A Mini Power-Trac?

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Look at this cool little machine
Ditch Witch - Zahn Power Units: R150, R230, R300 Featuring Interchangeable Front Ends
A Mini Power-Trac perhaps?

 

[SnowRidge]

Look at this cool little machine
Ditch Witch - Zahn Power Units: R150, R230, R300 Featuring Interchangeable Front Ends
A Mini Power-Trac perhaps?

Hardly. That thing looks unstable on flat ground.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

The versatility part I like. Might be handy for us for the really small jobs
Gehl makes a similar machine, only its ride on
Gehl Company - Compact Equipment for Construction and Agriculture

 

[MossRoad]

If that interests you, look up Toro Dingos.

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

I've seen Toro Dingos. I don't really care for them.
The DitchWitch and the Gehl I like. (PT got me into articulating machines)

Also, I've been thinking about getting a small Power-Trac a while after we get our large one (a PT-180 or 422) for my own property. I have a very small yard (less that 1/4 acre) but I HATE push mowing it and a lot of the other small mowers just don't...something. I know its too much machine but my yard also needs to be Tilled, re-leveled and re-seeded. I also have a large driveway and we get hammered with snow a lot in the winter. It's just a nice thought/dream, though

 

[Scooby074]

The Gehl advantage are really nice tractors from what ive heard. Made by Avant in europe. Theres a couple threads on compact loaders on here about them.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/138763-compact-articulated-loaders.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/all-other-brands/69948-made-finland-avant-tractor-skid.html

http://www.avanttecno.com/web/engyrits/compavant.htm

 

[KentT]

The Gehl advantage are really nice tractors from what ive heard. Made by Avant in europe. Theres a couple threads on compact loaders on here about them.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/construction-equipment/138763-compact-articulated-loaders.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/all-other-brands/69948-made-finland-avant-tractor-skid.html

AVANT Tecno Oy

Note that Gehl has stopped importing the Avant -- because of emissions, I think...

Still would like to have one. A Kubota diesel in a machine the side of PT425 would be nice...

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

They don't have that Gehl anymore? Man, I wanted to see one!
The bigger Avants are cool. I like the 600 series.

 

[TRUKFXR]

I have the Gehl Al20dx. Bought it used with only 39 hrs on it. I have about 420 hrs
now. It is really a good machine. There was one on Ebay recently with about the same number of hours asking $7900.00 . Attachments are hard to come by. I use the Power-trac mowers. Made a mini-hoe last year (looks like a welder's nightmare).
I bought a Dingo power broom on Ebay this year, and use that to sweep the stones our of the grass on my very long
driveway.

 

[Scooby074]

Note that Gehl has stopped importing the Avant -- because of emissions, I think...

Still would like to have one. A Kubota diesel in a machine the side of PT425 would be nice...

Thanks for the update. Too bad they looked like they filled a niche. I wonder if it was emissions or sales that stopped the import of the Avants? I read reciently that Gehl is on shaky ground financially.

 

[TRUKFXR]

I am not sure it was an emission issue. I think price had more to do with their decision. I have heard that the tractors sell for about 18k new. That is a lot for
such a small unit. Another problem was the cost of attachments. Very expensive
from Gehl. Some of the attachments that you can find listed are not even available
from Gehl in the U.S. . Gehl doesn't stock the mower, for example, because they
didn't think anybody would spend 18k for a lawn mower. Well, I didn't spend 18k,
but I use mine primarily for mowing. As I said, I use the 60'' mower from Power-Trac
and with some modifications it works really well.
I have had pretty good luck finding attachments that work with my tractor. I bought
a wood chipper made by Ingersol that works great for small branches (3'' or smaller).
Ingersol has since discontinued the manfacture of this chipper. The Dingo broom I
bought on Ebay, required a little modification, but it is basically a plug and go unit.

 

[menchhofer]

Friend of mine just purchased a new Zahn gas engine....over $22k.

 

[KentT]

Another fairly rare European import is the Multi-One from CSF in Italy...

They're sold under a few different names, I think. Parts availability would be a bit sketchy, I'm guessing...

CSF

 

[Scooby074]

Another fairly rare European import is the Multi-One from CSF in Italy...

They're sold under a few different names, I think. Parts availability would be a bit sketchy, I'm guessing...

CSF

Theres a multione dealer in montreal. Very nice looking machines, but you should check out the prices! I dont think they were big sellers, the machines are listed as "new" but are 2006 models. Maybe the dealer is dumping the line?

MULTIONE Wheel Loader, Used MULTIONE Wheel Loader, MULTIONE Wheel Loader For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

 

[SnowRidge]

Theres a multione dealer in montreal. Very nice looking machines, but you should check out the prices!]

Someone's got to pay for all that swoopy styling.

I guess the Power Trac mine tram heritage kept them relatively low to the ground and unneeding of styling. That, and it's hard to "style" steel plate.

Who styles construction equipment anyway?

 

[woodlandfarms]

There are some larger tractors that look like they could go 200 mph with the styling they have. To me it looks like stuff that will break off but what do I know. But it poses the question, why do those little track hoes have rounded cabs? What sort of wind resistence is there at 2 mph?

 

[SnowRidge]

There are some larger tractors that look like they could go 200 mph with the styling they have. To me it looks like stuff that will break off but what do I know. But it poses the question, why do those little track hoes have rounded cabs? What sort of wind resistence is there at 2 mph?

If they are molded fiberglass or the like, it would make them significantly stronger than if they were box like. The same would be true for metal, but it would be less of an advantage due to the increased construction costs.

 

[TRUKFXR]

The panels are all made of steel. Not sure of the gauge, but very strong and painted with a quality enamel similar to that you would see on larger construction equipment.
Another neat feature; they come off very easily and allow access to the engine
compartment, and hydraulics.
You can't help but notice the similarity to the Multi-one. The have a different engine,
but the smaller tractors like mine, are almost identical.

 

[KentT]

There are some larger tractors that look like they could go 200 mph with the styling they have. To me it looks like stuff that will break off but what do I know. But it poses the question, why do those little track hoes have rounded cabs? What sort of wind resistence is there at 2 mph?

The tail end of track hoes are rounded so that they don't catch on things when the machine rotates -- that's their primary motion, rotating back and forth. There's a a whole class of them that is designed ot have zero rear overhang, so they can work up as close to a wall or fence or something as their tracks will allow...

I think the cabs are rounded to match the style of the rounded rear...

Many of the trackhoes and skidsteers have VERY heavy steel (or cast iron) on the rear to act as a counterweight to the bucket...

 

[ToolcatWonka5610]

Friend of mine just purchased a new Zahn gas engine....over $22k.

Dealer quoted me a Zahn R300 4WD with the Tool Carrier (with Bucket, Auger, Pallet Forks), Trencher, Large Dumping Hopper (with front loading scoop), Tiller, and Stump Cutter. Okay, drum roll please.
$43,000!
Jeez! We'd rather buy a PT-425 or Bobcat 463 for all our small jobs!
But we really do like that Zahn. But not for no $43,000!