Planning a PT-425

[MossRoad]

When I bought my PT425 back in 2001, I ordered it on a Friday afternoon and it arrived in South Bend, IN on Monday. The machine and two pallets of attachments at a local truck depot (Overnight Freight Co.). The dock guys asked if I needed any help loading it and I said "Nope, but thanks." I brought a gallon of gas with me, put it in the tank, dug the pallet forks out of the shipment, put them on the PT425, and used it to load my pallets of attachments into the back of a friend's pickup truck. Then I found an embankment, backed my pickup up to that, used the PT loading ramps that I purchased, and backed the PT425 up in to my truck bed. Tossed the ramps in and off we went. I'd never driven it before and was quite pleased with how that all went. The truck dock guys were nodding in approval as well.

 

[ernemats]

When I bought my PT425 back in 2001, I ordered it on a Friday afternoon and it arrived in South Bend, IN on Monday. The machine and two pallets of attachments at a local truck depot (Overnight Freight Co.). The dock guys asked if I needed any help loading it and I said "Nope, but thanks." I brought a gallon of gas with me, put it in the tank, dug the pallet forks out of the shipment, put them on the PT425, and used it to load my pallets of attachments into the back of a friend's pickup truck. Then I found an embankment, backed my pickup up to that, used the PT loading ramps that I purchased, and backed the PT425 up in to my truck bed. Tossed the ramps in and off we went. I'd never driven it before and was quite pleased with how that all went. The truck dock guys were nodding in approval as well.

why all the duplicate posts?

 

[ernemats]

When I bought my PT425 back in 2001, I ordered it on a Friday afternoon and it arrived in South Bend, IN on Monday. The machine and two pallets of attachments at a local truck depot (Overnight Freight Co.). The dock guys asked if I needed any help loading it and I said "Nope, but thanks." I brought a gallon of gas with me, put it in the tank, dug the pallet forks out of the shipment, put them on the PT425, and used it to load my pallets of attachments into the back of a friend's pickup truck. Then I found an embankment, backed my pickup up to that, used the PT loading ramps that I purchased, and backed the PT425 up in to my truck bed. Tossed the ramps in and off we went. I'd never driven it before and was quite pleased with how that all went. The truck dock guys were nodding in approval as well.

why all the duplicate posts?

 

[MossRoad]

why all the duplicate posts?

Guess I was trying to make a point?

I got an error and it said to try again later. I tried again later 5-6 times and it never went away, so I went somewhere else for a while.

 

[MossRoad]

why all the duplicate posts?

Guess I was trying to make a point?

I got an error and it said to try again later. I tried again later 5-6 times and it never went away, so I went somewhere else for a while.

Interesting, I got the same error just now trying to post it. I bet if I hit Post Reply it does it again.

 

[MossRoad]

why all the duplicate posts?

Guess I was trying to make a point?

I got an error and it said to try again later. I tried again later 5-6 times and it never went away, so I went somewhere else for a while.

Interesting, I got the same error just now trying to post it. I bet if I hit Post Reply it does it again.

Yep. I'll cease and report it.

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

It's a big forum...maybe it's just an echo?

 

[agjones]

I'd hold off on the mini hoe and apply that $to renting an excavator when needed. It can be a useful tool, but the dedicated mini-ex is waaay faster if you already have a laundry list of tasks for it. Instead I'd recommend a grapple something.

Substitute either the super useful utility grapple or the 4n1.

Once you're Orchard is going, a flail mower is pretty indispensable for mowing, sucker control and cleaning up trimmings. A used 4' one is a good match for the 425 and is easy to modify from tractor power to hydraulic.

 

[SpringHollow]

I disagree - a mini hoe comes in extremely handy for small jobs you would never rent an excavator for. Most are not digging basements with their mini hoes. If you have a thumb on the hoe, that is a huge plus. Even better if it swings. Trenching with the mini hoe goes pretty quickly if not going 5' deep. I rarely use my grapple bucket now that I have a swinging mini hoe with a thumb. This is especially true for use with logs. But a grapple would be nicer for large piles of thin brush. Caveat: all of my experience with a mini hoe and a swinging mini hoe is on my PT1850.

But I definitely agree with renting or farming out large jobs if you can afford to.

Ken

 

[agjones]

I disagree - a mini hoe comes in extremely handy for small jobs you would never rent an excavator for. Most are not digging basements with their mini hoes. If you have a thumb on the hoe, that is a huge plus. Even better if it swings. Trenching with the mini hoe goes pretty quickly if not going 5' deep. I rarely use my grapple bucket now that I have a swinging mini hoe with a thumb. This is especially true for use with logs. But a grapple would be nicer for large piles of thin brush. Caveat: all of my experience with a mini hoe and a swinging mini hoe is on my PT1850.

But I definitely agree with renting or farming out large jobs if you can afford to.

Ken

Not saying it isn't handy, just that if the excavator list is long before buying... Rent the mini ex and knock that list out.

I know people have done amazing things w the mini hoe. Good tool, good point on the thumb it definitely helps... But so does your extra weight.

 

[scotts562]

Lots of good advice here especially about getting the pallet forks.

Just in case you are interested, I am selling some used attachments in Minnesota including a pivot auger head with 9" bit and a snowblade. Look for the thread on this page about t-8 attachments for sale in Minnesota for more info.

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

Quick question...I see in the price list that the hydraulics are listed at 3/8", but they sure look like standard 1/2"...anyone know?

 

[agjones]

1/2 hydraulic pto lines. The 3/8 in the price sheet appears to refer to the quick attach plate itself.

 

[sirmombo]

I have a 1430 on a 16 acre apple orchard. The two most useful attachments are the grapple bucket for picking up brush and the mower. We used to use place brush in a trailer to move it out of the orchard. The grapple bucket takes about a quarter the time. We have a zero turn mower that is used for most of the orchard, but some of the orchard is on too steep a hill. We put ag tires (Carlisle Trupower) on the zero turn and it still spins out all the time. The 1430 never slips. I initially used the brush cutter, but the finish mower does a better job. I also use the post hole auger for drilling holes for fence posts and trees and will be getting the stump cutter this spring.

We also have horses and the large material bucket works well for cleaning barns, hauling hay bales, and many other large items. I though about pallet forks. The PT pallet forks are expensive, but third party pallet forks are cheap and welding an adapter plate on them is easy. I don't think I have enough use for them to justify the cost right now.

 

[ponytug]

FWIW: I have the Power-Trac adjustable pallet forks. I would say that they are off the shelf commercial forks with a PT QA plate, and quite heavy duty. It is probably the attachment that I doubted I would use much and it is one that I use often. I have lifted and moved full bundles of 8x8x8 pressure treated posts with them. (20? 25? Heavy enough to almost put the 1445 on two wheels straight ahead.)

All the best,

Peter

 

[BigDaddyEureka]

1/2 hydraulic pto lines. The 3/8 in the price sheet appears to refer to the quick attach plate itself.

aaaAAAHHHaaa....that makes a bit more sense. It actually looks like there's two different QC connectors up front, one for the PTO and one for the 3rd function valve.

 

[agjones]

That's correct. The others are 1/4 and power the quick attach itself or the grapple function of an attachment.