BobRip, I think I will like the machine a lot, once I get it all set up so I can run it. I have done a lot with my little JD and the Johnny Bucket and digging and moving dirt over the years, but know the 425 will do so much more.
M R, I have only had a few snows that I would have liked to have had a big bucket to move, or pile things, but figure while they have the sale on, to go ahead and get it, as I live a 1/4 mile off the main road, but end up doing about 1/2 mile of 30 foot road total with all the driveways, and have to have an angle snow plow to do that. I remember years ago I didn't have a power angle on the blade and just did everything to one side, and almost ended up getting myself stuck a few times with not being able to turn around when I had a few places downhill, and with only 2wd and chains I about got into trouble, (since I couldn't get off and turn he blade to make a path to come back up the hill) The JD318 has really done well, as I have 250 in elevator weights on the back of it, and 150 on the rear wheels, and my skinny butt on it, and found it does pretty good. I hope the PT425 with bar tires does as well, as I used to try the Turfs and they just loaded up all the time, and had to have chains, but think by the print in the snow that he Tru-Power Bar tires I have now might have done the job without chains, except on ice, then they are the only thing that seem to help.
I thought about the Grapple bucket over the 4 in 1, as I have a neighbor that helps trim the trees and such on the sides of the road, and he just piles it on the side, and I back drag it now into a pile, then scoop it up to get rid of it, but that is about the only time I would see me doing that, and the 4 in 1 I figure I could reach down into a ditch, and drag it out with the front of the bucket, then to pick it up when I need to clean my ditches out, (like right now with them filled with leaves), One ditch line is about 150 foot and 2 foot deep, hope with it open that it will reach that far down to let me grab things, put them on the side of the road, then come back and be able to pick them up to take them down into my hole.
I have all kinds of ideas, just need to get it, and hope I can get used to it and be productive with it.
Jeff