Wanted to provide an update on the status of my PT buying decision... and ask a couple more questions.
As I stated above, I agreed to try the little Kubota on the initial clearing, which I've now done. While we got the job done, I was disappointed with its traction on this sloping terrain that's covered with leaves and pine needles. Quite often, especially with a load in the bucket or in reverse going uphill, I'd find one front tire spinning (open front differential) and one rear tire spinning, so I'd have to use diff-lock or the individual rear wheel brakes to regain traction. This certainly limits maneuverability around trees, tree stumps, etc. We added about a 150 lb chunk of log to the 285lb boxblade (in addition to already having loaded rear tires and 50 lb wheel weights), and that helped a lot. The traction was such a challenge that we moved what we could by hand, rather than risking getting the tractor stuck. The loader performed OK, using a chain and hooks, but certainly a grapple bucket would be much faster....
Bottom line is that I'm now seriously considering selling the Kubota, which I've only had a few months, and getting a PT 425 with grapple bucket. I've contacted Rich Rogers to see if he's seriously interested in selling his older one, since he posted that he's considering it, and he's less than an hour away -- he's supposed to make a final decision this week and let me know. I'd either need to buy a grapple bucket for it, or convert his small bucket to a grapple bucket.... If not, I'll need to convince the missus to spend the money for a new one. Luckily, I think I can get my money back out of the Kubota -- or at least close to it -- if I bring it back to New England and sell it to an individual, since PT doesn't take trade-ins /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .
Before I take either of these steps though,
I'd like your informed opinions on whether a PT 425 will handle these slopes -- especially in reverse -- since the clearing for the house is uphill from much of logs & brush to be moved. Here's more pictures that show the conditions I need to work in (forgive the text that I used to provide a progress report to the missus).
http://simpletractors.com/subsite/initial_site_clearing.htm
One additional question -- is the new PT 425s upgraded wheel motors such a significant enough difference to make a new PT that much more capable than an older one like Rich's -- especially for my needs on these slopes. I haven't seen the woods that Rich was working his in, so I can't compare, nor do I have "seat time" on PT in these kinds of conditions.
Given my needs, is it worth almost twice the cost (when you consider attachments and all) to buy a new one than to buy Rich's used one should he decide to sell? I don't want to end up in a situation where I'm dissatisfied with a used PT, and have to sell it, in order to get yet another piece of equipment.
