Just watched the video and became a new SUBSCRIBER i enjoyed the video and want to say that im a ventrac 4500 owner and I just purchased the stump grinder attachment and rake for the gravel and they work wonderful plus the mower gives me the golf course finish. Thanks and keep making these videos so I will have something to watch during the day
@@TractorTimewithTim I loved running the Ventrac, I will admit there was some pucker factor moments leaning with it! I wish I could afford 1, I used the tractor at work and sense have retired! You will like it more and more with every attachment, good luck! I'm jealous! Lol
Well Tim, you even had me nervous at the beginning of the video. And nope, I would not have done that with my tractor. I'd love to have a Ventrac WITH the boom mower.
Wow. What a compliment! After seeing the hills you tackle with your 1026r, I didn't think you were scared of ANYTHING! I think the Ventrac with finish mower would do a wonderful job of mowing your yard.
My BX almost flipped over just looking at your video. Very impressive. I like the ventrac but for the average homeowner it is just to much money. I would say with the setup you have there its going to run north of 30k.
David S. Yep. Agree with ALL of your points in this comment. My Johnny was doing flips while watching this episode, and yes, Vinny is quite expensive for most of us!
Good to see how that worked out for you and i have done those kinds of jobs with my Kubota CTL / Forestry Mower which is not a cheap machine to have and move around the country for jobs ... I may just have to look at those Ventrac machines
This machine is amazing I wish I could mow with that I've got 5+achers but my Murray 40" gets it on all year round this would be amazing loved your video
When our custom chopping crew was harvesting for us last year. They had me pack the pile after they left with their large John Deere 4wd tractor. They told us that the tractor will slide long before it will ever flip. I pretty sure that is the same with the ventrac
Christi, that made me nervous just watching! Good job on the Ventrac Tim! I tilled up my ditch to get the erosion spots out at about 15-20 degree slope on my 1026R and did a little sliding! Pucker factor.
Are the tires filled with ballast? That would certainly help keep the center of gravity lower. It's an amazing machine and fun to watch. No other machine could do that without tipping over or going into the creek.
Awesome machine. Looked pretty sketchy a few times, I cannot imagine what it felt like to be on it, but it looked like it made it through a lot really well. The rollover bar looks aweful short, but I suppose with the super wide stance, the risk odlf rolling over is somewhat remote.
Yes Curt, I had never thought about how short the roll bar was - have had my machine to 36 degrees and not been concerned. I hang my spare belts there too 😁🇦🇺
That sure is a very nice machine and very useful .You are correct there is no way that i would've even thought about doing that job with the Massey gc1720 even if i had a cable tied to the tractor,but you did a great job.
Rhe Ventrac has great capability on the slopes. I see the videos of the Ventracs and wonder is that really doing it and yes it is Ventrac has good equiptment! Great job Tim!
The boom mower seems able to both cut vertically and trim the tops of stuff. . English farmers use heavy duty devices like this to cut back their field hedges. I don't know how high the cutter bar can be held horizontal, but it seems an option. Great stuff as usual.
Tim, another thing I just thought about is if you had chains on all 8 tires you could’ve gone down to the creek and back up from there and just did that once you got around the rocks. That’s if you could find a not so steep section of the hill to go back up.
Tim, I'm with you on knowing the machines for longer run time's are much better than the company's test track!! When you mow or brushing overgrown ground for me I'm allways looking for obstacles ( ie) pipes/ property marker's,rocks,stumps ect. Seems to pay for it's self on these smaller clearing jobs. I used to live in Elkhart IN just a little North of you. God Bless....
I moved one step closer to buying the Ventrac with tough cut. My local (1.5 hour away) dealer rents Ventracs in any configuration I want, so I have one booked for Friday. I'm asking for it to be fitted with dual rear wheels, as that is probably the configuration I would buy due to the swampy areas on my property. I remember one of your videos where you install the duals, but I do not remember you giving us an overall width measurement with them installed. I'm praying less than 72" as my trailer is a 6'x12'. In any event, for the general benefit of the Ventrac curious, I have found that many dealers do rent them and a variety of attachments. So if you buy the base tractor with whatever you would most routinely use, you need not spend a fortune in implements, but rent them when you need them.
Where are you located? With the duals installed, it is just over 6’ wide. Also, the tough cut is an6’ cutting width, so it is over 6’ wide as well. You can take one dual off each side quite easily. I used to do it for every job when I had only my 6’ wide trailer. Not sure how you will handle the tough cut width.
@@TractorTimewithTim I am in Spotsylvania, VA (about 50 miles north of Richmond, or 60 miles south of DC). BTW, I tried for a TTWT discount but my dealer never heard of you (I did tell him he needed to check you out). My local dealer is Cecil's Tractors, in Warrenton, VA.
