Convenience is a word that often gets thrown around, but when was the last time you used a landscaping product that actually made your life easier? Take a moment to access the equipment that you use on a daily basis. Most Landscape Contractors rely on their leaf blowers, mowers, trenchers, and line trimmers to get the job done. If you specialize in design/build for residential or commercial clients, chances are you utilize heavy-duty equipment that can grade a site, dig trenches, lift pallets of paving materials and cut tree stumps. Since this specialized equipment usually comes with a hefty price tag, many Contractors will often sub-contract this work out to save money. Why not do the work yourself and earn more money in the process?

To do the work yourself, you need to have the right equipment at an affordable price. The Power Trac Company, based in Tazewell, Virginia, is offering a trailer package system that includes a 22 hp or 25 hp machine and a variety of attachments that all fit on a 12 ft. custom-built trailer.

The machines are four-wheel drive and articulate 45 degrees in each direction. Articulated steering makes the machine turf-friendly and heavy-duty at the same time. The machine oscillates 12 degrees to keep all four wheels on the ground in uneven terrain. Landscape Contractors can choose between two machines for the 400 series trailer package-the PT-422 has a 22 hp Robin engine while the PT-425 has a 25 hp Kohler Command engine.

The trailer package also includes a variety of attachments that all fit on the 12 ft. trailer. The attachments that are included with the 400 Series Trailer include a 5 cubic ft. and 10 cubic ft. bucket, 48" wide tiller, 3 ft. trencher, an 18" stump cutter, a 4 ft. boom for lifting trees, 30" fork lift, and a post digger with 9" and 18" augers. The trailer has custom brackets and 10 ton safety straps for the Power Trac machine and each attachment. Optional attachments that can be added to the trailer package include a 48" or 60" mower, 48" box blade, 60" blade, 4 cubic ft. fertilizer/salt spreader, and grapple bucket.

Each attachment has a specific spot on the trailer so that each can be removed from the outside without having to rearrange any other attachment. The quick attach feature is so easy to use that you will never have to leave your seat. From the operator's seat, you would insert the quick attach in the receiver plate on the attachment. Then, lift and tilt the attachment with the joystick and lock the cylinders into place with the quick attach lever located above your right knee.

In addition to the various attachments, each trailer also comes standard with two toolboxes, a 30-piece socket set, 2-ton bottle jack, extra safety strap, 5 gallon gas canister, filter and drain hose. A spare tire for the trailer and for the Power Trac are also included.

The 400-Series Trailer Package from Power Track includes a 20 hp or 22 hp machine with a variety of attachments that all fit on a custom-built 12 ft. trailer. The following attachments are included: 5 and 10 cubic ft. bucket, 48" wide tiller, 3 ft. trencher, an 18" stump cutter, a 4 ft. boom, 30" fork lift and a post digger with 9" and 18" augers.

In the 400 Series Trailer Package, two different package prices are available depending on the horsepower that you select. For the 22 hp trailer package that comes complete with a 12 ft. trailer and nine various attachments, the price is $18,900. The 25 hp package, complete with the same amenities, sells for $19,900. Some of the optional add-ons that you can also purchase include a 48" mower for $1,100 and a 4 cubic ft. fertilizer & salt spreader for $900.

Two larger size trailer packages are also available from Power Trac. The 1400 series trailer comes with a 30 hp diesel machine and the 2400 series trailer package comes with a 45 hp diesel machine.

For additional information about the Power Trac 400 Series Trailer Package or any of the other trailer packages they offer, call toll-free 800-843-9273 or visit their website at www.power-trac.com.

Another company that offers an inclusive trailer package is Toro. Their versatile Toro Dingo is a compact utility loader that can utilize more than 35 attachments to tackle an endless array of projects.

There are four Dingo compact utility loader models to choose from-the Dingo TX420, the 322, the 320-D and the 222, all of which are manufactured at Toro's Tomah, Wisconsin production facility. The various attachments work with any of the Dingo machines.

All four Dingo models have an identical mounting plate and quick-attach system so each one can use all of the 35-plus attachments currently available. When the attachments are transported on the specialized Dingo modular trailer, switching attachments is quick and easy. The operator does no lifting, he simply removes and inserts the pins that secure the attachments to the Dingo's front mounting plate.

For hydraulic attachments such as the backhoe, auger and trencher, hydraulic lines can be connected or disconnected easily using quick-release couplers. All Dingo attachments now come with flush-face couplers that protect the hydraulic system from contamination and eliminate messy hook-ups.

The Dingo TX 420 rolls on dual Kevlar-reinforced rubber tracks that provide outstanding traction on all types of terrain. Powered by a 20-hp engine, this machine can handle big jobs anywhere.

The wide variety of attachments available makes the Dingo system versatile enough to meet the needs of any Landscape Contractor. Attachments include several sizes of high-torque augers, a trencher, vibratory plow, hydraulic breaker, backhoe, leveler, tiller, cultivator, hydraulic blade, adjustable forks, tree forks, 2-stage snowthrower, rotary broom, buckets in several sizes, and more.

According to Sergio Almader, sales representative of Turf Star, the Southern California Dingo Distributor, the going rate for a Landscape Contractor package is $25,000. This price would include the 22 hp Dingo 222, a 19 ft. custom trailer with 13 ft. of bed space and approximately 8-10 attachments. However, Almader has put together a basic Landscape starter system that starts at $21,000.