Is PT for me?

[Axeman]

I have a five acre home on Whidbey Island in Washington state. It is slightly hilly with about 3 acres cleared and it needs mowing weekly (minimum) from about April thru November. I've been using my old Crafstman GT for years but the deck is about rusted out on it and the motor isn't going to last much longer either. I also have a box scraper and a large utility cart that I use, especially the cart. I have a 600 foot driveway that I have to keep up. I cut and haul about 5 or 6 cords of wood every year and I am continuosly clearing more and more of the land and hauling all of that stuff to my burn area. I move alot of rocks (last year I bought 45 tons of landscape stone and built a huge retaining wall) I rented a mini excavator to move the really big rocks but the other 150 lb or less rocks I loaded into the utility cart and hauled with the GT. Also I moved 20 yards of fill dirt and top soil in the cart. I will be doing more of that stuff this year and probably for the next few years as I try to make something out all of the banks that I have that need retaining walls. I would need a bucket of some sort, a box scraper, a mower deck good for thick grass with uneven land, maybe a stump grinder to take out all the stumps I have all over the place....and who knows what other attachments I might need. So, I was looking at the Kubota tractors that start at around $10,000. I have been looking at the Ventrac and Power Tracs too. I would like to get the most power I can for the least $$$ of course, so I'm really trying to make up my mind. I might be buying this year or it may have to wait until next. Unless the Craftsman croaks before then in which case I'll have to do something.

 

[woodlandfarms]

Put sugar in the gas tank of the craftsman then go tell the wife you need a new tractor. Works like charm.

There are a few of us PT owners here in Washington. Mine is larger than most and out of the 10K category for sure, but you are welcome to come and take it for a spin.

There was once a 1445 that was might be going up for sale. Not sure what his decision was.

Carl

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN!

 

[ponytug]

Wow! Not much moss gross on your back!

After coming to PTs having used other tractors, I find the articulated design incredibly flexible and useful. For the sort of mixed use that you describe they tend to do really well. At the core, they are pretty simple machines; an engine, three pumps, some valves and some cylinders.

Since there is no dealer network, you need to be able and willing to fix the tractor yourself, or find someone who understands hydraulics can do it for you.

Given where you live, you might want to over buy on the attachments, since the freight on an attachment in the future will be a big chunk of the price.

For your work, I think that you would find the 4N1 and/or the grapple useful. I've use my 4N1 to pick up and place rocks. I have also used it as a portable work surface to carry tools and objects to the work site and then hold it at a reasonable work height.

You might call PT and ask who is in your neighborhood that has one. Carl has an 1845, which is a much bigger machine.

Good luck in your search!

All the best,

Peter

I have a five acre home on Whidbey Island in Washington state. It is slightly hilly with about 3 acres cleared and it needs mowing weekly (minimum) from about April thru November. I've been using my old Crafstman GT for years but the deck is about rusted out on it and the motor isn't going to last much longer either. I also have a box scraper and a large utility cart that I use, especially the cart. I have a 600 foot driveway that I have to keep up. I cut and haul about 5 or 6 cords of wood every year and I am continuosly clearing more and more of the land and hauling all of that stuff to my burn area. I move alot of rocks (last year I bought 45 tons of landscape stone and built a huge retaining wall) I rented a mini excavator to move the really big rocks but the other 150 lb or less rocks I loaded into the utility cart and hauled with the GT. Also I moved 20 yards of fill dirt and top soil in the cart. I will be doing more of that stuff this year and probably for the next few years as I try to make something out all of the banks that I have that need retaining walls. I would need a bucket of some sort, a box scraper, a mower deck good for thick grass with uneven land, maybe a stump grinder to take out all the stumps I have all over the place....and who knows what other attachments I might need. So, I was looking at the Kubota tractors that start at around $10,000. I have been looking at the Ventrac and Power Tracs too. I would like to get the most power I can for the least $$$ of course, so I'm really trying to make up my mind. I might be buying this year or it may have to wait until next. Unless the Craftsman croaks before then in which case I'll have to do something.

 

[WarrenF]

I have a five acre home on Whidbey Island in Washington state. It is slightly hilly with about 3 acres cleared and it needs mowing weekly (minimum) from about April thru November.

Having lived in that country for a couple of years....I would move There are areas of this grand United States of America that have sunshine. Just poking you a bit and trying to make you chuckle.....

 

[cqaigy2]

Having lived in that country for a couple of years....I would move There are areas of this grand United States of America that have sunshine. Just poking you a bit and trying to make you chuckle.....

I had to go to wikipedia to see what sunshine means.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I'm going back to LA to figure it out. Then again, it was 50 today here....