In the market for a Ventrac

[MossRoad]

It would be with packed dirt. I have to start at the top and break it loose. There’s not enough power and traction to scoop from the bottom.

Without ever operating one, I wouldn't know. I do know I have no problems with my little PT425 on mulch and such and never lift anywhere near full height scooping in a pile. Nor have I seen 6' high piles of mulch delivered to a house. Anything that comes out of a dump truck is rarely 4' high as it slumps when the truck pulls away. Even the 20 yard dump trucks of moon dust (granulated limestone) that we'd get delivered to the little league were never 6' high. So I think the point about 6' high piles at home is moot.

 

[muskieken]

I'm just wondering how the 5 inch Ground clearance Will work / fits what you want to do with your machine. Every video I've watched of these machines are on Places that have already been Landscaped so to speak, you mentioned Getting firewood and stuff, but Unless you have a path already cleared How is this machine going to get into the Woods to get your Firewood and stuff with just 5 inches of ground clear

 

[johara1]

That痴 a 30 degree hill. That痴 far above what most machines can handle. Bring your Ventrac into the open field and let痴 see who wins. And I never claimed the Ventrac wasn稚 a good slope mower. That痴 probably what it does best.

Yea, it is but I had to plow snow this morning, grasshopper.... jim

 

[MossRoad]

I'm just wondering how the 5 inch Ground clearance Will work / fits what you want to do with your machine. Every video I've watched of these machines are on Places that have already been Landscaped so to speak, you mentioned Getting firewood and stuff, but Unless you have a path already cleared How is this machine going to get into the Woods to get your Firewood and stuff with just 5 inches of ground clear

I have a little PowerTrac PT425 that is a small, articulated all wheel drive machine very similar to a Ventrac or Steiner. Over the years, many people have made comments about how little ground clearance I have, yet I take it places where no one would take a similar sized CUT. The articulation and oscillation keep more wheels on the ground and I just climb up and over dirt, small logs, etc... only been stuck once in 18 years, and that was brush cutting (cutter is out front) down a steep hill and I dropped the front tires off a hidden log that had dirt built up on the uphill side, making it almost invisible. I got high centered and the brush cutter was hanging out there in space from the FEL arms. I couldn't lower the cutter enough to use it to lift the front of the machine to get the center joint off of the log. So I had to walk back and get a chainsaw. Once in 18 years.

I don't think a Ventrac owner will have any problems with getting stuck.

 

[johara1]

I'm just wondering how the 5 inch Ground clearance Will work / fits what you want to do with your machine. Every video I've watched of these machines are on Places that have already been Landscaped so to speak, you mentioned Getting firewood and stuff, but Unless you have a path already cleared How is this machine going to get into the Woods to get your Firewood and stuff with just 5 inches of ground clear

If you are any kind of operator, you make level.... That is what the bucket is for...... jim

 

[Industrial Toys]

My 430 Diesel with 1000 hours is incapable of any kind of break out force, put pushing in and not lifting. Maybe for wood chips or non compacted mulch. The newer machines are stronger by far.

 

[johara1]

It would be with packed dirt. I have to start at the top and break it loose. There痴 not enough power and traction to scoop from the bottom.

I would start at side of the pile and work in, nobody starts at the top..... jim

 

[4570Man]

Yea, it is but I had to plow snow this morning, grasshopper.... jim

The front mount grasshoppers have cabs and blades or blowers. But I never said the Ventrac wasn’t a good snow blower.

 

[4570Man]

I would start at side of the pile and work in, nobody starts at the top..... jim

It’s much easier to break a compacted pile loose from the top. Curl the bucket as far downward as you’re comfortable doing and push down about a front from the edge and back up to avalanche the pile. Then move to the bottom to pick up the fresh dirt. If it’s a loose pile fresh off a dump truck it’s not a needed step.

 

[4570Man]

If you are any kind of operator, you make level.... That is what the bucket is for...... jim

That shouldn’t take very long to go a half mile through the woods...