Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Property, Buildings, Equipment and Alternative Energy => Topic started by: John on September 07, 2010, 14:16
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There seems to be a bewildering number of makes of small tractors around at all sorts of prices. Any suggestions as to best make etc welcome.
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Just a thought, I would still need to go and do some homework, but what do you envisage this tractor doing, John?
Is it for plodding across a muddy field, towing a biggish trailer and to what weight, or with a spike attached carrying a bale of feed/silage or something with bucket or loader forks at the front or the capability to attach and detach some or all of such equipment?
Its just that nowadays you get machines which aren't even described as tractors which will do most or all of these things.
:)
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IMO.... Kubota every time... I've worked for a number of landscape gardening companies and these things seem to be bomb-proof... :D
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I'm not quite sure what we'll be doing with it - main uses I can see are for re-seeding some of the pasture, so ploughing, harrowing etc.
We're not looking at horses or cattle so no huge manure piles to shift or so on.
I've seen Kubota on ebay and they look the business but always best to see what those in the know think.
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The reason I asked is that I had this (http://www.avanttecno.com/www/index.php?PAGE=19&LANG=2) sort of thing in mind without even looking further. :) Boss bought one a couple of years ago, mainly for hiring out. I'm not sure, off the top of my head which model it is, but it is one of the articulated ones, which I think has to be a really useful feature, for instance in tighter spaces. It also has an array of attachments available - loader forks, bucket, digger bucket, auger etc....
:)
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Kubota's are bomb-proof, or if you can stretch that bit further a John Deere :D. I used to work on another farm years ago and he would have anything else. Over previous years he's had Masseys', Cases' even a Renault :tongue2:.
He stuck with JD's and has never looked back :lol:
If you win the lottery, go for a fendt ;) they are the rolls royce of the tractor world 8)
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sounding boring now - but in the same position - have looked at the Chinese ones - they suffer from being not so sturdy - but cheap and affordable - 8k - for a 20 hp with rototiller, topper, plough and lifting tipper - but...........................affordable tractors at bristol do smallholder packages of second hand tractors - cheaper and possibly better?
I have really struggled to find online references for chinese tractors - I am tempted but not before some form of recomendation
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Kubotas are really tough small tractors but even used they cost a lot more than most folk are prepared to spend. We have a small John Deere and really like it. Parts are readily available everywhere, same with service shops, even just for information. We've had Whites and Masseys in the past, but White parts are hard to find now and Masseys are riding on past reputation.
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Just got a old Kubota myself, expensive for what it is really. Probably paid more than I should, but I was new to tractors and bigger machinery and quite naive. Bought a copy of tractor and machinery magazine last month and the classified section is huge, and gives you a good idea of the sort of prices you should be paying, certainly the prices are less than ebay. Spares and repairs is something you should take into account, I'm honestry struggling to get 2nd hand bits without paying through the nose for kubota. Spares for older fergies 35 or 135, fordsons, david browns, internationals etc etc are much more reasonable and plentiful too. The electronics are much simpler so not too many gremlins to iron out. These things have been around for decades and have quite a following, and cheaper to purchase too. Next time I will be going this road.
Chinese tractors? Heard some reports that the electrics are prone to all sorts, not seen first hand mind you. They do however look good value on the face of it.
Question is what sort of implements do you want to run and what power on the pto do they require? Do you want 4 wheel drive or will 2 do?
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Had a kubota and it was bomb proof loved it to bits,now got a John Deere hmm not to sure on this at the moment apart from today as it has a cab where the kubota didn't have one.
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Look around locally when you move - there are still alot of the little grey fergies around in Wales, and parts and attachments are still available. Failing that then I would opt for a John Deere.
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As a general rule I prefer to go for good second hand rather than new - especially with cars that depreciate hugely in year one. Picked up an 8hp MTD shredder for £460 (new about £970) and it's literally as good as new.
Great tip on the tractor magazine - thanks marek
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The price of spares is definatly a consideration, I have a Kubots B7100 and a MF135 and the price of just piston rings and a head gasket for the former is £200 while a complete rebuild kit for the latter is the same :
Ebay Link (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MASSEY-FERGUSON-135-TRACTOR-PERKINS-ENGINE-KIT-FULL_W0QQitemZ120619011755QQcategoryZ121875QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D8%26pmod%3D120614045318%252B120614045318%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D5836719064181716787)
Buying a used Kubota or any small 4x4 ,(Iseki are OK) is a minefield with lots of grey imports being offered for sale which is not a disaster but no one should go looking for a tractor without being aware of the facts .
It took me 5 years of looking before I found a suitable Kubota,I looked at quite a few on Auction sites and looking at some in the flesh bore no resemblance to their descriptions and I found faults with others that only and experianced mechanic could have found.
