New to America and Tractors

[LondonVermont]

Hi All,
A new member here and also to your country, my Vermont born and bred wife wanted to return home after living in London, England.
We've bought 20+ acres in Northern Vermont, the views are spectacular but so are the gradients, 50% of the property is between 8/20 degrees, 25% is flat and currently very soggy and the remaining 25% is 20/30 degrees. I assumed that discounts regular tractors unless I stick to driving up & down, so the local dealer demo'd his Ventrac for us and it was a dream around the apple orchard slopes and through the mud and water logged lower areas.
I then found links to Power Trac and now plan on a trip to Tazewell.
My primary uses as far as I can predict are, snow blowing a 500' drive, yearly brush hogging 15 acres, maintaining trails in 5 acres of sugar maples, general small holding work and to landscape around our house as we build it.
There are a few questions I would like to throw out there:
My father-in-law suggests gas over diesel as the winters can get a little cold up here in the North East Kingdom. Anyone have any issues with the 1430 in severe cold?
Is the snow blower on the 1430 man enough for Vermont snow?
I've found that America/Vermont has an additional season, mud season, should I be looking at a double wheel model?
Many thanks and hope to soon join your ranks.

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To the TBN forum. You came to the right place to get all your questions answered. I can't help you as I have never owned one but I am sure there are plenty of folks here who have.

The weather there in the winter must be a shock coming from London?

 

[LondonVermont]

Thank you,
My first spring/summer in VT and the wettest on record, so that reminds me of the old country.
The snow was fun but the real difference has been the amount of bugs that feast on you here.

 

[SpringHollow]

The diesel's do not start super easy if you are keeping them in unheated space or outside. Colder than 20 would be difficult without magnetic heaters or a salamander etc. I prefer to keep mine in my 50 degree shop.

The reasons you mentioned are why I went with a used PT1850. The 1430 would certainly be better than a conventional tractor. You could compare the weight and tire width to the Ventrac to see how they compare.

Ken

 

[ponytug]

You can also use a heating patch to warm the hydraulic oil, and just plug in the tractor in advance. My 1445 always starts down to 32F(0C), without issues, but it gets a lot colder in the Northeast Kingdom.

Having lived up your way, mud season can be bad or not; it depends on your soil. Chains can help if traction rather than flotation is the issue. If flotation is the issue you may need dual wheels.

One small point on the 1430 vs the 1445 or 18XX, at some point those hill climbs while mowing become horsepower limited.

Try Skin-so-soft for the no-seeums. Tightly woven canvas shirts can really slow down mosquitos, especially if the color is lighter.

I will let others comment on the snow blower/snow blade.

All the best, Peter

 

[SpringHollow]

I added glow heaters to the intake of the 1850 and I have started it at 20°F but it is ugly. It initially seems to run on just one or two cylinders. Not something I would routinely recommend. I also tried magnetic heaters - I believe I used 3 - and they certainly helped but not the cheapest things to run on a timer. In the winter, it is hard to know in advance which days you will need to get up and plow so I ran the heaters almost every morning.

Ken

 

[woodlandfarms]

One thing about the PT is that it floats over swamps and mud. Mostly this is a good thing until you get stuck. Then you find the PT lacks in ground engagement and that can be unfun. But hearing your needs, this is going to be a great machine for you. Know how to turn a wrench, or have a friend that does. They are simple machines in the end, you can do most repairs yourself if you are inclined.

Advice if you purchase. Get all the implements you feel you need upfront. It hurts financially, but it hurts worse having them shipped to you. But check with all of us on buying advice, sometimes there are third party implements that work just as good or better.

I live in the PNW, never had an issue with cold start but we never really have 24 hours of cold. Nights go below freezing but days will see 40's. I didt pop a timing belt Last year due to the cold. But I feel that was due to poor maintenance on my part.

 

[Thomas]

:welcome: to TBN...enjoy.
Yup good idea start getting ready for winter really not that far off.

 

[LondonVermont]

Hi All,

thanks for the replies.
Peter, you mention strangled HP on hill climbs, this seems to come up occasionally in reviews, do you know if the PT 425 fairs better as it has a higher HP/Weight ratio? the accessories also appear to be smaller (48" v's 60") I'm guessing they also weight less and therefore maybe better suited to steeper slopes?

We had more than a few snow removal days that were -20F last winter even -30F once or twice, unfortunately the first couple of years at least it will be living under a lean-to without heat so diesel may be an issue even with magnetic heaters.

The Mossie's are the least of my worries it was the black flies and now the deer fly that are the real bane, the black fly required bug spray, long sleeves, gloves and face nets, the deer fly don't seem to be deterred by anything other than a fast slap and will bite through heavy cotton.

Woodlandfarms, I'm no engineer but I have enjoyed stripping down and servicing my motorbikes so I hope I'm not going to be too useless.
My wish list is short:
Vehicle - Brush cutter, Snow blower, 4-in-1 bucket, Forks, Mini hoe + Thumb, Armrests and spare Attachment Plate.
My father-in-law lives next door and runs a regular tractor for things like the rake and dragging me out of the mud.

This is all a steep learning curve having never owned guns or a chainsaw before let alone a tractor but I'm enjoying it.

 

[k0ua]

This is all a steep learning curve having never owned guns or a chainsaw before let alone a tractor but I'm enjoying it.

Guns, Chainsaws, and Tractors. It doesn't get much better than that. As William Wallace would have said: "FREEDOM!". We hope you are enjoying all three. :thumbsup: