Used compact query - UK

[Andyfr]

Hi there everyone, I am new to this group and live in the Highlands of Scotland in the UK. I hope there are some of you out there who can help me decide what kind of compact tractor to get.

We have only just over an acre of garden but there is hardly a flat piece of ground there. I intend to use it for clearing snow in the winter and landscaping in the summer so I have been thinking about a front loader and a rear digger as attachments and maybe a rotavator (if they can deal with 15inch rocks - unlikely I think!).

I will have to buy used as we couldn't afford new and for the hours per year couldn't justify it anyway. What recommendations does the group have? I know that the main manufacturers to go for seem to be Kubota, Yanmar, JD but which model? I can pick up a Kubota B6000 for £1750 complete with rotavator but the attachments apparantly have to be bought new from Kubota. I have heard that the B6000 is not the best model that they made so I am a little reluctant to go that route, coupled with the fact that the attachments will cost more than double the tractor. I would appreciate any comments and also any recommendations for used suppliers here in the UK.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Andrew.

 

[FarmerBob]

Hi Andy...

Welcome to the forum. I can't help you much regarding the B6000, but you indicated that you'd have to buy your attachments from Kubota. Unless the after-market manufacturers don't ship to the UK, you should be able to find implements from Woods, Landpride, etc. that are much less expensive, and often better, than Kubota brand.

It sounds like you might need to be look'n for a "D" series Cat to handle the rocks you've got /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. I'm from the "flatlands" of Arkansas and we don't have to deal with your kind of terrain. But, I think with a good 'bota and the right implements you might be able to work your way down to some of that good fertile Scottish soil /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

Good luck...
FarmerBob

 

[Andyfr]

Thanks for your response

I have since found out that the B6000 has a non standard PTO which goes in reverse and that it is rather underpowered so I am going to give that one a miss.

Any recommendations as to a different model, there seem to be so many. We live on a fairly steep plot so that it something to be considered.

Regards

Andrew.

 

[FarmerBob]

Hi again Andy...

I wasn't sure, but I thought maybe the 6000 was a non-US import. It's hard for me to give you an exact model to look for since I'm not familiar with which models Kubota imports to the UK and which ones they don't. Based on what you indicated in your first post, I'll try to tell you what features you want to look for in a tractor and let you decide what model fits your needs.

<font color=blue>"hardly a flat piece of ground"</font color=blue>

Having once visited your wonderful country, my first advice is to think <font color=red>"low profile"</font color=red>! Tractors and steep inclines do not make for safe operation. You need filled wide profile tires to start with if you're going to be doing any side-hill work. The ballast in the tires will help keep the center of gravity low. If you're going to have a loader, the best bet is to have a "quick detach" loader and remove it when doing other work. Loaders tend to make your tractor "top heavy", and that's certainly not what you want when you're working a 15-degree incline. If the loader is not a "quick detach", then make sure you keep the bucket as close to the ground as possible and do not exceed 15-degrees of incline. I would also recommend you attach a "tilt meter" to your tractor so you know at all times what degree of incline you're working. It's a cheap little device that can save you lots of misery.

<font color=blue>"rear digger as attachments and maybe a rotavator"</font color=blue>

I assume you're talking about a backhoe (rear digger) and a tiller (rotavator). Both are excellent tools but are somewhat costly... especially the backhoe. 15" rocks shouldn't be a problem for the backhoe, unless of course they're 15" thick and 10' in diameter /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. All earth-moving implements have their limits, and their ability is based on what they're rated to do. Just remember that those limits should not be ignored. You would not want to try and lift a rock with your loader if the loader is rated for 800lbs and the rock weighs 1,100lbs. Even if you're lifting rated capacity, the tractor will need counter weight in the rear to insure safe and stable operation. As for the tiller... they don't do well with rocks /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. They are an outstanding tool for creating gardens and lawns but you need to clear the area of any sizeable rocks or you'll be replacing tines regularly.

<font color=blue>"clearing snow in the winter"</font color=blue>

I can't help you much there with any recommendations. I'm from the south and we don't get much snow down here. I'll leave that recommendation to some of the "yankees" on the forum who deal with snow on a regular basis /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

As for the tractor. I would think that something comparable to a B7500 would be ideal for you. It's a 21HP tractor yet smaller than others and that equates to lower center of gravity. It should certainly handle all the chores you've mentioned and more. It is also Kubota's biggest selling compact tractor here in the US and maintains an excellent reputation here on the TBN forum. I would also highly recommend a 4-wheel drive tractor for your terrain. It can give you up to 70% more pulling power than a 2-wheel drive tractor, and that equates to less HP needed to get the job done.

I hope I've helped. It's difficult for someone to tell someone else exactly what they need in a tractor. Don't get in too much of a hurry in making your decision and make sure you check out all aspects of any used tractor that you consider, i.e., age, hours, condition, etc. You indicate that you can't "justify" the cost of a new tractor, but you'd be surprised at all the things you'll find for it to do that you never even considered before you bought it. Good luck and happy hunt'n /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.

FarmerBob