Choosing the right compact tractor

[SteveA]

After much delving and pondering on a sit on lawn mower I think we might be better off getting a compact tractor

Question is; which one???

 

it needs to be able to:

• Mow in tight spaces with a belly mower (to mulch)
• Run a flail (could be a fairly narrow one/ about 1m width).... or maybe we dont need a belly mower if we use this instead??
• Tow a narrow tipping trailer/ hydraulic tip (about 1t to 1.5t)
• Rotovate
• Rotary tiller
• Winch sections of trees (nothing too big)
• Run a log splitter

 

I've mostly been looking at a used John Deere or Kubota.... and its all very confusing, especially the Kubota model numbers.

I think I'd need about 26hp at the PTO to run some of those implements above.

 

Not set on a budget but probably looking around the £6k ish mark (that's including a flail or belly mower).

 

Any suggestions on which models I should or shouldn't be looking at? I want something reliable that I can get spare parts for easily.

cheers, steve

 

Edited September 9, 2017 by SteveA

[slack ma girdle]

Have a look on ebay steve, there is a compact in Llanddowror for about 2k.
 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shire-335-4-Wheel-Drive-Tractor-04-05-/232475101807?hash=item3620988a6f:g:04UAAOSwSEVZkuu2

Sent from my SM-G925F using Arbtalk mobile app
 

[ewd ripper]

Take a look at the kubota BX range, you can get them with a mid mounted cutting deck, and they have rear PTO, 3PL, drawbar etc for running flails / rotovators , spools for tipping trailers and log splitters , well worth a look and you'll probably find a decent second hand one with your budget.

[Guss109]

Have a look on Facebook there was an advert on the other day for a 26hp solis with winch and loader I think the person is on here to Pete winstanley ? Possibly

[Sheepy]

Hi steve I recently sold a 25hp yanmar witch was used to run a 1 metre flail, Its just about enough but going forward Il be looking to find something around the 40/50hp mark, It was a handy little 4wd machine but it just didn't compete with much in the end and went through 2 head gaskets in the process. As for the flail look up a company called Del Morino there is a few uk dealers and parts can be ordered online

[SteveA]

Just now, Sheepy said:

Hi steve I recently sold a 25hp yanmar witch was used to run a 1 metre flail, Its just about enough but going forward Il be looking to find something around the 40/50hp mark, It was a handy little 4wd machine but it just didn't compete with much in the end and went through 2 head gaskets in the process. As for the flail look up a company called Del Morino there is a few uk dealers and parts can be ordered online

Thanks for that top tip Sheepy. I have been looking for something around the 35hp mark.

Kubota ST STa models seem to range between 30hp and 40hp.... do you know anything about those? Seem to be a few used ones about.

cheers, steve

[Sheepy]

Just now, SteveA said:

Thanks for that top tip Sheepy. I have been looking for something around the 35hp mark.

Kubota ST STa models seem to range between 30hp and 40hp.... do you know anything about those? Seem to be a few used ones about.

cheers, steve

Hi steve would depend on wether or not your after 4wd or not, and how mechanically minded you are. More often than not the cheapest easiest way of getting 40/50hp out of a small ish tractor is to go for a old or rebuild massey david brown new holland ect. but more often than not only 2wd models.

[SteveA]

8 minutes ago, Sheepy said:

Hi steve would depend on wether or not your after 4wd or not, and how mechanically minded you are. More often than not the cheapest easiest way of getting 40/50hp out of a small ish tractor is to go for a old or rebuild massey david brown new holland ect. but more often than not only 2wd models.

We need something narrow to go between our horticulture beds..... which have paths about 1.3m wide, so small-ish old tractors, like the Massey 35, are a tad too wide (unfortunately cuz I've always wanted one). We'll also be using the tractor to tug n skid some lengths of timber out of the woods ...so 4wd would help with doing that (and West Wales gets a lot of rain most of the year).

 

I can and do fix and service machines so got no worries there.... but would rather spend more £'s on something that doesn't need fixing to begin with (as I need to get on with doing jobs).

cheers, steve

[Kev Stephenson]

I've got a kubota b1400d 19hp compact with loader. 4wd with ag tyres it goes anywhere. Fits on an 8x4 plant trailer, runs a splitter from hydraulic spools and I have a pto flail for it 1.15m wide. It will lift 300kg easily and has enough power to do what I need. There are some on eBay and the like. Do you really need 40+ hp??

[Sheepy]

5 hours ago, Kev Stephenson said:

I've got a kubota b1400d 19hp compact with loader. 4wd with ag tyres it goes anywhere. Fits on an 8x4 plant trailer, runs a splitter from hydraulic spools and I have a pto flail for it 1.15m wide. It will lift 300kg easily and has enough power to do what I need. There are some on eBay and the like. Do you really need 40+ hp??

I'd say so to make the most use of a flail, with anything less once your above 1.5ft and have a bit of dew on it your going to be chugging along in crawler gear, I suppose you could say it's neater than strimming/herbicide application but it's only just slightly more profitable. Shine through if you have multiple years of maintenance but you have to keep your eye on things.