he is PT .

He can still talk to me. I just won't be able to help on a Ventrac decision. :laughing:

 

[4570Man]

I’ve always thought these were cool and the king of slope mowers but if you didn’t need that feature what’s appealing to you about them? Until the slope gets steep a regular zeros turn would eat these mowing and a tractor would eat them in versatility. They’re a good slope mower and appear to be a pretty good sidewalk snow cleaning machine but besides that not a very good all around machine.

 

[MossRoad]

I致e always thought these were cool and the king of slope mowers but if you didn稚 need that feature what痴 appealing to you about them? Until the slope gets steep a regular zeros turn would eat these mowing and a tractor would eat them in versatility. They?*e a good slope mower and appear to be a pretty good sidewalk snow cleaning machine but besides that not a very good all around machine.

I've always thought of them more as a groundskeeping/turf kind of machine for maintaining nice lawns, golf courses, campuses, office parks, etc....

However, I think Ventracs are much more versatile than a zero-turn. They are more expensive, too. I think a zero turn is the least versatile. What implements are available for zero turns?

Ventrac has a weight transfer system for stability. Here's a link to all the attachments available.

Ventrac Attachments Lineup

 

[4570Man]

I've always thought of them more as a groundskeeping/turf kind of machine for maintaining nice lawns, golf courses, campuses, office parks, etc....

However, I think Ventracs are much more versatile than a zero-turn. They are more expensive, too. I think a zero turn is the least versatile. What implements are available for zero turns?

Ventrac has a weight transfer system for stability. Here's a link to all the attachments available.

Ventrac Attachments Lineup

I never claimed the zero turn was versatile. I do think that within their limits they’re the fastest mower around. Since a mower deck was the only attachment the op mentioned buying mowing was a fair assumption on my part. If the game was mowing hills over 20 degrease or mowing tough grass and the ventrac has a flail mower or a rough cut deck it would be the winner. On a more realistic comparison of cutting yard grass with a commercial zero turn and the ventrac the zero turn wins. A small tractor is way more versatile than the Ventrac. The ventrac is very limited in loader use with the short height and the hydraulic drive implements are more convenient but $$$. Another problem is you don’t have the option of borrowing, renting, or used implements on the Ventrac where the tractor does. I think a 3 point hitch sucks but it does have that going for it. The tractor would use most of those implements better and cheaper. I live in the self proclaimed golf capital of the world and admittedly don’t hang around the golf courses but they mostly use dedicated turf care equipment not Ventracs.

 

[johara1]

I had a zero turn a Ferris and they are great till you do wet grass on a hill where at the bottom is no place to land. You try to steer them when they slide you are out of control, the Ventrac you don't even give it a thought. Your right the little bucket doesn't lift very high, but I don't own a dump truck either. I sure make short work of what the triaxle dumped off for me. I even grind stumps, plow snow, cut grass and I sure don't have hydraulic drive stuff.
You bring your zero turn around and cut my grass, I have a long chain and toilet paper for you to wipe with after I drag you out..... I upset a a ventrac when it was wet, no big deal set it up and go again.... it never hurt it... LOL... jim

 

[4570Man]

If I can’t cut it with my Grasshopper and bar tires than it doesn’t need cut. I’ll eat the Ventracs lunch on regular grass. I never claimed the Ventrac wasn’t a good slope motor because that’s one of the few thing they excel at. How much is your stump grinder? The ones I’ve seen for a skid steer are $5,000. Not a very practical attachment for occasional use.