Joe, thank you for sharing this overview on difficult terrain and clearing. The landscape at our locations are similar to yours in Tennessee. I have shared these videos with some of my senior operators and we all agree this will be a great asset for our properties, especially when we clear perimeters for fire season. All the best S. Bakker
I am so glad I talked with you. I had my demo 4500Z, power bucket and tuff cut delivered yesterday. I so impressed , I purchased it . Thank you for your videos. and I enjoy your taste in music. Beautiful trail around the lake.
Hey Tazman, Thank you for the kind words and welcome to the channel friend! It is a slice of heaven and we feel incredibly blessed...no other way to put it. Lots of work; but hard work is good for the soul!!! Hope you will consider subscribing and coming along for future videos!!! -JTF
@@JoeTheFarmer just hit the subscribe. I just bought a used 4500Z with the 60" finish deck for 1.5 acre property. I know its way overkill but I do all my own landscaping and I'm tired of 'back' work when moving planting mix, mulch, and rocks. I'm hoping to supplement my income with some side jobs and having a strong internal debate on my next attachment- the power bucket/grapple or tough cut deck. I think I could make the side money better with a tough cut deck but really need the power bucket to continue to work my property.
Thank you brother!! I appreciate the support! How many hours are on the 4500z? And I don't believe in overkill if it gets the job done right! You can make more money; not more time. These tools are serious time savers. :) I only have the tough cut deck but it has been essential to our chores on the farm. I'd love to get some more attachments but that will have to be something for another day. And I agree; you can absolutely make some money with the tough cut!
@@JoeTheFarmer It at 380 hrs on it. I'm in Texas so finding a used one anywhere in the south was a chore. It took about a year of looking before I found one in OK. I even looked at several in Canada and upstate NY but trying to get it here would have not been as cost effective as I liked. I've started mowing some neighbors yards for free just cause I like driving it so much. On smooth flat land I can mow at a 9 to 10 MPH with no issues in quality with sharp blades. I've used it to pull 16' trailers of firewood, pulled huge boulders with tow strap and built a 48" steel rake for it I call the 'vine ripper'. It works great for clearing out underbrush, poison ivy, grapevine, and honeysuckle.
That is awesome man! Like brand new at 380 hrs. Two pieces of (unsolicited) advice...if that's ok! One; change all of the fluids and filters if you haven't. You just never know where it has been. Two, I have been told that whenever on slopes, mowing with the tough cut, towing, etc keep it in low gear. Other than that, keep it greased up and it should last a lifetime!!! Oh, fluid film is your friend. You can get it pretty cheap on amazon. This is one of the only tools that I have (or know of) that still has a steel body. The fluid film will coat it and keep scratched areas from rusting. Glad to say that I have another buddy in Texas! 👍
@@JoeTheFarmer Here in Australia, they are normally sold to golf courses & councils. Very few normally come up for sale. Even if they did, still couldn't get one 😥. But me being me, I'll watch every video & dream. LOL
I watched every video on CZcams before finally having a demo...and they wanted WAY too much for the demo. A few weeks later found mine for an outstanding price and had it shipped from our neighbors to the North in Canada. We still can't live without a tractor because it has limits...but that little tank does some serious work. The videos don't do the slopes on our farm justice. I am sure that you have, but @StoneyRidgeFarmer, @TractorTimewithTim and @GCITurfServices are great channels with Ventracs.
@@JoeTheFarmer Taking the brush mowing and ability on slopes out of the equation, how do you find it operates just as a lawn mower. Quick and easy to use or not really designed for that?
@@danbskyguy That is a really great question. I use it to mow around the trees in the Orchard that we are starting (you can see how they are laid out in the "Planting the Orchard" video) and to cut grass and hay that is overgrown. My initial purpose was to buy the machine for maintaining fence lines, clean up below trees and do early season cutting to get organic matter back in the hay fields (as it is FAR more nimble than the tractor) and then one day buy a finish mower deck for it to be our everyday lawnmower as well. I had a John Deere Z655 zero turn mower, but once I saw how well the Tough Cut deck cuts GRASS (not just weeds, brush, privot, etc) I sold the zero turn. The blades are very durable and can be flipped if you damage one. I replaced all 3 blades when I bought the machine and I think it cost around $60. I would love to try some of the other Ventrac attachments (never used the finish mower); but as I am sure you know...they are expensive! It is very comfortable, nimble and easy to use. Long winded answer; but you asked a great question.
@@JoeTheFarmer Yea I have a JD 1025R for mowing the lawns and brush hogging. I don't really use the pto/3 point hitch for anything else, and am looking at the ventrac to allow me to be safer on slopes and access more areas that I can't get to currently. Regular mowing of my flat/gentle rolling 5 acres is 90% of the work though, and my JD does a fine job of this, so wouldn't want to have this aspect of my machine use be any worse/slower than it currently is. I'm undecided. I've demoed a Ventrac and it does all those things, but I just don't know what it would be like to live with for the lawns. Theres only so much you can learn from haldf an hour of use. For everything else it would be ideal.
Yeah; it's a tough call. The Ventrac is a very versatile machine and fits our needs really well. I wish I had all of the attachments to reference but you can't have it all! If I had 5 acres to mow with slopes, hills, etc I would absolutely have the Ventrac over a 20-30 hp tractor. I have never used the power bucket or the 3pt hitch on the Ventrac but it would be interesting to see how they work...that would essentially replace a compact tractor with w mid mount mower. I can tell you that it would be a heck of a lot more comfortable and maneuverable. And, you can easily rent a mini excavator, loader, skid steer, etc. I don't know of anywhere that you can rent a machine that fits mowing/slopes/brush clearing/etc as well. Sounds like you have yourself an awesome place.
Hi Cyndi, thanks for watching! You are 100% right. I needed a true slope mower and agile brush clearing machine and it has been 100% as advertised. Love this machine and looking forward to doing many more videos on it! 😁👍🏼. Merry Christmas! -JTF
Hey Tim, I searched tractorhouse.com for a while until one with really low hours showed up (86 hours). It was part of a package lease that they only had for 6 months. Had it shipped from Canada so there was a little bit of rust on a few bolts but saved a lot so 🤷🏻♂️. It’s a 2019 and still under warranty until 2022. Hope this helps!
Dan I would still go with the kubota gas engine. More hp goes a long way and I have yet to want/need for more power. I haven’t been on a 4520 yet but seems like the same machine with some tweaks.
Reminds me of my W. Kentucky homeplace. We've rented plenty of dozers and backhoes to cut walking paths through the woods and I'm using 30" wide walk behind to keep everything mowed and walkable. Frankly at 58, I'm getting too old for that shit. I'll be here as long as there is a Ventrac.
Ha!!! Well said Cerberus! I always vote to make the machines do the hard labor. Makes a lot less body parts hurt at the end of the day. My options were hours upon hours with a string trimmer or 30 minutes with the Ventrac. The thing is irreplaceable. I have some fun things planned for it after deer season. 😁👍🏼. Thanks for watching!
No kidding I got started with a 3400y with a snowblower and 50" rear discharge finish deck. I blow compacted snow all the time and was tired of getting beat up by the snowblower. I would be panicked without that machine. I'm getting the sense that you can get 100 per hour for the right service as these are a specialty machines. To all the people complaining about cost, marketed correctly plus some ambition and a loan I would think its a machine that keeps you busy all year while paying for itself. You just need to figure out what people need. They do almost everything and you don't need a 3/4 ton truck to move them. I do but I used to do it with a 1/2 ton gasser.
100% man! I could hire out for more than $100 per hr, paired with the tractor it could be a dynamic duo! Plans for the future when I no longer have my day job. Hoping to have a whole barn of attachments by then. 😁👍🏼
Part of owning a farm machine is seeing what can do while hopefully not killing yourself or breaking the machine in the process. These Ventracs are rarely on the second hand market in Australia. I think I’ve seen one for sale second hand in two years. People hold onto them.
Man; you nailed it! Every job is done where you try not to cause injury to property, life or limb! I will be putting a video out soon where I used the tractor to move a hunting blind on a 10ft tower. You want to talk about pucker factor!!! As for the Ventrac; I know what you mean. I searched forever to find a good deal on one because I couldn't justify the price (at first). When I found one in Canada; I pounced on it and they shipped it to me sight unseen. It is a 2019 and still a lot of warranty so I felt comfortable. Changed the oil, hydraulic filters and belts upon delivery and has been unbelievable to operate. Our farm and fields look so much better. And small things like keeping the lake shores cleaned up will cut down on the snakes and critters when we want to swim. I look forward to getting some other @Ventrac attachments; but that will have to wait a bit. I plan to own this thing forever and when you see one in person; you realize that is is a lifetime purchase. Thanks Karl!
Yeah I'd love to have a Ventrac. Its a better machine than my Iseki. I have a question about the Ventract 4500. Can it mow around a tree in one circle? A few aspects of my Iseki I like are as follows. Firstly the operator sits right over the mower deck. So its easy to see what you are mowing. Secondly the engine and everything is behind the operator. So the radiators and filters remain relatively free of danger and dust. I also like the way it can mow around a tree in a single movement, so no back and forth. The mower deck has a side discharge. Once I get the grass catcher off it I'll be able to mow around a tree with the discharge facing the tree, so the tree will be mulched with the mower. I am not sure if we will ever buy a Ventrac as I do not have a huge amount of money to buy machines and I need something with a 4 in 1 front end loader. So if I have a budget of just say $40K I'll buy a compact tractor with a loader, rather than a Ventrac. However if my Iseki dies I'll look to replacing it and would consider a Ventrac.
Karl, for $40k in the US; I believe that you could get a used tractor with loader and Ventrac. It would be tight; and you would need to shop for it but they are both so important to what we do that I couldn't imagine being as productive as a "one man show" without them. For us, the machine replaces human labor. Friends and neighbors help on some chores but for the most part we need to machine to be our employees. If you have watched the most recent Ventrac video that I did I used it to mow between trees. The way that it articulates makes it really nimble; but not likely as nimble as a zero turn or your Izeki. BTW, I looked into that thing and it is REALLY cool! The @Ventrac machines are expensive; but if you watch their video "It Costs How Much?" it is an eye opener. It is not a tractor, skid steer, trencher, stump grinder or mower; but it does a lot of each one of those machines do. So, $25-$30k for one machine...or a lot more for all of them. Now, if I am being honest... If money were not an issue; I would have all of them! With all of the attachments and a handyman to help me maintain them!!! I would start looking around for a compact utility tractor with a loader with 500-1000 hrs and pick that up. Keep the Iseki well cared for and if it ever gets to where it cannot be repaired; look into the Ventrac! It's easy to spend other peoples money isn't it? Thanks for the message and it's always good to chat with my buddy from Australia!!! -JTF
@@kdegraa yes sir just like a zero turn with no rutting the grass. You can get close to rocks, sidewalk edges and mow around anything. The learning curve is nothing-after an hour on the machine you will get it and your confidence in this thing will just grow and grow. You would not believe what I mow around and most people are like there is no way you can do that with that deck out front- I'm telling you can.
