Forum Newbie Questions

[mlhunter]

Thanks to this forum I have learned about Power Trac tractors. Last Friday I visited Power Trac at Tazewell, VA and Scott Gentry did a very good job of acquainting me with the PT425. He was able to answer all my questions, provided a demo and even let me drive it a bit, and arranged for me to complete the service training while I was there.

I have recently taken early retirement and am looking at the PT425 for three purposes. 1) Do some landscaping on my own backyard and annual snow removal, 2) do some wildlife management on your family 200 acre farm, and 3) potentially do some commercial work with the tractor.

My question for this forum is how well will this tractor do food plot work? My brother has agreed to use his Ford 861 Powermaster for the initial turnover of the sod. After that it will be up to me to complete the rest of the work, both initially and ongoing maintanance. I'm not fond of trying to get real work done going backwards with a tiller or other similar implements. Has anyone used ATV or other pull type implements with this tractor for this purpose?

Another question I have is . . . has anyone hauled this tractor on a 3/4 ton pickup?

Thanks again for all the past info and look forward to hearing from some of you!

 

[pajoube]

Sounds like you live in the cold country (snow removal) but nice summers. I can say to all your questions "YES". I also just retired (2002) and have used my 425 for extensive landscaping projects. As I live in mountain country I also get to do allot of snow plowing (not much this year). The 425 will fit into a full size pick up without any problem.
As to the tiller, it will do a great job for you but going backwards is about the only way to get good results unless its to do a second pass which I will do going forward many times.
Have you placed your order yet? If so, when will you receive it?
PJ

 

[mlhunter]

I live in MO so we have usually have a winter where occasional snow removal is an issue if you have a long driveway. I have a somewhat long driveway and a PT425 with a blade seems a far better solution than a typical driveway snow blower.

I could see that the PT425 would fit in a long bed pickup but wasn't sure about the weight issue, sounds like you believe it would work ok.

Thanks for the info!

 

[mlhunter]

Regarding the tiller, Scott explained that it works best going backward. Based on what I've researched, long but not so wide food plots are the best if they're possible. I would think that working backword for 1/4 mile long by approxiately 50'
to 100' wide would not be something I would want to do.

 

[Sedgewood]

<font color="red"> I would think that working backword for 1/4 mile long by approxiately 50'
to 100' wide would not be something I would want to do.
</font>

Actually, with a little practice and some good mirrors, going backwards is not much of a problem. I have a mile or so of driveway that gets ripped up with the box blade and graded with the landscape rake a couple of times a year and while I thought it would be a problem it has turned out not to be. Also, you don't have to keep an eye on the implement behind you as with a CUT. Nor do you have to struggle hooking things to the three point hitch. Overall I find I can operate my 1845 with much much less fatique than with my old CUT - that thing just beat me up /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

So my take is, don't let working the tiller backwards be the determining factor - it's not a big deal and there are so so many positives to weigh against that possible negative.



Sedgewood

 

[dbetts]

I've hauled my 425 in the back of my 1/2 ton truck but it's a strain and I don't like to do it much. The weight is around 1300 lbs if I recall correctly, so I would not hesitate to haul it in a 3/4 ton truck. db

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> I've hauled my 425 in the back of my 1/2 ton truck but it's a strain and I don't like to do it much. The weight is around 1300 lbs if I recall correctly, so I would not hesitate to haul it in a 3/4 ton truck. db </font>

Yes, 1300 - 1400 lbs is the weight of the PT-425 alone, as I recall. Of course, you have to be concerned with the weight and overall length of the PT and the attached implement, if any. I don't know about driving one up a ramp into the truck. It seems like it would put lot of strain on the tailgate.

I favor a trailer for hauling and would suggest that anyone planning on the purchase of a PT-425, or any small tractor that would need frequent moving, consider adding a decent utility trailer to their fleet, with room for the tractor and needed implements.

 

[Dakar]

Where in Missouri do you live? If you have not yet had an opportunity to try out a PT425, and are not too far from Bolivar (just north of Springfield), you would be welcome to give mine a test drive. I bought it last July, and I don't think they have made any changes since then, so it should be exactly the same as what you would be purchasing. The only other green PT in the state that I know of is a 422 in Boonville that Power Trac arranged for me to try out. The owner is not a TBN member, but a great guy nonetheless.

David

 

[mlhunter]

Thanks for the thoughts on working backwards. Do you rely on the mirrors almost completely or do you supplement that with frequent looks back? The reason I'm asking is that 50' divided by 4' means 12 1/2 trips down the quarter mile backwards. That's actually 3 1/2 miles going backwards.

Actually, in thinking back to my farm boy days, not much looking back is needed with disking and harrowing and I can do that with pull type ATV attachments. The most looking back with our farm tractors was with the row crop planter, they had to be watched very closely. Broadcasting seed I could do with the front mounted Power Trac fertilizer spreader. That leaves me with only a row crop planter to watch closely, I think I can live with that. I might be able to build a boom to lead the planter in front of the PowerTrac. I saw an implement being pulled once with a combine that had been converted into a tractor and it had a hydralic powered boom that actually pulled the implement in front of it. However, I never was able to find out how well it worked.

As far as hooking up smaller 3 pt attachments, the secret is to suspend them from something (tree limb, A-frame, posts and beam, boom, etc.) with a chain and then they're not that hard to hook up by one person. Not nearly as easy as the Powetrac, though!

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

I also have an 1845, and use the tiller for a good bit smaller area than you are looking at. I routinely make one pass forward and then one backward, wiping out the tracks and pulverizing the soil. I turn and look back as I'm backing, which I don't find to be a problem. It actually exercises my chronic back problem a bit -- or at least I tell myself that. It's a lot better than the tiller on our conventional tractor, or rake or baler where you have to watch behind you while going forward.
And you're right, hooking 3 point equipment can be easy. I had it happen once. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif