Considering a PT180, some questions

[MarlandS]

I guess I will have to call them, since the availability of a ROPS and canopy for the PT180 was one of the questions in my email. He does pretty well with garden tractors and ATVs but does stay off of the off-cambers, things that I don't even slow down for since I can throw my weight to the high side easily. So yes a ROPS and belt are necessary even if I have to build one.

He's really jazzed about the prospect of the machine, and has all kinds of projects dreamed up already. I made the mistake of printing out some pictures and the price list before my last trip down, so he's got it all planned out, just how many attachments I could buy and still be lower than a base JD 2210 or some Kubota he was checking out.

And, he's planned how we could build a cab for winter ( I saw pics of one made by a member here but haven't told him yet) stating I'd stay warm from the chainsaw and he would be warm pushing brush... I can see that my life will be rough with few, if any , warm up breaks /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BillCroasmun]

You may want to try PT by phone instead. They seem to be more responsive over phone. Ask them for local references for a 180 and 422. Also, I don't remember their locations but there has been mentioned on here rental outfits that rent PT's. If one of these is close then that would be a great way to see a PT even if it's not the same model.

When I was in Tazewell I drove a 180, 422 and 425 (although I was only interested in the 180 the 422 & 425 were down in the demo area for another couple to look at). They are all close enough to give you a feel for what the others are like.

If your land is flat and you do not need more lifting power and/or lift height than the 180 offers it may work for you. One pro is attachments are cheaper but the con is it because they are smaller. This means more trips with your bucket, more passes with your brush hog, etc. Also, their are more attachments for the 422 (and they are interchangable with a 425). The 425, 422 and 180 all share the same ROPS but you have to buy it separately for the 180 (and you won't find it on their pricesheet).

Lastly the third hydraulic circuit on the 422 and up allows for two things. It allows you to use the quick attach system from your seat. This could be a BIG benefit for your father. I actually don't get off of the seat for the 180 either but it requires me to lift the arms then lean way forward to "flip" the spring pins, something that may not be easy for your father to do. The second thing the extra circuit allows is to use attachments that use three circuits (grapple bucket, mini-hoe, etc.).

In my opinion the 422 has many advantages over the 180 if you can afford it but if those things are not needed or are not affordable to you the 180 is still the most versatile piece of equipment you can find in it's price range.

 

[MarlandS]

Bill, thanks for the insight and other things to consider.

Here's the layout of the place, Yard = 1 acre + or - with a slope of about 10 ft drop to every 300 ft, pretty gentle and easy.

Farm ground, 28 acres ,scrub trees around perimeter, mostly 5-6 inch dia. Elm.

A creek through the center grown up in hedge mainly,long limbs with light weeds in the shaded areas. 50% of the limbs are trimmed 6-7 ft high now.

A pond with a decent slope on one end and flatter slope on the other, perfect for circle mowing.

Loader work would be minimal just shoving brush into piles or washes and carrying some clay to cover the brush and tack it down. Other than that it might push a little snow but will generally be just a large toolbox.

Much of what isn't cropped will be put in food plots for wildlife so it might get mown once a year unless more is necesary for weed control. the balance woul be mown weekly or bi-weekly.

So really I'm thinking I could get by with a 180 with the LMB , the 45 in finish mower (have access to a large loader tractor and bush hog when needed) the forks , rake and tiller .

Might swap the finish mower for the 48 in brush cutter since he's already got a craftsman 18 hp 44 in cut lawn mower , I just haven't decided yet.

It's not too important how much he gets done in a day, what's important is he gets to do something. So the attachments probably wouldn't get swapped out more than once in a while unless I'm there working then he'd have help hooking hoses or locking pins, otherwise it'd just be a way to fill his day.

 

[tracdoc]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I sent PT an email with a few questions and haven't heard back after a week or so.. )</font>

Power Trac has generally not been timely in resonding to email queries, so don't take it personally. You will quickly get all the answers to your questions by giving them a call [1-800-THE-YARD] and speaking with Terry.

I agree with all the input here so far. It's definitely a do-able scenario. Good luck.

 

[BobRip]

As far as change out, you will be surprised how much you change attachments with the PT. On my old Kubotoa, I would put the snow blade on for the winter, and the bush hog on for the summer. It was not all that hard, but it was discouraging. With the PT, on some jobs, I will change attachments every 30 minutes or so. This increases productivity tremendously. Be aware that if the attachment has hydraulics hose (bush hog, mower, trencher, grappling bucket, etc.) you have to get out to connect and disconnect the hoses.

It is hard to appreciate how much can be done with a PT. I know your father has time, but the feeling of being productive is awesome. It's very interesting to go over to a neighbor who has two tractors and do something that he cannot. Mainly because the attachments are reasonable enough to justify more that you normally could and because of easy change out. Please read most if not all of the messages on this site. There is an incredible amount of information.
By the way, I have a 422 and paid extra for the ROPS. I like the shade, fall on protection, and rollover protection. There have been many improvements in the 425 since then, and that's what I would buy if I had to do it over again.
There have also been some cheaping of the 418 and 422 since then, although they are still decent machines with many happy customers.

You and your father should test drive them as much as you can.

Bob Rip

 

[toy]

When you go to Tazwell or at least try one out if there is one close to you, then I think your father can tell what might be needed to change it to suit his needs . Then when you talk to the people at pt they may modify your machine to fit his needs. That is one thing I like about the pt you can talk to the people that actually build the machine and they are very nice to deal with. When I bought mine I wanted the rops for mine so I saked how much the cost to add it to the 422 and then considered what else I would be getting for the extra money if I went with the 425 so I went with the 425 glad I did. Also the 425 looked easier to service than the 422 to me anyway so I got the 425. The oil cooler is also a benefit over the 180 but the 180 is a good machine also and which ever one you choose I beleive you will be satisfied with it.

 

[BillCroasmun]

Good point about the oil cooler Toy, I had forgotten that one.

MarlandS,
If you do go with the 180, you may want to lean toward the single blade mower or the brush hog. They will be less work for the 180 to run being direct driven vs the belt system used on the finish mower. As Toy mentioned there is no oil cooler for the hydraulics so the less strain on the system the better. I can mow about 2.5 hours straight with my 180/single blade mower combo without any noticeable power loss from the heat. Thats on pretty level ground with recent temps around 90 here in NE Ohio. Your mileage may vary. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Also, it's worthy to note the brush hog does do a decent job mowing (if your not talking about a manicured lawn) and then you don't have to worry as much about messing up your blades when mowing uncharted territory. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Bill