Do you wear your seat belt on your tractor?

MossRoad · Dec 14, 2005

but sometimes they just aren't practical.. like mowing under those trees. 

Here's a few more reasons to consider a Power Trac, type tractor.... not a sales pitch, I promise. These are just my experiences and observations regarding safety with this type of tractor design VS a conventional type of tractor design. We had a large conventional IH tractor with cab and I feel safer in the PT than the IH.

The PT425 unit is only 5.5' tall including the ROPS and canopy. If I can walk under something, the tractor can go under it.

I am never tempted to take off the seat belt because the ROPS doesn't fold.

The ROPS is mounted in front of the operator. If it catches on something the tractor will not ride up and over as easily as a rear mounted ROPS.

Front mounted mowers are nice because not only can you see what is being mowed, the mower can reach about 5' under things before branches start encroaching the operator's area. Trimming under bushes and low branches is easy.

Very low center of gravity. More stable on hills.

It fits in the garage withour worry of tearing up the overhead doors.

Wear your seatbelt. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Trev · Dec 14, 2005

I've thought about the PT series, Moss. Might do it someday. How do you clear snow with a rig like that? FEL?

I'll have to do some research, but I'm certainly not married to the idea of conventional tractor versus PT. It's something I will consider more seriously.

Thanks,
Bob

MossRoad · Dec 15, 2005

We have a plow blade. It takes 15 seconds to drop an implement and attach another one, without getting off the tractor. If the implement requires power, like the power angle cylinder on the plow, or a mower deck, it takes an additional 30 seconds to hook up.

Here's a link to a page on my website with many videos. Scroll down and there are some of the snow plow, hooking up the hydraulics, angling and such.

Trev · Dec 15, 2005

Moss, just watched every movie on your site.. please tell me your buddies Steven Spielberg and George Lucas helped you with the special effects! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Now I feel like a dufus for hassling with my JD4300 all these years!

When I change an implement, it's something I sit in the house thinking about for a bit.. trying to figure out a way to get out of it.. and then go out and cuss and get my clothes dirty doing it.

Probably going into denial is my best bet at this point.. I never saw your movies, there is no such thing as a PT425, the world is flat, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Is there a downside? It would have to be an awful big one to offset the upside, I would think! Now to talk to my wife and CFO, and try to find one somewhere around here.

Holy &^%$ that's nice!!!

Thanks for the movies (which don't exist) and the link!!

Bob /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

NHeuro · Dec 15, 2005

I wear never my seatbelt on my tractor but always in my car
My car has one but my tractor not
Here in the EU 99% of the tractors are without a seat belt.

CT_Tree_Guy · Dec 15, 2005

Here in the EU 99% of the tractors are without a seat belt. 

Sounds as if we have an opportunity to get some hard evidence by comparing rollover-related tractor fatalities and injuries per X hours of operation in European countries vs. the U.S.

MossRoad · Dec 15, 2005

Thanks for the comments! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

There are downsides, but for us, they were outweighed by the good points. That's the key to buying any tool... how it fits your needs, not someone else's. Check out the Power Trac forum here on TBN some time for fun. Everyone there is quite honest about the good and bad of these machines. Also check out the ToolCat forum. Different machines are intersting. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

LBrown59 · Dec 17, 2005

( Plus, the tractor is stationary and I always adjust the outboard legs to keep it firmly planted.
============= )
---------You still should wear the belt because a tractor can be flipped even with the stabilizers down.

IslandTractor · Dec 18, 2005

Not sure 3RRL has a seat belt for the hoe. My tractor has a seatbelt but the second seat for the backhoe does not.

CT_Tree_Guy · Dec 18, 2005

My tractor has a seatbelt but the second seat for the backhoe does not. 

That is very, very interesting. I wonder how many, if any backhoe seats have seatbelts? If not, why the heck not? Seems like you're in a nice spot for one, right under the ROPS .....