@@TractorTimewithTim Well now you have me concerned. Ventrac advertises the hq680 as a 68" cut and 69" overall width, so I was hoping to have 3 inches to spare. I figured I may have to mount the duals in the field, but that looks easy enough.
@@TractorTimewithTim I am not sure where to post my review of this weekend's Ventrac trial, so feel free to move this comment to another thread or use on your website, or wherever you think it might be most useful. I didn't do any video as I needed one hand to steer, one have to drive, and all of my brain cells focused on the task at hand. So first of all, I think you got cheated on your old trailer if Venny wouldn't fit with duals. My Venny fit exactly (not a pressed fit, but not a 1/4" to spare either). The 4500 I rented (from Cecil's Tractors, in Warrenton, VA) was a dealer demo unit, so it had pretty much every option available. I rented it with the duals and tough cut mower. No discount on rental, but Cecil's does have a veteran/Farmer Veteran Coalition discount on new equipment sales. I got a good talk from the service center guys and salesman, so I felt somewhat prepared for the weekend's tasks. I headed out early Saturday morning (22 degrees here), with my fearless Bichon Friise, Snowball. So it was straight off to the woods. I have a 25 acre, kind of swampy, very overgrown tree farm. I have walls of briars which rival the great wall of China, and no shortage of scrub. Additionally, there are many large stumps from when the hardwoods were harvested 30 years ago. Pine was harvested then replanted about 11 years ago. It took the first two hours getting use to driving an articulating/oscillating tractor. Even though you lose from maneuverability with the duals, this tractor is infinitely more nimble than anything short of a track steer. I warmed up by punching through a wall of briars about 16 feet seep, and 60 feet wide. The issues I ran into here was that I could not see rocks or stumps until I was pretty well on top of them. Thus, rather than simply leaving the deck in float mode, I had to to raise the deck, then lower it onto areas where visibility was limited. Even with my Carharts, chainsaw helmet with face shield, and gloves, I managed to get torn up pretty good. Next, I went after a lot of small trees. Ventrac claims the tough cut mower will do a 1" thick sapling with no issue. It'll do a good bit thicker than that, but you you didn't hear that from me. So, thinks I, let's see about one of the muddy spots with lots of briars and scrub. Well, says Venny, let's make sure I get a good 40' into the mud before I sink to the frame. I called my 18 year old son to come out and help, but by being on his way, he usually means in the next 4-5 hours. Venny laughed at my come-along, so I grabbed the shepherd's jack, some 2x8, and finally had to go home and get the UTV to winch Venny out. Using the down pressure on the deck made getting planks under the front wheels much easier. When son finally got there he asked how I liked my new "Chinese knock-off" Yamaha Rhino. I had to reply, it had just rescued my American made mower, so I guess I like it just fine. Back to mowing/brush cutting. Somehow in the rescue of Venny, the right rear outer wheel worked loose enough that I lost it on a trail. Took a few minutes to find it and reattach. I also lost a belt cover, but found it right away. I ran Venny;'s clock up by 14.5 hours this weekend, and cleared probably around 3-4 acres. The rental company is very adamant about returning equipment clean, so it took $22 at the car wash to get her nice and clean again (and to wash my stall out per the polite attendant's request). The point of renting Venny this weekend was to evaluate a Ventrac as my only tractor for maintaining this property. A CUT with a brush hog is kind of useless for cutting around closely planted trees. I'd like a Cat 299D with a Fecon brush head, but don't have the spare $120K kicking around for one of those. Other equipment I've used on this property include a 26" Billy Goat brush cutter (don't laugh - that is a very fine machine, but it would take years to mow the property 26" at a time. I purchased a 36" Brush Beast walk behind, and it worked very well for making a walking path through my jungle. It didn't do so hot on the great wall of briars, but even Venny had a fit with that. It will knock down 4" thick stuff and mulch it up and it has a stump jumper and swinging blades. I wish Ventrac would offer a brush hog style front deck. So, how did Venny fair in the one tractor competition? Well, the tough cut mower alone will be great for maintaining the property once under control. I'll still need help from bigger and badder machinery. My next rental will be a track steer with a rotary mower, but even it will require a lot of dismounting and and chainsawing (and no, I won't even try the muddy spots with it). I think the Ventrac is what I will purchase in the end if I can verify a few capabilities. First, I would like to know if the bucket can be operating in the rear mounted position (and use a grapple operated by the auxiliary hydraulic ports. Next, I'd like to know if someone makes a forestry skidder that can use Venny's rear hydraulics since he has no rear PTO. I then need to know how well Venny can pull a plow or root rake. That's all for now. I'll probably rent Venny again in March since the rest of February's weekend belong to the Boy Scouts. Maybe I'll get a Go-Pro mount and do some video then.
