Yes, please share regarding the Avant. I'm going to look at one soon. Just got back from Tazwell where I demoed the PT 425 and 1430. But that's another post.
I have an older Power-Trac 422 with over 2500 hours. It has the body like a newer 425 with the engine of a 422. The tractor weighs in at about 1200 Lbs + attachment. It is neither extreamly heavy nor overly light and is easily moved on a tilt-bed, one-ton, trailer.
I use the grapple bucket with the short teeth for my brush moving needs. It is the envy of the neighborhood as it can move between 800 and 1000 Lbs in a single grab. (I have added weight to the back and made a few modifications to stiffen the lift arms.) The hydraulics have more than engough power as designed.
My local tree service has a large
chipper. We used it to fill their two axel truck 4 times in one 7-hour day moving the brush with my Power-Trac. I would use the bucket to smash down a pile, grab it and swing one end into the
chipper. Drop it, then get around the end and shove it in. Very little hand work was required.
Their guy remarked, "We gotta get one of these!", as it was his job to move the brush by hand. He had an easy day running the
chipper and only handling a few scraps. We even picked up a few larger pieces up to 16" by the end of the log and just shoved them in.
Before modification (as from the factory) the PT could easily lift an 18" oak log 6 feet long and carry it, at will, up and down my back hill which is 23 degrees steep (not 23% grade).
If I had one complaint, I broke the bucket tilt mechanism when I was ramming it into 8" stumps to push them from the ground. (I stiffened the lift arms when I fixed the tilt.) This was the only "weak" part of the design and I only broke it with what could be termed serious abuse.
The attachments are wonderfull and change quickly....un-powered attachment change in 10 seconds without leaving the seat....powered attachment change in less than a minute because I have to get off the seat to snap the hydraulic quick-connects.
Lift hieght of the Avant is much higher, but the PT can place most things tailgate high on my lifted Dodge.
I also like that most attachments are welded 1/4 inch (or more) plate steel and not stamped.
For those without a big budget, they also advertise used PTs...I bought mine this way.
Is it perfec, no. Is it pretty darned useful...Oh yeah!
Don't judge the machine by their videos. They are in a word...Lame! I work it far harder and it is much more capable than shown.
