Same old story: Power Trac vs Ventrac

Clumber · Jun 12, 2014

Back in 2010 I too was on the fence between a PT 425 and a Ventrac 4000 series. Bottom line was the PT with many attachments with shipping was $26,000. The Ventrac plus needed attachments approached $50,000. Note, the Ventrac dealers in my area were willing to discount 9%.

The Ventrac is more of a high-tech machine, The PT is more low tech thus probably more reliable. The PT does very acceptable mowing and snow removing. The Ventrac is an excellent mower and snow handling machine. Ventrac has a weak loader you can add-on for $5000+. PT 425 has a loader with 7-800 lb capacity included.

I love my PT 425, but wish I had the Ventrac as well. At one point I was going to buy a used Ventrac and later look for a used PT. But I reconsidered when thinking about twice the maintenance and storage needed.

MuncyBob · Jun 14, 2014

v4brad said:
I spent the night in Bluefield and will be going to Tazewell in an hour to see the Power Trac 422 and 425. Report to follow.
The Ventrac dealer is going to bring a 3000 series to my home for a demo soon and then it will be decision time.

So, how was the visit?

v4brad · Jun 16, 2014

I rode my motorcycle to Tazewell on Wednesday. I called ahead and talked to Terry and when I saw I wouldn't make it before 5pm he agreed to meet me early on Thursday. I stayed overnight in Bluefield and then met Terry at the Power Trac factory at 10 minutes to 7. We met in the showroom and he showed me the 425 and several attachments. Then we walked down to the demo area and I drove a 425, did some mowing and scooped some gravel in the bucket. I didn't feel pressured at all. Terry was very friendly and helpful. When he saw I was on a motorcycle he told me I would have to ride over the "back of the dragon" when I left. He explained that it was Highway 16 between Tazewell and Marion and it went over three mountain ranges on a twisty road. Anyway, back to the Power Trac.

It feels bigger than it looks I think when you are sitting in it and driving it. It does feel like you are in it rather than on it. The thing is a marvel of simplicity. And solid. Built with 3/16th steel it is heavy duty and should last a few lifetimes. It consists of an engine, two hydraulic pumps, some hydraulic hoses and the hydraulic motors on the wheels. No transmission, no gearbox, no complicated steering mechanism. Hydraulics is the core of their business and they do it very well. I see what y'all mean by the PT being more tractor than mower. It just plain feels rugged and strong. I examined the mowing deck and like everything else, it is 3/16th inch steel, simple and very heavy duty. The PT is speedy as well. Terry had me run it on the parking lot at full throttle and I'm sure it does the 10 mph that is advertised.

Turning an articulated machine like the PT takes some getting used to. I noticed that when I first start turning it the machine briefly starts to go the opposite direction before settling into the turn. It may not actually go the opposite way, it just feels like it. Hard to explain. I've read on this forum several times that you really need to drive the tractor before making any purchase decisions.

I feel much more informed and will be able to make a better decision as a result of test riding the PT. I'm confident if I do get the PT that it will be a solid, reliable and capable tractor that is easy to maintain.

As I left, Terry gave me directions to the Back of the Dragon so I rode south to the 3rd exit and turned left. It was 30 miles of the best motorcycle riding I have yet done. Three mountain ranges is not an exaggeration. Switch backs and curves by the score going up and down, up and down, and up and down again. I'm already planning to go ride it again.

Next in this saga is going to be a demo of the Ventrac 3121 on my property. I'm still negotiating a price with the dealer. Once that is worked out I will have the demo. I don't want him bringing the tractor/mower out here unless I know I can purchase it if it turns out to be the winner of my little contest. I had the price worked out when the John Deere dealer brought out the 1025 and would have purchased it if it had been more stable on the slope. So I'm looking forward to getting the Ventrac thing worked out so I can see it in action.

murphy1244 · Jun 16, 2014

The big draw back to Ventrac is its not made for FEL work. I would try a 4500 series as I did and bought one.

cqaigy2 · Jun 16, 2014

I saw a photo article of "Back of the Dragon", some years ago. It looked beautiful and a great motorcycle or cage

ride.

MossRoad · Jun 20, 2014

The reason the PT feels weird when you first drive one is that the seat is attached to the front half of the unit and the pivot between the front and back half of the machine is under your butt. As you turn the wheel to the left, the center of the machine moves to the right and vice versa. You get used to it after several hours of operation and the more you drive it it just becomes an extension of your body. I've been driving articulated machines for about 30 years. It comes naturally quickly. :thumbsup:

pequeajim · Jun 29, 2014

I have had both. Ventrac 4xxx and now have a PT425. The 425 is MUCH more of a workhorse than the ventrac, however, the ventrac is a very slightly better mower, especially going up hills. The hydraulics on the 425 drove the mower as well as the 4 wheel motors. This causes the 425 top bog sometimes when mowing up steeper holds that you can't go side to side on. The ventrac never had a problem on the same hill. Needless to say, I sold the ventrac and bought a 425 with a bunch of attachments. The biggest problem with the 425 that I have had is starting mine in the winter. The Robin engine does not like it cooler than 40 degrees. If they would put a 25 horse Kubota diesel in it, I'd be all over that. I love my little green Kermit!

v4brad · Jul 2, 2014

Thank you all so much for your comments. I tried the Ventrac 3100 and really liked the size of it compared to the PT425. I realize they aren't completely comparable. There is no denying the versatility and ruggedness of the PT425. It was too much tractor for me so I purchased the 3100. I just love it. I want to mow all the lawns in the neighborhood. Right now I'm getting it set up with my MCD (material collection device) aka leaf vacuum. I know this isn't the Ventrac forum but I'll post something here later when I've had some more time with my new machine and give a more complete report.

boggen · Jul 2, 2014

i am going to get smacked across the face, but seems like ya going pretty good overkill for 1/2 acre yard.

have you tried every filling the rear tires with fluid to get you some extra weight in the rear end, and get some better traction? weight in tires also helps some by getting COG (center of gravity) for the tractor a tad lower, so less chance of flipping it over on a hill.

swamping out rear tires for say R4 or R1 style tires that have ribs in them to grab the dirt, on a riding lawn mower is a tad overkill, and you will more likely get better luck with "tire chains" on rear tires.

the up hill battle you face is both, a light weight machine, and tires that will not give you much traction. and you will most likely face same issue no matter what machine you end up with.

granted 4x4 / MFWD will help, but overall fill tires up with some fluid, and see about chains for rear tires, maybe even wheel weights.

if the engine simply does not have enough HP to spin the tires in all condition (( you are loosing traction)) then its not a HP issue but traction issue.

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BAH just forget some riding lawn mowers, you may need to get "wheel / rim spacers" do to not enough clearance :/ it might be possible to swap real wheels, so you get a wider mowing machine and give you enough inside clearance for chains. (( its all in the rims, and how much offset the rims have, that can allow for this))