bontai_Joe
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Any reply from Mountaineer? Shame if they went out of business, looked like an awsome machine.
Who makes the BEST garden tractor?
- Thread starter Bob_Skurka
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Bob_Skurka
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RE: MOUNTAINEER: I have made several attemps via phone and email, there is no reply at all. I've left messages on the answering machine, nothing.
I did, however get a lead on Ventrac tractors from Venture Products. They seem to be amazing machines that will climb hills like goats and are very soft on the turf because they are 4 wheel drive with an articulated & ocillating body that allows the wheels to follow each others tracts and allows all 4 wheels to remain on the ground at the same time, regardless of whether the tractor is on uneven ground or not.
Ventrac has 3 basic models, one looks very similar to the Power Trac units but is more suited to mowing while not being as versitile as PT for other things. The other 2 models are much more like conventional tractor, but still have the articulated & ocillating body with 4 wheel drive. All three climb hills like goats and work on side slopes because they have weight transfer systems (option on 1 model, standard on the other 2). All 3 seem to be very well suited for mowing flat lawns too.
I am partial to the Ventrac 3000 because it seems like the best mowing unit of the bunch and because my quest for the BEST garden tractor is for a tractor that will be used almost 100% for mowing chores of several acres with steep hills. The 3000 has a tiny turning radius that would allow mowing around tight landscaping. None are as good as a ZTR mower for mowing, but a ZTR mower is totally impossible to use on my property because of the rough terrain and the hills.
I also looked at Steiner Tractors, which is the company formerly owned by the people who now own and build Ventracs. Ventracs seem to be an improved version of Steiners.
I also considered traditional garden tractors, but the more I looked at the specialty units (Steiners & Ventracs) the more apealing the specialty units appear because they offer some significant advantages. Kubota has a nice small 4 wd tractor, but it is not 4w steer or articulated. Deere has similar units. Both brands seem far LESS capable than either Steiner or Ventrac. Kubota also has a couple 4wd mowers, but they are not suited to steep spots and appear to be top heavy.
Power Trac is also something to STRONGLY consider for many chores that many of us own garden tractors for, they make a fairly small unit that is pretty versitile and a couple mid-power units 22 & 25 hp that are pretty darn amazing and priced similar to a premium garden tractor yet can do about 200% more work than a premium garden tractor. I think it is very fair to say that Power Trac is one of the most UNDER RATED tractors on the market, their larger units can easily replace Compact Diesel Utility Tractors and their smaller units are certainly more versitile than any other garden tractor someone would ever consider and are very price competitive to any of the premium brands.
I have NOT completely made up my mind yet. I am strongly leaning toward Ventrac. I spoke with their represntative this morning and he is arranging for a demonstration unit to be brought out to my house.
I did, however get a lead on Ventrac tractors from Venture Products. They seem to be amazing machines that will climb hills like goats and are very soft on the turf because they are 4 wheel drive with an articulated & ocillating body that allows the wheels to follow each others tracts and allows all 4 wheels to remain on the ground at the same time, regardless of whether the tractor is on uneven ground or not.
Ventrac has 3 basic models, one looks very similar to the Power Trac units but is more suited to mowing while not being as versitile as PT for other things. The other 2 models are much more like conventional tractor, but still have the articulated & ocillating body with 4 wheel drive. All three climb hills like goats and work on side slopes because they have weight transfer systems (option on 1 model, standard on the other 2). All 3 seem to be very well suited for mowing flat lawns too.
I am partial to the Ventrac 3000 because it seems like the best mowing unit of the bunch and because my quest for the BEST garden tractor is for a tractor that will be used almost 100% for mowing chores of several acres with steep hills. The 3000 has a tiny turning radius that would allow mowing around tight landscaping. None are as good as a ZTR mower for mowing, but a ZTR mower is totally impossible to use on my property because of the rough terrain and the hills.
I also looked at Steiner Tractors, which is the company formerly owned by the people who now own and build Ventracs. Ventracs seem to be an improved version of Steiners.
I also considered traditional garden tractors, but the more I looked at the specialty units (Steiners & Ventracs) the more apealing the specialty units appear because they offer some significant advantages. Kubota has a nice small 4 wd tractor, but it is not 4w steer or articulated. Deere has similar units. Both brands seem far LESS capable than either Steiner or Ventrac. Kubota also has a couple 4wd mowers, but they are not suited to steep spots and appear to be top heavy.
Power Trac is also something to STRONGLY consider for many chores that many of us own garden tractors for, they make a fairly small unit that is pretty versitile and a couple mid-power units 22 & 25 hp that are pretty darn amazing and priced similar to a premium garden tractor yet can do about 200% more work than a premium garden tractor. I think it is very fair to say that Power Trac is one of the most UNDER RATED tractors on the market, their larger units can easily replace Compact Diesel Utility Tractors and their smaller units are certainly more versitile than any other garden tractor someone would ever consider and are very price competitive to any of the premium brands.
I have NOT completely made up my mind yet. I am strongly leaning toward Ventrac. I spoke with their represntative this morning and he is arranging for a demonstration unit to be brought out to my house.
OP
Bob_Skurka
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Tentatively scheduled for Tuesday March 30, Ventrac will be bringing out a demo unit to my house for a test drive. The dealer is coming out of Wisconsin with the unit.
LoganWildman
Silver Member
Why did you only look at the 300 series Deeres? The 400 series more than meets your criteria, and even offers 4 wheel steer. If you want 4 wheel drive, then look at the 500 series. I wish they would have had them when I bought my 445 in 1996. When I compared tractors in this class, I felt the JD's were build better than a Cub. And having a local dealer helped to.