You had me worried a time or two Tim. It really looked steep on camera. Looks good though. The Ventrac made short work of what could have taken a day or more with a saw blade weed eater. Y'all take care and God bless.
Tim, Ole Vinney did what he was built for. Both attachments worked very well. I think the main alarm would be when your cup came out of it's holder, then your too steep. I think the home owner is in for a surprise when he try's to mow this hill
The machine is awesome as you know my weed eater came with a saw blade which I was very sceptical about a long shaft and a saw blade spinning but I cut my bushes down like nothing and they were around 1 to the biggest 4 inch thick and it went through like butter, just a thought if you get in this stuff again
Vinny just keeps on impressing me. I think I would be inclined to mount a winch to a receiver mount so I could use it front or rear. This machine does slopes so well that I'd be bound to push the envelope or get stuck on a slippery slope. I noticed at one point you were operating with a chip, errr leaf on your shoulder and a determined look on your face. Are there wheel weights available for Vinny? Another good video, my friend. Christi may get an offer from Hollywood for those video skills and you will have to start using a "selfie stick". God bless and see you in the next one.
Also be sure to keep any mower deck attachment in the float position only,........especially when mowing steep hills so it doesn't create down force on the mower deck, causing it to lift the front drive wheels off the ground. If that happens on the side of a hill, it could cause the front end of the tractor to completely lose control and slide down the hill.
I would have cut the top half or so and then switch to the Sickle bar to do to the water. My Uncle (passed) Wisc. Dairy farmer used a Sickle bar to cut silage. The farms are all gone now but not forgotten. Grand Dad had 3 in Indiana. He raised Morgan horses and Feed & Food!
Man that thing is pretty cool I have a zero turn and have found my self at the bottom of the big ditch out by the road it’s about 5’ deep and almost always half full of water in the summer
I think Johnny could have handled the first part of the mowing. I am assuming the mower attachment is a flail type. The sickle mower attachment really did some showing off! Vinney is the right machine for that job for sure. Be nice to see a follow up to this property in the future. Thanks for sharing!
brush killer or a weed torch for that wall and the trees with all the vines growing up them gone and it will look nice that machine works pretty good i can see where more aggresssive tires would come in nice for some super gnarly areas that sickle is super handy it being full motion
I had a lawn service myself once. I bought myself a pair of golf shoes with the steal cleats on them so if I had to cut a steep hill with my walk behind mower or weed wacker so I could keep traction on them.
There is no gimmicks with ventrac they are simply the best there will be nothing that you can compare this to the mower is an absolute Beast with any attachment you can imagine in the work that it does is just truly amazing everybody needs one of these that's what I say the best of the best and that is this ventrac that's for❤❤👍👍👊👊👊👊 sure
The homeowner needs a Ventrac. That is steep. If I was the homeowner, I would consider installing a fence to prevent someone from falling into the creek. You did a great job!
I was wondering how they are going to manage that part of the property own their own in the future. Looking at the creek and their little boy, I'd have to agree that a fence might be a good idea. I'd love to see the place in a year or so to see what they do with the property.
That one racked my nerves as well. I haven't seen HollyWood movies that had me on the edge of my seat like that. I just kept thinking nothing bad happen because you posted the video. Copple time there it seemed like you had an angel rope connected to you from the heavens ;) Great job!
G’day Tim, I’m located in Australia. City is Canberra also know as ACT. You remind me so much of a foreman I once had.he looks and sounds just like you,he was from new hampshear. And I also owned a 30 hp tractor
Awesome video! When I first saw you having issues coming back , I was wondering if you had the weight transfer set right( I heard you talk about it in the video)
Im curious how it would do compared to my atv with a tow behind brush cutter. Even with a 4x4 atv I have a hill that I can't do mainy because at the bottom of the 40 degree slope their a retaining wall. Luckily all of the other hills I can drive/slide down. I've considered putting duals on the atv to help with stability on the side of a hill.
Most times you can unhook the attachment and drive out then pull attachment out. Or if in creek unhook and drive over the mower to come get me for help like one of my workers did.
Howie, we bought our 1st Ventrac in May 2012 & it took 8 months to pay off. 2013 we bought and 2nd Ventrac and paid cash upfront for it with 6 attachments. Awesome machines 🇦🇺
Great machine!! Why on earth was the cable just laying on the ground?? That sounds like something our local phone company would do. I had a friend whose phone wire was draped on top of a barb wire fence for years before they finally set a pole at his house.
