Kubota Compact Tractor

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Ceriann

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Keeping the horses at home we spend a significant amount every year getting fields harrowed, rolled, sprayed etc. We have an atv, which is great for something's but it hasn't actually turned out to be that useful. So looking at a compact tractor to do the above and would appreciate any recommendations. We currently have 7/8 acres so not loads of land. OH is desperate for a little tractor - I get horses, he gets gadgets! I've seen a decently priced second hand kubota (with some extras) - 4wd but only 15hp. Thank you in advance.
 
I looked at getting a compact Kubota with loader, but a friend (tractor expert) looked at my land and said it was too undulating. It would struggle power wise and they have a nasty habit of rolling. I ended up getting a normal tractor (with loader) from local dealers. It has the grunt (73 hp) to do anything - trailers, fertilise, spring tine harrow (not one of those pathetic chain harrows), turn hay, bale and roll. The only thing it cannot do is harrow the school.
 
I have one and its a super little thing. Sadly dont have a front loader on it, but it has a bale spike which shifts bales of haylage happily - you need to develop a knack for tipping them up though.
It happily uses the topper, and pulls along my poo picker. Gets used for lots of other jobs too.
My fields are on a hill, and its never threatened to tip over.
 
tescoexpress said:
I looked at getting a compact Kubota with loader, but a friend (tractor expert) looked at my land and said it was too undulating. It would struggle power wise and they have a nasty habit of rolling. I ended up getting a normal tractor (with loader) from local dealers. It has the grunt (73 hp) to do anything - trailers, fertilise, spring tine harrow (not one of those pathetic chain harrows), turn hay, bale and roll. The only thing it cannot do is harrow the school.
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I suspect my OH would have tractor envy! We are currently on clay soil and have some decent hills but are relocating (new job) and will 100% never go on clay again (though a few hills won't out us off) so useful to know thank you. Budget won't stretch to a proper tractor at the min!
 
Britestar said:
I have one and its a super little thing. Sadly dont have a front loader on it, but it has a bale spike which shifts bales of haylage happily - you need to develop a knack for tipping them up though.
It happily uses the topper, and pulls along my poo picker. Gets used for lots of other jobs too.
My fields are on a hill, and its never threatened to tip over.
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What engine do you have? The one I'm looking at has a loader/bucket which is an added extra. Topping, general maintenance is what we want it for. Thank you.
 
Ceriann said:
I suspect my OH would have tractor envy! We are currently on clay soil and have some decent hills but are relocating (new job) and will 100% never go on clay again (though a few hills won't out us off) so useful to know thank you. Budget won't stretch to a proper tractor at the min!
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Have you got a muck trailer? If yes, will you have to tow it across muddy ground? That will likely be the tractor's hardest job. If the trailer tips, has the tractor you are looking at got an oil spool to operate the jack.
 
I never have because of the maintenance but my smallholder neighbour keeps telling me I should get a small vintage tractor like a little grey Fergie or similar. Might that be a better bet?
 
JillA said:
I never have because of the maintenance but my smallholder neighbour keeps telling me I should get a small vintage tractor like a little grey Fergie or similar. Might that be a better bet?
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Old ones are easier to maintain as everything is mechanical. My one's foot throttle is broken and it is basically a bike cable. On a modern tractor it would be a switch taking to a computer, talking to the engine management unit... Tractor breaks = phone dealer who turns up with a laptop to plug in to the tractor.

If you want a loader (very useful with muck heaps), buy an old one with the loader arms already on. Don't try and fit a new loader to an old tractor. Be aware that all prices you see at tractor dealers will be ex VAT.

Four wheel drive is best with a loader as the front drive pull you around when turning tightly. With 2WD, you turn the wheel and keep going forward!
 
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I have one and to be honest it's only good for cutting the grass (now it has turf tyres). I have a topper for the back and a mower deck that fits underneath. BUT it just sits in the barn with a flat battery all the time.

Personally I get much more use from a proper tractor, mine's a Massey 165 so not too big and it does everything; without the limitations of the the little Kubota. A big advantage with a normal tractor is that standard equipment and implements will fit the linkage and the PTO. There's loads of secondhand implements available cheap everywhere. I can run a baler or just potter about picking up logs. All spares are still available for the older tractors too. The cost of implements and spares for the Kubotas will make your eyes water.

PS if you ever want to run a baler you need a minimum of 40hp
 
We bought a small tractor at the beginning of the year secondhand, the ones sold by dealers for about £6.500 are refurbs and are quite old under the new paint. We bought ours privately with a topper, no loader and soon found out that really it was too light for heavy jobs, and the seats are really tiny as they are made for the Japanese market, and there is little room for UK sized feet.
So we bought a Ford Dexta with front loader, made in about the 1950's who had been preloved. Dexter had been well looked after, been painted and its a bit like buying a Landie that you become part of a family. If you have someone who likes tinkering there are vintage tractor road runs and rallies, ours has a Q plate, tax is free. You can buy loads of attachments off e-bay and the pallet forks are great.
MF 135, are loads of money, Fords are a lot cheaper and its fairly easy to get parts. Look at tractors.com for details and Cheffins have a sale every month,http://www.cheffins.co.uk/machinery/ which is good for window shopping, but I would buy private.
PS I did not lose any money on the Kubota, sold it with out advertising and kept the topper, now need a wider one.
 
Thanks everyone - loads of v helpful tips and info here. I suspect we've got a bit more thinking to do before we make a decision. Def buy private though.
 
We have a sixty one year old Fergie, was refurbed and came with a bucket and front loader arms ((bucket currently on the back while engineer father, who is 26 years older than the tractor, sorts out the hydraulics!) Cost us about a grand two years ago, any repairs are relatively easy and spares fairly readily available. Does pretty much all we need it to.
 
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