Tractors Again !!!

[phib]

So we have now finally moved into our new place and have 12.5 acres of paddock and 3.5 acres of woodland. Both in dreadful condition. Paddock hasn't been cared for in probably 5 years and woodland hasn't been looked after for probably 15-20 years.

So its a long term project of love to sort it all out.

I don't really know much about tractors apart from I need one !!

I started looking at Kubota's then realized that a 3ft topper is going to take a while to cut the fields with and its not really up to the Job.

So then moved on to Massey Ferguson 135 / 165 / 240's, looking at getting a battered one with a 6ft topper and loader, then I discovered you can get refurbished ones for not much more ....... aghhhh too many choices !!

So basic requirements ... tractor, Topper, loader ( have horses) also have landrover for general carting stuff about and it has to live outside at the moment

Don't want to go mad on cost as the paddocks will be rented out once I have sorted them out.

Advice very welcome !!!

Thanks

Phib

[Andy_mr2sc]

We have ~20 acres of horse paddock with 12 horses (mainly rescues) and used to do everything manually. The best thing we ever did was buy a tractor. Like you we wanted one with a loader which considerably narrowed the options. We ended up driving hundreds of miles looking at different ones before settling on a case 1056xl for £8k. Luckily there was no vat to pay but that is rare and there's a lot of ste out there being branded as a 'classic' and asking a premium.
I did wonder at the time if we went a bit big on size but on the basis it's never not been able to do anything we've asked it I guess not. We've pulled large field shelters around numerous times using it.
We don't have a topper as the 12 horses see to that but a poster, bucket, mounted chain harrow, fertiliser spreader, sprayer and bale grab have been invaluable. By far the best tool we got for it was a Wessex paddock sweeper. I can't tell you the hours saved by having this tool. The Browns poster too is fantastic. We've put down hundreds of metres of post and rail (the posts not the rails!) and stock fence with this.

Edited by Andy_mr2sc on Wednesday 18th January 23:13

[V8RX7]

Unless you want to do it, you're better off getting a contractor / farmer to sort it.

An old dumper (£1k) will come in handy much more than a landrover.

[Andy_mr2sc]

Contractors are great in the short term but it gets frustrating having to call one every time you want to do something. Today for example a friend dumped 2 tonnes of hardcore at ours from a building job he had on. I wanted it to put in the ruts and walkways in the field that get trampled i.e. Where the gates are between fields. I scooped it up and dumped it where I wanted then squashed it down in no time. It would be a cost option to get someone in for that part and I wouldn't even contemplate doing it by hand. Then you can pick up a large round hay from the local farmer and drop it exactly where you want in the field. Did I mention the sweeper??

[davepoth]

Plus there's the whole "I OWN A TRACTOR!!!" angle.

[Andy_mr2sc]

Haha Grrrrrrr!!!!!

[phib]

I have tried the contractor / farmer route before, so far waiting on :

Someone to top off the fields ( waiting since November 30th)
Someone to do fencing
Contractor to move muck heap ( just move to woods)

Etc etc etc

This is actually why I have been looking for a tractor as I could have done most of this in a day with my own.

We have to renovate gardens, field and woodland and it would cost a fortune / ages waiting for people to actually turn up and do stuff !!!

Slightly driving me mad, we have the landrover anyway so just an added bonus

Phib

[Shed_Jensen]

I concur with the chap above, if it was me with that sort of land I'd try and find a small full size tractor that hasn't been completely battered. I have a very low hours 90s Case 895 stockman at 85hp it's small compared to modern farming standards but mine fitted with a quicke loader with joystick control it will do anything you will ask of it. A good 895 of mid-90s vintage will be about 7-9k in good order. I have switchable 4wd, but if you've got level land 2wd will do, and is subsequently cheaper. If you like Case which are good value generally, you could upgrade to a later 90s early 00s 4150 for a bit more money - it's more modern and will have the luxury of powershift instead of gears ~ Nice to have if you're doing lots of loader work.

I also have a John Deere 1026R which is a small (26hp) hydrostatic compact tractor, it's a nice bit of kit, very handy and fine for normal grass cutting and general large garden duties but is more than double the price for 1/2 the tractor, but is just not man enough for the bigger jons and would struggle with the paddocks and steep gradients.

Good luck!

Edited by Shed_Jensen on Thursday 19th January 09:06

[Shed_Jensen]

Also I bought the bigger tractor for the same reason as you, I couldn't face waiting around and being reliant on someone else to get round to all the little jobs.

A 6ft or 8ft major topper will do the job nicely or a finishing mower if you want to (eventually) get the grass like a bowling green, I bought the implements new as poor 2nd hand gear seemed to be almost as much new prices,

[Shed_Jensen]

[phib]

Thanks guys, we have a stiga for the main lawns and I fancy a quad ( no real need however !!!)

Also been looking at new topper etc etc as 2nd hand seems just such a minefield, was also looking at a new tractor (branson ( dealer in same town) or similar)

I really hadn't calculated the cost of all this properly, thought I would get away with something like a kubota 7100 but reality is dawning !!

Has anyone any views on international or ford tractors V Massey / case ?

Thanks

Phib

Edited by phib on Thursday 19th January 09:21

[AGumbo]

I have an old major at home with a forklift that is good for me and is perfect for the self build I am doing at the moment.

I would personally look for a larger older model (~75hp) buy Classic Tractor and Tractor Mart (Tractor and Machinery spin off) and have a look through there.

If cost is an issue look at the unloved but reliable brands (Zetor etc) Some of the classics are now worth a lot of money that said it is like cars if looked after an 80's ICON will not depreciate.

