OP
MossRoad
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
Anyone found one yet?
Price Check Power-Trac Pricing
- Thread starter MossRoad
- Start date
- Views: 4024
tracdoc
Platinum Member
The silence is deafening! Me thinks MR that you have made a powerful point here.
OP
MossRoad
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
It's a holiday weekend. I haven't looked yet either. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I don't want to come across as proclaiming the Power Trac as the do-it-all solution for everyone or as some smart alleck, either. I really just want to see what's out there that's comparable, just for the sake of helping folks make a decision. And, of course, some tools are correct for some jobs and some aren't. I know it was the correct solution for us. I certainly have asked people searching for a tractor to consider it, but also consider everything else, too. Pick the machine that best fits your needs and means. Just give all the brands a fair shake. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I don't want to come across as proclaiming the Power Trac as the do-it-all solution for everyone or as some smart alleck, either. I really just want to see what's out there that's comparable, just for the sake of helping folks make a decision. And, of course, some tools are correct for some jobs and some aren't. I know it was the correct solution for us. I certainly have asked people searching for a tractor to consider it, but also consider everything else, too. Pick the machine that best fits your needs and means. Just give all the brands a fair shake. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
davesisk
Platinum Member
I've said this before and I'll say it again...I think Power-trac has a potentially huge niche for homeowners with medium sized properties (like in 1 to several acres, sometimes even less...). That's a pretty huge market. (I'm thinking in terms of the PT-180/422-425 of course.) In the realm of things suitable for the homeowner, the Power-trac (and a few other machines) are a considerable step above the basic larger-size lawn tractor like you'd get from Lowes or Home Depot, but not such a considerable step in price. Some of the higher-end homeowner-targeted lawn tractors are in the $3-4K price range, right? For under $5K, you can get a PT-180, which can mow AND load (and quite a few other things if you buy the additional attachments). Gain a tremendous amount of capability for a smaller increase in cost...seems like it's quite a value proposition.
I personally think Power-trac is going to make a killing off the smaller gasoline-powered models as they become more popular and proven.
I personally think Power-trac is going to make a killing off the smaller gasoline-powered models as they become more popular and proven.
OP
MossRoad
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And from everybody's visits to the plant they always seem to have a load of the larger machines ready to go, too. I suspect they wouldn't be making them if they weren't selling them. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
FOURTEEN
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Like Goldilocks, most folks find that the PT-180 and PT-422 are too little, the diesels are too much, but the PT-425 is "Just right!!"!!
For example, moving "up" from the PT-425 to the PT-1430 gains ~20% more HP, but also adds ~100% more weight and ~60% more cost!! Moving "down" to an H Class tractor gives you a "non-commercial use" light duty tractor!!
BTW: /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif If the 22HP model is the PT-422, and the 25HP model is the PT-425, why isn't the 18HP model the PT-418???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
For example, moving "up" from the PT-425 to the PT-1430 gains ~20% more HP, but also adds ~100% more weight and ~60% more cost!! Moving "down" to an H Class tractor gives you a "non-commercial use" light duty tractor!!
BTW: /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif If the 22HP model is the PT-422, and the 25HP model is the PT-425, why isn't the 18HP model the PT-418???? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
OP
MossRoad
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It use to be the PT418. Don't know why it changed.
IrTxRx
Silver Member
Moss Road,
I am a believer that apples to apples is not easy to do, however, here is a link to what I am comparing (admittedly incorrectly and illogically) the PT to:
http://www.riverasmachinery.com/century_3040_tractor_package_page.html
You get the same price I get for a PT that will mow, load and grade (but you forgot and extra $1000-$1500 for delivery) Has 45 HP and weighs about 4000#.
Subtract the trailer from the CUT package deal and you have a machine that will mow, load and grade for about $16.5K, weighs about 4000#, can lift about 2000# and has about 43HP. Very similar numbers to the 1445 at about 2/3 of the price.
I agree with all PT owners that this is not an apples to apple comparison, because except for lifting the extraordinarily heavy object from time to time, the 1430 MAY BE able to do as much WORK as this 43HP CUT.
However, for price comparison, what should I compare the 1430 or the 1445 to /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif?
Should I really be comparing skid steers and not CUT's ???
Given some of the posters who work with these machines for a living (blackwell, yardscaper) I am getting the impression that their opinion is that for DOLLAR OF COST / UNIT OF WORK COMPLETED the PT's are hard to top.
My difficulty as a hobbyist is trying to decide what size PT will fit my needs since there is no up/down grading at the dealer if you choose incorrectly /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I am a believer that apples to apples is not easy to do, however, here is a link to what I am comparing (admittedly incorrectly and illogically) the PT to:
http://www.riverasmachinery.com/century_3040_tractor_package_page.html
You get the same price I get for a PT that will mow, load and grade (but you forgot and extra $1000-$1500 for delivery) Has 45 HP and weighs about 4000#.