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Bob_Skurka
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The 400 series was not cost competitive. And from what I can see now, neither the Cub or the Deere come close to being the best garden tractors out there. Today my budget is much different than it was when I bought my Cub. As I have explored this topic in depth, Steiner and Ventrac are so far superior to Cub, Deere, New Holland, and Kubota garden tractors that it is not even fair to compare them.
LoganWildman
Silver Member
I just checked out the Steiner and Ventrac websites and I am curious what kind of price these puppys have? Steiner had prices on theirs and from what I saw, I could buy a JD, Cub, Kubota, or NH for the same or less and have local service.
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Bob_Skurka
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The Steiners and Ventacs are more expensive but more capable for many tasks. Steiner has a dealer network that is pretty well established, Ventrac is working on their network. As of now, I have bids on both brands.
A Ventrac 3000 with a 52" deck is about $9250, add $300 for a 60" deck. A Steiner 415 is about the same price as a Ventac 3000. A Ventrac 4100 series with 60" deck is roughly $13,000.
Dealers for these 2 brands are willing to drive a long way to take care of their customers, I have demo units being brought to my house from about 200 miles away (free of charge). The tractors are probably not suited as direct comparisions for people looking at a standard garden tractor for simple mowing tasks, but for people with hills, or for people with real gardens that will require real work, or for any heavy duty operation, both brands seem to be made as tough as military tanks and will go just about anywere a tank will go, and they are not going to tip over like a garden tractor or CUT would be prone to do. Both brands are probably better compared to the compact and sub-compact diesel tractors rather than to garden tractors. I think that because of their special capabilities a simple price comparison will always have discount shoppers simply go to Deere or Cub. But price comparisions are what they are, when features are compared, these things have few real competitors. As for people who don't need some of the specialized features (hill holding) then I think people often totally miss out on the Power Trac equipment, and that is a total shame because their smaller units are very competitive to Deere & Cub, but will do 10 times the work, easier and faster. Again, people who want a lawn tractor probably should not consider Power Trac, any more than they should consider Steiner or Ventrac. The PT machines are actually designed to do work, and they will also mow your lawn. The Steiner & Ventrac are designed for some unusual conditions and commercial applications where rough service is normal, and they are primarily mowing machines in those applications but they are capable of other tasks as well.
I would think that for anyone with a suburban lawn, then the JD or Cub is their prime choice because they THINK it is the best. They are both very good. But if you are going to ask a bit more of your garden tractor, there there are better units to be had. And from what I can see now (and I admit to being newly educated to this) the tractors that are better appear to be so much better that it is silly to compare them to JD or Cub garden tractors.
So for the suburban lawn, buy a Cub or JD. I think Cub might be better because I have seen in my neighborhood that the Cubs take rough use better/longer. Someone else may have different experience.
A Ventrac 3000 with a 52" deck is about $9250, add $300 for a 60" deck. A Steiner 415 is about the same price as a Ventac 3000. A Ventrac 4100 series with 60" deck is roughly $13,000.
Dealers for these 2 brands are willing to drive a long way to take care of their customers, I have demo units being brought to my house from about 200 miles away (free of charge). The tractors are probably not suited as direct comparisions for people looking at a standard garden tractor for simple mowing tasks, but for people with hills, or for people with real gardens that will require real work, or for any heavy duty operation, both brands seem to be made as tough as military tanks and will go just about anywere a tank will go, and they are not going to tip over like a garden tractor or CUT would be prone to do. Both brands are probably better compared to the compact and sub-compact diesel tractors rather than to garden tractors. I think that because of their special capabilities a simple price comparison will always have discount shoppers simply go to Deere or Cub. But price comparisions are what they are, when features are compared, these things have few real competitors. As for people who don't need some of the specialized features (hill holding) then I think people often totally miss out on the Power Trac equipment, and that is a total shame because their smaller units are very competitive to Deere & Cub, but will do 10 times the work, easier and faster. Again, people who want a lawn tractor probably should not consider Power Trac, any more than they should consider Steiner or Ventrac. The PT machines are actually designed to do work, and they will also mow your lawn. The Steiner & Ventrac are designed for some unusual conditions and commercial applications where rough service is normal, and they are primarily mowing machines in those applications but they are capable of other tasks as well.
I would think that for anyone with a suburban lawn, then the JD or Cub is their prime choice because they THINK it is the best. They are both very good. But if you are going to ask a bit more of your garden tractor, there there are better units to be had. And from what I can see now (and I admit to being newly educated to this) the tractors that are better appear to be so much better that it is silly to compare them to JD or Cub garden tractors.
So for the suburban lawn, buy a Cub or JD. I think Cub might be better because I have seen in my neighborhood that the Cubs take rough use better/longer. Someone else may have different experience.
OP
Bob_Skurka
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I should also point out that while JD has 4ws and 4wd it does not have both on the same tractor. Further, JD neither version is slope rated, which is critical for my application. The PT, Steiner and Ventracs, because of their articulated bodies essentially have 4ws, and they also are 4wd. All 3 are better on inclines than any typical garden tractor, the PT being the least capable slope machine of the 3, but still excellent.
shoppintractors
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MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
Buy a stiener, you will never regret it.
Ventrac is a good unit too, but the design is more complex and usualy more expensive then the steiner. Dealer network and resale are also better depending on your area.
Ventrac is a good unit too, but the design is more complex and usualy more expensive then the steiner. Dealer network and resale are also better depending on your area.