Tractor or Quad

[now_loves_mares]

I keep my horses at home and currently do everything by hand. The problem is that we rent a field, and it's not right by the house, so I have to take hay down to the field in my car, and can't poo-pick the field etc. I have to go down a road to get to the field, so if I get a quad it needs to be road-legal.

I've been saving and looking for a road legal quad but it dawned on me maybe I'd actually be better with a tractor. Then I could just put whole bales in the field in winter rather than filling nets, poo pick using it in summer, empty my own muckheap etc.

I'd need a 4wd tractor as my field is quite wet, so wouldn't necessarily want to take it in the field all the time as I'd wreck it, so I go back then to thinking a quad would be better as it is light and would therefore do less damage. But I can't do the heavy duty stuff with a quad.

Any thoughts or experiences on one v the other?

 

[nicnag]

I did everything for 2 years with my quad but handling big bales is so much easier with a tractor. If it was a choice between one or the other though I'd definately go for the quad as you end up doing so many handy wee jobs with the quad that you'd never imagine. Making them road legal isn't a huge job and any quad dealership can sell you the kit for lights etc. I'd phone JMT in Lanark or there is a guy local to me who has set up on his own and deals on a small scale but has a very good name so far - can give you his number if you want it.

 

[MileyMouse]

Hiya have you thought of an ATV?

We have one of these...

http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/product.asp?Id=340E430BEE0

They are road legal and you can get a couple of bales of hay in the back. We have these quite squidgy tyres (the technical name escapes me!) on ours which means you can go across the grass/mud leaving barely a mark and having 4 wheel drive means you don't get stuck that often!
The atv also comes with a tow bar,we use ours to tow the grader around the sand school and also to pull a small roller or chain harrow around the paddocks and can attach a small trailer for poo picking...it makes life easier!!

p.s it was also great in the snow..you can attach the sledge to the tow bar and get a ride to the top of the hill...beats walking up there!!

 

[nicnag]

I should also add I had a wee trailer (flat bike transporter) that I rolled bales onto which saved the problem of transporting big bales without a tractor.

 

[*hic*]

I did all this with a 13.5hp ride on lawn mower adapted to take a towbar for the past seven years. We had a trailer that I used to take up to the field with the car and then use the lawn mower to take it across the field and pick up two round bales (!) - or dump the mountains of poo as our stables are at home.

I upgraded in 2009 to a fairly old LandRover and oh my goodness am I noticing how much easier everything is now

 

[mon]

wehave a quad which went to halfords for a car trailer for muck and little bales just got an kawasacki (sp) mule like a golf buggy but with 4 wheel drive nd a tipping back and windscreen much warmer thah quad and takes round bale as long as u can get it in

 

[JamesEarwaker]

Theres pro's and con's to this, in so many ways the quad would be so much better, tractor is all well and good in summer but you will end up making a huge mess in winter, you got to think about running costs too, tractor vs quad and id say quad would work out better, get a nice little handy trailer for poo picking and moving bales.

 

[now_loves_mares]

Thanks both - looks like the quad would be the better first purchase at least. The ATV does look interesting but from memory they are a lot more expensive to buy than a quad?

NicNag - we have what I would call extra-medium round bales. Me and OH can roll them into the tack room but might struggle to get them on a trailer? You sound strong

I'll try the guys in Lanark first but if you could PM me the other guys number that would be great!

 

[JamesEarwaker]

Round bales are prity easy to move once you get them going, its stopping them which is the prob, ive took down a fence with 1 before, big squares are where the hasstle is, dont like moving them about much.

 

[mon]

logic trailersdo atv equipment including bale handling stuff.

 

[now_loves_mares]

Yes a tipping trailer is next on the list, but they're mega pricey too!

The Mule is also looking interesting though....

 

[lizness]

Hello,
You shouls consider security, quads are v.often stolen. Tractors less so?

 

[JamesEarwaker]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello,
You shouls consider security, quads are v.often stolen. Tractors less so?

[/ QUOTE ]

You would be suprised, in the last year there has been alot of tractor related thefts all over the uk from farms/dealers.

 

[now_loves_mares]

Yes security is a good point, but I could put a quad in my tack room, which is big with double doors, or the garage; whereas I couldn't do with a tractor. Tractor would be more obvious I suppose.