Just checking in

[Impulse]

I've been lurking/reading a few weeks here, thought I would join and give a shout.

I just recently purchased a home on ~1.5 acre lot that has been neglected for a while by the previous owners. I've attached a picture of part of the property to give an idea of what I've got. It has some minor sloping, maybe a couple steeper spots but really not bad. There are other parts that are seriously overgrown. The primary use for a machine would be mowing, but there's going to be plenty of dead trees coming down, new trees getting planted, post holes being dug, material being moved, drive getting graded, general landscaping. At first I was looking at a Ventrac/Steiner, but once I saw the PT and what seems to be a great love for it by their owners, I think I was sold.

I've got friends that are trying to push me towards a Kubota with a belly mower and a 3pt hitch that you can run attachments with. I've got 4 fused vertebrae in my back so looking backwards takes me quite a bit more effort than the average guy. I really like the idea of having everything out in front where I can see it.

I'm leaning towards the 425, but the 1430 with its diesel and a bit more power is trying to grab my attention. Judging by my reading, the 425 would be totally adequate but I still figured I would reach out to see if anyone would have some reasoning why I should go with the 1430 instead. Anyone with a 425 wish they had gone the next step bigger? If it matters, I've got a heated garage to keep it in, so I'm not too concerned about starting up in the cold. Maybe I should throw in that I'm a big fella, about 6'3", 300. Is the 425 going to wince and cry when trying to do some work and having to lug me around as well?

Anyway, glad to be here and looking forward to joining the PT ranks.

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum Impulse. Glad you decided to join us here. When you say "425" or "1430" what manufacture are you speaking of?

 

[Impulse]

Thanks.

Power-Trac.

 

[MossRoad]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum Impulse. Glad you decided to join us here. When you say "425" or "1430" what manufacture are you speaking of?

This is the Power Trac forum.... he's looking at Power Trac machines.

Versatile Tractors,Compact Tractors,Trailer Packages,Landscaping,Utility Vehicle Rentals,Mowers-Power Trac

 

[MossRoad]

Welcome to TBN.

I purchased my PT425 in 2001. I live on 1 acre, but maintain trails and gather firewood on a 20 acre parcel. For us, the 425 was just right. I'm about 6' and at one timed topped 235. I had no problems. A 1430 would come in handy on our larger place sometimes, as the logs can get big. The 425 was the largest engine I could get in the 400 series frame. I wanted that frame size because it could drive through 48" gates and it could also fit between the wheel wells of our pickup truck bed for hauling it to church and the little league park. Now that we have a Suburban and car hauler trailer, and no more narrow gates to drive through, that would no longer be a factor for us.

Anyhow, see if you can find a 1430 and a 425 in your area and sit on them and see of the owners will show you what they do.

 

[PTWannaHave]

Welcome! If you end up with a PT, this is THE place to be...!

I've had my 1430 for 1.5 yrs. now. Like you, the 425 probably would've been adequate for me, but I was set on a diesel engine. (With all the quirks/issues of the Robin Subaru engine, I'm glad I went for the Deutz.) This of course is at a $ premium, but I am also glad about my stronger lift capacity; I regularly max out the weight the hydraulics can bear. If money was no object, I might've gone one step up from the 1430.

I still strongly feel that a PT is the best tractor for a landowner who does not perform agriculture.

Cheers,

 

[ponytug]

Welcome to the forum!

The ability to look forward is huge, especially with back issues.

Looking at what you have, knowing the Bloomington area, and what you want to use it for, I think that you would be happy with either one. Personally, I love the Deutz engine- very simple, rock solid. Parts aren't cheap, but they are available all over.

Have fun,

Peter

As you get close to the purchase, I would suggest reading the prior discussions on the relative utility of various attachments to get a feel for what you need for your place. Everyone has similar, but different, issues, and I learned a lot from prior discussions that really helped me.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Impulse]

I appreciate all the feedback. I have been doing quite a bit of reading in my spare time. Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone in my area with either machine (or any PT for that matter) to go and take a look at. I think what I might do is take a little road trip with my pops out to Virginia and take them for a test drive and hopefully come back with the right choice. In the meantime, I will just keep reading.

 

[MossRoad]

Bloomington... that's almost Normal! :laughing:

 

[Impulse]

Almost, but thankfully not quite.