We are considering a compact tractor of around 35 to 40 HP. Most probably we will buy a new one for three reasons. Firstly many tractor companies offer very good finance on their tractors at low to zero percent interest. Secondly there are very few second hand low hour tractors on the market and those out there don't cost much less than new ones, then you have to stump up the cash for it. Thirdly the Australian State kindly allows tax payers to write off a capital purchase instantly against their income for income tax purposes. This instant write off makes buying a new tractor very attractive. In Australia we have many taxes. The main tax is income tax. If for example I earned $80000 a year I'd pay around $15,000 in tax. If I bought a $40,000 tractor my assessible income would go down to $40000 and I'd pay about $4000 in tax. So that $40,000 tractor now cost me $29,000 after tax. We also have a goods and services tax of 10% on items. So the $40,000 tractor has a $4000 tax on it. As its a business owner I'll get that $4000 back. So that tractor now cost me $25,000. This is quite a big saving if one is paying taxes and has a farming business. I'm not the only one looking at this situation. So there is a real shortage of items like tractors here. We had bush fires that destroyed many tractors on burned out farms. The fires increased demand and also reduced supply of second hand tractors. Its a pretty crazy situation here. Also with the virus many people are looking at a 'tree change' to get out of the cities and move to the country. If you have a few acres on a farm or bush block, what do you need? A tractor!
Lease turn in after 6 mos from a John Deere dealer in Canada. They had 6 mos left on a 3 year equipment lease, demo’d a Ventrac and after 6 mos with got all new equipment and a new one. Built in OH, sold in Canada, sold to me and shipped to the great state of TN.
The one weak link is the hydro cooling fan on the back, I was tough cutting woods like that and ran a limb through the fan lucky it didn't get the cooler itself
Nice video, i like your choice of music. That Ventrac is a very nice looking machine! I have a PowerTrac kind of a more primitive cousin to your Ventrac, and use it in much the same way as yourself. I live on a hill side with many trees. Have put thru a few trails such as you showed here.
Hey Craig; hope thanks for reaching out. I appreciate your kind words buddy, I’m a music guy so try to pick some good stuff. I know all about your powertrac. Those are some awesome machines. If it does the job that’s all that counts! When I first started looking at the Ventrac I bought it to keep me safe; not because it looked cool. Lol. Now after owning it for a while I think it looks awesome! Kind of like Johnny 5 meets mad max. 🤣. Appreciate you watching man and hope to have you back. 😁👍🏼👊🏼
Off topic first. Are you concerned about those trees on one end of the dam? The power rake is great. We use it so condition or gravel roads and this last week end it was used to break the ground and “till” it for food plots. GCI Turf has video of how to deal with grass roots and clumps you uproot with power rake. His video is about reconditioning an old baseball infield for a charity project.Our ground gets so hard after the hot dry Texas summer that a regular 60 inch disc only gets a couple of inches deep then just makes dust. Yours is the first video I have seen where you can appreciate the slope. Great job of demonstrating that point. My operator said the grapple on the bucket did not seem to grab real great.
Which end? The Low side or the high side of the dam? Also, checked out Blue Cord and subscribed. Awesome channel! I have seen the power rake and it looks amazing; but with the larger tractor, rototiller and box blade I feel like I have that capability. I would love to try one for sure; but very pricey! I really want to try the stump grinder, aeravator, tiller and just about anything else I could get my hands on! Amazing stuff for sure. GCI Turf has done a great job of selling the slope abilities of the machine. Thanks for your kind words on showing the slopes. I still can't find a way to make the camera show how extreme some of this stuff is; or how safe you feel on the machine. But it is not camera shy so I will keep trying. :) -JTF
Aha! Yes, they are suspect for sure. They are on my list to take down this fall/spring. We had a beaver problem that damaged a few...the others are just dead. Good eye!!! Grab your chainsaw and come help me out! Lol -JTF
Many tools I buy are sort of a disappointment over time. My 4231TD isn't one of those, everytime I use it it impresses me. I bought a used unit unit as well. My dad just bought a snowblower for it as I don't really use it in winter. Last year I got it stuck because the kick stand on the tough cut dropped and I didn't see it. Let me tell you when your stuck with the duels on it you can't even walk in the soup. The silver lining is if you 2:1 a atv winch and anchor it to a tree its not like pulling out a 6000lb tractor. The 6' finish deck, tough cut, vacuum system, and areovater/over seeder, and power bucket are my most used attachments. If you not using a finish deck around your pond your missing out, fantastic tool as you can get a offset deck to get closer on one side. One more tip, I push mine past it limits pretty routinely to the point of it won't do that. When using the tough cut on hills if shit gets hairy lift to get more weight on the front tires, that being said once out of danger get it back to float because if you get on a incline and your not in float and get a little side ways the front deck wheels will spin the machine and you will end up pointing down hill stunned at what just occurred. I'm a slow learner only took me twice to keep pressure outward on the travel lever in bad situations to make sure I wasn't unloading the front end. Great little machines. The major complaint of anyone that uses it is price. My answer to that is what is your time worth. If you have property its a 4 season machine that you will use as much as your heater and air conditioner for your house.
Mark; awesome feedback buddy!!! Thanks for sharing. It really is the most impressive little machine in the barn. I love taking it places and watching people turn their heads. Then when the work is done they want one! It is definitely expensive; but I got a great deal and it’s commercial equipment that should last a lifetime. No complaints. I only have the tough cut but will be getting more attachments as the budget allows. 😁👍🏼
I gather Ventrac still does not have an excavator attachment but their engineers may already be planning it.what presentation attachments do Ventrac have to do the job?
Hey Jose! Thanks for watching. There is a power bucket and a dump bucket but I don’t believe that they can lift much more than 500lbs. What kind of jobs are you trying to do? I currently only have the power unit and the tough cut. I would really like to get some others and review for you but budgets are a real thing! If I get anymore @Ventrac attachments you better believe that I will show you how they work. The power bucket, power grader and the stump grinder are on my wish list for sure!!! Take care!
My neighbor is a tough guy too. Then he rolled his 8n and it almost killed him. Still in physical therapy years later. I know my limits. Film doesn’t always show the degree of slopes.
