Re: new member-long time anonymous-heading to Taze
I spent a lot of time on the 425 vs 1430 struggle and finally decided the 425 is best if your tasks are primarily maintenance and modest improvements... but for major "cosmetic surgery" on large acreage (50+ acres of brush clearing and large scale hauling/moving stuff) you'll want something bigger than the 425. I fall in the latter category and went with the 1430 (delivery expected this coming Tuesday. Wheee!).
That said, I did visit a 425 owner in the area who had cleared about 2 acres of the type land I have and was mightily impressed with his stories of the jobs it handled. Very impressive little machine!
Some locals argue that I need something even bigger than a 1430 (much bigger), but I came down on the side of owning a machine that can handle 95% of everything I need to do *on a regular, recurring basis* and rent specialty machines/services for the remaining tasks. That way I don't waste money (and lots of it) on a machine whos capabilities I only rarely need, yet must live with the added size, inconvenience and expense every day.
On the question of slopes... make sure you leave some margin of safety, cuz if you take a machine on its max-rated slope and a wheel hits an unseen, grass-covered hole... timberrrrrr. (I wonder if slope ratings for PT machines already have such a margin built in?) I fear the rollover. A lot. (received my tiltmeter just the other day) /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'd suggest an alternative solution for the ditch... like establishing some low-growing ground cover to obviate the need for mowing. Or hire a service to just cut it when it gets too shaggy.
