Quad bike or compact tractor?

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Jericho

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We moved into a new house recently and are seriously needing some equipment to manage it. Basically we have 7 acres with only 2 horses on about 1 acre at the moment! Also have a new manege going in shortly so I think our requirements are going to be a topper and a leveller as a minimum but am also considering getting harrows.

Hubbie is very confused about whether a quad bike with associated implements will be man enough and whether we should buy a compact tractor. With a tractor the added bonus is that we could use a front loader to move hay and also tidy muck heaps etc. My concern is that the tractor might be too much, ruin the land etc.

Please can anyone help? Those with land or those who are on lvery yards what do they use? (desperately need to get my fields topped so hoping to speed hubbies decision!!!)
 
We have a compact tractor. A John Deere. The implements seem to be much less expensive for a tractor than for a quad. We do our own topping and fertilising with ours and haven't had any trouble with it being too much for the land. I feel that the tractor is more versatile than a quad. Best money we ever spent as it's now paid for itself in spades.
 
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I have a quad and manages our 8 acres fine - have my own roller and harrow, spray and boom, and next on the list is a topper, but v.expensive!

I prefer a quad as more compact and easy to store - though I suspect, as the above poster has already mentioned, add ons for a tractor may end up cheaper.
 
We have quads and a tractor - love them both.

Quads are really useful for ferrying things around day to day, and would be man enough for topping that acreage and leveling the arena. However like you say, a tractor is very useful for moving large bales etc. I wouldn't worry about it ruining the land a quad can do damage if you drive it in a sodden field.

I think you have to ask yourself how much you will use a front loader first of all. A tractor is more expensive to put right, and run, a quad is easier to sell, and store etc.
 
We only have a compact and like it. We have used it for topping and had an auger on it for gate posts. Our compact was cheaper to buy and we felt less likely to be stolen than a quad. We have no barn or the like for storage though.

We often use a 4x4 for harrowing and rolling though.
 
I have both - but if I could have only 1 I think I would have the tractor. It can do the same as the quad, the quad is more fun but the tractor more functional and more 'man' for the job on harrowing, slitting, etch etc, so it depends where your priorities lie. However, if your fields are a long way away from your stables and you are endlessly going to be carting food, hay and water in the winter though, I would opt for the quad!
 
Tractor implements take power from the tractor, quad ones require seperate engines. Tractors have 3 point attachments so they exert force on the ground and can lift. Basically you can harrow properly with a framed or tined tractor harrow as they are pushed in to the ground. Tractors lift trailers to hitch and unhitch rather than you wrestling with a box jack.

My plan was to have a quad, but I changed my mind for a compact tractor. I actually bought a real tractor with loader as they are safer and more versatile than compacts. I harrow/grade the school and tow a water bowser using the ride-on mower.
 
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I have a Kawasaki mule, chose it over a quad as it has the back bit and a bench seat. And a paddock Hoover (a suction one) to keep on top of poo picking. Now I've just got 2 ponies I don't need them but I made the right choice when I did need them. I was advised though that if I wanted the extras to manage the land they are cheeper with a tractor, as others say with a quad or a mule each extra attachment needs it's own power.
 
Round here quads get stolen to order and insurance is v expensive compared to compact tractor. Mostly thieves are much less interested in tractors. It was a factor we had to consider as we are pretty isolated. Apparently they will just saw out a section of wooden storage buildings to get them out rather than bother with locks etc !
 
We bought a restored Ferguson tractor, it cost considerably less than a new quad and is much more use. The bucket is on the back (until father sorts it out to be a front loader :) ) It is excellent, I can shove big round bales round the yard with it, tow the field vac etc. Much more use than a quad would have been.
 
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