Ventrac with 84" articulating deck Cancel The title field is required!

1. Stephen Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   7/6/2016 10:07 AM

   Do you have any pros or cons? I am demoing one today and it seems to have enough power and ability to climb, but there seems to be a lot of intricate parts. Let me state that I have been using Toro 3500's and like what I have but after 9 years it is time to replace them so looking at all options. Not sure about the belt driven deck as compared to the hydraulic driven cutting units of the 3500 or the other mowers I have looked at; John Deere 9009A, Toro 4500, Jac 522.
   Thanks for your input.

   
   
   
   
2. Kyle Fick

   

   4 posts
   
   7/6/2016 2:07 PM

   We chose to go with a lastec articulating deck on the front of a traction unit a few years ago, and I'm happy with it. Overall, the simplicity, and I think the ventrac's decks are the same for the most part, is very nice. Keep it greased, and make sure operators don't start and stop at high RPM's and belts can last a long time. I also feel the clipping dispersal and fuel savings on pto and gearbox drive are much better than on the hydraulic driven rotary mowers. My operators really like the fact that all 100" are in front of them, rather than 3 decks up and 2 back. We demoed the JD 9009A a couple weeks ago, and the toro 4500/4700 recently as well. Still like the mow of the lastec better, but the operator functions of the others' is really nice. We also went with a traction unit and outfront implement to have a more universal machine. Brooms, snowblowers, etc. The Ventrac has unlimited possibilities it seems. I wish someone had been selling them here when I was looking for a mower. I hear the stability is second to none.
   
   We still use 3500 sidewinders for short par 3's and tee and green complexes, but that lastec can cut grass! Just a bugger to clean.
   
   For what's its worth, that's my opinion.

   
   
   
   
3. Paul Double

   

   37 posts
   
   7/6/2016 3:07 PM

   We have a Ventrac 4200 woth the contour deck and love it. We use the contour deck for around bunkers and tees and many other areas that are undulated and with heavy slopes. I am hoping to buy another one in the next couple years as mine is a 2006 Ventrac with 2011 contour deck. The deck is very simple to rebuild and Ventrac gets you the parts quickly. The contour deck has drastically reduced the amount of hours trimming around bunkers. The only recommendation I have is get the turf tires. Ours came with the aggressive tread and was great when mowing steep hillsides with our 72" straight deck, but when mowing around bunkers, the tires would dig in on slopes and began to rut some areas. After switching to the turf tires, we have not had any issues.
   Good Luck
   
   Paul L Double
   Sugar Valley Golf Club
   Bellbrook, Ohio

   
   
   
   
4. Charles Stump

   

   0 posts
   
   7/7/2016 2:07 PM

   We have 3 Ventracs with 84" contour decks, which replaced our 2 AR522's. Two run on propane and the other one runs on gas. No hydraulic lines to break and much less chance of damaging decks like on a AR522. The only belt we have had to replace over the last 3 years is the small belt that connects the tractor to the deck. Easy to replace and a lot cheaper than hydrulic lines. One more positive is you can buy 3 to 4 Ventracs for the price of two AR522's.
   
   Dan Stump
   Chickasaw Country Club
   Memphis, TN

   
   
   
   
5. Bill Brooks

   

   18 posts
   
   7/9/2016 4:07 PM

   Last fall we purchased a 4500 ventrac with the contour deck along with the buffalo turbine blower that is another attachment. We bought new, had a few warranty issues this spring but other than that it does everything that we need. It does eat gas pretty good, last about 4 hrs before needing a fill. Handles everything a sidewinder can. The blower is amazing just to add in, don't have to tow it around. Easy to change attachments.