Help! Equipment Recommendations

[Bob_Skurka]

The Steiner/Ventrac implements are truely first quality implements (many are interchangable). In fact I've not seen implements designed and built as well. I've used several brands of mowers on my bumpy valley area and ONLY one brand does not scalp the grass on the bumps! Yup the stuff is pretty pricy, but it really is different and it works as described. A Steiner or Ventrac can go places that no conventional tractor would dare to tread, and not only will it go there, it will come back too! They climb and decend slopes in total control and even cross the slopes in total control. A traditional tractor has far more limits to what type of terrain it can work on due to the articulating and oscillating frames of the Steiner/Ventracs. There are trade offs, you can't get a loader on the 428 that will lift dirt into a pick up truck bed, but that didn't seem like it was necessary. As far as the belt drive implements, from my expereince, and I grant it is limited, it has not been a problem. Again, these are designed for commercial applications.

It may not be the brand you end up with, but given what you wrote in your initial post, it is worthy of consideration.

 

[skivt]

Welcome to New Hampshire,

If you go the tractor route, definitely get 4 wheel drive. It will help with your steep, bomb zone terrain and the white mountain snow.

If you want to test drive all the different colors of tractor, come to the seacoast area. Within 20 miles of Portsmouth you can drive Kubota, NH, Massey Ferguson, Agco, Cub Cadet and John Deere. We are less than 2 hours from the white mountains.

Good luck,

skivt

 

[Makato]

I think you hit the nail on the head. The Steiner has allot of applications. I can see myself now driving up and across the mountain benches, down the old logging trails that were cut and now overgrown with saplings. Love to clear all this out so the deer and moose choose an easier path. The dilemma comes down to a new truck and blade for the 5 good months of snow for the same price as a Steiner or a beater with a blade and a Steiner/Attachments for everything else. I think I'll check in with the Power Trec crew and see what they have to say.

 

[burnetma]

Just a word of caution. My boss had a Steiner for his 60+ acre Adirondack Mountain home and he outgrew the machine very quickly. He thought it was the perfect tool until he got into heavy snow and serious land clearing and road maintenance work. It just wasn't enough machine. As he said; "I am too darn old to spend hours outside trying to clear my driveway while darn near freezing to death."

He now has a Kubota L series Cab tractor (40+ engine HP) with a front mount hydraulic snow blower to clear his 1/2+ mile driveway. This machine will suit him fine for many years.

I personally fought the snow wars on my VT property for 5 years with a 1957 IH 350 Utility tractor with a FEL. Back to back to back 20+ inch snow falls really made me happy I had the FEL to stack the snow, but even with tire chains, I always had some concern on the steep grades of the driveway. The front tires did little steering or road holding on the sideways slopes.

If it were me, I would consider Bobcat Toolcat or a large 4wd CUT. The Bobcat gives you the options of more attachments than you can dream of and the option of a hydraulic snow blower (kicks butt in the deep stuff). Ask your nearest Bobcat dealer about attachment rentals as they can save you a ton of money and you will still get all of the fun.

The 4wd CUT will save you significant money over the Bobcat, may give you better traction and will have cheaper attachments for purchase.

Just my $0.02.

 

[RedRocker]

Here's something I was looking at. Polaris also has one made by ASV that's quite a bit less expensive, same machine.

 

[LarryRB]

The family use to have a get away farm in Gilsum NH.. Because of the nature of the hills and rocks,, there is no way I would even attempt to have one of those small articulated machines... I cannot visualize an articulated Steiner or other brands lasting more than a year or four seasons. Particularly after one winter... Those machines are just too small for that environment to hold up more than one season. More level ground or even open ground probably would be different.. If it was me. a large compact with cab (ie) Kubota 5030 or JD, NH, Kioti or other brand equivalent would be the way to go.. On my machine, I have a power angle snow plow using a quick attach system. Best option ever to invest in....

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Power Tracs are great machines in the 30hp size range, don't even consider the 425 or similar units. The articulated machines are easy to knock but until you've been on one it really is hard to make a comparison to a conventional tractor. I could easily see one Power Trac replacing both my New Holland and my Kubota and I'd have no hesitation taking it into the woods, up the slopes, etc.

 

[Makato]

I took a look at the ASV 300 today. Amazing only 2.5psi of ground pressure with the tracks. No idea what something like that would do in an icy incline. One would think it could pretty much go anywhere. Hard to find any pricing on the units or the attachments on the web. Looks the base is around 16k. Love to have one of those Steiners but without the ability to use a FEL and load my truck, it probably isn't flexible enough....especially for the cost. I'm looking hard at the Power Trac T12 class. So many attachments it appears this machine can do it all accept make my lunch. One thing I noted is they don't have any type of enclosure for the real bad weather.
This site is a godsend, but it also drives you crazy. So many options but its great to see all the thought processes.

 

[milkman]

Checked out the Steiner and that is an awesome looking machine, and seems that they are PROUD of it. Looking at the snowblower, it lists the auger speed and the blower speed so it is 2 stage.Would sure like to run one of those.
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Auger speed 175 rpm
Blower speed 800 rpm