Rogue Valley OR PT enthusiasts?

miles2go · Jan 29, 2006

Any PT owners on the I-5 corridor south of Roseburg who would be willing to share their PT experience with me?

Looking for a nimble tractor to maintain my gravel road, clear manzanita brush from 5, 10, 20 percent slopes, and do small grading projects.

While just about any SCUT could do the road and grading work, the manzanita work on slope requires stability and ground clearance -- plus an appropriate implement for grubbing and grabbing the manzanita.

Some of my issues are discussed in this general thread here.

Phils · Jan 29, 2006

After reading your comments in that thread, it sounds like our needs are similar. It's been 60 years since the last fire here so our manzanita is taller tho (20+ ft). We've been clearing the stuff by hand (chainsaw) for almost 30 years. Also spraying poison oak every year. A year and a half ago I got my PT and the only regret is that I didn't find out about it sooner.

The method I used for the manzanita stump removal has been "time": wait about 6 or 7 years and you can kick them loose. Pulling them with the PT has sure made that job easier! Look at the stumps in the attachment in this thread: Manzanita stumps

I finished rebuilding my gravel driveway last weekend. It hadn't had much maintenance since we first built it (late seventies) and the record rains we got a month ago about wiped it out. It looks better than ever now, after some ditch digging and gravel spreading. Some of the ditches were easier to do by hand than with the mini-hoe because, unlike a regular backhoe, there's no easy way to level the machine without outriggers when you are straddling a ditch with different heights on each side.

Here's a thread describing the only time I've gotten the PT stuck: A stuck PT

We are between 5 and 6 hours south of you near Chico, CA. If you want to make that trip I'd be glad to share and demo my machine and attachments. Otherwise I can answer whatever questions you might have and email photos if they would help. I'll answer Private Messages if the questions don't seem like they'd interest the whole group.

Phil

miles2go · Jan 29, 2006

Phil,

So glad you responded. Yes! we have very similar situations. And the rains got our road so bad that both my wife and I agree it is time for some tractor equipment to help with our property up-keep chores.

We are both in fire zones, apparently. How do you feel about having a gas engine instead of diesel? (I'm concerned that if the PT ever tipped and spilled gas, there could be a serious fire problem.)

Our manzanita is shorter and growing more densely (1-10 plants per sq yard in places). What sort of tool would you use for grubbing and transport?

And again, thanks for your generous response.

P.S. I just read your reply to my wife and she says that you are a real gentleman for offering to demo your PT.