Check out www.orangetractortalks.com for some very useful info on Kubota's
I note in a earlier post that a company selling used tractors was mentioned ,I know someone who bought from them and their experience was not a pleasant one,I will say no more!!!
smud6ie
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john deere woud be my choice my old work had 2 both over 30 years old and were going realy strong even after been used for arround 30 hours a week with a mutitude of differnt usses the smaller one had atachments for just about everything wherethe larger one was used mainly for large scale grass cutting and for towing a largish trailer unfortunatly the bigger one died the death and had to be replaced with a bigger cheaper new one made by new holland it diddnt have the soul of the john deere but id did have air con and a cd player
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agree with most of the above for me a fergie 35 or better still 135 cant be beat the jap stuffs great till it needs fixing.One small question,do you need atractor?Will you do that much arable stuff? Contractors\neighbours etc. aren't that dear.You might get more use out an agricutural quad.They're used by everyone in the shropshire hills( though I know when you ride around on your tractor,you do feel like a real farmer!)
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One small question,do you need atractor?
I was in the same situation as you, but in the end realised that for what I needed and times it would be used, I could beg borrow or steal one for far less over 10 years than I would pay for one + its up-keep
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Hmm, that's a very good point.
One small question,do you need a tractor?
I suppose we'll be best checking out the neighbours and so forth first. But you've got to admit, a tractor is a real step up from a Merry Tiller :)
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Definitely. I still can't picture you riding around on a Merry :lol:
But seriously, even a small tractor with power takeoff will do a lot of work for you, even power a log splitter. Just find someone who's good with welding and get a simple one made rather than buy a commercial brand. My dad made his and used it until he passed away. A neighbour bought it as my very little tractor doesn't have PTO :( The tractor can also do any snow blowing or scraping for you.
We bought a small tractor trailer, the axles made from a cut down car frame, wood sides and removeable back added, and I've lost track of how many jobs that trailer has done for me. More than paid its cost back. When the tires finally wore out, I called up a local tire supplier and got a set of almost new tires (the right size) for $40. Price was low as there was only the 2 tires rather than a useful 4. I couldn't manage on my sloping property without that trailer, and a 2nd one that's a dumper that I bought.
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OK, stab in the dark, but if you're not needing a front loader, 3 point linkage and PTO. What about one of those JD alligators? 6 wheels and a tipping body on the back.
I nearly suggested a Unimog ??? :blink: , they've got a PTO, 3 point linkage, go anywhere and will do 55mph on the road, but
But I'm getting carried away now...............
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Unimogs!! Mercedes? Das ist very expensive, Englander ::)
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There are a whole host of assemble it yourself Chinese tractors around at the moment.
John Deere's hold their price so are quite expensive to buy second hand.
Massey Ferguson are good (we use a few of those)
New Holland are Fords both are fine.
Kubotas are good, but very much like John Deere price-wise.
looking around a few months ago, I found that you could get a "tractor in a box" with a warranty, for less than a second hand compact tractor of quite a "vintage" I'd go for the new one.
Give me ring, John, if you want me to look into it further. I also know a second hand tractor dealer that may be able to help out if you want something.
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Thanks a bundle Gwiz :)
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We bought a new Kubota 20yrs ago, stupidly sold it when we moved about 10yrs later and it is still in daily use and going strong.
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John, these are the tractors I read about in the trade magazine. They seem to be a very reasonable little beastie.
Have a look-see.
http://www.siromer.net/compact-tractors.htm
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Interesting - thanks Gwiz.
If I got one of those self assembly tractors, would you like a fortnight's holiday in N Wales (bring your toolkit!) :)
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Damn right I would. ;)
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A YTO. A new belt driven 20hp £2.5K but cannot be used on the road. They look like yamnar copies.
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Those YTO look interesting - seems everything is made in China nowadays :)
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We have been looking at compact tractors too - with the added disadvantage of being in France, all Kubota second hands tend to be very expensive , very old and not very powerful. We are currently looking at a Mahindra, which is more powerful and seem more robustly built that the Iseki that we have seen.
Looking at getting second hand shipped down from the UK with topper, front loader and link box! Works out better than getting one in France.
All reviews seen of Mahindra seem good, has anyone got any first hand experience?
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I was going to get a YTO two wheeled tractor. The importer is near here and I went round to look at them. Fro the money I think they are OK. The two wheeled tractor comes with a rotovator and a two furrow plough. At 15hp it would boe great for up to about 2acres and is only about £1500
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If I get my tractor though - what is the best way of securing it against theft? We recently moved here and the neighbours have been warning us about equipment theft
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I was listening to something on the radio in the last week or so. A policeman from (if I recall correctly) the rural crime task force said that one reason farm machinery is being targeted so often, is that there is a universal key - so not a different key for each item.
Might be worth googling this rural crime policing group, and asking the NFU for any advice they have too.
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they did an item about this on countryfile at the w/e...........most still be for viewing on net.
I think they were marking them with the tractor equivalent of smartwater.
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yes - thinking of contacting the NFU tomorrow - I think they do a marker system of some sorts - I was thinking of what could I do of a physical nature to stop my tractor (when I get it) wandering?
Are there wheel clamps? or a way of immobolising it?
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you could fit a tracker device, many lorries and items of plant have these fitted now.
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Any ideas where/what I would find out about these?