I have about 20 acres of hay fields with a few dozen small trees scattered throughout. I’m going back and forth on this versus a tractor with mower behind. Do you think the 68” cut is wide enough to get work done fast enough?
Hey Jason, thanks for watching! We mowed an 11 acre hay field in about 3 hours so it depends on your goal. Also, if you are pulling a 15’ batwing mower it would be a lot faster, but I have found the Ventrac cuts much faster than the 6’ rotary cutter unless the material is REALLY thick and high. Hope that helps!
Joe The Farmer thank you! Yeah I think the batwing would be fast but with the trees I have it would be cumbersome getting around them. Plus there are a few steeper areas the tractor would be hard to operate in. One thing I’m also pondering...the nearest dealer and service place is over two hours away. I think I could handle the routine stuff but any major problem could be a real hassle. I know they are built well...do you think I should be worried about that?
Hey Jason, with that said; I would absolutely look into the Ventrac. Here’s the thing...if you have land there is a good chance that you enjoy your time caring for it. I NEED a tractor; but I am now at the point where I also truly believe that we NEED the Ventrac. You can mow, clear brush, stay safe on slopes and pull up under the trees to keep them clear. It is a game changer! I am a SUPER small channel so obviously nobody pays me to say that. Just a guy that has a farm, loves the land and wants to care for it while it is in my hands. Keep me posted on what you do!
@@jasonbarber8107 Hey Jason, I somehow missed the last part of your question. I don't have a dealer close to me either; but I am pretty accustomed to greasing, changing fluids, etc. If there were big issues (which I understand are very rare) they usually have mobile mechanics, etc. These things are built very well and are made to use commercially. After looking the demo machine over; I looked for one with low hours and bought it site unseen. Unusual for me to do; but buying from a dealer that had it used made me a lot more comfortable. Have you scheduled a demo on your property? That is very helpful.
Hi there, Thanks for putting out such calm and enjoyable video to watch. Liked and subbed in a heartbeat! :) I hope you're the guy that can answer my question that most dealers or farmers could not as they don't have a hands-on experience with this particular tractor working it out in the field. I have about 2.5 acers of compact soil with plenty of rocks, shales with 10-20 degrees of slope (most of it on the lower end of the spectrum) that I'm trying to break up with a single shank ripper followed by a single bottom plow to turn it over. Ripper and plow rating fit a 25-40. I have all the time in the world to do it but I really would love to hear your absolute honest opinion whether or not you think this tractor can do the job with a lot of care and patience or will it struggle a bit or just completely bog down? This is again, a one time type of application but I don't wanna hire someone else to do it or buy a bigger tractor knowing that something similar to this size and range of hp can hack it. Will also mentioned that I can mostly do the work downhill. I appreciate you taking to the to share your thoughts and everything bit of info will help out greatly!
Good Morning Narb, first of all thank you for the kind words! We enjoy doing the videos and meeting people like you! 😁👍🏼. Now, on to your question. The easy response is that with a lot of time, you can do any job with a small machine...there is just a time premium. Do you have a tractor now? The Ventrac WOULD break up the soil but I really wonder if it would turn the 1 bottom plow. I am rather certain that it would not do it like you would want it because of how it articulates. The lines would not be straight and if you go deep in the soil there is not much ground clearance. Finally; the 3pt hitch is only rated at 500lbs. My 2 bottom weights a lot so that would limit you as well. What job are you trying to do? Depending on how deep you want to plow that would really be the deciding factor. Finally, if you see our setup the Ventrac is an absolute compliment to having a big tractor. With 2.5 acres you don’t need that, but things like a front end loader are used all of the time. For non-farming chores (loading the truck, unloading the truck, digging out a tree, fixing the driveway, etc etc etc. I can honestly tell you that the Ventrac does things that 250k tractors cannot. But, it has limitations.
That's fair; but a 32 HP Kubota gas engine a few feet from the microphone may get old pretty quick. I'll get some more horse power rumble in the next one for ya. Thanks for watching!
@@JoeTheFarmer Just on the engine, do you know the difference between the Kubota and Vanguard gas engines. Looks like they have the same HP, so wonder why they offer 2 options and what the differences are.
Vanguard is an air cooled 2 cyl engine; the Kubota is a liquid cooled 3 cyl engine. Also about another 100cc's. The 4500z is brutal on gas; but I would rather have the power.
Joe, thank you for sharing this overview on difficult terrain and clearing. The landscape at our locations are similar to yours in Tennessee. I have shared these videos with some of my senior operators and we all agree this will be a great asset for our properties, especially when we clear perimeters for fire season.
All the best S. Bakker
Thanks for watching and sharing! The machine is build for commercial use. It is pretty much 100% steel and is built in the USA. Also easy to service!
Great video.
Thanks Susan!
Nice Joe! Now I wish I'd have mowed that trail while I was there! :0 Yeah camera's don't do it justice!
It’s still there brother. Come put some seat time in!
Just watched Kapper on this machine and this popped up. I know I didn't watch it before because on thumbs up if I follow I always 👍.
You’re the best brother!!! Appreciate your support Miles. People like you are why I make videos. 👍🏼👊🏼
@@JoeTheFarmer 👍
I am so glad I talked with you. I had my demo 4500Z, power bucket and tuff cut delivered yesterday. I so impressed , I purchased it . Thank you for your videos. and I enjoy your taste in music. Beautiful trail around the lake.
Congratulations on the new machine! You better share some updates!!! Appreciate your kind words. 👍🏼
Hey Rag Top! Where are the updates on the new Ventrac??? :)
Wow- beautiful piece of property. That's a slice of heaven.
Hey Tazman, Thank you for the kind words and welcome to the channel friend! It is a slice of heaven and we feel incredibly blessed...no other way to put it. Lots of work; but hard work is good for the soul!!!
Hope you will consider subscribing and coming along for future videos!!!
