425 versus typical skid steer

[familybowl]

I see almost every construction contractor has there own skid steer of some kind and always see someone zipping around on them. If I already have a decent mower for my seven acres which is mostly trees........ why wouldn't a skid steer do everything or more than a 425? I know the attatchments are more expensive and maybe they are little harder to put on but I don't think they are that much more difficult. Any comments?

 

[SnowRidge]

I think you are trying to compare apples to oranges. What is it you need to do on your seven acres, and what is the terrain like?

 

[Bob999]

I have a skid steer and a PT 1845. I consider the skidsteer unusable on turf because it will really tear up the ground if you do anything but move in a straight line.

On the other hand the skid steer is a much better digger and I much prefer it for snow clearing--the maneuverability with skid steering is great in tight places.

I find skid steer attachments easy to put on and you can get skid steers that have a hydraulic attachment that is comparable to the PT.

Generally skidsteers are considerably bigger and heavier than PT--and certainly that is true if you are comparing to the 425--which is a 1000 lb machine while all but the smallest skidsteers are 4000 lb +

 

[ponytug]

I agree with Bob.

They are very different animals. I have the 1445, which is closer to a skid steer (4000lbs, 45HP, 7' lift) than the 425, but even the 1445 is a long way from a skid steer.

Skid steers tend to have high lift, high power, especially high power hydraulic PTO/Aux, and are very compact. The downsides include their tendancy to tear up the ground, their high center of gravity, and general instability.

Skid steers also tend to be able to put all of their hydraulic horsepower to the task at hand, which gives them better dig in force, and better lift force. PT split the load between the PTO and the drive motor, so you will be able to do both. That is great for mowing on a hillside, but not so great if you want ultimate power to
a) dig in
b) drive an auger through rock
c) flip that boulder.
As an example, the 1445 has a 15gpm @3000psi PTO, which equates to about 27HP hydraulically, leaving 18HP +/- for drive horsepower, even at maximum hydraulic load.

But frankly, I wouldn't take a skid steer off of a basically level job site. The 1445 can climb 25-30 degrees (depending on traction) and can do a uturn on a 25 degree slope. I'm not saying that I find it relaxing(can you say "pucker factor"?), but the machine is rock solid and stable- which is why I bought the PT. If I can get the tractor out on the slope, I can get work done; if it sits in the barn, it might be great for impressing the neighbors, but it isn't earning its keep as a tool in my book. ("it" being a skid steer, D4, N-9, or that old Unimog.)

Just my $0.02...

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

A skid steer won't mow the lawn very well and a PT425 won't lift material over the top of a large dumpster. Different tools for different jobs. You should identifiy the jobs you have to do then get the machine that will do them. In some folk's case, that is two machines.

What do you need to do that would require a skidsteer?

 

[PTWannaHave]

Old thread, but a locally listed JD 315 skidsteer with low hours at a decent price got me comparing its functionality, cost with implements, to my planned PT1430 purchase...

I would not be using the PT for mowing (on my flat terrain) because:

- I find 60" mower is (relatively) expensive
- not expected to perform as good as a cut as a dedicated mower (designed for that task)
- Probably not smart to drive over septic with machine as heavy as PT1430

Most of my chores for the PT would be lifting and digging oriented, such as moving material, trenches, tilling, snow in the winter.

Not having owned or operated either type of machine, is it fair to say that in my case described above, the only advantage to the PT is not ripping up the ground/grass when manoeuvering? (Assume total purchase cost to be the same.)

Thank-you in advance for the input,

 

[MossRoad]

Old thread, but a locally listed JD 315 skidsteer with low hours at a decent price got me comparing its functionality, cost with implements, to my planned PT1430 purchase...

I would not be using the PT for mowing (on my flat terrain) because:

- I find 60" mower is (relatively) expensive
- not expected to perform as good as a cut as a dedicated mower (designed for that task)
- Probably not smart to drive over septic with machine as heavy as PT1430

Most of my chores for the PT would be lifting and digging oriented, such as moving material, trenches, tilling, snow in the winter.

Not having owned or operated either type of machine, is it fair to say that in my case described above, the only advantage to the PT is not ripping up the ground/grass when manoeuvering? (Assume total purchase cost to be the same.)

Thank-you in advance for the input,

You have to look at the tires on the 1430 to figure out how many PSI the machine will put on the lawn, or over the septic. My guess is a skid steer will sink in well before a PT of similar weight will sink in.

What you described above I would not consider "digging oriented". I would call that "material handling". There's a huge difference. I think a PT would run circles around a skid steer for moving material from point A to point B, tilling and moving snow. Trenching? What kind of trenching? A wheel trencher - the PT would be superior. A chain-type trencher, I can't say, but my guess is the PT chain-type trencher is cheaper. However, may not be as rugged. Bucket trenching, like backhoe? Now you're into some money for an attachment.

Again, I'd say a PT is more lawn and garden friendly than a skid steer. And way more versatile.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am all over my septic with no issues.

What does a skid steer have that a pt does not? Generally higher hydraulic rating. Ability to lift heavier higher. Ability to operate implements moving forward without going over top of the implement.

 

[PTWannaHave]

You have to look at the tires on the 1430 to figure out how many PSI the machine will put on the lawn, or over the septic. My guess is a skid steer will sink in well before a PT of similar weight will sink in.

Good point; a skidsteer of similar specs tends to be heavier, with less weight distribution. Apart from tearing grass during turns, it would also sink into soft ground sooner.

What you described above I would not consider "digging oriented". I would call that "material handling". There's a huge difference. I think a PT would run circles around a skid steer for moving material from point A to point B, tilling and moving snow.

Surprised here; I thought a PT and skidsteer would have been roughly equivalent for speed in accomplishing those tasks; both have QA plates operated from the driver's seat. I don't quite understand the PT advantage here.

Trenching? What kind of trenching? A wheel trencher - the PT would be superior. A chain-type trencher, I can't say, but my guess is the PT chain-type trencher is cheaper. However, may not be as rugged. Bucket trenching, like backhoe? Now you're into some money for an attachment.

Since I am not planning on a lot of trenching, I thought I would be happy with a mini-hoe and thin bucket. The latter is versatile for other uses, whereas I fear the wheel trencher or chain-type trencher would sit around most of the time and not be a good investment.

Again, I'd say a PT is more lawn and garden friendly than a skid steer. And way more versatile.

Agree on the lawn & garden friendliness; unsure about the versatility...

As Ponytug mentions, a PT gains a large advantage on sloped terrain, which I do not have...

Thanks for the input!

 

[PTWannaHave]

...Ability to operate implements moving forward without going over top of the implement.

Are you referring to 'PT pucker'...?!