What is your favorite brand?

Bob_Skurka · Nov 30, 2004

I paid $9850 for the Ventrac 3000, the mower deck, and the front scoop. A few months later I purchased the blower unit, I forget the exact price but it was about $1000 if I recall correctly (my mind is slipping I turned 44 last months so I'm not sure about the price on the leaf blower).

The main reason I picked the V3000 over the Steiner 230 was because I have a couple steep hills and the Ventrac is 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steer, with an articulating and oscillating frame with a weight transfer system for slope mowing. It is designed for rougher terrain and will do "figure 8's" and "u-turns" on slopes that would topple a regular garden tractor. The Steiner 230 is not designed for the slopes, it is an amazing unit but just not well suited for my property. Perhaps Gunfighter could correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the 230 is front wheel drive not 4WD and I don't believe it has a weight transfer system for slopes.

The other tractors, that I think are all around better tractors are the Power Tracs. Those things are much more flexible than either Steiner or Ventrac but they don't have dealers (I need someone to wipe my tears when things break) and I was really only looking for an excellent mower . . . the Ventracs and Steiners have an absolutely AMAZING cut quality, it is almost impossible to scalp turf even on uneven ground. Steiner & Ventrac also make conventional looking small tractors that are roughly the equavalent to a sub-CUT like a BX Kubota, but they still have the articulated & oscillating frames, front mower decks, weight transfer systems for slopes, etc. The largest Steiners & Ventracs are the same size as a BX, but can have diesel engines exceeding 30hp, run large finish mowers or pull gang reel mowers and are used at places like golf courses, parks, national monuments, etc for grounds keeping.

Power Tracs, in my investigation, are amazing tractors and good mowers, but I was looking for an amazing mower and didn't really care if it also allowed for much additional work as I have a NH TC24 and a Kubota B2910 at my property to use for real tractor work. If I didn't have the bigger machines, the Power Trac might have been my choice. I think too many people overlook that brand.

Dargo · Nov 30, 2004

Oh man! The mind goes at 44? Shoot!! On Thanksgiving day I almost got there. Only another year or two and my mind is gone.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I gotta start makin' plans... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Rainbow6 · Nov 30, 2004

Man, are you a salesman or something?! We have just downsized to 3/4 acre and I took the cash from the sale of my Bx 2230 and picked up a new travel trailer. I also got a nice Cub 2518 for lawn chores but now you guys have me tossing in my sleep again!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

( Somebody help me! )

Bob_Skurka · Nov 30, 2004

( Somebody help me! ) 

There is no cure for tractoritis. And if it makes you feel any worse, today I just bought another Cub Cadet. A little GT, for my sales manager as a retirement present. I really like the Cub Cadets. And I've had good luck with mine (which is pre-MTD ownership) and the several that I've bought as gifts over the past 3 years. To my knowledge, none has needed any work, and the guys all seem happy with them.

But the one I really like the best is the Ventrac. My brother came over one day and took it for a 2 minute test drive. About an hour later he got off the tractor and said that it was so fun it was "just like driving a video game."

DmansPadge · Dec 1, 2004

Hey Bob... there you go again giving away nice gifts! Now that there is a management position open maybe I could slide in and never have to buy a tractor again! If that doesn't pan out though, I could still use that CUT for getting married! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif And if it helps Bob... I write really nice thank you notes! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Gunfighter · Dec 1, 2004

That Ventrac 3000 is a nice looking machine, is it gas or diesel?

Just about anything you can do with a garden tractors, these articulating tractors will do better... I love that 2 point hitch, while my neighbor struggles half the afternoon switching implement on his garden tractor, I can do it in two minutes. The only reason I chose the rear wheel steer 230 model, is it's a little more maneuverable.

The snow blower I have for the Steiner 230 is a Ventrac. Just about any of the 30 tools offered by Steiner and Ventrac will interchange.

The reason the attachments will interchange, is because they are designed by the same people. The Steiner's sold the Steiner tractor business to Textron, then ten years later when their non competition clause expired, they went back into business building tractor under the Ventrac name..

Richard
West Michigan.

Gunfighter · Dec 1, 2004

I bought my Steiner 230 tractor on a close out, the dealer was going out of business... I gave $9,300 for tractor and a additional $2,900 for leaf blower, snow blower an 60inch finishing mower... The tractor was new, the equipment may have been used but looked new...

The Steiner 230 MSRP is between $9,5000 for model with air cooled Kohler engine and $13,500 for one with Kubota Diesel It's been a couple of years so prices could have changed.. . I have the Steiner 230 model with 3 cyl, 24 HP Kubota diesel...

Richard
West Michigan

Rainbow6 · Dec 1, 2004

It seems the Kubota diesels are turning up in other equipment more and more. They are putting a 3 cylinder liquid cooled gasoline version of the diesel in their G Series mowers. I wonder if anybody has experience with these yet.

PhilNH5 · Dec 1, 2004

LB,
( ( I'm not a fan of any MTD product.1*I have always liked Wheelhorse (now Toro)
BRIGUY
================================= )

*******************************************
1*Wheelhorse merged with Toro and became Wheelhorse /Toro. Later MTD purchased Wheelhorse /Toro.Today Wheelhorse /Toro is nothing but a MTD no matter what label they stick on the hood.

Kubota BX23 with FEL BH & 60" MMM. Del. 9-4-4
L.B.
)

I am not sure were you get you info but it is not correct with regards to Toro. Toro is a publicly held company with shares traded on the NYSE.
If you look at their history there is no mention of MTD. And if you look at MTD you see no mention of Toro.

You might want to do a little fact checking before ranting on how bad anything associated with MTD is.

Legal disclaimer - I am a Toro Classic 314-H owner who would put this little red tank up against any other GT in it's price point.

Phil

Bob_Skurka · Dec 1, 2004

That Ventrac 3000 is a nice looking machine, is it gas or diesel? 

The Ventrac 3000 is only available with a gas engine (21hp Kawasaki). The larger models have engine options including gas, diesel and turbo diesel. Steiner seems to have more engine options, and they have more tractor options. The Ventracs seem to be a bit more ergonomically refined (but not much) and are limited to 3 models. The Steiner I'd really like to try out is the 525 UtiliMax(?), it is this one that has a dump bed on the back like a UTV. I totally agree with you about the 2 point hitch arrangement up front. One thing I did not expect was how easy it is to use a front mount mower deck. It is simply astoundingly easy to use, maneuver, and manipulate into places that a MMM simply won't go, or won't go with ease. I seriously considered the PowerTrac 422, but I was concerned about climbing the slope and powering the mower deck at the same time, and it is considerably larger (and space is at a premium in my garage . . . need a barn!!!)

These types of machines are not cheap, but they sure cut down on mowing time and do a great job where many other machines simply fear to tread.