-JTF
@@JoeTheFarmer just hit the subscribe. I just bought a used 4500Z with the 60" finish deck for 1.5 acre property. I know its way overkill but I do all my own landscaping and I'm tired of 'back' work when moving planting mix, mulch, and rocks. I'm hoping to supplement my income with some side jobs and having a strong internal debate on my next attachment- the power bucket/grapple or tough cut deck. I think I could make the side money better with a tough cut deck but really need the power bucket to continue to work my property.
Thank you brother!! I appreciate the support! How many hours are on the 4500z? And I don't believe in overkill if it gets the job done right! You can make more money; not more time. These tools are serious time savers. :)
I only have the tough cut deck but it has been essential to our chores on the farm. I'd love to get some more attachments but that will have to be something for another day. And I agree; you can absolutely make some money with the tough cut!
@@JoeTheFarmer It at 380 hrs on it. I'm in Texas so finding a used one anywhere in the south was a chore. It took about a year of looking before I found one in OK. I even looked at several in Canada and upstate NY but trying to get it here would have not been as cost effective as I liked. I've started mowing some neighbors yards for free just cause I like driving it so much. On smooth flat land I can mow at a 9 to 10 MPH with no issues in quality with sharp blades. I've used it to pull 16' trailers of firewood, pulled huge boulders with tow strap and built a 48" steel rake for it I call the 'vine ripper'. It works great for clearing out underbrush, poison ivy, grapevine, and honeysuckle.
That is awesome man! Like brand new at 380 hrs. Two pieces of (unsolicited) advice...if that's ok! One; change all of the fluids and filters if you haven't. You just never know where it has been. Two, I have been told that whenever on slopes, mowing with the tough cut, towing, etc keep it in low gear. Other than that, keep it greased up and it should last a lifetime!!! Oh, fluid film is your friend. You can get it pretty cheap on amazon. This is one of the only tools that I have (or know of) that still has a steel body. The fluid film will coat it and keep scratched areas from rusting.
Glad to say that I have another buddy in Texas! 👍
Steel is Real.
Well put!
Joe, Great video. To the point. I just subscribed. Please provide many more Ventrac videos! Cheers.
Thanks Jack!!! Welcome to the family brother. I appreciate your kind words and will definitely have more videos coming soon on the @Ventrac.
Awesome !! thank you for sharing, great job
Thanks Mike; and thanks for watching!!! -JTF
MAY NOT HAVE THE VINTRAX THRU THAT TRAIL BUT IT HAD BEEN CUT BEFORE YOU
Nope. Done by hand 10+ years ago but a machine has never been on it. Deer use it and that’s about it.
Wish I could afford one. Tiller, power bucket & mower deck. Hmmm. But we can all dream. LOL ☺
Not easy on the wallet at all! I saved a ton buying pre owned.
@@JoeTheFarmer Here in Australia, they are normally sold to golf courses & councils. Very few normally come up for sale. Even if they did, still couldn't get one 😥. But me being me, I'll watch every video & dream. LOL
I watched every video on CZcams before finally having a demo...and they wanted WAY too much for the demo. A few weeks later found mine for an outstanding price and had it shipped from our neighbors to the North in Canada. We still can't live without a tractor because it has limits...but that little tank does some serious work. The videos don't do the slopes on our farm justice. I am sure that you have, but @StoneyRidgeFarmer, @TractorTimewithTim and @GCITurfServices are great channels with Ventracs.
@@JoeTheFarmer Me too.
Great vid mate. Let’s see you going through some real tall, thick brush/grass with that tough cut!
You got it my friend! Thanks for watching.
@@JoeTheFarmer Taking the brush mowing and ability on slopes out of the equation, how do you find it operates just as a lawn mower. Quick and easy to use or not really designed for that?
@@danbskyguy That is a really great question. I use it to mow around the trees in the Orchard that we are starting (you can see how they are laid out in the "Planting the Orchard" video) and to cut grass and hay that is overgrown. My initial purpose was to buy the machine for maintaining fence lines, clean up below trees and do early season cutting to get organic matter back in the hay fields (as it is FAR more nimble than the tractor) and then one day buy a finish mower deck for it to be our everyday lawnmower as well. I had a John Deere Z655 zero turn mower, but once I saw how well the Tough Cut deck cuts GRASS (not just weeds, brush, privot, etc) I sold the zero turn. The blades are very durable and can be flipped if you damage one. I replaced all 3 blades when I bought the machine and I think it cost around $60. I would love to try some of the other Ventrac attachments (never used the finish mower); but as I am sure you know...they are expensive! It is very comfortable, nimble and easy to use. Long winded answer; but you asked a great question.
@@JoeTheFarmer Yea I have a JD 1025R for mowing the lawns and brush hogging. I don't really use the pto/3 point hitch for anything else, and am looking at the ventrac to allow me to be safer on slopes and access more areas that I can't get to currently. Regular mowing of my flat/gentle rolling 5 acres is 90% of the work though, and my JD does a fine job of this, so wouldn't want to have this aspect of my machine use be any worse/slower than it currently is. I'm undecided. I've demoed a Ventrac and it does all those things, but I just don't know what it would be like to live with for the lawns. Theres only so much you can learn from haldf an hour of use. For everything else it would be ideal.
Yeah; it's a tough call. The Ventrac is a very versatile machine and fits our needs really well. I wish I had all of the attachments to reference but you can't have it all! If I had 5 acres to mow with slopes, hills, etc I would absolutely have the Ventrac over a 20-30 hp tractor. I have never used the power bucket or the 3pt hitch on the Ventrac but it would be interesting to see how they work...that would essentially replace a compact tractor with w mid mount mower. I can tell you that it would be a heck of a lot more comfortable and maneuverable. And, you can easily rent a mini excavator, loader, skid steer, etc. I don't know of anywhere that you can rent a machine that fits mowing/slopes/brush clearing/etc as well. Sounds like you have yourself an awesome place.
