Interested in a PT. Questions?

[aesanders]

Hey all

All the good talk here has me starting to second guess my upcoming purchase of a subcompact machine (bx24 or GC 2310) and get a PT instead.

Couple of quick questions?

1. Does PT offer a folding rops on a pt 425 or PT 1430. I will need to haul in an enclosed trailer and the height at 71" and 72" will make it just slightly to tall to fit through the opening of the trailer door. Once inside their will be plenty of room as the height is about 78" inside the trailer.

If not, how hard will it be to remove and reinstall the ROPS?

2. I've never driven one. How roomy and comfortable are these two models ( 425 and 1430) ? I'm a fat man and need some additional clearance between my gut and the steering wheel. Do you feel cramped on the machine at all? The subcuts I'm interested in are pretty good.

3. For users of the mini hoe, how well do you like it. My backhoe uses are very minimal, and the sixe of this should do all I need but does it wiork quite well for it's side.

4. And lastly, the attachment that really has me interested are the two boom mowers. Any users of these, and how well do you like them. I have six acres with a couple of ponds and woods areas where an attachment like this will make life much easier.

Thanks in Advance
Aaron

 

[pajoube]

Welcome and thanks for your questions.
I have a 425 and can answer all but that last one. The seat will move back and should give you good clearance. Not sure of your size but many of us have that extra roll in the center to deal with.
I have the mini hoe and really like it. I do all kinds of projects including digging a foundation for a carriage house. When I need to lower the ROPS I take out one bold on each side and fold it forward which pivots on the other bolt on each side. Very easy to do and will be out of your way to get into the trailer. I would leave like that until you offload unless you need the extr room for attachments.
A great machine that you will never regret owning. Check out my post 'Why I Bought a 425' by PAJOUBE
PJ

 

[MossRoad]

I'm 6' tall and can rest my nose on the top of the canopy on my 2001 year model PT425. That makes it a few inches less than 72" tall. Don't know if the current models are taller than mine or not. As Paul mentioned, if you slip out two bolts, you can pivot the entire ROPS, canopy forward or backward. If you take out 4 bolts, the entire thing comes off. It is not too heavy, however, you could use some assistance to steady it because once you take out that 2nd bolt, it could tip very easily. I estimate the entire weight of the ROPS/canopy at much less than 100 pounds. Probably closer to 65.

I'm also a tad over 200 pounds and have size 13 shoes. The Pt425 is a very comfortable machine for me to operate for 4-5 hours at a stretch, even in my winter boots.

As for the boom mower, I have no experience with that. Sorry.

BTW, the BX series are very nice tractors, too.

 

[aesanders]

Thanks for the response guys.

My concerns about the machine are leaving. I checked out both Pajoube's "why I bought" thread and Mossroads website. You both get quite a bit of work done with your machines.

For the money of the bx, I could get a decked out PT 425 with just about all attachments.

---1 more question. Does the 5% discount for visiting Tazewell apply to the whole package you buy or just off the machine itself?

 

[KentT]

One thing I'd point out about the PT and the minihoe that isn't apparent when you start comparing them to a BX or other conventional TLB -- which is the maneuverability and quick repositioning.

A traditional TLB will reach farther, dig deeper and provide more breakout force than the minihoe. On the other hand, the minihoe doesn't require you to get off the machine, swivel the seat, remount the machine, and place the downriggers/stabilizers every time you want to dig a small hole or pick something up. Then, there's no need to reverse that process and repeat it to move to a new location and start work. If the task you have in mind requires that you move the machine a lot, like digging a long trench, digging several small holes for planting shrubs, picking up rocks scattered over an area, etc. -- you'll likely find the minihoe is much, much faster. You'll likely find yourself using the minihoe to pick up and move things, similar to using a grapple bucket on the FEL -- especially if you add a thumb. It'll lift and carry 400 - 500 lbs on a PT-425, depending on how you have the lift arms positioned. We've moved 12" - 18" green logs ranging in length from 8' to 12' with it, lifting and carrying them several hundred yards. That would be quite difficult to do with a traditional TLB unless you used a grapple bucket on the FEL.

