Planning a PT-425

[BigDaddyEureka]

Been reading the forum here for a while but ready for a first post now - hi Everyone!

We're starting a new project...a 1-2 acre orchard / park...and that's a bit more work than I really want to do by hand!

Looked at Deere, Kubota and Massey seriously...not many Kioti dealers around here...and all of them left me thinking "But the PT seems like a better idea." So we're heading that way. (That and the Deere and Kubota dealers could be described as "customer hostile" unless you're there to spend twice as much as the PT with the tools. Local dealers don't really cater to the little guys around here...is that a universal thing?)

Initial plan is for the bulk material bucket, the swivel post hole digger, the fertilizer / salt spreader, and the mini hoe to do the initial work around our place. Planning to get the snow blade to make that job a lot less of a hassle in the future too. Open to suggestion on other things we should be planning for, either now or down the later.

I've got a Deere Z425 zero turn for mowing for now, but down the line once the trees get going or when the Deere craps out I might look at their finish mower. Anyone using that? How's it working for you?

 

[SpringHollow]

Welcome to the forum. There are lots of very nice helpful people here. I find pallet forks and lifting boom to be extremely useful. Depending on where you live, shipping can get expensive if splitting your purchases up into multiple purchases.

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN!

 

[MossRoad]

Get the pallet forks!

They are inexpensive and really handy.

 

[m5040]

I would make a lift boom utilizing the forks. It will end up being a little heavier but with the money you save I would look at a grapple bucket instead of just a plain bucket. Then you could move logs and brush without leaving the seat. All depends on how willing to compromise with the reduced lift capacity for each.

 

[ernemats]

Been reading the forum here for a while but ready for a first post now - hi Everyone!

We're starting a new project...a 1-2 acre orchard / park...and that's a bit more work than I really want to do by hand!

Looked at Deere, Kubota and Massey seriously...not many Kioti dealers around here...and all of them left me thinking "But the PT seems like a better idea." So we're heading that way. (That and the Deere and Kubota dealers could be described as "customer hostile" unless you're there to spend twice as much as the PT with the tools. Local dealers don't really cater to the little guys around here...is that a universal thing?)

Initial plan is for the bulk material bucket, the swivel post hole digger, the fertilizer / salt spreader, and the mini hoe to do the initial work around our place. Planning to get the snow blade to make that job a lot less of a hassle in the future too. Open to suggestion on other things we should be planning for, either now or down the later.

I've got a Deere Z425 zero turn for mowing for now, but down the line once the trees get going or when the Deere craps out I might look at their finish mower. Anyone using that? How's it working for you?

 

[ernemats]

Welcome, Where are you located?

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

Welcome, Where are you located?

I'm in Central Illinois.

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

I would make a lift boom utilizing the forks. It will end up being a little heavier but with the money you save I would look at a grapple bucket instead of just a plain bucket. Then you could move logs and brush without leaving the seat. All depends on how willing to compromise with the reduced lift capacity for each.

Interesting idea! I almost went with the 4-in-1 bucket but decided that I was going to be moving a LOT of mulch and that extra capacity would help.

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

Get the pallet forks!

They are inexpensive and really handy.

That's a good point. Not a huge purchase in the face of everything else and it's certainly cheaper than a separate fork lift!