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take a look at this site :)
http://www.vehicletrackingsystems.org.uk/
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cheers - thank you
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having a tracker allows you to check on your computer where your lorry/roller/tractor etc is :)
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If I get my tractor though - what is the best way of securing it against theft? We recently moved here and the neighbours have been warning us about equipment theft
Farm security is something to be looked at as a whole .Obviously insure the expensive stuff,cos if someone's determined,you're going to lose it.It's strange,but some people get a reputation for being a bit slapdash,whereas others are known for the opposite.As a rule theives wont cruise round the countryside with a lowloader,they have a good idea of a likely target,and they're going to get that from local word of mouth.Personally,you won't get to see our place until you get past 1) The geese 2) The dogs 3) The wife.
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will chickens, the cats and then the wife do?
:nowink:
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i started collecting vintage tractors about 20years ago both my wife and my mother gave me the money to buy our first tractor it was a grey Ferguson T20 the it needed an engine rebuild but lucky for me a friend of ours is a tractor Gerrie he rebuilt the engine and its still going strong today [i registered it in my wife's name] creep creep ;)
we then had a bit of a windfall so i bought another 3 T20's and a David brown 950 our last acquisition was a Ferguson 35f with the gold engine i then ran out of spare cash the T20 and 35f are used regularly on the lottie mainly in the summer [no cabs] the David Brown is used for ploughing only [no cab]i wouldn't be without my fergie's they save me a lot of work on the lottie i have a number of implements all old stock nothing modern :happy:
i think there a copy of the 35 made by TAF tractors don't know what price they are probably need to re-mortgage the house to buy one still have many hours of work to restore the rest of the tractors to there original glory hopefully when i retire from work :D
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We took delivery of our compact tractor last week and had the technical bod over for the morning to check it over and help us with it as it is our first!!
Lookig forward to using it!
BTW it is a Mahindra 254 and we have a front loader, rear link box and a topper.
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rowlandwells - have you not thought about stamp collecting? Takes up less room :)
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..and stamps are easier to hide than a tractor :lol:
I read the tractor theft part with interest as we rarely get tractor thefts around here. If you're talking 4 wheelers - lock yours up tight because they're always the first to go, followed closely by snowmobiles. Next on the list is cattle. Yep, cattle rustling is alive and kicking, unfortunately. My mother almost had her black angus herd stolen many years ago but she heard the truck sneaking up the driveway late at night, woke my dad, who ran out with rifle blasting. they couldn't see a thing but heard the truck roaring out of the driveway. The thieves had even black-taped all the lights.
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took delivery of my Yanmar today!!! shame its to wet to cut/dig anything!!!
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We have been looking at compact tractors too - with the added disadvantage of being in France, all Kubota second hands tend to be very expensive , very old and not very powerful. We are currently looking at a Mahindra, which is more powerful and seem more robustly built that the Iseki that we have seen.
Looking at getting second hand shipped down from the UK with topper, front loader and link box! Works out better than getting one in France.
All reviews seen of Mahindra seem good, has anyone got any first hand experience?
Have you tried Le bon coin?
http://www.leboncoin.fr/
You can often get good deals on second hand stuff over here.
(Sorry John, this doesn't help you at all :()
Eli xx
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We have been looking at compact tractors too - with the added disadvantage of being in France, all Kubota second hands tend to be very expensive , very old and not very powerful. We are currently looking at a Mahindra, which is more powerful and seem more robustly built that the Iseki that we have seen.
Looking at getting second hand shipped down from the UK with topper, front loader and link box! Works out better than getting one in France.
All reviews seen of Mahindra seem good, has anyone got any first hand experience?
Have you tried Le bon coin?
http://www.leboncoin.fr/
You can often get good deals on second hand stuff over here.
(Sorry John, this doesn't help you at all :()
Eli xx
Thanks Elibump, we had been looking for months, but everything was so expensive or anything in our price range was 20+ years old!
We have bought a Mahindra through an english company, but it was located in France, so did not cost a fortune on delivery - It only has about 45 hours on it and the previous owner is selling up and going back to the UK - There are quite a few of those at the moment!
I will look at Leboncoin for other stuff though!
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Thought I'd put piccy of our tractor - it's not had much use, everything is too wet - here's looking forward to spring!
WE had a half day instruction on it, which was useful.
My OH with his new toy, and my eldest - who cannot wait to have a go!
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Our neighbours had a plough delivered here as they can't get it to there place due to the weather. Anyway, they then made the offer to lend me their tractor anytime I want!
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That's good news, what lovely neighbours
That's the best type of tractor!
It saves all those difficult decisions!
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oooh thats handy :)
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It may be worth your while to consider a 2-wheel tractor as a very good alternative to a larger and heavier 4 wheel machine. There are some very versatile models on the market that will not only cultivate large plots but also accept a range of accessories from mowing decks to sit-on, tow-behind trailers. Two-wheel tractors are often favoured by many market gardeners, vineyard and olive grove owners in the hilly argicultural areas of the Mediterranean. The machines are very manoeuvrable and perform a wide range of tasks. There are quite a number of different machines available in the U.K.,
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that really looks the business by the piccy