Still Envious

bmac · Nov 18, 2004

About three years ago I decided I needed a tractor. Somehow, I found TBN and began to read and post some questions. Thanks to Moss Road's contributions in other TBN forums, I started lurking here on the Power Trac site to see just what had MR so doggone excited. After reading posts here for awhile, my interest in the green beast became a little more intense so I began to ask a few questions. Despite my initial reservations, I became convinced that the PT was the most intriguing machine out there - compact, powerful, versatile- you name it, the qualities seemed to be perfect. Well, to make a long story short, in the end, I wienied out, went the more conventional route and bought a blue one. Being non-mechanical, just felt more comfortable to have local dealer support.

Here's the problem - I never quit visiting the PT forum. I read the posts here nearly every day (OK, sometimes, more than once a day). After more than 2 years of reading the PT chronicles, I'm still facinated by the Power Trac culture. You guys really are a different breed (I mean this in a good way). Since buying my NH, we've purchased a 12 acre heavily wooded and somewhat hilly tract of land upon which we hope to be building a new home soon (actually, we had hoped to have broken ground by now but have had some delays (like 3 months) in the design phase. While I knew this purchase was in the plans when I bought the tractor, I didn't realize until later that the "hilliness" was what it is. So, now I'm second guessing my decision and wondering if I made a purchasing blunder.

Truthfully, I'm sure my NH will do just fine. Its just that you guys just seem to have too much fun over here. I'm just a little (OK, a lot) envious of the experiences you guys are enjoying. Who knows, maybe someday I'll get enough courage to sell the NH and get a PT so I can be an official member of this great fraternity. Until then, I guess I will continue to live vicariously through you all. Thanks to everyone for sharing you stories, photos, excitement, adventures, modifications, etc. I enjoy this site immensely.

FOURTEEN · Nov 19, 2004

"" So, now I'm second guessing my decision and wondering if I made a purchasing blunder. ""

Perhaps!! Only you can determine if you need to, or really want to, make a change!
I do know that changing tractors is much easier, and cheaper, than changing wives, houses, or cars, and a lot of people seem to change those quite often!!
I nearly bought a NH TC29D. They are fine tractors, but not what I need for my property. It's like buying a Corvette, but you actually need a Jeep!! Luckily I discovered the PT-425 before I took the plunge!!
Life is short! Make yourself happy! I doubt that you will regret it!!

pequeajim · Nov 19, 2004

Same this for me Fourteen. I had a Massey, then went to the Ventrac, and finally setteled on the PT-425.

Either way, bmac, we wish you the best with your new home site. NH makes good tractors and put in the right environment, it will serve you very well.

(I had to say that cause I'm from New Holland, PA) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

There's nothing wrong with re-evaluating your decision though, I did, and am really happy with my purchase so far.

You're right. The guys on here are die hard. I thought Spock was the only one with green blood, but strangely enough, after buying my 425, I noticed mine starting to turn green too!

Best of luck to you and hang out as much as you wish.

(we know you wear blue, but bleed green)

PowerTrom425 · Nov 19, 2004

Good morning bmac.....we shared nearly identical pre-buying experiences. I learned of PT's from Bob Shurka in a post in which he mentioned them offhandedly. I, too, delved a little deeper, lurked, listened, read, lurked some more, and being non-mechanical (I'm a carpenter. Give me a piece of wood and I can make it dance, but I have always paid someone to change the oil in my truck.) almost bought orange or blue. Both are only 3-4 miles from the house here in NH, certainly closer than southwestern Virginia!!! But somehow I just couldn't pull the trigger on a tractor.

Then after Bob mentioned that a PT might better meet my needs, I looked, lurked, and learned here for about one day! , overcame my angst about the dealer/service thing, and called powertrac. A week later I was on my way down to pick it up. Needless to say, it was the best buying decision I've ever made. I was able to purchase the tractor and eight attachments for significantly less than either of the tractors I had been looking at (7610, and 24D).

