is a pt right for me?(long)

[BrianSouthernMD]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Aren't those Toolcats something like $30K with no attachments? Big price difference between a 1430 and a Toolcat.)</font>
Pricing is true if the Toolcat 5600 is loaded with 56hp Turbo, cab enclosure with doors/HVAC, and high-flow aux. hyd., but less if stripped of such options. It will vary among dealers, but many Bobcat dealers routinely provide discounts off "suggested" list price and the manufacturer periodically provides incentives.

But fishhead also is asking our opinion about whether or not the 1430 is the right sized machine for him, and seems willing to explore larger PTs as well as Toolcats, if such other machines address concerns he has with 1430. Would the heavier PT 1445 or PT 1845 machines be better for box blade work and other road maintenance than the 1430, or be quieter/have less NVH?

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( By the time you just modestly outfit one of those pups, it will run you some $40k, and the sky is the limit from there)</font>

I take it that means you guys don't use either a Rolls or a Bentley for a commuter vehicle... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Rip]

Fishhead,

I have a PT 1845 with the 3 cyl 45 HP Deutz at 8000 ft in Colorado and installed an intake-air pre-heat type glow plug (available from Deutz, but don't bother with the "kit") that certainly helps in cold weather starting (you can even install two). My machine has been kept outside and has not failed to start when I needed it although that was not in the absolute coldest temperatures.

The 1430 is quite a capable machine. I chose the 1845 more for the steeper slope capability (up to 40 degrees) AND the BrakeTender system, that in my opinion provides a real fail-safe emergency disc brake rather than just a pin-type parking brake that only functions when already at rest as the 1430 comes with. (The 1445 has a true emergency disc brake as well, although perhaps not quite as powerful as the BrakeTender system.)

With foam-filled tires my machine is nearly the same weight as the ToolCat 5600 and I can still lose traction well before I lose power. While some have fashioned nice cabs for the PT machines you are pretty much on your own in this regard, and thus the PT may not be your ideal choice for Montana snow removal. I use a Western plow on a 3/4 PU for my primary snow removal on about a mile of private dirt road and turn-arounds and the PT only for special areas and clean up.

The ToolCat had just come out when I got my PT and slope capability was my top concern at the time. I find myself now looking hard and long at the ToolCat for many other reasons even though it can not match the PT on steep slopes. I just "may" find myself with two machines.

In any case I feel that either is significantly more versitile for your situation than a CUT such as the Kubota. The ToolCat is more $$$, but should hold its value quite well. Good luck with whatever you choose!!

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

I'm just pointing out that there is a huge price difference between a 1430 (well, even the biggest tractor that PT sells) and a Toolcat. I grant you that the Toolcat is an impressive machine and the cab looks downright cozy. Heck, if you could drive the thing faster you wouldn't even need a car! If you can afford it, or at least justify the premium, I say: Go for it! But to keep the discussion honest, it's important to compare apples to apples. A 1430 with attachments will probably top out at the cost of the base Toolcat.

 

[BrianSouthernMD]

KentT,
I spent twice as much on my new Toolcat and seven attachments as I did on my used road vehicle (a 99 SUV), and that's just fine by me! My aim is to also spend twice as much time on/in the TC! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A 1430 with attachments will probably top out at the cost of the base Toolcat.

)</font>
A 1430 is $16,000 -- are you suggesting another $16,000 or so in attachments? That would be NICE set of attachments...

Of course you'd also have to allow for delivery charges, if you wanted to really compare head-to-head...

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( KentT,
I spent twice as much on my new Toolcat and seven attachments as I did on my used road vehicle (a 99 SUV), and that's just fine by me! My aim is to also spend twice as much time on/in the TC! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

Brian,

I'd love to be able to rationalize a new Toolcat with all the toys. But, for my needs/priorities I couldn't even rationalize a new PT with all the toys I wanted. I found a good used one, instead.

 

[toolz_not_toyz]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A 1430 is $16,000 -- are you suggesting another $16,000 or so in attachments? That would be NICE set of attachments...)</font>

That's exactly what I mean. You can outfit a 1430 very nicely for the same money. Granted, in the middle of winter in Montana you probably won't want to sit in the 1430 for too long and the Toolcat would be cozy. But then I seem to remember another thread mentioning something about an old pickup with a snow blade would make a much better snow removal machine than a PT.

 

[KentT]

Speaking of winter in Montana, and having experienced how much hot air a PT-425's cooling fan can push -- it would be a piece of cake to make a deflector to direct some of that air onto the driver, once it warmed up enough to kick that fan on... certainly wouldn't be a cozy, tight cab, but at least it would be some heat. Further, it would also be easy to put a plastic or plexiglass windshield on the ROPS to keep blowing wind and snow out of your face. So, you could have heat at your back and a windshield in front quite easily.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[fishhead]

here's another thing I have thought of trying- the local bobcat dealer is also the kubota dealer and they have a used 2910 in stock. My thought would be that if bobcat was going to do a mini it probably would be ideal and to work out a deal on the 2910 with eventual trade-in in mind. Am I nuts? Also Brian my properties are about 4 hours apart and I would prefer to avoid getting something big enough to comfortably tow a 5600 with attachments. Ideally I might have machines in both places but that's just more money and hassle. I hope they build the minicat- I don't think they would need to go really low in price as the features would justify a premium over the mid size CUTs I see them competing against- To me a good target would be 3000 pounds, 1000 to 1200 pound lift, 1000 to 1200 pound cap rear dump 130" length and 20 to 25K$. I think they might sell a bunch also a touch shorter wheelbase and a few inches narrrower. I better be careful or this thread will get moved to toolcat land. thanks for all your insights and keep em coming.