Ventrac 4500 options and price check

[ace1400]

I am looking to purchase an Ventrac 4500Z shortly. I appreciate all the help this forum has provided in getting me this far. I had a recent demo with the 4500Z and it did everything I hoped it would.

For background, I will be using the machine for mowing, trail improvement and brush clearing in our very hilly property, and some road maintenance, mostly spreading gravel etc.

I was planning on getting the Tough Cut mower, the power bucket, and the KD602 blade and dual wheel kit.

I have a few questions I would love to hear opinions on:

1. Is the suspension seat worth the significant extra cost? The machine I test drove had the normal seat, but I usually pay extra for comfort

2. Is there any disadvantage to adding the 3 point hitch later if I need it? I really like that most of the implements are out front on the Ventrac, and don't really plan to use a rear implement, but I like to have options.

3. Is the 60" blade usable for spreading gravel? I have good people that haul it, and for the driveway they do a very good job spreading it from the dump truck such that there isn't much too much moving needed, but there is some.

4. What is a reasonable price for the machine? The only price reference I have is this:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/maintena...rt_mun util/2017/Venture/VENTRAC combined.pdf.
This is less than a year old and the prices I am being quoted are 2-7% higher than the MSRP prices on this price list. Is this likely the current MSRP? I want to pay a fair price - should I expect to get anything off MSRP? The local dealer is quoting $1,500 cost for freight (we are in the Pacific Northwest) plus $600 for setup, in addition to the MSRP(?) price above. Is this typical? I haven't seen fright and setup costs described in other threads, but I may have missed them.

Thanks for any insight into this.

Ace

 

[TNMark1]

1. Tough Cut mower is for tough cutting.... If you want to mow your yard and make it look good, you need a regular mower.... Since mower rides on its own wheels and roller, you get a very nice even cut.

2. Suspension seat.... Probably not... Try the stock one first... I never sat on the SS... I have about 600 hours on the regular seat. Keep in mind the Ventac is articulated and oscillating, rather than a rigid frame. The oscelating part makes the ride a LOT smoother when the tractor twists (not articulates as in making a turn). If you combine that with the dual tires, they are wide enough to ride over "pot holes" without say ..Dropping a front tire in and having all your filling in your teeth come out.... Ventrac really never stresses the nice ride enough. If you want the SS get it later....

3. You can add 3 point later if you need it, I've never needed it. Its limited for me since there is no real rear power take off. (Plus I think the cost is high)

4. 60" blade.... Screw that, get the 72". I have a 60", its as wide as the tractor with single tires on it. The 72" is as wide as having duals on. Yes I spread a little gravel with it... It works OK.... Lets go to snow... You need to take the duals off (there is an easy way to do it with a pallet, put the tractor on that and then take it off, having the front wheels on it keeps them from spinning when you tak e the duals off)...... So duals off on snow. The 60" is about all you can push with heavy snow (say 8" or so). I did the duals (too lazy to take them off) and 60" first year... Pushed OK (not as good as singles b/C of ground pressure and wanting to "float").... Problem was one wheel stuck out on each side, once that single wheel got off the edge of the driveway, it sucked the tractor off the driveway. Then you were stuck. Ventrac and Steiner have low ground clearance which is not a normally a problem until you are in 12" of snow. Easy to pull out. They have a nice box in the back for a tow chain and replace hitch with a clevis "hitch" from Harbor Freight....

5. Price... Thanks for the new list. Last I had was 2014. Sales Tax in WV is 6%. Dealer discounts them 6% so the out the door price is MRSP. I think thats fair, they need to make a living and they don't sell a lot of machines a year. 2 - 7% over MRSP is HIGH, adding in $1500 freight (and it doesn't cost that much to have it shipped - trucking is cheap) PLUS $600 setup is way out of line. Most dealers seem to sell for MRSP plus tax which is reasonable. They make some money off it.

Comment on Ventrac prices. Accessories are expensive. I've got a BUNCH of them (most of them in fact... I used to buy one or maybe 2 a year. They are very useful, when you need them they really come in handy. They are really built tough, I mean industrial strength. Maybe 450 hours on my lawn mower deck, it still has 99% of the powder coating under it, except where I destroyed a cast iron water meter cover (and went back and did it again next time)... Powder coating on the whole tractor and mower means that if you keep it inside (or even outside), many years from now it will still look as good as the day you got it. Pretty amazing. My brother has a Steiner which is a few months older than mine, keeps it inside and it looks weathered and 20 years old...

 

[TNMark1]

1. Tough Cut mower is for tough cutting.... If you want to mow your yard and make it look good, you need a regular mower.... Since mower rides on its own wheels and roller, you get a very nice even cut.

2. Suspension seat.... Probably not... Try the stock one first... I never sat on the SS... I have about 600 hours on the regular seat. Keep in mind the Ventac is articulated and oscillating, rather than a rigid frame. The oscelating part makes the ride a LOT smoother when the tractor twists (not articulates as in making a turn). If you combine that with the dual tires, they are wide enough to ride over "pot holes" without say ..Dropping a front tire in and having all your filling in your teeth come out.... Ventrac really never stresses the nice ride enough. If you want the SS get it later....