 

[MossRoad]

Hahaha... I have a sister that went to illinois wesleyan university back in the 70's. I distinctly remember someone had spray painted AB on the water tower.

 

[SpringHollow]

You might want to upgrade to a suspension seat given some of your issues. I put a low profile one on my PT and wished I had done it sooner. I know some others have done it with more conventional suspension seats on the 425.

Ken

 

[Impulse]

Thanks Spring, I was actually reading about your seat change last night. As far as head clearance goes with the canopy, having never seen one in person, hard to judge how much space there is. No issues with head clunking?

I like Moss' idea of welding in the helmet for a bit of leeway!

 

[SpringHollow]

I have never hit my head but I have the suspension adjusted to limit the amount of travel. I could remove the adjustable slide and get more travel since I never adjust it, leaving it set all of the way back. Others I believe have used more conventional suspension seat but I would be hitting my head if I did that. Carl did a simple setup using rubber doughnuts if I remember correctly - cheap, easy, and effective, I believe.

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

The rubber bushings made a ton of difference, but that said nothing beats a suspension seat. Ken has the pimp ride rolling for sure.

Popular Vines - How Gangstas Drive - YouTube

 

[Digger 258]

I went through a long and deliberate debate between the 425 and the 1430. I looked at the heaviest things I need to routinely lift (a water tank) and was set on the 1430. I even took a trip to Tazwell, which convinced me of the diesel. So I set my mind to saving up my pennies, and in a year or so I would be able to purchase a brand spanking new 1430! Well, as plans have it, a used 425 with lots of attachments came up for auction fairly close to me and I ended up taking it home. I'm more than impressed with the 425. I have maxed out the lift capacity a few times, but have done so much more than I expected, and much quicker. I've trenched loads of drainage, moved mounds of gravel and dirt, installed scores of fence posts, dug out of more snow than I can think of this year, and moved all kinds of strange things with the forks. I've found that the front mount and quick attach mean that I am quicker to jump on the PT and tackle jobs that I would have procrastinated on, and I do everything about twice as quickly. I've had a few head scratchers getting a used PT all tuned up, but nothing much beyond the basics. I've definitely worked it very hard and have done things I never would have tried on a conventional tractor. Still wish I had the bigger diesel, but the 425 has changed my whole concept of how I tackle projects for the better.

Originally from Champaign, spent a lot of time in Bloomington - Welcome to the forum!

 

[Impulse]

Thanks for the input Digger. I think I'm sold on the 425.

I called up the credit union at work today, assuming to get things in order, only to find out that they do not loan on tractors, lawn mowers, anything agricultural. That came as a total surprise to me since they list something along the lines of "cars, trucks, boats, RVs, golf carts, personal watercraft, etc." I've had all previous loans for vehicles through them so didn't even consider looking elsewhere. 1.99% automatic from my paycheck to me was a no-brainer.

I made the incorrect assumption that "etc." would encompass a tractor, but received a hard "no" from all reps I spoke with.

My expected 1.99% secured loan turned to an 8% personal loan. Boo.

I know that I'm not the only no-tractor-without-financing-guy on here. Anyone care to share any tips on finding a good rate on a tractor loan?

 

[MossRoad]

We have a home equity line of credit. It is technically a mortgage. Our property taxes would normally be about $1200 per year, but we save about $600 per year on our home property taxes because we have a "mortgage" (home equity loan) homestead tax exemption. It cuts our property taxes about in half. We pay less than $600 on interest on the home equity loan annually (we never carry a large balance). We would have to pay those dollars to the county for taxes regardless, so we pay that money towards the interest on the equity loan instead and get to finance home improvement interest on the county's dime. Its one of the only things we do where we feel we come out ahead of "the system". :laughing:

 

[Impulse]

Unfortunately, my current situation doesn't really allow for the a HELOC. I said in my original post "recently purchased" the new home. That wasn't exactly accurate. We close on the new place July 29th but are not putting our current home on the market until this is 100% with keys in-hand. We've got a great place now and if this should fall through for any reason, then we don't want to move. Needless to say, we had to make some stretches financially to make this happen and I'm guessing the banker wouldn't be too keen on me taking an additional loan against the equity of the current house right now.

I might just have to wait until this process is all over and done with before I get to join the club, but in the meantime, I will see what I can come up with as far as outside financing.

Thanks for the input Moss

 

[MossRoad]

Well, if that's not an option, you could always max out your credit cards..... :laughing: