OP
Blade Runners
Member
Gotcha. That's much better then. I can't watch any of the PT videos because I work in Afghanistan and the company net has all youtube vids blocked 
Strongly considering getting a PT425
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woodlandfarms
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,137
- Location
- Los Angeles / SW Washington
- Tractor
- PowerTrac 1850, Kubota RTV x900
You are going to have a **** of a time getting it trucked over ;-)
OP
Blade Runners
Member
woodlandfarms
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,137
- Location
- Los Angeles / SW Washington
- Tractor
- PowerTrac 1850, Kubota RTV x900
OP
Blade Runners
Member
No, I can't. They have everything blocked over here. I couldn't even watch the PT vids on Moss' site. I'll be back to civilization in 2 weeks and I'll check it out.
I have personally witnessed a few failed heavy drops at Ft. Bragg. Saw an engineer 5 ton dump truck "burn in" (complete parachute malfunction) from 1100 ft. After it hit it was about 4 ft tall and drove the differentials through the platform it was on. During one of our Air Assault missions they cut sling load on one of our M198 howitzers (8 tons) and it stuck in the ground barrel first like a lawn dart That one was a good call by the pilot though because the howitzer was oscillating too much and pulling the Chinook with it.
I have personally witnessed a few failed heavy drops at Ft. Bragg. Saw an engineer 5 ton dump truck "burn in" (complete parachute malfunction) from 1100 ft. After it hit it was about 4 ft tall and drove the differentials through the platform it was on. During one of our Air Assault missions they cut sling load on one of our M198 howitzers (8 tons) and it stuck in the ground barrel first like a lawn dart
That one was a good call by the pilot though because the howitzer was oscillating too much and pulling the Chinook with it.
woodlandfarms
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,137
- Location
- Los Angeles / SW Washington
- Tractor
- PowerTrac 1850, Kubota RTV x900
So to your 425....
Its a very good machine. Jack of all trades. Things to know...
Powertrac provides no service centers. Either find a local mechanic (or be one yourself) or ship the tractor back to tazwell. But, PT's telephone support is beyond great. I have the home number of engineers in the plant, as well as the head of service.
Powertracs fit and finish is marginal. Generally it is nothing big, usually loose hoses or a bad weld. Don't have a clue why it isn't better.
None of the PT's are good for ground engagement (well, maybe the 1460). Meaning if you want to plow, pick a real tractor. If you want to pull, pick a real tractor. But that really doesn't apply to too many tractor owners unless you are operating a legit farm.
Traction is not an issue, but it is not a strength. There is not a ton of weight, and the tires are wide, so it is more like a skid steer than a tractor.
Upsides is the thing is a friggin swiss army knife, and once you try attaching and detaching implements, you will never go back. They are in my opinion far more stable than a skid steer.
Many implements you can make and or modify yourself.
This forum is as far as I know the best source of help outside of the factory.
Its a very good machine. Jack of all trades. Things to know...
Powertrac provides no service centers. Either find a local mechanic (or be one yourself) or ship the tractor back to tazwell. But, PT's telephone support is beyond great. I have the home number of engineers in the plant, as well as the head of service.
Powertracs fit and finish is marginal. Generally it is nothing big, usually loose hoses or a bad weld. Don't have a clue why it isn't better.
None of the PT's are good for ground engagement (well, maybe the 1460). Meaning if you want to plow, pick a real tractor. If you want to pull, pick a real tractor. But that really doesn't apply to too many tractor owners unless you are operating a legit farm.
Traction is not an issue, but it is not a strength. There is not a ton of weight, and the tires are wide, so it is more like a skid steer than a tractor.
Upsides is the thing is a friggin swiss army knife, and once you try attaching and detaching implements, you will never go back. They are in my opinion far more stable than a skid steer.
Many implements you can make and or modify yourself.
This forum is as far as I know the best source of help outside of the factory.
ponytug
Super Member
Thanks for sharing MR. It seems like such a simple concept: strap to pallet, rig chute, push out. What could go wrong?
Then you watch the videos. It is amazing that anything actually makes it down intact.
Then you watch the videos. It is amazing that anything actually makes it down intact.
ponytug
Super Member
I second MR's comments. The factory service and parts team have been fantastic, and I would not have bought the machine without this forum. The collective wisdom and practical good advice here are amazing, both real time and in the archive.
Because the way machines are hydraulically driven, they don't develop the low range HP that you need to plow or pull stumps. So, slope mowing, rototilling, earth/mulch moving, portable hydraulics are to my mind the strengths of these machines. The ground pressure is very low (great for lawns and wet soils), but it does mean that they can slide a bit on really steep slopes because they don't dig in. I have chains for slope mowing thistles; it was too slimy and slippery to feel safe.
That leads me to what I think is a prime point for these machines. They will get you out on slopes and keep you safe out there in a way that none of their US competitors can do.
I would definitely second these machines as the Swiss army knives of tractors. It is a snap to swap implements. Think of the tractor as a mobile hydraulic source. I know folks who use them to hedge mow, drive posts, platform for hydraulic limb and chain saws, pond draggers. Browse the forum for a bit, and I think it is hard not to come away amazed at what people do with the machines, green and red alike. After awhile, you forget how cumbersome traditional tractors are.
Manufacturing quality and build quality are third world. There is no other way to describe it. BUT, the darn things are so over-built with steel that mostly there aren't many issues. I spent the first couple of months tightening hydraulic fittings all over, but then things settled in. If you do buy one, keep the load and throttle down for the first ten hours, per the hydraulic motor manufacturers.
I have the following;
Good luck.
All the best,
Peter
Because the way machines are hydraulically driven, they don't develop the low range HP that you need to plow or pull stumps. So, slope mowing, rototilling, earth/mulch moving, portable hydraulics are to my mind the strengths of these machines. The ground pressure is very low (great for lawns and wet soils), but it does mean that they can slide a bit on really steep slopes because they don't dig in. I have chains for slope mowing thistles; it was too slimy and slippery to feel safe.
That leads me to what I think is a prime point for these machines. They will get you out on slopes and keep you safe out there in a way that none of their US competitors can do.
I would definitely second these machines as the Swiss army knives of tractors. It is a snap to swap implements. Think of the tractor as a mobile hydraulic source. I know folks who use them to hedge mow, drive posts, platform for hydraulic limb and chain saws, pond draggers. Browse the forum for a bit, and I think it is hard not to come away amazed at what people do with the machines, green and red alike. After awhile, you forget how cumbersome traditional tractors are.
Manufacturing quality and build quality are third world. There is no other way to describe it. BUT, the darn things are so over-built with steel that mostly there aren't many issues. I spent the first couple of months tightening hydraulic fittings all over, but then things settled in. If you do buy one, keep the load and throttle down for the first ten hours, per the hydraulic motor manufacturers.
I have the following;
| Attachment | Comment |
| Light material bucket | #1 most used |
| Brush cutter | Invaluable for slope mowing |
| 4N1 Bucket | Great for earth moving |
| Trencher | Used to make terraces, as well as lay pipe/conduit |
| Rototiller | Makes quick work of bed preparation |
| Pallet forks | Portable platforms, loading/unloading, far more useful than I thought |
| Post driver | It will change your view of fence building |
| Trailer hitch | The obvious, and also used to pull 6x6" fence posts |
Good luck.
All the best,
Peter
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