Buying Advice Skid steer or 1460

[MossRoad]

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[MossRoad]

:laughing::thumbsup:

 

[sirmombo]

I demoed a Bobcat T190 before I bought a PT 1430. I knew if I went with a skid steer I would have to go with tracks because wheeled skid steers have gotten stuck on our property many times. The T190 had a far more capable brush cutter than the PT. The loader was also much stronger. The controls are much more ergonomically laid out than the PT. The T190 also used about twice the fuel, had terribly visibility, was very noisy, did lots of turf damage, and was too tall to fit in most of our buildings.

The PT 1430 does nearly no turf damage, is much smoother, has great traction, and is the best compromise for my needs. A skid steer would be faster for some jobs, but useless for others. The other articulated wheel loaders are far more refined than the equivalent PT. I would like to control the grapple with the same joystick that controls the loader, not have to reach for the loader joy stick, have a hydraulic oil temperature guage, and have tier IV emissions. The other loaders are also substantially more expensive. They have dealer networks, but I would probably need a dealer because the machine is much more complicated.

 

[ponytug]

Yes, well, new property sometimes results in conversions.

30 degree slopes did it for me. I enjoy staying above ground.

YMMV...

All the best,

Peter

 

[johara1]

It depends on which model of PT you're looking at. Their slope mowers are good for 100% side slope. 100%. That's a 45 degree angle. You will never see any of those machines shown, or any skid steer, operating on anything anywhere near those slopes.

My little PT425, for example, is good for 25 degree angle, so that works out to something between 45-48% side slope, I believe.

I have no idea of what the other PT models are rated for.

MR. where did you get the 25 degree number from? I looked on PT. and nothing....... jim

 

[MossRoad]

MR. where did you get the 25 degree number from? I looked on PT. and nothing....... jim

I found that years ago in some Kohler literature related to my Kohler Command Pro CH25. It said something to the effect to not operate the engine for prolonged periods over 25 degrees or oil starvation will occur.

PT switched to the Robbin engines sometime after that. I don't know what they are rated for.

 

[johara1]

I guess then a more correct statement is that the engine is rated for 25 degrees but not the PT it's self. on the Ventrac rates the Kubota engines 20-30 degrees intermittent and the Kowasaki on the 4500 P 30 degrees continuous now that being said it is tuff to run sideways on a 30 degree slope and cut grass even with the weight transfer on max. It still wants to crab some and it will tear up the grass a little..... jim

 

[MossRoad]

Yep, I've never read an official degree rating for the 25 from PT. I've driven it across a 25 many times. It's very uncomfortable. Up and down short 30+ many times as well. But I won't go across those areas on my property. I can't imaging how uncomfortable a 45 would be.

 

[johara1]

I had the big air cooled Kohler starve for oil at 25+ degrees on a side slope but this Kowasaki water cooled has never lost oil pressure at 30... and yes 45 is not fun but sometimes I have to for a very short time that wasn't planned .... jim