Tim great video and a great way of showing what a Ventrac can do. You definitely couldn't of done that with Johnny. I am really impressed with the dual wheels what that machine is capable of doing I agree with you I don't think it would roll over that easy the way its designed with such a low center of gravity but i think it would just slide. I'M not sure you could of done some of that with just single wheels the duels really help in a lot of ways I look forward to seeing other videos after you figured out the weight transfer system to see how much more that helps it. Have you gotten or are you still supposed to the diesel version? Thanks so much for sharing these videos and parts of your's and your families life with us. Is your dad still doing ok has he been back in the combine lately? Hope you had a great weekend. God Bless!!!
We have the diesel now...but the videos won't show it for a long time. Sorry. We have to work through some more (really good..even better than this one) videos of the Kawasaki engine version first. I'll have some evaluation of the Gas vs. Diesel at some point. Let's just say that I really liked the Kawasaki engine.
That Ventrac is a goat, it was designed to climb hills way steeper than that. Once you get the feel for the machine And the fear out you will feel comfortable.
Man!! That Boom mower is awesome. I've been nothing short of impressed with the VenTrac. It's an amazing machine.
Tim from what ive seen yall are some good people and im glad that youre having sucess with youre endeavors
I love watching every video you put out.... you are such a nice and wonderful family
Hi Tim and Christy good job Tim and the homeowners are happy and thats whats what matters
Thanks for commenting, Mike!
That Ventrac is so cool does a great job. I love this property not your average flat yard. Very nice yard.
Yea, the hillside and creek provide lots of character!
Videos and photos absolutely cannot do hills any justice. I already know that this hill is much steeper than it seems in the video. Great job!
Just watched the video and became a new SUBSCRIBER i enjoyed the video and want to say that im a ventrac 4500 owner and I just purchased the stump grinder attachment and rake for the gravel and they work wonderful plus the mower gives me the golf course finish. Thanks and keep making these videos so I will have something to watch during the day
Congratulations! Welcome to our channel!
I have run a Ventrac alot try putting the mower in float and it won't slide on you! And the weight transfer helps emensly!
Yes. I was learning.
@@TractorTimewithTim I loved running the Ventrac, I will admit there was some pucker factor moments leaning with it! I wish I could afford 1, I used the tractor at work and sense have retired! You will like it more and more with every attachment, good luck! I'm jealous! Lol
That was awesome. I am impressed on how well it mowed and trimmed everything.
As much as i like my 1025r tractor i still need a ventrac for my steep hills. great video!
Awesome machine way to learn on the fly experience is the best teacher.
The bar mower really opened up the area. Important piece of equipment for Vinnie
Great Job. Now that family have more area for family time.
Great video, that Ventrac is something else.
NIce video love to see that machine with Kavli blades on it. I can see that it leaves long pieces behind and doesn't mulch too well
Incredible little machine.
Enjoyed full watch and liked the action of that Ventrac. Good work Tim and Christi. Thumbs up
Thanks Hound!
Well Tim, you even had me nervous at the beginning of the video. And nope, I would not have done that with my tractor. I'd love to have a Ventrac WITH the boom mower.
Wow. What a compliment! After seeing the hills you tackle with your 1026r, I didn't think you were scared of ANYTHING!
I think the Ventrac with finish mower would do a wonderful job of mowing your yard.
I think you're right, it would do a great job.
My BX almost flipped over just looking at your video. Very impressive.
I like the ventrac but for the average homeowner it is just to much money. I would say with the setup you have there its going to run north of 30k.
David S. Yep. Agree with ALL of your points in this comment. My Johnny was doing flips while watching this episode, and yes, Vinny is quite expensive for most of us!
Can't beat a Ventrac 🇦🇺
Good to see how that worked out for you and i have done those kinds of jobs with my Kubota CTL / Forestry Mower which is not a cheap machine to have and move around the country for jobs ... I may just have to look at those Ventrac machines
That is the ultimate yard tool. Really make me what to buy one.
It certainly is effective at lots of lawn/turf tasks.
This machine is amazing I wish I could mow with that I've got 5+achers but my Murray 40" gets it on all year round this would be amazing loved your video
With 5 acres, all you need is a zero turn. It’s faster in time.
@@jimmytran1870 I have run scag on my property and its just not enough. That rough cut is awesome
@@willbill820 that’s a lot of pain *crickets*. It’s spelled acres.
Tim, you are very good on all of your machines. I dont think there is much you could not hop on and in time learn to use.
When our custom chopping crew was harvesting for us last year. They had me pack the pile after they left with their large John Deere 4wd tractor. They told us that the tractor will slide long before it will ever flip. I pretty sure that is the same with the ventrac
Wow Tim that is some great machine and with the two attachments you can do so much more. The traction is just phenomenal.