Why did they sell to Toro?
🤷🏻♂️. Price was right I guess. From what I understand Toro has let them continue their business without any interference.
Ventrac is a great tool for slopes & wet areas. They work well to do forestry mulching to reduce forest fire hazards.
Hi Cyndi, thanks for watching! You are 100% right. I needed a true slope mower and agile brush clearing machine and it has been 100% as advertised. Love this machine and looking forward to doing many more videos on it! 😁👍🏼. Merry Christmas! -JTF
How/Where did you find it used ?
Hey Tim, I searched tractorhouse.com for a while until one with really low hours showed up (86 hours). It was part of a package lease that they only had for 6 months. Had it shipped from Canada so there was a little bit of rust on a few bolts but saved a lot so 🤷🏻♂️. It’s a 2019 and still under warranty until 2022. Hope this helps!
Nice video!
Thanks for watching Mason!
I love my Ventarac as well.
😁👍🏼
Hey Joe on the newest Ventrac 4520 which tractor model would you get now if you were buying one? thanks dan in RI
Dan I would still go with the kubota gas engine. More hp goes a long way and I have yet to want/need for more power. I haven’t been on a 4520 yet but seems like the same machine with some tweaks.
@@JoeTheFarmer thanks
Reminds me of my W. Kentucky homeplace. We've rented plenty of dozers and backhoes to cut walking paths through the woods and I'm using 30" wide walk behind to keep everything mowed and walkable. Frankly at 58, I'm getting too old for that shit. I'll be here as long as there is a Ventrac.
Ha!!! Well said Cerberus! I always vote to make the machines do the hard labor. Makes a lot less body parts hurt at the end of the day. My options were hours upon hours with a string trimmer or 30 minutes with the Ventrac. The thing is irreplaceable. I have some fun things planned for it after deer season. 😁👍🏼. Thanks for watching!
No kidding I got started with a 3400y with a snowblower and 50" rear discharge finish deck. I blow compacted snow all the time and was tired of getting beat up by the snowblower. I would be panicked without that machine. I'm getting the sense that you can get 100 per hour for the right service as these are a specialty machines. To all the people complaining about cost, marketed correctly plus some ambition and a loan I would think its a machine that keeps you busy all year while paying for itself. You just need to figure out what people need. They do almost everything and you don't need a 3/4 ton truck to move them. I do but I used to do it with a 1/2 ton gasser.
100% man! I could hire out for more than $100 per hr, paired with the tractor it could be a dynamic duo! Plans for the future when I no longer have my day job. Hoping to have a whole barn of attachments by then. 😁👍🏼
Part of owning a farm machine is seeing what can do while hopefully not killing yourself or breaking the machine in the process.
These Ventracs are rarely on the second hand market in Australia. I think I’ve seen one for sale second hand in two years. People hold onto them.
Man; you nailed it! Every job is done where you try not to cause injury to property, life or limb! I will be putting a video out soon where I used the tractor to move a hunting blind on a 10ft tower. You want to talk about pucker factor!!!
As for the Ventrac; I know what you mean. I searched forever to find a good deal on one because I couldn't justify the price (at first). When I found one in Canada; I pounced on it and they shipped it to me sight unseen. It is a 2019 and still a lot of warranty so I felt comfortable. Changed the oil, hydraulic filters and belts upon delivery and has been unbelievable to operate. Our farm and fields look so much better. And small things like keeping the lake shores cleaned up will cut down on the snakes and critters when we want to swim. I look forward to getting some other @Ventrac attachments; but that will have to wait a bit.
I plan to own this thing forever and when you see one in person; you realize that is is a lifetime purchase.
Thanks Karl!
Yeah I'd love to have a Ventrac. Its a better machine than my Iseki. I have a question about the Ventract 4500. Can it mow around a tree in one circle?
A few aspects of my Iseki I like are as follows. Firstly the operator sits right over the mower deck. So its easy to see what you are mowing. Secondly the engine and everything is behind the operator. So the radiators and filters remain relatively free of danger and dust. I also like the way it can mow around a tree in a single movement, so no back and forth. The mower deck has a side discharge. Once I get the grass catcher off it I'll be able to mow around a tree with the discharge facing the tree, so the tree will be mulched with the mower.
I am not sure if we will ever buy a Ventrac as I do not have a huge amount of money to buy machines and I need something with a 4 in 1 front end loader. So if I have a budget of just say $40K I'll buy a compact tractor with a loader, rather than a Ventrac. However if my Iseki dies I'll look to replacing it and would consider a Ventrac.
Karl, for $40k in the US; I believe that you could get a used tractor with loader and Ventrac. It would be tight; and you would need to shop for it but they are both so important to what we do that I couldn't imagine being as productive as a "one man show" without them. For us, the machine replaces human labor. Friends and neighbors help on some chores but for the most part we need to machine to be our employees.
If you have watched the most recent Ventrac video that I did I used it to mow between trees. The way that it articulates makes it really nimble; but not likely as nimble as a zero turn or your Izeki. BTW, I looked into that thing and it is REALLY cool!
The @Ventrac machines are expensive; but if you watch their video "It Costs How Much?" it is an eye opener. It is not a tractor, skid steer, trencher, stump grinder or mower; but it does a lot of each one of those machines do. So, $25-$30k for one machine...or a lot more for all of them. Now, if I am being honest... If money were not an issue; I would have all of them! With all of the attachments and a handyman to help me maintain them!!!
I would start looking around for a compact utility tractor with a loader with 500-1000 hrs and pick that up. Keep the Iseki well cared for and if it ever gets to where it cannot be repaired; look into the Ventrac!
It's easy to spend other peoples money isn't it? Thanks for the message and it's always good to chat with my buddy from Australia!!!
