ventrac brush mower review?

[ArlyA]

I have a 73 hp kioti with a 7 foot titan rotary cutter. But the terrain here is crazy and there were places that it just wouldnt work. I bought the Ventrac because my wife was asking me to teach her to use the 7 foot cutter. I just was not comfortable with that so I found a used Ventrac at about 60% the cost of new and added the brush cutter. It is not cheap. But I found that it could do far more than I expected. 9 feet tall blackberry thicket? Nothing at all. Easy1 inch saplings? Childs play.

I’ve never used a DR mower or tow behind “trail mower” so I have valid way to compare. I can tell you that I was looking at. 7 foot flail mower on a boom for my tractor and havnt had it cross my mind since I got the ventrac. Check this video. Not one of mine but it shows it very well.

We have used the DR tow behind mower. They are not worth anything after that experince.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

What size property is it?

It would be 10-20 acres

 

[WoodChuckDad]

10-20 acres, I think your best bang for the buck is a traditional tractor, depending on what you want to do and what your terrain is like. If you are dead flat and dry then a skid steer would be a great tool but it is still hard to beat a traditional tractor. The Ventrac is more expensive until you get into a larger tractor. But there are places where a Ventrac shines.
Personally I wish I had bought a Ventrac 7 years ago. I could have kept up with the brush and never let it come back. It would have been easier in the long run. even if I only cut it on e a year , it would have been easy in comparison to reclaiming heavy growth

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

10-20 acres, I think your best bang for the buck is a traditional tractor, depending on what you want to do and what your terrain is like. If you are dead flat and dry then a skid steer would be a great tool but it is still hard to beat a traditional tractor. The Ventrac is more expensive until you get into a larger tractor. But there are places where a Ventrac shines.
Personally I wish I had bought a Ventrac 7 years ago. I could have kept up with the brush and never let it come back. It would have been easier in the long run. even if I only cut it on e a year , it would have been easy in comparison to reclaiming heavy growth

Already have the 48hp TYM... But I like the ground prep and seeding tools for the Ventrac, and mower capabilities. Some places I dont want to drive a 5000 pound tractor

 

[2manyrocks]

It is tough to swallow Ventrac prices compared to any compact diesel tractor unless you simply need the slope mowing capacity of the Ventrac. I suspect the difference in pricing has to do with the volume of units sold. If they dont sell in large volumes new, then there would be less used units for sale as well.

Besides Ventrac, Power Trac seems to have a good following of enthusiastic users on TBN.

There are a lot of hilly areas in the US. I don’t get why slope mowers are such a niche market unless major tractor makers see them as a source of greater liability risk and are happy to let someone else have it.

 

[ArlyA]

It is tough to swallow Ventrac prices compared to any compact diesel tractor unless you simply need the slope mowing capacity of the Ventrac. I suspect the difference in pricing has to do with the volume of units sold. If they dont sell in large volumes new, then there would be less used units for sale as well.

Besides Ventrac, Power Trac seems to have a good following of enthusiastic users on TBN.

There are a lot of hilly areas in the US. I don’t get why slope mowers are such a niche market unless major tractor makers see them as a source of greater liability risk and are happy to let someone else have it.

Which one of the three companys was closed for a whiel? Which manufacture might last the longest is some basics questions. I see Power Trac has some nice rough mowers.

 

[2manyrocks]

I don’t know about manufacturer stability.

One PT member here just had PT rebuild a hydraulic steering cylinder. Had to pay shipping and yet he paid less than what I paid locally to have a steering cylinder rebuilt on my tractor.

I think Moss Road has transported his PT425 in the back of a full size truck. Not sure a Ventrac would fit. The Ventrac diesel is going to outlast a small gas engine, but you could drop in a replacement gas engine. Ventrac prices seem higher to me. PT uses hydraulic to drive its brush cutter v belts on the Ventrac.

it would be interesting to see a head to head comparison.

 

[ArlyA]

Seems there are plenty of diesel Ventrac out there FS and I just looked at one with a replaced engine in it so maybe they're not trouble free.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

You have steiner as well which I believe was bought by bobcat and is being rebranded as bobcat so they will be entering the market now.