If you are handy with spanners I would avoid modern electronics, the Major once started needs no electrics (and if parked on a hill for bump starts no electrics at all!) and get friendly with your local independent mobile tractor mechanic ( the local farmers will all use one!). Again as with cars beware of polished turds. There is a huge non OEM spares market and it is a massive sector.

As has been discussed above if a farmer is selling an implement it will be because it is shagged and unreliable whereas tractors are more of a status/power/comfort thing so buy new again plenty in the mags and a lot of good British made stuff like Fleming.

I would avoid crated chinese stuff (under whatever brand they think of this week) as spares and mechanics knowledge can be very scare

PS jealous of the 12.5 acres and the wood!

[V8RX7]

It was more that you were talking about renting it out later - my Dad does similar with 30Ac and the farmer who rents it, fenced it and bought it back into use.

I only have 5 acres with 2 being woods and I now own around £30k of equipment (admittedly the excavator, dumper and telehandler I also use for building work)

I had a contractor cut 300m of hedging for £40 - it really wasn't worth doing myself

[phib]

That makes sense, our will probably be rented to horsey people so I will still have to do some stuff about the place

Phib

[Andy_mr2sc]

Shed_Jensen said:

That is very clean! Our 1056 is good mechanically but has the usual Case tin worm in places. I hope at some point to do a bit of a resto on it as the bodywork is still available.

I agree too about buying 2nd hand kit. Farmers seem to want nearly as much for 20 yr old rusty worn out rubbish (and they insist on asking for vat!) as buying new.

Regarding tractor makes people have their preferences but the main brands are all pretty reliable. As mentioned above buy on condition. If you have your eye on a particular model then it is worth checking out the know faults on the internet so you know what to check for when looking.

Edited by Andy_mr2sc on Thursday 19th January 13:12

[AGumbo]

Shed_Jensen said:

This has reminded me if you are a bit lost with the wall of options look for a 'stockmans' style tractor of which this is one, allbeit one in fantastic condition which you won't find everywhere! All of the main brands do them and they are pitched as mechanically simpler, lower cost, lower frills for the smaller animal farmer. Most will come with a basic cab (as above) and a loader.

Edited by AGumbo on Thursday 19th January 13:29

[Cheib]

Don't have anywhere near as much land by I have a Kubota BX 2350 with a trailer....great bit of kit. Its the smallest Compact Tractor Kubota do with a front loader but there's one for every need up to the very proper stuff. We only have 3 acres and I started out with the intention of buying a heavy duty mower...so glad I didn't the BX has been very very useful because we've done a lot of cutting back/down in the 18 months we've owned the place. It can handle a 6ft mower on the back...I don't currently have a mower for it but that is this spring's shopping





Best thing is when you've got something with a PTO and a Three Point Linkage on the back there are so many toys to buy



They hold their value incredibly well as it's commercial machinery...come up rarely second hand and when they do are crazy prices. I bought mine with the intention of running it for three years, get all the work done and then trade it in for a mower but not sure I will now. When I moved all the wood from the woodshed where it had been drying out to the cover by the front door ready for winter it was six trailer loads. That would have taken me days with a wheelbarrow and put my in hospital probably! If I do sell it after three years the cost of ownership vs time its saved me or the hassle of getting a contractor its a no brainer. e.g. took me an hour to spread six tons of gravel with it. That would have taken a weekend to do myself.

I'd also very strongly advise buying locally so you have a good relationship with your local dealer....you want someone to come and fixit/mend punctures for you etc. It's had a couple of punctures this year....generally they're out in a day to come and sort it for me. You can't take it down to Kwik Fit! Also if someone forgets to disconnect the hydraulic pipes when he uncouples the trailer and then drives off...you'll need someone to come and fix the broken valves. Everyone does it apparently......

[smifffymoto]

If you are renting out paddocks you want to do as little damage as possible with your equipment.
I use an Iseki tm3265 with a Cochet loader.I use a flail mower as a counter weight.A small tractor and flail will make short work of woodland aswell.

Iseki and Kubota are expensive to buy but hold value extremely well.When it comes to tractors,bigger isn't always better.

[phib]

smifffymoto said:

If you are renting out paddocks you want to do as little damage as possible with your equipment.
I use an Iseki tm3265 with a Cochet loader.I use a flail mower as a counter weight.A small tractor and flail will make short work of woodland aswell.

Iseki and Kubota are expensive to buy but hold value extremely well.When it comes to tractors,bigger isn't always better.

Interesting, what hp is it and what width topper can it run ? cant remeber the rule is it 10p per ft of topper or 5Hp ?

Thanks

Phib

[Cheib]

phib said:

smifffymoto said:

If you are renting out paddocks you want to do as little damage as possible with your equipment.
I use an Iseki tm3265 with a Cochet loader.I use a flail mower as a counter weight.A small tractor and flail will make short work of woodland aswell.

Iseki and Kubota are expensive to buy but hold value extremely well.When it comes to tractors,bigger isn't always better.

Interesting, what hp is it and what width topper can it run ? cant remeber the rule is it 10p per ft of topper or 5Hp ?

Thanks

Phib

You can use the Kubota Implements page as a guide

https://kuk.kubota-eu.com/groundcare/product-categ...

If you look down the bottom there's a horsepower cross reference guide for each implement.

Their biggest Topper is 5ft...according to the guide you need 30 hp to run it. So If you got a 40 hp I imagine you'd be well able to run a 6ft Topper.