3. You can add 3 point later if you need it, I've never needed it. Its limited for me since there is no real rear power take off. (Plus I think the cost is high)

4. 60" blade.... Screw that, get the 72". I have a 60", its as wide as the tractor with single tires on it. The 72" is as wide as having duals on. Yes I spread a little gravel with it... It works OK.... Lets go to snow... You need to take the duals off (there is an easy way to do it with a pallet, put the tractor on that and then take it off, having the front wheels on it keeps them from spinning when you tak e the duals off)...... So duals off on snow. The 60" is about all you can push with heavy snow (say 8" or so). I did the duals (too lazy to take them off) and 60" first year... Pushed OK (not as good as singles b/C of ground pressure and wanting to "float").... Problem was one wheel stuck out on each side, once that single wheel got off the edge of the driveway, it sucked the tractor off the driveway. Then you were stuck. Ventrac and Steiner have low ground clearance which is not a normally a problem until you are in 12" of snow. Easy to pull out. They have a nice box in the back for a tow chain and replace hitch with a clevis "hitch" from Harbor Freight....

5. Price... Thanks for the new list. Last I had was 2014. Sales Tax in WV is 6%. Dealer discounts them 6% so the out the door price is MRSP. I think thats fair, they need to make a living and they don't sell a lot of machines a year. 2 - 7% over MRSP is HIGH, adding in $1500 freight (and it doesn't cost that much to have it shipped - trucking is cheap) PLUS $600 setup is way out of line. Most dealers seem to sell for MRSP plus tax which is reasonable. They make some money off it.

6. Power bucket... Needs dual front hydraulics (there should be a small (under $100) charge to install the extra front hydro... The grapple or clamp doesn't have a low of gripping power for grabbing and pulling things... However it lets you pick up logs that will fit in the bucket without help and clamps down on brush you are trying to haul to keep it from falling out. Size of bucket is as big as it can go. If you fill with gravel, thats all it will lift. Thats the limit... Once you use it, you will never look at a wheel barrow again (I was never a fan of them anyways)...

Comment on Ventrac prices. Accessories are expensive. I've got a BUNCH of them (most of them in fact... I used to buy one or maybe 2 a year. They are very useful, when you need them they really come in handy. They are really built tough, I mean industrial strength. Maybe 450 hours on my lawn mower deck, it still has 99% of the powder coating under it, except where I destroyed a cast iron water meter cover (and went back and did it again next time)... Powder coating on the whole tractor and mower means that if you keep it inside (or even outside), many years from now it will still look as good as the day you got it. Pretty amazing. My brother has a Steiner which is a few months older than mine, keeps it inside and it looks weathered and 20 years old...

More questions ask.... Check your messages...

Mark

 

[johara1]

Rubber tires and a blade in front of you will need a very high skill level. For plowing snow on a gravel road it takes skill also till it gets frozen, you can't just put it in float. Get a bucket and you can carry the stone and level it better, They won't lift much but a lot easier than by hand. I have the new mower with the HYD. lift best investment I ever made. it cuts great in the yard and in the fields also. The seat is adequate, you can get a suspension seat later for 325.00 that is the same thing.... jim

 

[ChiefBodie]

Keep in mind the Ventac is articulated and oscillating, rather than a rigid frame. The oscelating part makes the ride a LOT smoother

My experience is different. In general, on smooth ground the Ventrac is a smooth comfortable ride. But if I hit a bump, or go across washboard type terrain, it is very rough- especially any bumps via the rear wheels. I have the suspension seat. Due to bumps and stress on my back I am also going to order the egg-crate cushion another poster recommended. I think with the suspension seat and the egg crate insert it will be fine.

As another poster pointed out a while ago, it is not an air-ride seat.

 

[prs]

It is my understanding that the suspension seat is standard on Z model.

I plan on placing some implements into these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Shelter...Tan-PE-Garage-without-Floor-62681-0/202718928

The power unit is locked in a substantial building.

 

[MountainBuck]

I've had the 4500P for about 2 years now and have the Tough cut mower, Power bucket and use the landscape rake for spreading gravel.

The Landscape rake does a very good job for me for gravel. I use it on my 14 degree drive to dress it up and take out the washboard a couple times a year. Just recently had 10 tons of gravel spread, but was a terrible job. He dropped several "blobs" because the gravel was wet. The landscape rake cleaned it up in just a few passes, about 1/2 hr. I don't have the blade. I tend to use the rake after a rain to limit the dust me and the ventrac breath.

The 3 pt hitch is more expensive if you add it later because they have to tear the whole back end out. Labor cost. If you THINK you would use it, buy it now.

For me, the suspension seat is the ONLY way to go. I mow a 25 degree hill sideways and it is rough to do. I really need the armrests and the springs in the seat.

If you have lots of brush, the grapple attachment to the bucket really helps to hold everything from falling out.

Only thing I bought extra that probably didn't need was the bucket teeth. Meh, they are ok I guess.

 

[ace1400]

Thanks for the insights guys. I called Ventrac and the very nice lady was not anxious to share the current MSRP prices, but did say that there have been two price increases since the Aug 2017 price list that I referenced above.