Christi, that made me nervous just watching! Good job on the Ventrac Tim! I tilled up my ditch to get the erosion spots out at about 15-20 degree slope on my 1026R and did a little sliding! Pucker factor.
Keep on working at it Tim Nobody's Perfect
Are the tires filled with ballast? That would certainly help keep the center of gravity lower. It's an amazing machine and fun to watch. No other machine could do that without tipping over or going into the creek.
no fluid in tires. no need really. It can already drive on slopes I can't walk on!
Awesome machine. Looked pretty sketchy a few times, I cannot imagine what it felt like to be on it, but it looked like it made it through a lot really well. The rollover bar looks aweful short, but I suppose with the super wide stance, the risk odlf rolling over is somewhat remote.
I thought the same thing about the roll bar and it being sketchy! I think he's braver than I am.
Yes Curt, I had never thought about how short the roll bar was - have had my machine to 36 degrees and not been concerned. I hang my spare belts there too 😁🇦🇺
That was some crazy lush growth! What a great machine. Doing that by hand would have been brutal
That's a pretty neat machine!!!
That sure is a very nice machine and very useful .You are correct there is no way that i would've even thought about doing that job with the Massey gc1720 even if i had a cable tied to the tractor,but you did a great job.
I could have gotten most of it with Johnny, but not really very safely. ...and I could not have mowed all of it.
Rhe Ventrac has great capability on the slopes. I see the videos of the Ventracs and wonder is that really doing it and yes it is Ventrac has good equiptment! Great job Tim!
The boom mower seems able to both cut vertically and trim the tops of stuff. . English farmers use heavy duty devices like this to cut back their field hedges. I don't know how high the cutter bar can be held horizontal, but it seems an option. Great stuff as usual.
Yes, I think that is the primary market for it.
You got your $ worth on this machine.I have looked at them in the past.Just never had the use for one.
Its nice it articulates you can turn on a dime
I love watching that boom mower in action. It's crazy some of the things he can reach with it.
Takes some practice, but it is absolutely amazing.
Hey Tim, could you use the thing on the boom as a sickle mower? 🇦🇺
Nice machine tim and good work in the garden
Tim, another thing I just thought about is if you had chains on all 8 tires you could’ve gone down to the creek and back up from there and just did that once you got around the rocks. That’s if you could find a not so steep section of the hill to go back up.
Tim, I'm with you on knowing the machines for longer run time's are much better than the company's test track!! When you mow or brushing overgrown ground for me I'm allways looking for obstacles ( ie) pipes/ property marker's,rocks,stumps ect. Seems to pay for it's self on these smaller clearing jobs. I used to live in Elkhart IN just a little North of you. God Bless....
I cannot wait for more attachments yay!!! So fun to watch~~~
Impressive little tractor.
Hi Tim great video👍
Have you ever thought about a pto wood chipper for your John Deere’s like a wood mills one?
Very impressed with how well the venny has done,I may have to check on finding a dealer in the Bama, Mississippi areas
Very impressive Tim! Thanks for the video
Good video Tim you got alot done that machine does pretty good job thanks for video's Tim and God Bless
I moved one step closer to buying the Ventrac with tough cut. My local (1.5 hour away) dealer rents Ventracs in any configuration I want, so I have one booked for Friday. I'm asking for it to be fitted with dual rear wheels, as that is probably the configuration I would buy due to the swampy areas on my property.
I remember one of your videos where you install the duals, but I do not remember you giving us an overall width measurement with them installed. I'm praying less than 72" as my trailer is a 6'x12'.
In any event, for the general benefit of the Ventrac curious, I have found that many dealers do rent them and a variety of attachments. So if you buy the base tractor with whatever you would most routinely use, you need not spend a fortune in implements, but rent them when you need them.
Where are you located?
With the duals installed, it is just over 6’ wide. Also, the tough cut is an6’ cutting width, so it is over 6’ wide as well.
You can take one dual off each side quite easily. I used to do it for every job when I had only my 6’ wide trailer. Not sure how you will handle the tough cut width.
@@TractorTimewithTim I am in Spotsylvania, VA (about 50 miles north of Richmond, or 60 miles south of DC). BTW, I tried for a TTWT discount but my dealer never heard of you (I did tell him he needed to check you out).
My local dealer is Cecil's Tractors, in Warrenton, VA.
@@TractorTimewithTim Well now you have me concerned. Ventrac advertises the hq680 as a 68" cut and 69" overall width, so I was hoping to have 3 inches to spare. I figured I may have to mount the duals in the field, but that looks easy enough.
