PT Road Use

[RegL]

(careful Sedgewood - I smell a rant coming on...)).

Come on Sedgewood. Let it out.



"Since those heady early days I've suffered so many failures (hydraulic hoses, fuel solenoid, electrical gremlins, fire, etc) that stopped the PT dead in its tracks I'm pretty skittish about even crossing the road "


Sounds like a couple of cars I've owned. lol!

 

[Barryh]

When I first got my 1845 I would regularly take it three or four miles from home for various tasks, feeling I'm no more vulnerable than the numerous pedestrians and bicyclists who have taken over the country roads here abouts (and have decided - contrary to law in the case of pedestrians - it's unnecessary to yield to traffic (careful Sedgewood - I smell a rant coming on...)). Since those heady early days I've suffered so many failures (hydraulic hoses, fuel solenoid, electrical gremlins, fire, etc) that stopped the PT dead in its tracks I'm pretty skittish about even crossing the road

Sedgewood

Ya, that would pretty much discourage me too. Sorry to hear you've had all of those troubles. Think I'll just keep mine in the yard or use it for back woods crawling.

 

[odleefs]

I think to be road worthy, you are required to have the aforementioned SMV triangle, rear view mirrors,and front and back visable turn signals with flashers on as well as headlights. A strobe is not required but recommended. This is not per the DMV but my hazy recollections of the requirements...
Cheers!
Steve

 

[BobRip]

I think to be road worthy, you are required to have the aforementioned SMV triangle, rear view mirrors,and front and back visable turn signals with flashers on as well as headlights. A strobe is not required but recommended. This is not per the DMV but my hazy recollections of the requirements...
Cheers!
Steve

There was an article in our local paper and it stated that all we need was the triangle but they recommended a flashing light in addition. This probably varies state to state. I live in Virginia.

 

[2deeskip]

Hey guys, I have a little problem here. I was just about to pull the trigger on a 425 when I started to read this thread. What surprised me were the comments from several, apparently long time owners, that a major concern with road travel was not so much laws or traffic, but that the machine might break down in the middle of the road. That does not instill a lot of confidence in the equipment. I routinely run lawn tractors, my other articulated "thing', and in the past tractors on my rural road. The main concern is my timing may be bad & coincide with the "locals" drive by, the last thought in my mind is that the machine might break down. How about a little "buck me up" here to get that nagging concern out of my head.

 

[Barryh]

Although I have only had my PT for a short time, and I have low hours on it. I feel very confident it's reliability. I think with any tractor or machine no matter what make, you run the possibility that it might stop or malfunction at one time or another.

After more thought my deciding factor for staying off the road is that there is just nowhere to pull over, or get out of the way if something were to happen. I think the main worry for me would be holding up traffic in the middle of the road.

The other thing is, even if there were a place to pull over it would still take some time to tow or move it off of the road, I would have to open the relief valve which takes some time just to move the machine. For the most part with proper maintenance, I feel this machine is very dependable and well made.

 

[pajoube]

Hey guys, I have a little problem here. I was just about to pull the trigger on a 425 when I started to read this thread. What surprised me were the comments from several, apparently long time owners, that a major concern with road travel was not so much laws or traffic, but that the machine might break down in the middle of the road. That does not instill a lot of confidence in the equipment. I routinely run lawn tractors, my other articulated "thing', and in the past tractors on my rural road. The main concern is my timing may be bad & coincide with the "locals" drive by, the last thought in my mind is that the machine might break down. How about a little "buck me up" here to get that nagging concern out of my head.

I don't think we were talking about breaking down but the speed of travel. The PT 425 moves right along but if a long distance is to be traveled you will need to plan accordingly.
I have the 425 which is 3 years old now and could not be happier. It performs better than expected, heavier duty than most CUTs and will outlast most owners if well maintained.
PJ

 

[Barryh]

I don't think we were talking about breaking down but the speed of travel. The PT 425 moves right along but if a long distance is to be traveled you will need to plan accordingly.
I have the 425 which is 3 years old now and could not be happier. It performs better than expected, heavier duty than most CUTs and will outlast most owners if well maintained.
PJ

I agree well said. 8 mile an hour is not going to break the sound barrier. May not be to bad if you have rear view mirror's, flashing lights, and plenty of places to pull off and let traffic around. Still something to really think about. As far as dependability goes, If you take good care of your PT, it will take care of you.

 

[BobRip]

My 422 has been very reliable. I just don't like driving a very slow vehicle on a road. The speed limit on my road is 40 and it has a fair number of hills and turns. I do take it to the neighbors and drive 200 yards on the road.

 

[MossRoad]

Hey guys, I have a little problem here. I was just about to pull the trigger on a 425 when I started to read this thread. What surprised me were the comments from several, apparently long time owners, that a major concern with road travel was not so much laws or traffic, but that the machine might break down in the middle of the road. That does not instill a lot of confidence in the equipment. I routinely run lawn tractors, my other articulated "thing', and in the past tractors on my rural road. The main concern is my timing may be bad & coincide with the "locals" drive by, the last thought in my mind is that the machine might break down. How about a little "buck me up" here to get that nagging concern out of my head.

at our property there is nothing but highway. I don't even like mowing next to the highway, let alone drive on it. I always worry about what would happen if the thing would die in the road. How would I get it out in time, as it can't be pushed since there isn't a neutral. I would have to get a wrench and loosen the by-pass on the variable volume pump. Too scary for me to want to try.

What I meant by this is the highway traffic comes along too fast out on our property. If, by chance, the tractor would die on the highway, I could get killed and/or someone else could get killed.

Much less likely on our county road where the speed limit is 30 and there are shoulders. I frequently spin it around in the road when mowing and plowing, paying attention to traffic.

If you compare the PT to any other HST tractor, in reallity, it is about the same. The engine dies on either and you are a sitting duck. You may be able to crank the starter and weasel your way off the side of the road, but if the problem is electrical, even on a standard CUT, the best you can do is put it in neutral and find a push or tow off the road. A standard gear tranny is really the same, but you stand a better chance of getting it off the road by cranking the starter if the problem isn't electrical.

Over all, I see no difference driving a Power Trac on a public road than a conventional tractor on a public road. Both are equally scary!

So don't let that deter you from considering a Power Trac.