Hydraulic winch and other general PT usability questions

[MossRoad]

Seems like a skid steer would have a higher lift capacity, more weight, and generally be more robust for moving trees with a grapple and be capable of running a front mount cutter.

What do you see as the advantages of a power trac?

If you compare machines pound for pound, a wheeled skid steer will get stuck much easier than a PT. It'll make ruts in the ground, tear the place up, generally damage the forest floor, and promote erosion. It's also not as stable on hills.

If you put tracks on it, it's no longer a wheeled skid steer, it's tracked. So if you go skid steer for off-road use, get tracks for you wheels or a tracked unit.

 

[m5040]

My machines have to be universal, and to me that means driving around my house and the PT will not tear up the grass where the skid steer is just the opposite. Then there is the difficulty of getting on and off the machine. The 14XX PTs you just step in and out. A skid steer seems almost impossible for an older person to get in and out, especially if you need to do it every few minutes (unless it is British with the side door). When you turn with a skid steer, the inside drive tires stop contributing to forward movement where other tractors continue to have 4x4, if towing or moving heavy and you loose 1/2 your drive you tend to stop forward progress. You can't get out of the driver's compartment if the loader is raised, they wear out tires quickly. It's your choice

 

[2manyrocks]

Reading on some of the forestry websites, one of the complaints about wheeled skid steers in the woods is the lack of ground clearance. PTs aren't a topic of discussion there. They seem to be oriented towards dozers, true forestry skidders, and CTLs.

I could see the usefulness of a forestry winch on my tractor but would appreciate something easier to turn in the tight space.

 

[MossRoad]

A forestry winch would be great if you can't get in to the logs. One of the things I've found on our property is there are very few, if any, places that I can't get the PT into.

(bear in mind this is one-handed operation while holding a cell phone in the other).

 

[2manyrocks]

Any comments on using the PT utility grapple vs their other grapple options? This job will require moving a bunch of limbs.

 

[MossRoad]

I don't have a grapple, so can't help you there. Others may chime in.

 

[MossRoad]

On the topic of ground clearance, at first numbers, it doesn't look like the PTs have much. However, it's really hard to get them stuck. I climb over 8" fallen logs very often with my little PT425. I've never been stuck in sand or mud. For that matter, I've only been stuck once in 21 years.

I was brush cutting downhill in an area of my property that I've only been into twice since 1989. There was a large log across the slope that had filled with sand and debris on the upside that made it all but disappear from the upside view and covered with thick brush. It was over a foot drop-off on the other side. My brush cutter was not in float because I wanted more traction. So my first inkling that something was wrong was when the front tires dropped off the other side of the log, and I was high-centered immediately.

I tried pushing the FEL arms all the way down to lift the front with the cutter deck, but I ran out of down travel before the deck could touch the ground.

Had to walk back to the truck and get a shovel and chainsaw. Dug out the log on both sides of the PT so I could saw it off on both sides. Once I was through the wood on both sides, I hopped back on and drove the rolling log piece down the hill further until I climbed off of it.

All in all, I'm very satisfied with the single machine that I have.

I might enjoy having a skid steer, or small excavator, but for now, I just can't justify the cost for the only occasional use I would have for it.

I have rented a small excavator in the past for a weekend rental. Well worth the money.

 

[2manyrocks]

One thing I don't understand is why a mini ex like the Agrotek is about $8,000, but the least expensive mini skid steer seems to be priced around $17,000? Looks like the mini ex would have the same complexity in the track system and hydraulics as a mini skid steer.

 

[MossRoad]

I don't think the mini ex would have nearly as robust a drive system as a skid steer would. The skid steer will probably have a much higher flow hydraulic system as well.

When I rented a small excavator, it had two drive speeds:

slow and slower.

 

[4570Man]

I don't think the mini ex would have nearly as robust a drive system as a skid steer would. The skid steer will probably have a much higher flow hydraulic system as well.

When I rented a small excavator, it had two drive speeds:

slow and slower.

A mini excavator is a very useful tool but you would be correct that tracking isn’t their strong point. My skid steer has much larger drive motors, heavier duty undercarriage and double the HP. I imagine the swivel joint also limits the excavators tracking potential.