As I understand it. Steiner was the original. It was sold and the steiner family founded ventrac. Ventrac was sold to Toro with Steiner family members still involved in operation and I think still having some ownership interest

Steiner brand continued and was just recently purchased by bobcat.

The Ventrac is darned expensive. And implements are way up there too. I will be buying other implements. Right now I only have tough cut and the smaller blower. I’d like a stump grinder and power rake and a few other items. But every time I think I’ve saved enough, something comes up. Like new fences, etc.

 

[2manyrocks]

I hardly see any used Ventrac, steiners or pt for sale in Middle Tennessee.

As for reliability, I would ask the TBN members who use these brands about their experience. The responses so far in the thread you started seem focused on what the machine will do and not about what mechanical problems they have experienced.

If buying used, it would be good to know what common troubles to look for.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Seems there are plenty of diesel Ventrac out there FS and I just looked at one with a replaced engine in it so maybe they're not trouble free.

My ventrac had 2048 hours when I bought it. It seems to be running strong although there is a wet spot on the radiator. I’m sure that is pricey.

 

[ArlyA]

You have steiner as well which I believe was bought by bobcat and is being rebranded as bobcat so they will be entering the market now.

As I understand it. Steiner was the original. It was sold and the steiner family founded ventrac. Ventrac was sold to Toro with Steiner family members still involved in operation and I think still having some ownership interest

Steiner brand continued and was just recently purchased by bobcat.

The Ventrac is darned expensive. And implements are way up there too. I will be buying other implements. Right now I only have tough cut and the smaller blower. I’d like a stump grinder and power rake and a few other items. But every time I think I’ve saved enough, something comes up. Like new fences, etc.

WEST FARGO, N. D. – Doosan Bobcat announced plans to acquire the assets of the BOB-CAT Mowers, and the Steiner and Ryan brands of ground care equipment from Schiller Grounds Care. The transaction is expected to close by Dec. 31, 2019, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

 

[2manyrocks]

Doosan could certainly make diesel powered articulating machines similar to Steiner at competitive prices and support them through their Bobcat dealership network. But has that happened in the last 4 years?

Answer Bobcat prototype in development to be released maybe mid2024

 

[ArlyA]

Doosan could certainly make diesel powered articulating machines at competitive prices and support them through their Bobcat dealership network. But has that happened in the last 4 years?

A buddy of ours worked as a mechanical engineer for Doosand at North Dakota's main plant. In speaking with him, we wouldn't purchase a BC.

 

[2manyrocks]

If they totally discontinue Steiner, what happens to Steiner parts and service?

 

[2manyrocks]

I'll add this thought. Maybe the most time/cost effective trail mower I have is a 1980s gravely walk behind with a electric start Kohler engine, dual bar tread wheels, a 30 inch brush mower and a sulky to sit on. I paid something like $1,000 for one in running condition. Although it's possible to mow hilly areas as a walk behind, 30" is too narrow to mow anything like a field and pushing through a lot of brush is a real physical workout. But if all you need to do is to periodically mow a relatively narrow walking trail that hasn't gotten too overgrown, it can get that job done.

 

[ArlyA]

I'll add this thought. Maybe the most time/cost effective trail mower I have is a 1980s gravely walk behind with a electric start Kohler engine, dual bar tread wheels, a 30 inch brush mower and a sulky to sit on. I paid something like $1,000 for one in running condition. Although it's possible to mow hilly areas as a walk behind, 30" is too narrow to mow anything like a field and pushing through a lot of brush is a real physical workout. But if all you need to do is to periodically mow a relatively narrow walking trail that hasn't gotten too overgrown, it can get that job done.

Way to small for our trails

 

[2manyrocks]

Trained army of locusts?

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Way to small for our trails

What are the conditions and type of vegetation you are cutting?

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Already have the 48hp TYM... But I like the ground prep and seeding tools for the Ventrac, and mower capabilities. Some places I dont want to drive a 5000 pound tractor

That being the case, and aside from the sticker shock, I think you would love it.