Attachements Suggestions / questions

woodlandfarms · Mar 4, 2007

It looks like we may be finally pulling the trigger on a PT. Either a 1850 or a 1445. It is not an ideal time financially, meaning that all the toys I would like to get will not happen, but I may be able to cobble together what I need with some ingenuity. I wanted to get some insight and suggestions.

First, I am out on the west coast. So, it makes sense to buy the implements when I get the tractor from PT to save on shipping.

Things we need / want to do are Bush Hog, Road Repair and Maintenance, Dig power / water lines, till, chip, plant trees, move dirt from one side to the other. We have 40 acres of slopey treed and open land that has been infested with blackberries. Initially it is clearing, hogging and moving dirt.

The tractor will have a brush hog (appropriate with rated tractor or maybe something smaller if we get the 1850).

I was thinking about the Light Materials bucket and maybe adding a Grapple to it (http://www.preseeder.com/attachments/grapple.cfm). Is the LM Bucket solid enough for this? Also, I may cut out the sides, reinforce, and create removable side plates that would allow more "bite" with the grapple down the road. I read in here the 4 in 1 is a bit of a waste. Still agree?

I would like the trencher, but it is $2600. Seems like a lot of coin but we are putting out buildings great distances away and need to bury power and h20.

I need pallet forks, but am thinking about something attached to the bucket as I will never lift much weight with it or finding used down the road (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...71376d1172929037-forks-l302-loader-forks1.jpg)

Was leaning toward PT's Box Scraper. Seems if I go any other route it will cost me more to have a plate welded to a 3rd party scraper. But, I am not penny wise pound foolish. I have only heard mixed comments on PT's Box Scraper. Any insight?

I will have to wait on the tiller, no coin for that. Ken S has just picked up a 3pt hitch attachement that has me pondering my chipper and tiller plans.

I will have to rig something for a chipper, have a plan but that is another 2K I don't have.

Drill Heads and Augers. 3K for planting trees OUCH. Wife claims we need the 36" head (I sure as heck hope she is referring to the Augers) to plant trees properly. I am thinking the 12" will be another good all around size to have for fencing, gates, that sort of stuff.

Would like a stump cutter, will have to wait.

So, that is kind of my list. It is all about money and quality and any insight you guys will have will be very appreciated.

KentT · Mar 4, 2007

All this is my opinion only, based upon your described needs.

IMO, the LM bucket isn't a real good candidate for a grapple. It is pretty lightweight for its size -- even though made from the same guage materials as the smaller buckets, the size of the bucket (and distance from corners, etc.) makes it a bit weaker, overall. You'd likely have to add a toothbar to reinforce the cutting edge, then perhaps add reinforcements to mount the grapple itself. I definitely don't think it's strong enough to start cutting away some of the structure or material that is there...

If possible, I'd suggest you get a LM bucket for moving material but go ahead and spring for the PT grapple bucket. It comes with teeth that you can sharpen and use it for cutting hard-packed ground, and then have the much larger LM bucket for use in moving loose material. You can tilt the grapple bucket, putting the teeth down, and accomplish something similar to the rippers on the boxblade. Similarly, you can tilt the LM bucket and drag its cutting edge backwards to smooth loose material, similar to the boxblade. IMO, the boxblade is not a great tool for the PT, especially since you have to drive in reverse to use it... I don't have the PT boxblade -- I have a Keen Cutter XB blade with the QA plate welded on it. It is heavier than the PT one, and has real, retractable ripper shanks. They're available at your local Tractor Supply for about the same price as the PT one. So, I'd pay to ship a couple of blank QA plates cross-country rather than the boxblade itself.

Rather than the planter head and large auger and the trencher, I'd strongly recommend you consider the mini-hoe instead -- then add a thumb to it. This will allow you to dig holes for planting trees in whatever size you need(though not as fast as the planter head) and also dig trenches (though not as fast as a dedicated trencher). Then you'll also have it for clearing brush, loosening hard-pack for subsequent scooping with a bucket when putting in roads, digging roadside ditches, and all kinds of other uses you'll find for it. IMO, the minihoe is the most versatile implement and gives the most "bang for the buck" of any PT attachment I have, with the grapple bucket in second place...

Then, you may want to opt for the smaller PHD head with the 12" auger that you describe -- for installing fences, etc, as you described.

As far as the stump cutter and trenching needs -- you can dig shallow trenches with the stump cutter. Don't know if 6" to 8" is deep enough for your needs. With that said, grinding stumps is more of a "one time" kind of use, and that has made it difficult for me to rationalize/justify the stump grinder...

Just some thoughts... whatever you decide to do, I strongly recommend you consider putting a minihoe (with thumb) on your shopping list...

jfh28 · Mar 4, 2007

.....grinding stumps is more of a "one time" kind of use...

Like most of the attachments, their use is limited only by your imagination

I have used the stump grinder for clearing out large brush like Mountain Laurel, cutting down trees (I limit the size to what I feel comfortable crashing onto the rops

) and chopping up downed trees like a chainsaw to remove the smaller sections with the grapple.

Once you have an attachment you'll be amazed at how many uses you can find for it. Anything to get some seat time. I once plucked our air conditioners out of the windows using the grapple.

Jack

Barryh · Mar 4, 2007

jfh28 said:
.....grinding stumps is more of a "one time" kind of use...

Like most of the attachments, their use is limited only by your imagination

I have used the stump grinder for clearing out large brush like Mountain Laurel, cutting down trees (I limit the size to what I feel comfortable crashing onto the rops ) and chopping up downed trees like a chainsaw to remove the smaller sections with the grapple.

