Steiner? Ventrack? What is the relationship?

[prs]

They are similar. So similar that Steiner is discussed only on this Ventrack forum. Apparently similar enough that some proprietary attachments seem to interchange. Right?

So, is this a Ford/Mercury or Plymouth/Dodge kind of thing?

Or are they truly different with maybe a little interesting espionage story to boot? Is one the original and the other a kopy kat?

I have been lazily ogling Ventac for the past several Spring seasons and have noted a TV ad campaign for them locally. I notice that there is a dealership for each, pretty close together about an hour and a half from me.

I notice they are very mute about pricing on the web. Is it a situation where, "If Ya gotta ask, Ya can't afford it?"

prs

 

[murphy1244]

Steiner Brothers sold Steiner to Jacobson in Wisconsin and are now making Ventracs in Orwell Ohio.

 

[DFB]

We had two different rentals to use at the orchard last summer, with front mounted rough cut mowers on each..one diesel one gas. The diesel had the double wheels all the way around. In our situation I thought it performed much better than the gas model in many areas, considering the lay of the property very steep slopes and thick wet heavy field grasses.

Less than impressive we knocked them both out of commission (actually one had been a replacement for the other under rental) during my boss's trials for the perfect machine :laughing:

He says too bad they didn't work out :shocked:

I told him the machines themselves were fine, the issues surrounded lack of maintenance on the rentals!

Nonetheless I really liked using either one in the orchard for the most part. My preference was for the diesel and for using it over any of the three 40-90 HP tractors we have with either flail or brushog for keeping the orchard groomed.

There is a local equipment dealer here that always has some Steiners for sale along with other equipment like used compact tractors. I recommended to my boss he should maybe consider one. He didn't like the prices he was quoted on a new diesel Ventrac.

 

[prs]

Steiner Brothers sold Steiner to Jacobson in Wisconsin and are now making Ventracs in Orwell Ohio.

So, let me see if I get it, Jackobson is now producing the Steiner in Wisconson. The Steiner Bros are producing the Ventracs in Ohio. So, no wonder they are similar. Thanks.

DFB, that right there speaks volumes. Works well, maybe reliability is not so great or maybe rental blues. Do you recall what exactly failed. I have about 12 acres that I keep mowed, some a little rough, much of it steep and even exceeding 30 degree; but my compact utility tractor manages. Diesel with duelies would be my plan. I reckon I have a couple of visits to make to see them, and price them.

prs

 

[DFB]

Ya sure on the diesel model the oil return line blew a hole just before the tank fitting and on the gas engine we lost a spindle bearing on a cutting deck pulley.

You could tell the deck spindle bearing was on it's way out because the belt kept jumping the pulley under a load in the high grass out in the field.

I will say to you though, not long before it went out for good I did catch a pretty good size chunk of an chainsaw cut apple limb that someone had left behind after winter pruning and it wedged between the deck and one of the blades so tight the blade was buried several inches into the log that took a splitting maul to pound it free :laughing:

I'm sure that didn't help any

The Woods brush bull probably would have just pulverized it

 

[Raw Dodge]

The Steiner name was consistent with the original Steiner family,as far as I know into the middle 90s. I have an 89 and. 97 steiner 420,the older one is my favorite for pulling and climbing,it's geared lower than the newer one,which is better on flats and open areas...Textron bought Steiner and spun off a green version with a Ransomes name and stickers,but it was the same machine.As far as I know,this is what was told to me by a ventrac dealer,the Steiner family after selling there family nameplate and reputation,started up Venture products and waited out the non compete,making enough things different to avoid patent infringements...the hitches are the same although pulley placement and gearing is different enough to require a belt swap,and sometimes a pulley swap to get maximum performance depending on the attachment. I have both Steiners and a ventrac,they handle and operate similar,but they are slightly different,I personally think the Steiner frame is stronger,but the axles and front hitch mount on the Ventracs are stronger...controls are different,but performance wise they are similar,except for the fact that ventrac offers more power in most of its models,but the steiners do well with only 25 hp air cooled Kohler commands...there fuel efficient and will go anywhere a ventrac can,I think steiners hold a hill better,but that's just my opinion ,I'm sure that different models would affect the results,but when I have duals on a Steiner 420, it feels totally invincible ,a ventrac does too,but the Steiner feels more stable to me...Refinement and fit and finish ,and attachment quality,IMO ventrac wins...,overall I prefer ventrac....but love the steiners all the same,I've got 26 yrs on steiners,they've earned there place with our operation.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I am surprised that the matter of using the same hitch wasn't a huge infringement in itself.

Raw Dodge, you think the Steiner is stronger, but what else other then axles and hitch? That's pretty much the whole machine. I think I may have damaged my 430 hitch system after using a home made rake. That and loosing part of my finger! I have a little too much trouble getting attachiments on, not so much off.

 

[prs]

I have tomorrow afternoon off and its gonna rain cats'n dogs anyway, so I may go to Barboursville,WV to "see the elephants", so to speak. There is a Steiner and Ventrack dealer just a couple of miles apart there.

Some things I have yet to learn about the articulated steering full time 4WD system. Are the front and rear axles provided with differentials? If so, are they provided with lockers? If not provided with differentials, is tire wear of great concern and is drive train stress of concern on paved surface? My compact utility tractor is 33 years-old with about 6,600 hours and is just not getting close to needing new tires, although the super wide Pillow-Dia seem to be obsolete now. I also have not clue about pricing, so I have no basis from which to bargain or deal with the dealers. Lets use a ballpark figure for a 4500 Ventrac with dual ATV tires, Kubota gas engine, rough cut mower and the wide 3 section flex mower as the initial basis. What should I expect as an asking price and what should I offer? Seems like some kind of secret so far. I reckon I can call, but you guys have been there and done it.

prs

 

[Industrial Toys]

Front and back both have deffs. No locking on the Steiner. From the few years and varying conditions I have used mine, I have never even thought about it. I have never cursed and wished the deffs would have locks. I have been badly stuck a few times and now that I think about it, I wonder if it would have made any difference. Raw Dodge would know better.




DONE!

 

[prs]

Thanks. A 4WD with open differentials and no lock would be a total deal breaker for me; that is 2 wheel dive in my book. I use the lock on my compact tractor often, it only locks the rear, but is a great help; I reckon that is 3 wheel drive.

I sent an email to the Ventrack dealer in Barboursville asking for ballpark quote. I no response soon I will call.