We live on a small waterfront piece of property that we bought a while back. I have jacked it up 4' in the air, and just finished laying a full foundation under it. I have some sill repair work to do, but hope to set it back down before the end of the month. My rationality for 'needing' a tractor was that its cost was only slightly more than the least of three estimates I got for doing the excavation work under the house. While the house lot is under 1/4 of an acre, the work is done, and I have a new tool to use in my work /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We also have 400 acres in Newry, ME, and I plan on taking it up there to do some woods work.

Anyway, I'm rambling, and I think I'm 'preaching to the choir', even though you have yet to join /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I just empathized with your buying process! Good luck with the blue machine, and keep in touch!!! Tom

pequeajim · Nov 19, 2004

Funny you say that PowerTrom425, because it was Bob's posts that led me to looking at Power Trac as well. I had run across this board by accident and did a search for Ventrac, since I owned one at the time and of course found Bob's comparison post.

The rest is history. It's really cool that you cen get help from people on here that don't even own the same tractor as you.

Jack from Il. is a great resource of knowledge about tractors and has helped me many times. He is sort of an articulated tractor nut, (even though he worked for John Deere), and has a Ventrac of his own.

It's a great group of people, but there's just something about the PT guys ya know??

BTW: We just signed an agreement of sale on some waterfront property in Monson, ME, so we're Maine brothers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(don't expect me to speak with a New England accent though... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

PowerTrom425 · Nov 19, 2004

Where is New Holland....I went to high school in Towanda, PA, (north central) when my father was a sales manager for New Holland Farm Machinery.....

bmac · Nov 19, 2004

PowerTrom425,

I was born in Sayre, PA. Lived in Canton until moving south at age 6. Still have relatives in Canton, but I haven't been up there in decades.

MossRoad · Nov 19, 2004

Bmac,
You're still an honorary PT person. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

How's that NH treating you? I don't recall the model... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif But I do recall it was the right decision for you and your needs at the time. Remember, NH was the next on my list. Man, that was a comfortable, well thought out machine. And it is going to last you forever whereas my PT will certainly need work much sooner with all those hoses and a gas engine, to name a few reasons.

As for your NH on hills, have you done the weight things, like weight box, tire ballast and such? I think you can turn the rear wheels inside out for a wider stance, too. Can you make the front axle wider on those? Can't remember. Worse comes to worse, you could put dual rears on it, too.

Anyhow, stop worrying about it. You got a great machine. I wish we lived closer together. I'd like to drive that NH! I bet it has torque that would pull our little PTs all over the place. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

pequeajim · Nov 19, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Where is New Holland....I went to high school in Towanda, PA, (north central) when my father was a sales manager for New Holland Farm Machinery..... )</font>

New Holland, the home of NH Case is just east of Lancaster and south east of Harrisburg in the central part of the state.

bmac · Nov 19, 2004

Fourteen,
My only real disappointment with my 29D is the FEL lift capacity. I think its rated at only about 750 lbs. Mine is a little less because I've added the ATI Tach-All which is heavier than a standard bucket. Now, having never owned a tractor before, the 29D looked big enough to do anything I would ever attempt to do and 750 lbs seemed like a lot of weight. But I learned very quickly than 1. pavers are heavy and 2. It doesn't take many on a pallet to exceed the capacity of my tractor. I've had other lifting limitations occur as well - not with the bucket but with the pallet forks. Unlike the 425, the hydraulics peter out before the tractor gets tippy. Of course, lifting isn't the only thing I will be doing, but having more lift capacity would be nice.

If I ever do change I'd be tempted to bite the bullet and go for one of the big boys - 1445 or 1460 - just to get the lift capacity that I'd like to have. Overkill? Probably. But a guy can dream if he wants to. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I will more than likely keep the NH until we move and see how it does on the slopes. If I experience any instability, I will have to go with a PT. Of course, I would need to have you come down for a week to do all of your modifications to it. Bring your welder.