The Curmudgeon oh, ok. You may be right. I did not measure. The tough cut may be fine. Removing the duals is easy. You just need a one inch socket
@@TractorTimewithTim I am not sure where to post my review of this weekend's Ventrac trial, so feel free to move this comment to another thread or use on your website, or wherever you think it might be most useful. I didn't do any video as I needed one hand to steer, one have to drive, and all of my brain cells focused on the task at hand.
So first of all, I think you got cheated on your old trailer if Venny wouldn't fit with duals. My Venny fit exactly (not a pressed fit, but not a 1/4" to spare either).
The 4500 I rented (from Cecil's Tractors, in Warrenton, VA) was a dealer demo unit, so it had pretty much every option available. I rented it with the duals and tough cut mower. No discount on rental, but Cecil's does have a veteran/Farmer Veteran Coalition discount on new equipment sales. I got a good talk from the service center guys and salesman, so I felt somewhat prepared for the weekend's tasks.
I headed out early Saturday morning (22 degrees here), with my fearless Bichon Friise, Snowball.
So it was straight off to the woods. I have a 25 acre, kind of swampy, very overgrown tree farm. I have walls of briars which rival the great wall of China, and no shortage of scrub. Additionally, there are many large stumps from when the hardwoods were harvested 30 years ago. Pine was harvested then replanted about 11 years ago.
It took the first two hours getting use to driving an articulating/oscillating tractor. Even though you lose from maneuverability with the duals, this tractor is infinitely more nimble than anything short of a track steer.
I warmed up by punching through a wall of briars about 16 feet seep, and 60 feet wide. The issues I ran into here was that I could not see rocks or stumps until I was pretty well on top of them. Thus, rather than simply leaving the deck in float mode, I had to to raise the deck, then lower it onto areas where visibility was limited. Even with my Carharts, chainsaw helmet with face shield, and gloves, I managed to get torn up pretty good.
Next, I went after a lot of small trees. Ventrac claims the tough cut mower will do a 1" thick sapling with no issue. It'll do a good bit thicker than that, but you you didn't hear that from me.
So, thinks I, let's see about one of the muddy spots with lots of briars and scrub. Well, says Venny, let's make sure I get a good 40' into the mud before I sink to the frame. I called my 18 year old son to come out and help, but by being on his way, he usually means in the next 4-5 hours. Venny laughed at my come-along, so I grabbed the shepherd's jack, some 2x8, and finally had to go home and get the UTV to winch Venny out. Using the down pressure on the deck made getting planks under the front wheels much easier. When son finally got there he asked how I liked my new "Chinese knock-off" Yamaha Rhino. I had to reply, it had just rescued my American made mower, so I guess I like it just fine.
Back to mowing/brush cutting. Somehow in the rescue of Venny, the right rear outer wheel worked loose enough that I lost it on a trail. Took a few minutes to find it and reattach. I also lost a belt cover, but found it right away.
I ran Venny;'s clock up by 14.5 hours this weekend, and cleared probably around 3-4 acres.
The rental company is very adamant about returning equipment clean, so it took $22 at the car wash to get her nice and clean again (and to wash my stall out per the polite attendant's request).
The point of renting Venny this weekend was to evaluate a Ventrac as my only tractor for maintaining this property. A CUT with a brush hog is kind of useless for cutting around closely planted trees. I'd like a Cat 299D with a Fecon brush head, but don't have the spare $120K kicking around for one of those.
Other equipment I've used on this property include a 26" Billy Goat brush cutter (don't laugh - that is a very fine machine, but it would take years to mow the property 26" at a time. I purchased a 36" Brush Beast walk behind, and it worked very well for making a walking path through my jungle. It didn't do so hot on the great wall of briars, but even Venny had a fit with that. It will knock down 4" thick stuff and mulch it up and it has a stump jumper and swinging blades. I wish Ventrac would offer a brush hog style front deck.
So, how did Venny fair in the one tractor competition? Well, the tough cut mower alone will be great for maintaining the property once under control. I'll still need help from bigger and badder machinery. My next rental will be a track steer with a rotary mower, but even it will require a lot of dismounting and and chainsawing (and no, I won't even try the muddy spots with it). I think the Ventrac is what I will purchase in the end if I can verify a few capabilities.
First, I would like to know if the bucket can be operating in the rear mounted position (and use a grapple operated by the auxiliary hydraulic ports. Next, I'd like to know if someone makes a forestry skidder that can use Venny's rear hydraulics since he has no rear PTO. I then need to know how well Venny can pull a plow or root rake.
That's all for now. I'll probably rent Venny again in March since the rest of February's weekend belong to the Boy Scouts. Maybe I'll get a Go-Pro mount and do some video then.