-JTF
@@kdegraa yes sir just like a zero turn with no rutting the grass. You can get close to rocks, sidewalk edges and mow around anything. The learning curve is nothing-after an hour on the machine you will get it and your confidence in this thing will just grow and grow. You would not believe what I mow around and most people are like there is no way you can do that with that deck out front- I'm telling you can.
We are considering a compact tractor of around 35 to 40 HP. Most probably we will buy a new one for three reasons. Firstly many tractor companies offer very good finance on their tractors at low to zero percent interest. Secondly there are very few second hand low hour tractors on the market and those out there don't cost much less than new ones, then you have to stump up the cash for it. Thirdly the Australian State kindly allows tax payers to write off a capital purchase instantly against their income for income tax purposes.
This instant write off makes buying a new tractor very attractive. In Australia we have many taxes. The main tax is income tax. If for example I earned $80000 a year I'd pay around $15,000 in tax. If I bought a $40,000 tractor my assessible income would go down to $40000 and I'd pay about $4000 in tax. So that $40,000 tractor now cost me $29,000 after tax. We also have a goods and services tax of 10% on items. So the $40,000 tractor has a $4000 tax on it. As its a business owner I'll get that $4000 back. So that tractor now cost me $25,000. This is quite a big saving if one is paying taxes and has a farming business.
I'm not the only one looking at this situation. So there is a real shortage of items like tractors here. We had bush fires that destroyed many tractors on burned out farms. The fires increased demand and also reduced supply of second hand tractors. Its a pretty crazy situation here. Also with the virus many people are looking at a 'tree change' to get out of the cities and move to the country. If you have a few acres on a farm or bush block, what do you need? A tractor!
Why did it ship from Canada? They’re built in Ohio.
Lease turn in after 6 mos from a John Deere dealer in Canada. They had 6 mos left on a 3 year equipment lease, demo’d a Ventrac and after 6 mos with got all new equipment and a new one. Built in OH, sold in Canada, sold to me and shipped to the great state of TN.
The one weak link is the hydro cooling fan on the back, I was tough cutting woods like that and ran a limb through the fan lucky it didn't get the cooler itself
Ouch! You sound like me. I find sticks all over this thing in weird places. Glad your fan was the only thing hurt. Easy to repair?
Nice video, i like your choice of music. That Ventrac is a very nice looking machine! I have a PowerTrac kind of a more primitive cousin to your Ventrac, and use it in much the same way as yourself. I live on a hill side with many trees. Have put thru a few trails such as you showed here.
Hey Craig; hope thanks for reaching out. I appreciate your kind words buddy, I’m a music guy so try to pick some good stuff. I know all about your powertrac. Those are some awesome machines. If it does the job that’s all that counts! When I first started looking at the Ventrac I bought it to keep me safe; not because it looked cool. Lol. Now after owning it for a while I think it looks awesome! Kind of like Johnny 5 meets mad max. 🤣. Appreciate you watching man and hope to have you back. 😁👍🏼👊🏼
Off topic first. Are you concerned about those trees on one end of the dam?
The power rake is great. We use it so condition or gravel roads and this last week end it was used to break the ground and “till” it for food plots. GCI Turf has video of how to deal with grass roots and clumps you uproot with power rake. His video is about reconditioning an old baseball infield for a charity project.Our ground gets so hard after the hot dry Texas summer that a regular 60 inch disc only gets a couple of inches deep then just makes dust.
Yours is the first video I have seen where you can appreciate the slope. Great job of demonstrating that point.
My operator said the grapple on the bucket did not seem to grab real great.
Which end? The Low side or the high side of the dam?
Also, checked out Blue Cord and subscribed. Awesome channel!
I have seen the power rake and it looks amazing; but with the larger tractor, rototiller and box blade I feel like I have that capability. I would love to try one for sure; but very pricey! I really want to try the stump grinder, aeravator, tiller and just about anything else I could get my hands on! Amazing stuff for sure. GCI Turf has done a great job of selling the slope abilities of the machine.
Thanks for your kind words on showing the slopes. I still can't find a way to make the camera show how extreme some of this stuff is; or how safe you feel on the machine.
But it is not camera shy so I will keep trying. :)
-JTF
Joe The Farmer in one corner of the dam away for hill where you mowed trail
Aha! Yes, they are suspect for sure. They are on my list to take down this fall/spring. We had a beaver problem that damaged a few...the others are just dead. Good eye!!!
Grab your chainsaw and come help me out! Lol
-JTF
Joe The Farmer showing your wife climbing the hill really highlights the degree of slope.
You are just following an old track...
Ok. 👍🏼
Many tools I buy are sort of a disappointment over time. My 4231TD isn't one of those, everytime I use it it impresses me. I bought a used unit unit as well. My dad just bought a snowblower for it as I don't really use it in winter. Last year I got it stuck because the kick stand on the tough cut dropped and I didn't see it. Let me tell you when your stuck with the duels on it you can't even walk in the soup. The silver lining is if you 2:1 a atv winch and anchor it to a tree its not like pulling out a 6000lb tractor. The 6' finish deck, tough cut, vacuum system, and areovater/over seeder, and power bucket are my most used attachments. If you not using a finish deck around your pond your missing out, fantastic tool as you can get a offset deck to get closer on one side.
One more tip, I push mine past it limits pretty routinely to the point of it won't do that. When using the tough cut on hills if shit gets hairy lift to get more weight on the front tires, that being said once out of danger get it back to float because if you get on a incline and your not in float and get a little side ways the front deck wheels will spin the machine and you will end up pointing down hill stunned at what just occurred. I'm a slow learner only took me twice to keep pressure outward on the travel lever in bad situations to make sure I wasn't unloading the front end. Great little machines. The major complaint of anyone that uses it is price. My answer to that is what is your time worth. If you have property its a 4 season machine that you will use as much as your heater and air conditioner for your house.