Also, don't confuse how a minihoe works on this articulated machine in comparison to a skidsteer. With a skidsteer you must move the whole machine to dump a bucket of dirt. With the minhoe, most of the time you can simply articulate the tractor with the steering wheel and dump the bucket, then simply turn the steering wheel back to dig the next bucket full...

On the other hand, if you want to dig a large hole -- a traditional TLB is much better suited to that task... Even then, you'd likely need to move and reposition the machine several times to get the job done.

IMO and for my needs, the minihoe offers more "bang for the buck" than any of the PT attachments other than an ordinary loader bucket (they're inexpensive)... Perhaps, once construction and the major landscaping is done, that view will change -- but in the early stages, it has proven to be invaluable...

 

[aesanders]

Thanks for the reply Ken.

Your description of the mini hoe sounds exactly what I have in mind for my uses. Digging holes for plants and other small projects. I just saw your thread on the thumb and that looks very useful.

My uses for this purchase will be mostly a utility machine for loader work and brush cutting etc. I have some tree lines I want to clean up and some pasture groud to maintain. Also the ponds edges need to be mowed and the boom mower looks like it would work wonders for that. I already have a decent Simplicity Mower so will not need to finish mow with the Powertrac or small tractor I get. The loader specs and ease of changing implements has me leaning towards a Power Trac the more I read about them. I see some landscape companies hauling PT's around my area, but never have seem one up close and personal. Maybe a trip to Tazewell is in order.

 

[bbabineau]

You also asked if the discount applies to the whole purchase. I got the discount on the entire purchase when I bought and assume you also will.

Bob

 

[aesanders]

Thanks Bob

 

[RegL]

One thing I'd point out about the PT and the minihoe that isn't apparent when you start comparing them to a BX or other conventional TLB -- which is the maneuverability and quick repositioning.

A traditional TLB will reach farther, dig deeper and provide more breakout force than the minihoe. On the other hand, the minihoe doesn't require you to get off the machine, swivel the seat, remount the machine, and place the downriggers/stabilizers every time you want to dig a small hole or pick something up. Then, there's no need to reverse that process and repeat it to move to a new location and start work. If the task you have in mind requires that you move the machine a lot, like digging a long trench, digging several small holes for planting shrubs, picking up rocks scattered over an area, etc. -- you'll likely find the minihoe is much, much faster. You'll likely find yourself using the minihoe to pick up and move things, similar to using a grapple bucket on the FEL -- especially if you add a thumb. It'll lift and carry 400 - 500 lbs on a PT-425, depending on how you have the lift arms positioned. We've moved 12" - 18" green logs ranging in length from 8' to 12' with it, lifting and carrying them several hundred yards. That would be quite difficult to do with a traditional TLB unless you used a grapple bucket on the FEL.

Also, don't confuse how a minihoe works on this articulated machine in comparison to a skidsteer. With a skidsteer you must move the whole machine to dump a bucket of dirt. With the minhoe, most of the time you can simply articulate the tractor with the steering wheel and dump the bucket, then simply turn the steering wheel back to dig the next bucket full...

On the other hand, if you want to dig a large hole -- a traditional TLB is much better suited to that task... Even then, you'd likely need to move and reposition the machine several times to get the job done.

IMO and for my needs, the minihoe offers more "bang for the buck" than any of the PT attachments other than an ordinary loader bucket (they're inexpensive)... Perhaps, once construction and the major landscaping is done, that view will change -- but in the early stages, it has proven to be invaluable...

The minihoe does all that yet it's light enough that a person can pick it up and toss it in the back of a pick-up. Most times , if i take the PT, I throw the minihoe in just in case I need it.

 

[BAGTIC]

I am 6' 1", 320 pounds, and 44-46 inch waist (before and after supper). I have NEVER felt the least bit cramped in my PT-425. The fact that it is low to the ground makes it very easy to enter and exit. I don't need to step UP to anything, just step INTO it.