Trac Vac Model Selection

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a Kubota BX2200 (60 inch deck) and I am looking at Trac-Vac leaf vacuums. I had been thinking of getting a model 580 but am told I need a model 880 (larger motor and hose). Frankly the extra $600 seems a lot to me and I'm wondering if the 580 would do the job or not. I believe I could live with taking it a bit slower picking up the leaves using the smaller unit given the price difference. Anyone out there have experience with these two products?

 

[jgh]

10/5

Have you considered model 854 et al? PTO powered so you have one less engine to maintain.

See their www site http://www.trac-vac.com and then give them a call, very helpful. Eric Smith is the salesman there I have talked to, nice guy.

Jim

 

[kiphorn]

I'm thinking of purchasing a trac-vac or some other leaf collection system.

Since I have the rear PTO available, does it make sense to use it and save the money and upkeep on another engine as the previous post suggests?

What are the pros/cons of using the rear PTO for the vac. I'd have to run the mid PTO for the mower and the rear for the vac but that shouldn't be a problem should it? According to the manual the PTO is rated at 18.0 hp.

Kip

 

[Gil]

Take it from someone who has been there, the 580 is NOT big enough for a 60" deck. I lived with one for quite a few years (Read, until it wore out!) on a 60" deck and it will not treat you well. The hose will stop up constantly, working you to death and worrying you in the process. This time i got the 880 and there is a world of difference. This one has no trouble handling the output of the deck.

Please do not get the 580 for this size deck.

I wish you well

Gil

 

[JackIL]

Kip,

I have had a number of Trac Vac and competitive vacuum systems over the past 20 years all used with 60 and 72 inch decks. Vacuum systems take a LOT of power to work well. By that I mean in order to keep up a good fast air flow even when there is a lot a debris in the stream, you need a big power source. All of the tractors I have used vacuum systems with had at least 20 hp and the vacuum itself had 8 hp or more. Thus with a theoretical total of 28 hp to apply you would think that is plenty of power, but even this is insufficient under a lot of conditions.

Currently I have a 31 hp tractor with a 72 inch deck. Last year I upgraded my Trac Vac blower to a large unit they normally sell for loading pickup trucks. This was done at the recommendation of Eric Smith of the Customer Support Group at Trac Vac. Normally they power this truck loader with an 11 hp engine, but since my system has very long hoses I went on up to a 13 hp engine. It works exceptionally well. So far it has never plugged. My greatest problem has been to keep the hose clamps tight enough to keep the hoses connected to the metal parts. I resolved that by installing the heavy duty clamps that spiral around and then overlap the hose wire.

If you have a very large tractor, a PTO powered vacuum may be practical. Otherwise I would stick to a separate engine on the blower. Maintaining that seperate engine is not that difficult anymore assuming you take care not to let fuel get stale in the tank.

JackIL

 

[art]

Just moved a friend up to the 880 from a 580 with a BX22 so I will be able to tell you more in a little bit. He has used the 580 for 7 years on his 7 acres of lawn and with no regret or trouble. He does only use it in the spring because of rapid grass growth and in the fall for leaves. Before he used the same unit on his 2284 cadet with a 54" deck and loved it. I do not like the three point units as much as the full trailer. When using these units there is always a corner you can't get into it seems, to go open up the lawn with just the tractor and mower and then get hooked up is the best. The tractor mounted system always gives you the extra baggage to carry. They do recommend the bigger unit for a 60" deck but compared to the other brands we've sold thru the years the Trac-vacs even small are better.

 

[drcollie]

I have a 'Hasty Vac" which is very similar to the Trac Vac's but slightly more expensive and (I think) a bit more durable in construction.

The one thing you really want in one of these machines is MORE capacity than you think you will need. By that I mean Larger Diameter Tubes and engine HP. Get it too small, and you're constantly stopping to clean out the jammed intake.

When I bought my Hasty Vac, I had a Cub Cadet with a 48" Deck. Was a perfect match. Then I upgraded the tractor to a Kubota BX22 with 60" deck and the large deck can put out more than the 6" intake tube on the Hasty Vac can handle. The result it clogging. I should sell the Hasty Vac and buy a larger unit, but for now I simply go half the width of the deck on each pass and it works.

All the lawn vac systems work GREAT. They really do a nice job.....I'm not crazy about the Briggs INTEK engines though - wish someone made a unit with a Honda powerplant.

-Duane C.
Virginia

 

[ronjhall]

JackIL
I sure like your trailer. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I was going to ask you for details on it. Then checked your profile for previous post. You had posted all the information last year.

I must have missed it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I'm posting a link to that thread for others that may want this information. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Click Here

 

[KAZZ]

I consider myself to be somewhat of an authority on the trac vac brand, since I am on my third vac in about 12 years and I pickup about over 1,000 bushels of leaves each fall cleaning 4 of 6 arces we own. My first trac vac was a 580 that I pulled with A 20 Hp. Wheelhorse Garden tractor with a 48 inch Deck.
This is the perfect vac for this size tractor, but because of the acreage I had to do I moved up to a B2400 Kubota with a 54 inch deck. Two things about the 580 ,anything over a 48 inch deck is almost to much volume for the 6 inch hose, secondly the 580 is a 5hp vac wet leaves or heavy(thick) volume of leaves will clog the hose. Getting on and off the tractor to clear clogs is no fun. So I Moved up to the 1080 the 11hp model mainly because I anticipated moving up in tractor size. Both the 880 and 1080 have 8 inch hoses and 50 cubic foot Carts .The only consideration is if you have to go up and down any grades, because When full of dry leaves with a little grass this cart becomes very heavy. thats the main reason, the fact that my property isn't flat that I moved up to a New Holland TC 33 D. I use a Small Three point mounted Trac Vac With two Rubbermaid cans on it for just picking up grass clippings during the mowing Season.My neighbor uses an 880 behind a 24hp john deere compact with a 72 inch deck and has no problems. So I guess to sum up my reply to you .I would Suggest you consider your area that you are using the vac on, both size and levelness. how fast do you need to get it cleaned and do you ever anticipate getting a larger tractor. A 580 will work ,but a 880 will work much better. Because of the horsepower and hose size. Trac Vac is the cadillac of vacs, there are cheaper ones out there but in my opinion none better.