Which (compact?) tractor, to do everything on a smallholding?

[sandspider]

Hi all

 

Bit of a vague question, and quite far in advance of actually needing one, but got to start somewhere I'm trying to figure out which tractor to buy. The plan is to eventually have a few acres of land, some trees, some sort of smallholding, and I'm looking for one tractor (possibly compact) to do everything necessary. This could include:

 

Carrying things (loader / bucket) / towing a trailer

Running a log splitter / saw bench (so I guess a PTO and 3 point linkage would be needed)

Mower / topper

Harrowing / rotavating (reasonable horsepower needed)

Extracting felled wood? (Winch, or just driving compact tractor between trees)

Post knocker? (Probably not essential, but could be useful)

Digging holes?

Anything else that springs to mind!

 

I'd have a budget of maybe £2,000, and would be looking at second-hand. I'm fairly handy with spanners, but I'd like something that will not require too much work and will be reliable when needed (possibly not that regularly). I don't want to pay just for a name, unless it's a good name on a really good tractor! 4wd would be nice, but probably not really essential...

 

I like the look of the MF35, but I know it's not compact, and they seem to be quite expensive for the age and condition - are you just paying for the MF name / popularity? Or a Ford Super Major... Perhaps something a bit more modern, smaller and Japanese - Iseki? Kubota? Yanmar?

 

Any thoughts? What would you (or did you) get?!

 

Thanks.

[ballibeg]

Ford 4000 from 1973. Cost £1800. Spent £550 on parts and put in about 40 hrs labour.

 

Splits logs

 

 

Tows trailer

 

 

Lifts logs

 

 

Works for me.

 

Dave

[Marsh Monkey]

i've got a MF35 and i love it but you are paying for the name for sure, on the community farm i help out on every know and again they have a ford 5000 i think they paid about 2k for and i'm always quite envious of the extra grunt it has.....another smallholder mate has a kubota 1710 (i think) which has always seemed a little gutless for anything other than rotovating

[doobin]

Everything the Ford or Massey does an International or David Brown will do better and cheaper

 

This thread will help you:

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/firewood-forum/50754-yard-firewood-tractor.html

 

Assuming you don't need 4WD.

[Daniel Jiggins]

I had an old leyland paid £1500 for it never missed a beat.

[slack ma girdle]

I cant belive that nobody has not mentioned a mighty Nuffield of power. Easy to work on and cheaper than fords forson etc.

[swinny]

I cant belive that nobody has not mentioned a mighty Nuffield of power. Easy to work on and cheaper than fords forson etc.

 

Lol i knew it as soon as i saw your name

[rowan lee]

I cant belive that nobody has not mentioned a mighty Nuffield of power. Easy to work on and cheaper than fords forson etc.

 

How's the zetor working out mate?

[hedgesparrow]

you say compact. that springs to mind the sub 30hp jap models.

what you want it to do then it needs more power so as other posts ford,nuffield, DB,case old JD but there not as such compact as 60hp plus so a real tractor. i have a DB996 and its a good tractor but old and do not think i would want to drive it far on road as slow no power steering.

for price be lucky to find a kubota or imilar for that money, hold there prices.

guy i know has a kit tractor based on the MF135 loves it had no problems been modernised to some extent. ideal for what you want but looking at 4k in kit form. farm sales will be on in next couple of months see whats about and how much they go for gives you a idear what its going to cost you. and may pick up a bargain.

[slack ma girdle]

How's the zetor working out mate?

 

The Zetor is proving to be as good as the mighty Nuffield, although the fiberglass roof is not liking the spikey Sitkas at the moment.