Mark; awesome feedback buddy!!! Thanks for sharing. It really is the most impressive little machine in the barn. I love taking it places and watching people turn their heads. Then when the work is done they want one! It is definitely expensive; but I got a great deal and it’s commercial equipment that should last a lifetime. No complaints. I only have the tough cut but will be getting more attachments as the budget allows. 😁👍🏼
I gather Ventrac still does not have an excavator attachment but their engineers may already be planning it.what presentation attachments do Ventrac have to do the job?
Hey Jose! Thanks for watching. There is a power bucket and a dump bucket but I don’t believe that they can lift much more than 500lbs. What kind of jobs are you trying to do?
I currently only have the power unit and the tough cut. I would really like to get some others and review for you but budgets are a real thing! If I get anymore @Ventrac attachments you better believe that I will show you how they work. The power bucket, power grader and the stump grinder are on my wish list for sure!!!
Take care!
you must be a flatlander if you think a tractor cant stay on that
My neighbor is a tough guy too. Then he rolled his 8n and it almost killed him. Still in physical therapy years later. I know my limits. Film doesn’t always show the degree of slopes.
I have about 20 acres of hay fields with a few dozen small trees scattered throughout. I’m going back and forth on this versus a tractor with mower behind. Do you think the 68” cut is wide enough to get work done fast enough?
Hey Jason, thanks for watching! We mowed an 11 acre hay field in about 3 hours so it depends on your goal. Also, if you are pulling a 15’ batwing mower it would be a lot faster, but I have found the Ventrac cuts much faster than the 6’ rotary cutter unless the material is REALLY thick and high. Hope that helps!
Joe The Farmer thank you! Yeah I think the batwing would be fast but with the trees I have it would be cumbersome getting around them. Plus there are a few steeper areas the tractor would be hard to operate in.
One thing I’m also pondering...the nearest dealer and service place is over two hours away. I think I could handle the routine stuff but any major problem could be a real hassle. I know they are built well...do you think I should be worried about that?
Hey Jason, with that said; I would absolutely look into the Ventrac. Here’s the thing...if you have land there is a good chance that you enjoy your time caring for it. I NEED a tractor; but I am now at the point where I also truly believe that we NEED the Ventrac. You can mow, clear brush, stay safe on slopes and pull up under the trees to keep them clear. It is a game changer! I am a SUPER small channel so obviously nobody pays me to say that. Just a guy that has a farm, loves the land and wants to care for it while it is in my hands. Keep me posted on what you do!
@@jasonbarber8107 Hey Jason, I somehow missed the last part of your question. I don't have a dealer close to me either; but I am pretty accustomed to greasing, changing fluids, etc. If there were big issues (which I understand are very rare) they usually have mobile mechanics, etc. These things are built very well and are made to use commercially. After looking the demo machine over; I looked for one with low hours and bought it site unseen. Unusual for me to do; but buying from a dealer that had it used made me a lot more comfortable. Have you scheduled a demo on your property? That is very helpful.
Joe The Farmer what website did you buy yours from?
Hi there,
Thanks for putting out such calm and enjoyable video to watch. Liked and subbed in a heartbeat! :)
I hope you're the guy that can answer my question that most dealers or farmers could not as they don't have a hands-on experience with this particular tractor working it out in the field. I have about 2.5 acers of compact soil with plenty of rocks, shales with 10-20 degrees of slope (most of it on the lower end of the spectrum) that I'm trying to break up with a single shank ripper followed by a single bottom plow to turn it over. Ripper and plow rating fit a 25-40. I have all the time in the world to do it but I really would love to hear your absolute honest opinion whether or not you think this tractor can do the job with a lot of care and patience or will it struggle a bit or just completely bog down? This is again, a one time type of application but I don't wanna hire someone else to do it or buy a bigger tractor knowing that something similar to this size and range of hp can hack it. Will also mentioned that I can mostly do the work downhill.
I appreciate you taking to the to share your thoughts and everything bit of info will help out greatly!
Good Morning Narb, first of all thank you for the kind words! We enjoy doing the videos and meeting people like you! 😁👍🏼. Now, on to your question. The easy response is that with a lot of time, you can do any job with a small machine...there is just a time premium. Do you have a tractor now? The Ventrac WOULD break up the soil but I really wonder if it would turn the 1 bottom plow. I am rather certain that it would not do it like you would want it because of how it articulates. The lines would not be straight and if you go deep in the soil there is not much ground clearance. Finally; the 3pt hitch is only rated at 500lbs. My 2 bottom weights a lot so that would limit you as well. What job are you trying to do? Depending on how deep you want to plow that would really be the deciding factor. Finally, if you see our setup the Ventrac is an absolute compliment to having a big tractor. With 2.5 acres you don’t need that, but things like a front end loader are used all of the time. For non-farming chores (loading the truck, unloading the truck, digging out a tree, fixing the driveway, etc etc etc. I can honestly tell you that the Ventrac does things that 250k tractors cannot. But, it has limitations.
I will take mine where I will not take my Honda Pioneere
Absolutely! The camera didn’t do this job justice. It was insanely steep.
Thanks for watching!
-JTF
Skip the music let us hear the mashine working
That's fair; but a 32 HP Kubota gas engine a few feet from the microphone may get old pretty quick. I'll get some more horse power rumble in the next one for ya. Thanks for watching!
@@JoeTheFarmer Just on the engine, do you know the difference between the Kubota and Vanguard gas engines. Looks like they have the same HP, so wonder why they offer 2 options and what the differences are.
Vanguard is an air cooled 2 cyl engine; the Kubota is a liquid cooled 3 cyl engine. Also about another 100cc's. The 4500z is brutal on gas; but I would rather have the power.