Forum Newbie Questions

mlhunter · Apr 8, 2005

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. 

 Thanks for the thoughts. I'm not overly fond of hauling it on a pickup truck either, however I don't have a good place to store a trailer at my house. It would only have to be moved a couple of 90 mile trips a year. I believe I would remove the tailgate to load the tractor as it should fit on an 8' bed. I have a natural place to load it w/o ramp at my house and I could build a ramp at the farm for easy loading and unloading there.

pajoube · Apr 8, 2005

I think I would consider renting a dual axel trailer from Uhaul if only needed a couple times a year.
PJ

dbetts · Apr 9, 2005

when I've driven mine up 8' 2x12 wooden ramps it didn't hurt the tail gate. db

Sedgewood · Apr 9, 2005

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. 

I rely almost entirely on the mirrors. I have two, 6x8 flat-not convex, mounted in line with the centerline of the tires. I learned backing with mirrors many years ago on construction sites with long driveways and no place to turn around. It's been a useful skill, kind of like parallel parking used to be /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

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.


One mile times 3-1/2 passes = 3-1/2 miles backwards. I wish I could do it in 3-1/2 passes.

Much of my CUT time was spent brush hogging around trees, which required constant observation. My neck and back thank me every time I mow with the 1845, plus it only takes 1/2 as long.

Sedgewood

FOURTEEN · Apr 9, 2005

( I think I would consider renting a dual axel trailer from Uhaul if only needed a couple times a year.
PJ )

 Trailers are the best!!
For my PT-425 I use a tilt bed 12' x 6' Single Axle Trailer without brakes rated for 3200#. The PT-425 only weighs half that much! (Some states require brakes on a Dual Axle Trailer.) It tows just fine behind my Magnum or Durango, and has room for extra attachments!

pequeajim · Apr 9, 2005

( I think I would consider renting a dual axel trailer from Uhaul if only needed a couple times a year.
PJ )

I agree... Something long enough that you can carry most of your attachments in it too.

mlhunter · Apr 9, 2005

No argument from me in that I also believe the trailer is the most desireable way to go if it works for you.


I attended a Missouri Regional Quail Management meeting today and I found out that I can borrow equipment from them that can be used with either a 3 pt hitch or can be pulled as well. When I queried them further I found that the consevation folks actually prefer pulling the equipment with an ATV rather than using the 3 pt hitch as they can work faster with it. If it can be pulled by an ATV I would think it would be a piece of cake for the PowerTrac even with the turf tread.


Anyone have thoughts on that vs using the bar (tractor type) tread?

mlhunter · Apr 9, 2005

What tilts your trailer, does it have a jack or some other device to tilt it?

mlhunter · Apr 9, 2005

Poster: Dakar
Subject: Re: Forum Newbie Questions

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.



I live in the Blue Springs, near the Kansas City area.

I certainly appreciate the offer to drive your PT425. I got to drive the PT425 at Tazewell and play around with the loader bucket for a bit so I got reasonably comfortable with the concept there. I think I'm very near ready to dive into PT425dom. I did my usual pro con list and it always comes up as the most versatile tractor that will do all the things that I need to do with one. Thanks again for the offer!

FOURTEEN · Apr 9, 2005

( What tilts your trailer, does it have a jack or some other device to tilt it? )

 The bed is centered on the axle. There is a pin at the front of the bed that when removed allows the rear of the bed to tilt down to the ground. When the tractor, while moving up the tilted bed, has moved past the axle, the bed tilts back to the horizontal position. Reinserting the pin locks it in place. I then use a nylon strap to the rear and the boat wench on the front to hold the tractor in place. (With a non-tilting bed, planks are easy to use for loading because the bed is only about a foot off the ground.)

PS: That trailer cost ~$700 new.