<font color=green> Bottom line: I was all set to get a Kubota
BX2200 or 7500, now I'm 98% sold on the PT 425 to do all the jobs I'll need to do on the property. </font color=green>
CRJCaptain,
I was in almost the exact same situation about a year ago. I was also strongly considering a small Kubota. I was one day away from buying the Kubota when I changed my mind and went with the Power Trac. Some of my thoughts (all should be construed as opinions, not facts):
Kubota
- great resale value if you ever change your mind or just want to try something else
- is well suited to “traditional” farm tractor stuff and fairly suited to landscaping and lawn duties
- anything bigger than the BX or 7500 is harder on the lawn if you go fast and make sharp turns
- attachments in the rear can be a pain to connect and use (i.e., you are frequently looking over your shoulder)
- except for the BX, can get scary to use on slopes
Power Trac
- resale value is iffy but probably acceptable if you are patient and willing to deliver the tractor to a private owner
- is best suited to lawn care and landscaping, and not well suited to “farming” activities like plowing
- is easier on the lawn than a traditional tractor design, or any other design I have seen
- is easier to use with attachments due to the quick attach on the front of the tractor
- works great regardless of the terrain
Overall, I went with the PT because it is the optimal design for mowing and FEL work.
Also, I have found that the quick attach feature increases the tractor’s productivity significantly. For example, almost anyone will tell you that a FEL is not the optimal tool for excavation. The main reason is that the basic design spreads the digging force out over a large surface area, as opposed to a backhoe for example. However, by quickly attaching a PT plow (potato digger), I can easily break up the ground down to about 5”. I then switch to the bucket a scope up the dirt. I excavated an area about 4” deep using this technique (I will post some pictures if I can remember to bring my camera home from work). Now this same technique could have been accomplished with a traditional tractor with a rear mounted plow and a front mounted FEL. However, because all attachments mount on the front of the PT, I was able to finish the job quicker and with greater precision (being relatively inexperienced) than would have been possible if I had used a traditional tractor.
Further, I find I can quickly change from one activity to another. Continuing the excavation example, I could move from excavating to mowing the lawn in 15 seconds. With a traditional tractor, one really wants to remove the mid-mount mower if the tractor is to be used over rough terrain, like excavation work. And many folks like to take the FEL off to mow. While it’s simple to make these changes with the Kubota, you are still talking about several minutes of activity and getting on your hands and knees to deal with the mower. With the PT, it’s only a matter of seconds to make these changes, all without leaving the tractor (although it is easier to get off the tractor to connect the two PTO hoses).