You had me worried a time or two Tim. It really looked steep on camera. Looks good though. The Ventrac made short work of what could have taken a day or more with a saw blade weed eater. Y'all take care and God bless.
it IS steep. I'm glad the camera showed it appropriately.
You could just weedwack it?
Or just cut before it grows that large?
Tim, Ole Vinney did what he was built for. Both attachments worked very well. I think the main alarm would be when your cup came out of it's holder, then your too steep. I think the home owner is in for a surprise when he try's to mow this hill
Talk about the "right tool for the job"! Wow!
The machine is awesome as you know my weed eater came with a saw blade which I was very sceptical about a long shaft and a saw blade spinning but I cut my bushes down like nothing and they were around 1 to the biggest 4 inch thick and it went through like butter, just a thought if you get in this stuff again
Anna Oquinn yeah I have a DR trimmer with a saw blade. Thing is bad ass
That tractor works incredibly!
How expensive is a tractor that is set up with the 8 tires sand that front cutter on it?
Vinny just keeps on impressing me. I think I would be inclined to mount a winch to a receiver mount so I could use it front or rear. This machine does slopes so well that I'd be bound to push the envelope or get stuck on a slippery slope. I noticed at one point you were operating with a chip, errr leaf on your shoulder and a determined look on your face. Are there wheel weights available for Vinny? Another good video, my friend. Christi may get an offer from Hollywood for those video skills and you will have to start using a "selfie stick". God bless and see you in the next one.
What a great machine. I still do it the old fashioned way with a machete, sling blade and bow saw.
Sounds like good exercise. ...but whew! Makes me tired just to think about it!!
The company I work for uses one of these for brush hogging and snow removal
i have to say quite impressed with the job the Ventrac did for ya. good operator is what did it. :-)
Ventrac - “Able to do all the things that make a wife nervous”
Enjoyed the video as always!
Also be sure to keep any mower deck attachment in the float position only,........especially when mowing steep hills so it doesn't create down force on the mower deck, causing it to lift the front drive wheels off the ground. If that happens on the side of a hill, it could cause the front end of the tractor to completely lose control and slide down the hill.
I would have cut the top half or so and then switch to the Sickle bar to do to the water. My Uncle (passed) Wisc. Dairy farmer used a Sickle bar to cut silage. The farms are all gone now but not forgotten. Grand Dad had 3 in Indiana. He raised Morgan horses and Feed & Food!
Don't where you live but in my area the parish and state maintain all the slopes on drainage canals.
Man that thing is pretty cool I have a zero turn and have found my self at the bottom of the big ditch out by the road it’s about 5’ deep and almost always half full of water in the summer
I bet it was an adventurous ride to get there too!
I think Johnny could have handled the first part of the mowing. I am assuming the mower attachment is a flail type. The sickle mower attachment really did some showing off! Vinney is the right machine for that job for sure.
Be nice to see a follow up to this property in the future. Thanks for sharing!
brush killer or a weed torch for that wall and the trees with all the vines growing up them gone and it will look nice that machine works pretty good i can see where more aggresssive tires would come in nice for some super gnarly areas that sickle is super handy it being full motion
Where did you get your ventric mower and attachments I'm very interested thank you for the well done video
Go to the Ventrac website and find your local dealer.
I had a lawn service myself once. I bought myself a pair of golf shoes with the steal cleats on them so if I had to cut a steep hill with my walk behind mower or weed wacker so I could keep traction on them.
Hi Tim good damm job you could hardly see that house when you got there awesome 👍
I would have used a trimmer and a pole saw. That could have been a very expensive mistake. Still fantasize about having a Ventrac though :)
There is no gimmicks with ventrac they are simply the best there will be nothing that you can compare this to the mower is an absolute Beast with any attachment you can imagine in the work that it does is just truly amazing everybody needs one of these that's what I say the best of the best and that is this ventrac that's for❤❤👍👍👊👊👊👊 sure
You did a fantastic job
This thing is like the big bud of compact tractors!
Was wondering how those Ventrac's performed. Amazing machine!
thanks for watching Haven't heard from you in awhile. Welcome back!
Been crazy busy Tim but still been following your videos! You guys are amazing! Keep blessing!
That sickle bar mower is nice.
The homeowner needs a Ventrac. That is steep. If I was the homeowner, I would consider installing a fence to prevent someone from falling into the creek. You did a great job!
I was wondering how they are going to manage that part of the property own their own in the future. Looking at the creek and their little boy, I'd have to agree that a fence might be a good idea. I'd love to see the place in a year or so to see what they do with the property.
That a beautiful machine.
over the rocks and the banks need to be done by hand to get a good clean look....also, you need the chains for traction
Well done Tim!
