I致e never felt the need to swap a 3 point implement more than a few times a day. I do swap the front SSQA implements frequently especially on a skid steer. Having an implement a on both ends really reduces the need to swap. I think we can all agree the 3 point hitch could use a rear design but completely getting rid of rear mounted implement isn稚 the best plan. I also agree that compact tractors aren稚 a very well designed tool, but I致e ran skid operated compact loaders although bigger than the PT and skid steers and I wouldn稚 rate them either one as a replacement for compact tractors.
I've had maintenance days at the church or Little League where we do a lot of different tasks that require multiple changes throughout the day. Such use a ripper to break up hard packed baseball diamond infield surfaces, drop the ripper, pick up a bucket, move the spoils, drop the bucket, pick up the ripper, repeat. Drop the ripper, pick up the forks, move some telephone poles, go back to ripping/moving. Stop to move some pallets. Go back to ripping. Stop to move some concrete pads with the forks. Go back to ripping. Stop to move moondust. Repeat. Stop to mow a diamond.... wouldn't it be nice if the other volunteers would all show up at scheduled times and days? :laughing:
It's kind of comical when you own a PT, at how you actually look forward to implement changes, compared to avoiding it with a 3pt. The QA really makes the machine that much more efficient.
It's all about the tasks you want to accomplish, and how many machines you want to maintain. In our case, we have no use for 3pt implements. We mow, brush cut, haul with the bucket, lift with the forks, plow the snow, and pull firewood out of the woods. That's about it. I might add a tiller sometime in the future, as my walk-behind tiller is only about 18" wide. The tiller, I'd have to use in reverse. But I can apply power down with the FEL arms, and raise and lower without having to look over my shoulder, so I consider that a plus. I also might add a snow blower in the future (I don't need one, but if one comes along cheap, I'll grab it and convert to hydraulic). Snowblower on FEL arms sounds way better than having to use one behind me on a 3pt.
Stump grinder? Out front.
Trencher? Out front.
I'd also add that hydraulically powered implements are so much easier to hook up than shaft driven implements and belt driven implements. :thumbsup:
