Smaller Tractors....

[pando]

Hi Guys,

Have recently bought myself a little (7.6 acres) rundown farm down south of tassie. I've booked myself up for about 10 years worth of projects and I'm thinking of getting myself something like this......

KUBOTA BX22 - 4WD/FWA (0-79 hp) - FarmHub Australia (http://www.farmhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3171554&TabID=3432)

The kubota seems to be the only one in the size I want with all the attachments I'm after (mid and rear PTO, 3 point, loader and backhoe), 4wd (got some steepish bits) and cost second hand seems not to far out there.

Anyone for or against the little Kubotas or have any other suggestions of different makes?

[DRanged]

Pando
Mate As long as you can get parts for it and the attachments, Kubotas etc are fine.
We have a 30hp Yanmar with a similar set up and all is good.
As long as you service it regulary, wash it down and keep it out of the sun (storage wise) it will serve you well.

You'll get every man and his dog telling you to buy this and that. You'll be pretty safe staying with a Japanese unit.

Dont forget to reverse the rear wheels for wide track if doing steep country.

Also a detachable loader would be the go (I wish I had spent the extra).
Rear mount PTO log splitters are fantastic.

Justin

[Chucaro]

I used to have a Kubota 4WD 17HP in my 27 acres farm @ Childers.
They are an awesome machine!!!

[Don 130]

Make sure the machine was originally sold in Austalia as kubota shout very loudly that they don't support grey imports with parts. (see their website) Other than that, I have a 40hp 4wd Kubota and it's fantastic. Good luck with it all. Don

[circlework]

[QUOTE=pando;1208862]The kubota seems to be the only one in the size I want with all the attachments I'm after (mid and rear PTO, 3 point, loader and backhoe), 4wd (got some steepish bits) and cost second hand seems not to far out there.[QUOTE]

Seems to me you just answered your own question.

My personal choice would be to go slightly bigger, but it all depends on exactly what jobs it has to do. The backhoe / loader is a great choice .... you wouldn't believe the versatility that these two items can be press-ganged into, although, being so small does start to limit their ability.
It all comes down to horses for courses.

The other handy impliment would be a slasher, which might not be needed, depending on the amount of stock you will run. That is the one item I am missing in my arsenal, that I occasionally regret not having. You can't always have the correct amount of stock to keep the grass down and long dry grass is a fire hazard in summer. Just remembered....... if you get a chance to get one with a 4 in 1 bucket, get it. It's not essential, but it sure will make some jobs easier / shorter.

My situation on NW Tassie, is a 6.5 tonne Ford 550 backhoe / loader and a little grey Fergie with a carry-all / spray unit and two ploughs, on 13 acres.

Hope this helps.


Daz.

[pando]

Thanks Guys,

Pretty much the info I was after, my research is limited to whats available second hand at the moment hence the question about other makes.

Noted about the grey import, will pay special attention when I go looking.

Also noted about the size, most of the work I'm planning to do is on a small scale, just lots of it, centered around re-forresting some of the property and developing the garden around the house. As well as clearing away the old rubbish/debris/ramshackle sheds (that are only good for growing blackberries at the moment), a fair wack of new fencing, irrigation and power trenches and the ground works for a new shed. I'm a long way off being able to place any stock just yet, so a slasher is going to be on the cards also.

For my own info, is there much difference in the abilities between 2 and 4wd? Do things have to get pretty hairy before the 2wd gets into trouble? A bloke at the pub reckons 2wd will do anything 4wd can do but another fella at the nippers school said any sort of slope and you need 4wd?

Can't see it as being as big a difference as it is with road going transport, just wondering really?

[loanrangie]

Yanmar E2400 looks about the right size for your needs.

[B92 8NW]

If you have a bucket, def. 4wd. Also gives you 4 wheel braking/retardation.

[BMKal]

Not a tractor - but I bought a Kubota lawnmower when I bought this house in '91. Still going strong - the only things I've ever done to it is oil changes and the occasional new spark plug.

Way more solid and reliable than anything I've ever had before (including Honda).

[mildred]

Hi Guys,

Have recently bought myself a little (7.6 acres) rundown farm down south of tassie. I've booked myself up for about 10 years worth of projects and I'm thinking of getting myself something like this......

KUBOTA BX22 - 4WD/FWA (0-79 hp) - FarmHub Australia (http://www.farmhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3171554&TabID=3432)

The kubota seems to be the only one in the size I want with all the attachments I'm after (mid and rear PTO, 3 point, loader and backhoe), 4wd (got some steepish bits) and cost second hand seems not to far out there.

Anyone for or against the little Kubotas or have any other suggestions of different makes?

I have a nice restored international A414 for sale in Markets->hobby equipment or supplies for sale-->Message - AULRO Classifieds (http://www.aulro.com/apc/showcat.php/cat/45)
If you have lots of slopes you need more HP than you think you do, so don't make the mistake of buying to small, with any property bigger is better...

[JohnF]

A few years ago one advantage of a medium, say about 50 HP tractor was you could get lots of accessories Second Hand, like five foot slashers, etc.

And some people find the small ones do not have enough grunt for what they do want to do.

Definately go 4 wheel drive, if you get a small tractor. Make sure it has a roll bar I had a small 1 ton tractor roll over top of me and many people have died in tractor rollovers. Small narrow tractors roll more easy.

But the little backhoe would be great. And this one can go on a car trailer reducing transport costs. If you get it I have a chinese plough that would suit it for sale once I de-rust and paint this plough.

[Chucaro]

A few years ago one advantage of a medium, say about 50 HP tractor was you could get lots of accessories Second Hand, like five foot slashers, etc.

And some people find the small ones do not have enough grunt for what they do want to do.

Definately go 4 wheel drive, if you get a small tractor. Make sure it has a roll bar I had a small 1 ton tractor roll over top of me and many people have died in tractor rollovers. Small narrow tractors roll more easy.

But the little backhoe would be great. And this one can go on a car trailer reducing transport costs. If you get it I have a chinese plough that would suit it for sale once I de-rust and paint this plough.

John, are not the ROPS compulsory now on tractors?
I am out of agricultural machines for few years now and lost track of the legislations.

[mildred]

John, are not the ROPS compulsory now on tractors?
I am out of agricultural machines for few years now and lost track of the legislations.

R.O.P.S. (Roll over Protection System) are compulsory in New South Wales since 2001, for all tractors sold new or SECOND HAND. At one time they were not compulsory on private sale ,used condition. Every tractor sold has to have one fitted together with compliance plate attached. Even for private sales.....:whistling:

[rovercare]

I used to have a Kubota 4WD 17HP in my 27 acres farm @ Childers.
They are an awesome machine!!!

Childers?...in Vic?

[Chucaro]

Childers?...in Vic?

NO.....the real Childers in Qld about 50 km from Bundy :)

[rovercare]

NO.....the real Childers in Qld about 50 km from Bundy :)

Oh, always wondered why when in the Victorian Childers it seemed so fake........it wasnlt the real Childers:D

[pando]

Thanks Guys,

Heaps to think about, not the least of which is which is the real Childers?:D

Thanks for the offers of bits and bobs but I'm going to try a source what I can locally, getting larger stuff across the strait can cost a bit and be a bit of a hassle.

Although needs muster sometimes as what I want may not be available down here.

Cheers,

Chris

[rocket scientist]

Just bought a Kubota BX2360 (23HP )a few months ago with deck, slasher, and 4 way bucket. Its like a Swiss army knife on wheels. The hydrostatic drive is so easy to use. If you want a backhoe I would suggest the larger model. The only disappointing thing I found with the 23 HP is I cant run a log splitter off the hydraulics as it doesn't have the flow rate.
Over all a great machine.

Pete.

[Chucaro]

Oh, always wondered why when in the Victorian Childers it seemed so fake........it wasnlt the real Childers:D

I made the comment TIC because I remember when the Australian navy named a new ship Childers. There was a big argument between the 2 communities to which town the navy was refering to :D

It is hard to believe that people have argument abouth this.
I was under the impression that you knew about the ship name and the BIG argument about it :D

[Tombie]

John, are not the ROPS compulsory now on tractors?
I am out of agricultural machines for few years now and lost track of the legislations.

Just dont forget... ROPS is useless if you dont put your belt on :cool:

[Don 130]

Two more things. A friend has a B6200 4wd kubota with hydrostatic drive and a loader (not 4in 1). I've gotta say he's thrashed the daylights out of that poor little machine over the last 20 years, and its still going strong. About log splitters. My neighbour and I where going to build or buy a logsplitter to run off my tractor hydraulics. After researching the issue, we ended up buying a tow along petrol powered splitter ( made in China)that was cheaper than the parts to make one for the tractor,and the hydraulics run the ram cycle about twice as fast as a tractor based one because of the two stage pump. It works horizontally or vertically (for the whoppers that you can't lift),and cost $1500. Don

[JohnF]

John, are not the ROPS compulsory now on tractors?
I am out of agricultural machines for few years now and lost track of the legislations.

I believe the are if a dealer sells the tractor, at least in some states. However if you buy privately you may get a tractor without ROPS. I do not know the laws. I have seen tractors being used without ROPS.

[JohnF]

Just dont forget... ROPS is useless if you dont put your belt on :cool:

Most tractors do not have belts, unless tha thas changed very recently.

[Slunnie]

This is the tractor I'm looking at. :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

It's called a lawn tractor. :D (8 acres)

[dullbird]

http://www.griffithsmowers.com.au/Photos/yardmachine.jpg

This is what we have.....although ours is manual not auto (5 acres)

[Hoges]

Hi Guys,

Have recently bought myself a little (7.6 acres) rundown farm down south of tassie. ......

Wow! what's Heard Island like this time of year:eek::wasntme::D:D:D

[RobHay]

Matey we run them at work for all sorts of work and if a prisoner can'nt break them they must be unbreakable....go for it you will not be sorry

[pando]

Wow! what's Heard Island like this time of year:eek::wasntme::D:D:D

Sorry...

IN THE SOUTHERN END OF THE STATE OF TASMANIA, THE SOUTHERN MOST STATE OF AUSTRALIA

anyone would think P38arover was in town.........

[Piddler]

This is the tractor I'm looking at. :D

http://www.huntermac.com.au/img/johndeere/rideon_mid/LA145.jpg

It's called a lawn tractor. :D (8 acres)
Go a Hydrostatic drive Simon.
I have had both heaps better.
Cheers

[Slunnie]

Go a Hydrostatic drive Simon.
I have had both heaps better.
Cheers
Hey thanks for that Piddler. I think I'd go nuts with the manual.

I'd really like the LA145 because its got the wider cutting deck, but funds not permitting hopefully I can at least get one with cruise control on it.

[Chenz]

I have a kubota 17hp in 4wd which I have used at my Xmas tree farm to slash between the rows, spread fertiliser and lime, runa a spray unit and to rip planting lines with a 500mm ripper blade I made up and this little tractor punches well above it's weight.

In 15 years I only done the usual - oil changes, grease etc and it has never missed a beat.

I agree with the ROPS and the belt I have had it on its side once when it went down a grown over wombat burrow. Used the Defender to pull it back on its 4 wheels, checked the oil and water and it started first go.

I also run a fleet of Kubotas on the Parks & Gardens section at the Council I work at and these also never miss a beat.

Stick with Kubota - YA CAN'T GO WRONG!!!!!!

[rovercare]

My old boy is selling his Kubota B7200

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/marketplace-alerts/98717-kubota-b7200.html