Considering Ventrac-need advice

[JackIL]

Sounds like the wrong application for a Ventrac. It is intentionally built low to the ground for stability on hillside mowing operations. It was never intended for use on rough areas with protruding stumps and rocks. It is a TURF tractor. Turf implies grass growing on smoothed areas be they flat, rolling, or sloped.

If using a side discharge finish mower deck, the expelled clippings are sent far from the tractor so the radiator screen seldom gets covered. However, with a rear discharge deck such as the Tough Cut or Contour Mower, clippings are expelled directly under the tractor. You have to keep an eye on the temperature gauge to determine when the radiator screen needs to be cleaned.

 

[CMA]

Every five minutes it is cleaned because the machine gets too hot. Anyhow, it is a good machine. Just sharing my experience. I would not discourage anyone from purchasing. It is very versatile. And it wasn't everyday that it got stuck just a few stumps here and there.

 

[BKBrown]

CMA,
I don't know how you have so many problems with the air cleaner / filter - I used mine for 7 years and around 900 hours - take outer filter out (easy), tap it a few times, put it back in, blow out from inside with vacuum cleaner blower once in a while, replaced with new about once a year and would not have needed to do that. The new ventrac has a larger filter and picks up from a box under the back edge of the hood. I don't doubt you, I just can't understand how it would be such a problem.
Yes, sometimes the radiator screen gets covered, but rarely and that prevents the fins from being plugged.
The low center is intentional and you just need to be careful if you are on rough terrain.
None of this should prevent anyone from getting a Ventrac unless all you are doing is on very rough surfaces.
JUST MHO !

 

[Oaktruss]

I have 2 machines, one is the 26.5 (1 year old) and one is the 31 Turbo 3 years old) both have been problem free. I also have a JD4100 and a Kioti CK35. I am 57 years old and regret that I did not know about the Ventracs earlier. If I could keep only one machine, it would be the 31turbo because it has the rear lift. Anyone who buys one should get the front scoop. Not the loader, the scoop. If you think this is a turf machine only, wait until you try the scoop. They don't look like much but my dealer loaned me a 31 with a scoop and ........ Yep, I bought the machine the next day.

 

[belhavenfarm]

Ventrac will be ordered tomorrow!

4231TD
Suspension Seat
72 inch mower
scoop
AERA-vator
ES220 Seeder (though the capacity concerns me a little)

Should be here in a week!

Thank you to everyone for your help!

 

[BKBrown]

GREAT ! :thumbsup:
If you plan to do any digging of dirt, you might want to think about the excavator bucket - it depends on what you will do with it - scoop or excavator !
Don't forget the arm rests on the seat.

You will LOVE it !

Let us know !

 

[Oaktruss]

Sounds great. Every owner I have run into mentioned that the Ventrac worked out better than expected.

 

[belhavenfarm]

ORDERED and I did include arm rests!

It will arrive next week!

 

[American Bulldog]

I can't imagine how nice the upgrade seat is. Of all my stuff, the stock seat on the Ventrac is the most comfortable.

I can ride around in that thing all day......

 

[BKBrown]

GREAT - Let us know what you think when it arrives !
What bucket did you order ?

ORDERED and I did include arm rests!

It will arrive next week!

 

[BKBrown]

OK - it's next week --- is it here yet ?:licking:

ORDERED and I did include arm rests!

It will arrive next week!

 

[belhavenfarm]

It is It is! Ventrac arrived on Wednesday and I have already mowed about 5-6 acres with it!

This thing is AMAZING-beyond my expectations.

The spreader, 72 inch mower, aera-vator and scoop are equally as impressive!

And I have already learned what happens when you mow to close to a fence line with an articulating tractor.:ashamed:

Let's just say my fence removal and replacement skills have been honed. :laughing:

Thank goodness, no Ventracs were scratched during this seemingly common learning curve.

If I could ever get mu photos to post on this forum I would share!

 

[AVIVIII]

It is It is! Ventrac arrived on Wednesday and I have already mowed about 5-6 acres with it!

This thing is AMAZING-beyond my expectations.

The spreader, 72 inch mower, aera-vator and scoop are equally as impressive!

And I have already learned what happens when you mow to close to a fence line with an articulating tractor.:ashamed:

Let's just say my fence removal and replacement skills have been honed. :laughing:

Thank goodness, no Ventracs were scratched during this seemingly common learning curve.

If I could ever get mu photos to post on this forum I would share!

Congrats!!!

 

[BKBrown]

GREAT ! You'll love it ! With rear wheels following front wheels, how did you take out a fence ?
Don't you love how easy it is to change attachments ? (one clue - I found that before you disconnect hydro lines - if you turn engine off and move accessory lever back and forth a few times it will release pressure in the hoses and make the next hook up easier).

It is It is! Ventrac arrived on Wednesday and I have already mowed about 5-6 acres with it!

This thing is AMAZING-beyond my expectations.

The spreader, 72 inch mower, aera-vator and scoop are equally as impressive!

And I have already learned what happens when you mow to close to a fence line with an articulating tractor.:ashamed:

Let's just say my fence removal and replacement skills have been honed. :laughing:

Thank goodness, no Ventracs were scratched during this seemingly common learning curve.

If I could ever get mu photos to post on this forum I would share!

 

[belhavenfarm]

Fortunately I did not take out the fence-

evidently if you get greedy (so you have less weedeating) and the front wheel lines up right next to the fence, it sucks you in.

Then the articulating aspect of the tractor helps it jackknife around the fence post.

I understand this is a common learning curve!:ashamed:

I am mowing my 10 acre field tomorrow-can't wait to see how much time I save compared to my old tractor. My guess is still half the time.

 

[BKBrown]

OK - so I gather that the post ended up between front and rear wheel and you needed to pull the post to get the tractor out. Or was it between the mower and front wheel?
I did that a few times with larger rocks at first. - you can sometimes put something under the 3-N-1 and use downpressure to slide the rear over and get yourself out.
It's been quite a while since I got in that situation.
The downpressure will also work to lift you off a high center situation so you can put something under the tires and drive off. :thumbsup:
Keep us informed about your experience with the new machine.

 

[American Bulldog]

Yes, articulating vehicles behave a bit differently in tight spots. Best advice is to slowly work your way closer to the fence as you feel comfortable. The learning curve on Ventracs is pretty quick.

Congrats on the new machine!!

 

[JohnnyDB]

:cool2: Glad you like it!! Were you on a slope when you went next to the fence post? I did that once when I was on a wet 25 degree slope and it wrapped slightly around the post. The Ventrac will never roll on a slope, but it does "crab-walk" down the hill a little on steep slopes. It's natural with this type of unit, just takes once and you will remember the best way to operate :laughing:
Again, welcome to the Ventrac fan club! :thumbsup:

 

[belhavenfarm]

Embarrassingly enough it was not a slope-just the tiniest drop off next to the fence. :ashamed:

I got greedy and wanted to cut back on weedeating.

Lesson learned!

Since then I have now mowed a HUGE 10 acre field in half the time it took with my Mahindra.

Ventrac just paid for itself with that move alone!

 

[BKBrown]

Amazing Machine isn't it ? :thumbsup:

You will find more and more uses for it -- If you have leaves to clean up, the blower is great. I clean out ditches and culvert pipe with the blower instead of having to scoop out the ditch. There are 2 blowers and the smaller one has more power and CFM than any other hand held or backpack blower I have seen. :thumbsup: