davesisk
Platinum Member
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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!!
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I'd have to disagree with most of this, actually. (No offense... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) You need the right tool for the right job. For some folks, that's going to be a PT-180, for some folks that's going to be an 1845 or larger. There's a reason PT make's so many different sizes.
Increases in weight are not necessarily a bad thing...again, it depends exactly on what you're going to do with it. If you're going to be lifting pallets loaded with bricks or doing serious digging with a front-hoe, then weight is a benefit. If you're going to be mowing your front lawn, the weight is probably a detriment.
Extra cost is never a good thing /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif, but in this case it does buy you a diesel rather than a gasoline engine. This is also one of those "fit" questions...professional users are going to benefit from the fuel-economy, increased torque, and long-life of a diesel, so they will probably come out ahead. A homeowner might find having to go buy diesel fuel and more expensive repairs (compared the gasoline engines) simply not worth the expense or hassle. Small gas engines are easier and cheaper to service than small diesels, but they do need to be serviced more frequently. That said, the homeowner who uses it once per weekend probably comes out ahead with a smaller and cheaper gasoline engine.
Also, I certainly wouldn't say that the PT-180 or PT-422 are "light duty" tractors...these things are just as tank-like as the PT-425 and up...they are simply smaller (thus lighter) and have less HP (thus less hydraulic pressure and flow). I personally would knock half my house down with a PT-1430 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, so my old PT-1418 (pretty much a PT-180, but a just little heavier and longer) is about perfect for my needs.
All that said, I am quite glad that PT offers so many different models...there's one that's the "right fit" for a pretty darned good percentage of anyone who needs a machine like this.
Plus regardless of what machine you guys (even it it's not a Power-trac), any tractor is much, much better than no tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Just my humble opinions...
Dave
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!!
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I'd have to disagree with most of this, actually. (No offense... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) You need the right tool for the right job. For some folks, that's going to be a PT-180, for some folks that's going to be an 1845 or larger. There's a reason PT make's so many different sizes.
Increases in weight are not necessarily a bad thing...again, it depends exactly on what you're going to do with it. If you're going to be lifting pallets loaded with bricks or doing serious digging with a front-hoe, then weight is a benefit. If you're going to be mowing your front lawn, the weight is probably a detriment.
Extra cost is never a good thing /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif, but in this case it does buy you a diesel rather than a gasoline engine. This is also one of those "fit" questions...professional users are going to benefit from the fuel-economy, increased torque, and long-life of a diesel, so they will probably come out ahead. A homeowner might find having to go buy diesel fuel and more expensive repairs (compared the gasoline engines) simply not worth the expense or hassle. Small gas engines are easier and cheaper to service than small diesels, but they do need to be serviced more frequently. That said, the homeowner who uses it once per weekend probably comes out ahead with a smaller and cheaper gasoline engine.
Also, I certainly wouldn't say that the PT-180 or PT-422 are "light duty" tractors...these things are just as tank-like as the PT-425 and up...they are simply smaller (thus lighter) and have less HP (thus less hydraulic pressure and flow). I personally would knock half my house down with a PT-1430 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif, so my old PT-1418 (pretty much a PT-180, but a just little heavier and longer) is about perfect for my needs.
All that said, I am quite glad that PT offers so many different models...there's one that's the "right fit" for a pretty darned good percentage of anyone who needs a machine like this.
Plus regardless of what machine you guys (even it it's not a Power-trac), any tractor is much, much better than no tractor! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Just my humble opinions...
Dave
