Doug:
I made a couple of trips to Tazewell. The first, in Sep 2001, was primarily to look at the 1430, which I was most interested in. The second time, it was still number one on my list, but the 1845 had become possible because they had dropped the price for the base unit by $5,000. Ultimately, I got the 1845 because it is bigger and more powerful and I wanted it, even though it probably isn't as good for lawnmowing as the 30 hp unit.
The trailer package for the 1430 looked really good, but I already have a trailer, and I didn't need the multiple augers, etc. that are geared toward planting bushes. They were willing to swap the things on the trailer a bit, but I didn't pursue that option. (They now build their own trailers. They didn't like the quality of some they bought for resale. I looked at both, and the PT trailer was better, but the one I saw that they had gotten elsewhere was really good.)
My first a la carte selection was a 72" rough cut mower. It is very heavily built and I hope will last forever. That was the primary purpose for my purchase in the first place - pasture mowing, including some steep (to me) slopes. For your purposes, you probably will want a brush hog rather than the rough cut deck. The brush hog is less expensive, and built more for heavy growth than for my pasture grass, although it certainly will mow grass, as well.
I got a large bucket from Power Trac and then a 4n1 from WR Long. I got the 60"tiller, a boom pole, a snow blade with rubber edge. From Lackender Fabrication, I got a hoe, which is a dipper arm that uses the primary Power Trac arms as the boom. I posted some pictures a while back of the bucket and hoe, I think in a thread that MossRoad started on Power Trac mods. If you have trouble finding it, I'll track it down for you. So far, I have proven to myself that the bucket and hoe are capable, but that I don't yet know how to use them properly.
I am reasonably sure that the 1430 would have done everything I need, but the 1845 has more reserve power. Even with the 45 hp, I had to slow a bit last weekend towing an 8' wide chain harrow up fairly steep slopes. I was mowing with the 6' deck, as well, but there isn't much growth yet.
I don't know exactly when Power Trac started. It makes mining vehicles, using the hydraulic setup that was adapted to the current line. The story is that the boss didn't like the garden tractor he had gotten for work around his house, so he had his guys make him one. That machine was sold some years ago, but they got it back and I saw it at their factory.
I think the same guy is still the boss, and his daughter and son in law work there.
I haven't seen any used equipment advertized, but someone mentioned seeing a 425 on e-bay. Power Trac had a couple of used machines at the factory, and one 30 hp machine was for sale by one of the guys working there. He was only asking a couple of thousand dollars below new price, but might have come down if I had started to negotiate. The factory itself will not negotiate downward from the listed prices. They are quite willing, however, to talk about things that might not be on the price list for the one you want, but appear as an option for another machine. If it can be adapted, they are willing to consider it, and a few things may just not have made it to the price list. In addition, they are always working to develop things, and are willing often to talk about them, as well.
On my 1845, the dual bar tread tires were the same price as the turfs I got. Mine is very comfortable on hills, and I think with duals would be rock solid. It makes for a wide machine, however.
Because the hydraulic arms and quick attach are standard, you can get an 1845 with WR Long 4n1 bucket and Lackender hoe for under $20,000. That is fairly cheap, I think for a 45 hp rig with bucket and hoe. I am working to get the 4n1 control a little easier to handle, and the hoe may not be quite as capable as a full backhoe, but both will beat a shovel hands down.
Some of the PT implements may not look cheap compared to 3-point attachments, because the hydraulic motors do cost. All of the Power Trac implements looked to me to be extremely heavily built, however, so I think comparisons should be made to high-end competition.
If Power Trac were to disappear, I do not think I'd have any trouble maintaining the machine. The frame boxes are custom welded steel, but are mostly flat plate fabrications that any good welding shop could repair. (I wouldn't want to be there when someone managed to damage it to the extent it needed that.) The hydraulics: pumps, motors, controls, etc. are all off-the-shelf.
Until I got the Power Trac, I knew nothing of hydraulic equipment; I had small hst machines, and our gear tractors had hydraulic 3 points, loader and power beyond, for which we occasionally got some help from a dealer. I now am finding, however, that there is a whole industrial world out there, with a lot of people who work on hydraulic stuff all the time. Any skid steer mechanic can work on the Power Trac.
Sorry for the long post - hope it helps.
And yes, if you get a PT, you'll have to change the profile on your signature. MossRoad can even make it change implements on the screen.