Once you have an attachment you'll be amazed at how many uses you can find for it. Anything to get some seat time. I once plucked our air conditioners out of the windows using the grapple.

Jack

Ha Ha I like it....

MossRoad · Mar 4, 2007

KentT said:
.....IMO, the LM bucket isn't a real good candidate for a grapple. It is pretty lightweight for its size -- even though made from the same guage materials as the smaller buckets, the size of the bucket (and distance from corners, etc.) makes it a bit weaker, overall. You'd likely have to add a toothbar to reinforce the cutting edge, then perhaps add reinforcements to mount the grapple itself. I definitely don't think it's strong enough to start cutting away some of the structure or material that is there......

I'd have to agree with that statement, based on my attempts to make a grapple out of my small rock bucket for the PT425. I ended up ripping out the metal where I welded the grapple to the bucket. There is a lot of reinforcement that is needed before it will be strong enough to stand up to the abuse.

I would consider purchasing the factory grapple bucket, and then if you have enough $$ purchase the large material bucket also. That would be a great combination to have.

BobRip · Mar 4, 2007

MossRoad said:
I'd have to agree with that statement, based on my attempts to make a grapple out of my small rock bucket for the PT425. I ended up ripping out the metal where I welded the grapple to the bucket. There is a lot of reinforcement that is needed before it will be strong enough to stand up to the abuse.

I would consider purchasing the factory grapple bucket, and then if you have enough $$ purchase the large material bucket also. That would be a great combination to have.

I agree with Moss and KentT, the strength of the bucket is from all of its material. If you cut out the sides it will be seriously weakened. The grapple will grap huge amounts of material as is. If you tilt the bucket down with the gapple open, you can push down and compress a 6 foot high pile of brush and grab 95% of it in one bite. Once Fourteen described this, the grapple bucket becomes the best matched attachments to the PT capabilites. This is all based on my 422 experience.

I don't agree that the 4 in 1 is a waste. I am very pleased with mine. You can load it going forward and backwards which means that you can always go downhill or level (not uphill against gravity) and you can get into places that are very tight. However with your immediate budget limitation and if you have a lot of brush to move, start with the grapple and light material bucket.
I rarely use my LMB, moving logs only.

I would delay on the box scraper because you can back drag with a bucket on float and level dirt. I built a box scraper, but have not used it much yet, so don't take my comments too seriously.

ddonnell · Mar 4, 2007

I don't have a PT (yet) as I need to sell my subcut equipment first, but I have been reading this forum for months. Based on comments by others and my own experience, I would not discount the value of forks, especially the adjustable type offered by PT for the rigs you're looking at. I built some adjustable forks for my loader, and believe me, there are a lot more uses for them than just picking up a pallet. Stabbing into a brush pile is easier when you don't have the sides of a bucket to contend with. If I can sell my present equipment, the forks will not go with it. They will be adapted to a PT. My idea would be to weld up a "grapple attachment" on a quick attach plate and then weld a second "male" PT plate to the front of that with just enough spacing between to allow hooking into a QA plate on any other attachment. Manual locking ears would have to be used here to engage the implement's QA plate. Then you could hook up the forks or a bucket or whatever, and have one set of grapples work on all of them when you needed the grapple feature. Now I just need a 425!

Barryh · Mar 4, 2007

woodlandfarms said:
It looks like we may be finally pulling the trigger on a PT. Either a 1850 or a 1445. It is not an ideal time financially, meaning that all the toys I would like to get will not happen, but I may be able to cobble together what I need with some ingenuity. I wanted to get some insight and suggestions.

First, I am out on the west coast. So, it makes sense to buy the implements when I get the tractor from PT to save on shipping.

Things we need / want to do are Bush Hog, Road Repair and Maintenance, Dig power / water lines, till, chip, plant trees, move dirt from one side to the other. We have 40 acres of slopey treed and open land that has been infested with blackberries. Initially it is clearing, hogging and moving dirt.

The tractor will have a brush hog (appropriate with rated tractor or maybe something smaller if we get the 1850).

I was thinking about the Light Materials bucket and maybe adding a Grapple to it (http://www.preseeder.com/attachments/grapple.cfm). Is the LM Bucket solid enough for this? Also, I may cut out the sides, reinforce, and create removable side plates that would allow more "bite" with the grapple down the road. I read in here the 4 in 1 is a bit of a waste. Still agree?

I would like the trencher, but it is $2600. Seems like a lot of coin but we are putting out buildings great distances away and need to bury power and h20.

I need pallet forks, but am thinking about something attached to the bucket as I will never lift much weight with it or finding used down the road (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...71376d1172929037-forks-l302-loader-forks1.jpg)

Was leaning toward PT's Box Scraper. Seems if I go any other route it will cost me more to have a plate welded to a 3rd party scraper. But, I am not penny wise pound foolish. I have only heard mixed comments on PT's Box Scraper. Any insight?

I will have to wait on the tiller, no coin for that. Ken S has just picked up a 3pt hitch attachement that has me pondering my chipper and tiller plans.

I will have to rig something for a chipper, have a plan but that is another 2K I don't have.

Drill Heads and Augers. 3K for planting trees OUCH. Wife claims we need the 36" head (I sure as heck hope she is referring to the Augers) to plant trees properly. I am thinking the 12" will be another good all around size to have for fencing, gates, that sort of stuff.

Would like a stump cutter, will have to wait.

So, that is kind of my list. It is all about money and quality and any insight you guys will have will be very appreciated.