Finally made my decision . . . now to purchase!

RAW · Jan 14, 2007

Well, after a couple of years of researching and hemming and hawing and lurking and what not, I've made my decision.

I'm buying an Antonio Carraro tractor.

With their high horsepower to size ratio, suitability for steep and uneven terrain, and reversible cockpit . . . they're perfect for my needs.

Now I've got to decide which one to buy.

I've got a line on a used TRX 9400 (with 400 hours) that includes a FAE mulching head, stump grinder, and brush hog (yes, the one that was on ebay).

or

A used TRG 9400 with Starlight cab with only 38 hours

or

A new TRH 9400 (no cab) with joystick hydraulic/pto operations

Each of those options is about the same amount of money.

With the latter two options, I would then have to decide between a used Seppi mulching head (fixed carbide teeth) or a new loftness head (yet to be released, but I've seen pics of the prototype in an email from loftness).

Obviously, the better deal is the older TRX with mulching head and other equipment included. But unfortunately, I can't see the unit up close to inspect it before purchase.

The newer units obviously have little to no wear on them. But . . . once I add a mulching head . . . the price will increase by about $20K!

Hmmmmm.

Here are some Youtube videos I took of the used TRG and Seppi head in action.
YouTube - AC_0010.AVI

YouTube - AC_0025.AVI

dbear · Jan 15, 2007

Will you be my neighbor?

RAW · Jan 15, 2007

dbear said:
Will you be my neighbor?

Hehe. Sorry, but I've already found a nice place in the mountains of WNC.

253 acres above 3000 ft. Miles of logging roads to open back up and connect for walking/ATV paths. I'll be keeping plenty busy.

p.s. Dbear, you wouldn't happen to go by the same name over at ADV, would ya?

dbear · Jan 16, 2007

Can't place "ADV" but I'm out there on a few forums.

Have fun with your AC, and don't be concerned in the least about little ole tractorless me up here...

RAW · Jan 16, 2007

It's looking like I'll be waiting on the used TRG with cab and Seppi mowing head.

That's the one I actually demo'd this weekend. It'll be mine at the end of February with less than 50 hours on the tractor and less than 20 on the cutter.

And now that I've figured how to switch to advanced message editing, I will post pictures

Podunkadunk · Jan 17, 2007

That's a fine looking piece of equipment and the video of him pushing over that tree and "eating" it was awesome.

Are those "tree maulers" available for baby tractors? I could put that thing to more use than any implement I have!

RAW · Jan 17, 2007

Podunkadunk said:
That's a fine looking piece of equipment and the video of him pushing over that tree and "eating" it was awesome.

Are those "tree maulers" available for baby tractors? I could put that thing to more use than any implement I have!

Loftness is about to release a PTO driven mulching head for smaller tractors, but I believe it still will want 80hp or so. The impressive thing about these is that they have a brilliant pivot system that allows you to raise the cutting head without changing the PTO angle. They will be more expensive than the Seppi units though.

Seppi makes a couple of smaller PTO units. A "Miniforst" that is for 48-80hp. And a "Super Miniforst" for lighter machines.

The one you see in my pics and videos is a "Midiforst" for 55-110HP tractors.

FAE makes a couple of PTO mulching heads too, with a range of models for different sized tractors.