Subtract the trailer from the CUT package deal and you have a machine that will mow, load and grade for about $16.5K, weighs about 4000#, can lift about 2000# and has about 43HP. Very similar numbers to the 1445 at about 2/3 of the price.
I agree with all PT owners that this is not an apples to apple comparison, because except for lifting the extraordinarily heavy object from time to time, the 1430 MAY BE able to do as much WORK as this 43HP CUT.
However, for price comparison, what should I compare the 1430 or the 1445 to /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif?
Should I really be comparing skid steers and not CUT's ???
Given some of the posters who work with these machines for a living (blackwell, yardscaper) I am getting the impression that their opinion is that for DOLLAR OF COST / UNIT OF WORK COMPLETED the PT's are hard to top.
My difficulty as a hobbyist is trying to decide what size PT will fit my needs since there is no up/down grading at the dealer if you choose incorrectly /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
OP
MossRoad
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That package you showed is a lot of bang for your buck. A very big bang! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Your point about not being able to up or down grade once you purchase is a major deal to most folks.
Apples to apples is almost impossible. I would take into consideration the word of those that use it to make a living. If you are a normal person, what looks like an extra $8000 is a whole lot of money(homeowner or business owner).
All I can tell you is of my personal experiences and how productive the PT425 is on our property, at the Church and at a few other places that I used it. For instance, last Friday evening at a friend's home I excavated about 6 yards of soil from an old driveway right up against a house, into a garage and along a neighbor's lawn. It took about a half an hour. A regular tractor could not have fit in where I went, could not have gone into the garage and could not have switched three implements like I did in that amount of time. And time is money. Is it $8000 worth of money? You'd have to decide that for yourself.
That Century tractor package is certainly a lot of tractor for the money. From what a lot of folks have said, it is a good, solid tractor. I think a PT1445 would run circles around it when doing loader work and brush hogging work, as well as just about anything else until you got to something like a brute pulling contest, such as field plowing. Of course, having never driven a PT1445 or Century 3040, that is just a guess and/or assumption on my part, which means it is totally worthless in value. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Talk to the people that own the PT1445 and see what they have to say when comparing it to standard CUTs of the same size.
Your point about not being able to up or down grade once you purchase is a major deal to most folks.
Apples to apples is almost impossible. I would take into consideration the word of those that use it to make a living. If you are a normal person, what looks like an extra $8000 is a whole lot of money(homeowner or business owner).
All I can tell you is of my personal experiences and how productive the PT425 is on our property, at the Church and at a few other places that I used it. For instance, last Friday evening at a friend's home I excavated about 6 yards of soil from an old driveway right up against a house, into a garage and along a neighbor's lawn. It took about a half an hour. A regular tractor could not have fit in where I went, could not have gone into the garage and could not have switched three implements like I did in that amount of time. And time is money. Is it $8000 worth of money? You'd have to decide that for yourself.
That Century tractor package is certainly a lot of tractor for the money. From what a lot of folks have said, it is a good, solid tractor. I think a PT1445 would run circles around it when doing loader work and brush hogging work, as well as just about anything else until you got to something like a brute pulling contest, such as field plowing. Of course, having never driven a PT1445 or Century 3040, that is just a guess and/or assumption on my part, which means it is totally worthless in value. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Talk to the people that own the PT1445 and see what they have to say when comparing it to standard CUTs of the same size.
Charlie_Iliff
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IrTxRx
I am sure that if I spend some time with price lists and a calculator, I can come up with a system that's cheaper than the PT1845 and the attachments I've accumulated. I am also sure that it won't be by much, since some things like my Lackender front hoe (before the mini-hoe was available) is a lot cheaper than any backhoe around. Once quick hitches were adapted to the mower, tiller, rake, forks, post hole auger, pole lift, post driver, etc. I think the PT will be cheaper, since even where some of their attachments are pricey, the quick attach is already there.
But, if purely dollar comparison were the only value, I'd just have upgraded the attachments for the three John Deere tractors we have. I predicted, and have proven over and over that the Power Trac will do more different things better than any CUT, and the ability to switch attachments instantaneously allows people with limited time actually to get an astonishing amount of work done in a short time. Our CUTs have never given me that capability. (That's why I'm the only PT operator, or I'd never get to use it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
I am sure that if I spend some time with price lists and a calculator, I can come up with a system that's cheaper than the PT1845 and the attachments I've accumulated. I am also sure that it won't be by much, since some things like my Lackender front hoe (before the mini-hoe was available) is a lot cheaper than any backhoe around. Once quick hitches were adapted to the mower, tiller, rake, forks, post hole auger, pole lift, post driver, etc. I think the PT will be cheaper, since even where some of their attachments are pricey, the quick attach is already there.
But, if purely dollar comparison were the only value, I'd just have upgraded the attachments for the three John Deere tractors we have. I predicted, and have proven over and over that the Power Trac will do more different things better than any CUT, and the ability to switch attachments instantaneously allows people with limited time actually to get an astonishing amount of work done in a short time. Our CUTs have never given me that capability. (That's why I'm the only PT operator, or I'd never get to use it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