Great video. Bobby said if he were 40 years younger he would like one. Makes you kinda nervous watching Tim on that slope though.
I love all of the videos. But just throwing an idea out to Tim I think he should make a camera mount on the ventrac /Vinny Roll Bar
Yea, that might work!
Good video Tim, I’m in the market for a Ventrac. Where did you buy yours?
How much dose the ventrac cost and dose a attachment come with it or do u have to buy a attachment
That one racked my nerves as well. I haven't seen HollyWood movies that had me on the edge of my seat like that. I just kept thinking nothing bad happen because you posted the video. Copple time there it seemed like you had an angel rope connected to you from the heavens ;) Great job!
Ha! Thanks for the comment, Vinny! Maybe we have our first ‘thriller’???
nice work
G’day Tim, I’m located in Australia. City is Canberra also know as ACT. You remind me so much of a foreman I once had.he looks and sounds just like you,he was from new hampshear. And I also owned a 30 hp tractor
Awesome video! When I first saw you having issues coming back , I was wondering if you had the weight transfer set right( I heard you talk about it in the video)
Im curious how it would do compared to my atv with a tow behind brush cutter. Even with a 4x4 atv I have a hill that I can't do mainy because at the bottom of the 40 degree slope their a retaining wall. Luckily all of the other hills I can drive/slide down. I've considered putting duals on the atv to help with stability on the side of a hill.
Is there a way to mount a small winch on the back. An easy way to get out if you go too far in and get stuck. Hook to a tree or your truck.
Yes, we could do that.
Most times you can unhook the attachment and drive out then pull attachment out. Or if in creek unhook and drive over the mower to come get me for help like one of my workers did.
that boom sickle is awesome
Fantastic machine
That tractor would be perfect for the lawns i cut. Wish I could afford it!
Work harder Howie. More work - more money - buy one, than get lots more work & need two 🇦🇺
Jungle Jobs thanks I needed to hear that👍
Howie, we bought our 1st Ventrac in May 2012 & it took 8 months to pay off. 2013 we bought and 2nd Ventrac and paid cash upfront for it with 6 attachments. Awesome machines 🇦🇺
Great job you two. Tim, how many different tractors do you have? you have to do a video just on that!
We own one tractor (Johnny). We have two loaner units from sponsors:
1. Casey - Case CX17C excavator
2. Vinny - Ventrac 4500
When you say loaners so you can try them out and give them feedback?
Yes, and so that you folks can see them in action.
Great machine!! Why on earth was the cable just laying on the ground?? That sounds like something our local phone company would do. I had a friend whose phone wire was draped on top of a barb wire fence for years before they finally set a pole at his house.
I think it was a temporary installation. They often do that around here. ..another crew comes to bury the cable later.
Man that is slick.
That thing's pretty crazy, like a small articulating tractor with a brush hog mounted out front.
I like the Kubota Orange F-150.
I need the Ventrac to come visit our homestead!
Where r u?
Norman, Oklahoma
That ventral is an amazing machine!:D
All I can is.... Wow... Awesome machine
I really wonder how much modification it would take to put those attachments on the front of Johnny. Front PTO and loader SCV probably selector too.
Put it on the 3pt. hitch.
@@tomkeating65 Sure, but lot of attachments options for front PTO if you just put it out there.
Tim great video and a great way of showing what a Ventrac can do. You definitely couldn't of done that with Johnny. I am really impressed with the dual wheels what that machine is capable of doing I agree with you I don't think it would roll over that easy the way its designed with such a low center of gravity but i think it would just slide. I'M not sure you could of done some of that with just single wheels the duels really help in a lot of ways I look forward to seeing other videos after you figured out the weight transfer system to see how much more that helps it. Have you gotten or are you still supposed to the diesel version? Thanks so much for sharing these videos and parts of your's and your families life with us. Is your dad still doing ok has he been back in the combine lately? Hope you had a great weekend. God Bless!!!
We have the diesel now...but the videos won't show it for a long time. Sorry. We have to work through some more (really good..even better than this one) videos of the Kawasaki engine version first.
I'll have some evaluation of the Gas vs. Diesel at some point. Let's just say that I really liked the Kawasaki engine.
Did Ventrac supply you with demo machines for your videos?
Yes.
That Ventrac is a goat, it was designed to climb hills way steeper than that. Once you get the feel for the machine And the fear out you will feel comfortable.
are you using weight transfer with the ventrac love your videos i run a ventrac full time at my job
Was just learning. I am more comfortable with weight transfer and how it works now.
Absolute awesome peace of equipment. Question I have is what do you charge people to do this and other types of jobs ?
Yes, we do charge for this type of work. We do not discuss the details of how much we charge.
Good reply Tim 🇦🇺