Steiner Front-wheel-drive versus PT AWD

[FOURTEEN]

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How about a Grasshopper for mostly mowing????

http://www.grasshoppermower.com/03/products/midmount/200/200_main.html

Great machines, if mowing is your primary use!!



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[Bob_Skurka]

As stated earlier, I have steep hills. Grasshoppers and other similar units would simply tumble down the hills end over end and probably kill the drive. Those types of units are designed for flat ground and smooth lawns. I have neither. It seems like a couple times a year I read about someone who drove a ZTR into a pond because the bank was too steep for the mower, more often than not they fish the operator out dead. I actually like ZTR units, I just can't use one on my property.

 

[eambrose]

Charlie - great catch - I forgot about them (AEBI) - that three wheel unit is pretty neat and I bet that will do the hill without a problem - it has three wheel drive - I don't think it will have the hill climbing ability of the Ventrac (or steiner) but it probably comes close. I'll be curious to hear your research on those units - I'll bet they are rrrrreally expensive.

One other one is a Company called National - you probably won't want one because it is a reel mower but they claim

"if you can walk up a hill without using your hands a National will mow it" http://www.nationalmower.com/index.htm National
they are really, really stable - I actually owned a Hydro 70 (the three wheel unit which is by far the least capable on slopes and it went up, down and across my 22 degree cliff no problem)

I love they way reels cut and the bueatiful patterns you can do - but in the end I wanted to be able to vacuum the grass which is difficult with a reel. These reels are heavy duty for mowing the roughs and can take the abuse of mowing 6-8 hours a day every day. I mean these are really heavy steel - if I had 4-5 acres of lawn to mow (not pasture) I would choose one of these.

The 68 and the 8400 are the billy goats I think - the 8400 has a super steering making it turn really sharp - watch the video. The reason they are so good on hills is the super low center of gravity, the wings and they way they apply traction - believe me I tested these - you won't believe what they will do. At the dealer I climbed and mowed a hill that was insane

But you probably don't want a reel - but I thought I would throw it out. But with an 84 inch cut you get done in a hurry

 

[eambrose]

One more for you - it is a ZTR which I know you don't want but here it is - but they just came out with it and they claim 25 plus degree slope performance - most ZTR MAX at 12-15degress - I talked to the Company - he says they have test hills out back well over 25degrees - he said they do it with weight and low center of gravity - apparently they did a lot of R&D Hustler[/url]
http://www.hustlerturfequipment.com/products/superatz.html

 

[bubenberg]

don't go on too steep hills with those things. they become sleds on the way down. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Ok guys, I did more studying and more looking.

The LOGICAL choice seems to be the Ventrac 3000.

The EMOTIONAL choice seems to be the PT425. The PT will PROBABLY climb the worst hill. And working on the assumption that it will do what I need it to do, then the emotion kicks in. The PT 425 is simply the most flexible of the machines with capabilities none of the other machines could match (any of the Steiners or Ventracs excluding their TOP end units). The PT 425 could, at some later date, serve as a loader, phd, snow blower, etc. The Ventrac 3000 could serve as a snow blower. The larger Ventracs and Steiners could do those other things (need the largest to get a loader) and the price then becomes pretty crazy given that I already have 2 tractors with snow blowers, one with a loader and back hoe, 2 that will use a PHD, etc. Like I said, this is pure emotion here, I like the Ventrac 3000 but it is LIMITED for FUTURE UNANTICIPATED GUY STUFF. The PT could start as a mower and expand, but it won't be as good a mower.

As I am buying a unit my wife will use, both fit the bill. Easy to operate, easy to mow with, able to handle the terrain.

Again, logically I am drawn to the Ventrac. I actually like it as long as I don't consider the limitations. I have the same limitations with my Cub Cadet, and a few more, but . . .

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Enough.
Buy the Power Trac.
It's better.
Otherwise, MossRoad, Bubenberg and Pajoube would have Ventracs and be moaning about them over in the Other Brands forum
You're not mowing a golf green. You've ruled out a walk-behind, which is the safest, so get the one that will mount a mini-hoe and a grapple bucket just in case you need them, and maybe a winch to raise and lower a mower on a cable on the really steep stuff.
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[JackIL]

Bob,

I recommend that you AND YOUR WIFE take a test drive on slopes.

JackIL

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Charlie . . . thanks for the tuff love routine. But I am again leaning toward logic and the Ventrac 3000. Less versitile than a PT but better for what I need.

And in looking at the PT price list again, and looking at the cost of the attachments, the Ventrac 3000 with a 60" deck is a shade under $10,000. The PT425 with a similar size deck would be a good deal more and be a less capable mower.

The PT would give me greater long term flexibility IF I would chose to expand its role, but after checking my implements for the other tractors I already have, there is probably no rational reason to expand the unit beyond a mowing machine. And the PT implements are very exensive and not interchangable with my other equipment. So really the long term flexibility I might gain from the PT is really just theoretical, and probably would never be utilized. I have no use for a mini-hoe given I have a back hoe. I don't have a grapple bucket for the FEL, but have not come up with a need for one. I don't like the arrangement of a front mount tiller (unless you drove in reverse) becuase you are driving over the tilled soil and I am looking at buying a tiller for my 3pt now as well. I've been convinced the PT is a better Post Hole Digger, but again I already have one of those for the 3pt and don't do commercial work with it so it is fine with me. I'm building a dual tank 3pt spray rig that will work with my other equipment. So all in all, the PT seems to be more expensive than the Ventrac, but not as good a mower, and in real terms, not something that will be used for anything other than mowing.

I'll keep you informed, but I am now STRONGLY leaning toward the Ventrac. Most likely with 60" mowing deck, but maybe with the 52". And maybe with a slip scoop attachement as well, I think my wife might actually find that a useful tool for hauling some things around the yard when she is not mowing. I am also wondering about adding a ROPS cage, not becuase of a roll over, but because it would be a great place to add some accessories like a modest size garden tool basket behind the seat and to mount a couple AUX lights up high for a better view at dusk.

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

<font color="red">I am also wondering about adding a ROPS cage, not becuase of a roll over </font>

Whatever you get, make sure it has the ROPS, precisely because of a rollover. Any machine you have considered may slide, turn and trip, no matter how careful you are. I haven't flipped one, but I've slid downhill without ROPS with no more control than a hockey puck - it makes you a believer. A couple of years ago, a guy flipped our JD 2240 with ROPS. He was going straight up a steep slope. It hit a slick spot, turned 90 degrees to the right, slid downhill and tripped. He wasn't hurt, but sure could have been. Anything can go over on a steep hill.