O/T Question on Real Tractors (Not Toorak Ones)

Submitted: Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 16:41
ThreadID: 59491 Views:12705 Replies:13 FollowUps:14
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To all the cockies, landed gentry, slashing contractors and so on out there or anyone with tractor knowledge I need some advice. We are looking at buying a “tree change” property that has some pretty steep country. What is the best tractor for slashing steep country – I have been told Valpadana , Ferrari low profile tractors are suitable. But these seem to be common down in SA and Vic but rare in Queensland (for a second hand one). I have had a hobby farm for 10 years with tractor experience on my trusty MF135 but it has to go and be replaced by a more suitable one for the new property – I am fully aware of the dangers of tractors in steep country that’s why I want the most suitable one. Any suggestion appreciated.
Cheers,
Glen
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Reply By: tuck 01 - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 16:51

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 16:51
Glen
The exact tractor for your needs is an old IH 414A. 40hp, 4 cyl.
As good as new tyres, new battery.
Just so happens I have mine for sale as we get ready to hit the road.
Oh well, can't be shot for trying.
Cheers
Jeff
AnswerID: 313863

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:22

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:22
HI Jeff,

I am not familiar with that model.
It must be genuine 4X4 (not FWD Assist)
Also diff locks front and rear plus low centre of gravity.
If you have a photo you can send me email to:

havilahheights@aapt.net.au

Thanks,
Glen
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Follow Up By: tuck 01 - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 08:32

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 08:32
Sorry Glen, I was just winding you up.
The little 414 is for sale, but not suited to your needs. It's only 2WD and they were never renowned for their brakes.
A good old beast though. If anyone within cooey of Geelong (Vic) wants one for $3800, we can talk.
Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Axle - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:26

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:26
Hi Saharaman, If your new property is steep then maybe a small crawler type machine with 3pl might be a lot safer option?

( eg, fiat ag crawlers), In wheel tractors it obvisouly has to be 4wd, but they are dangerous in very steep country.


Cheers Axle.
AnswerID: 313867

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:45

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:45
Thanks Axle,
I was thinking along those lines earlier in the week but thought they might be too slow. If you had say 20 HA to slash how long would it take in a crawler? I guess what I'm asking is can they travel at the same spped as a wheeled tractor doing the same job?
Thanks for your advice,
Cheers,
Glen
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FollowupID: 579908

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:08

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:08
Definitley be slower, depending on hp i guess, doubt if you could work in high range. Still would think about it !!, what size slasher you could use? maybe able to go more width. Witnessed a bad accident with a 390 4wd ferguson slashing a steep block not long ago!, They are one capable machine and this was a 20yr experienced operater, But things happen!, I'm very wary of wheel tractors now.


Cheers Axle.
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FollowupID: 579916

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:26

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:26
I've got a 5ft slasher at present so I was going to keep that and use it on the new tractor.
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FollowupID: 579923

Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:45

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 17:45
Make sure you have an approved roll frame and seat belts no matter how stable the tractor may be. You only have one life.
What you need is a tractor that can extend the axles to give a wider track.
Neil
AnswerID: 313873

Reply By: Louie the fly - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:09

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:09
When I worked for Primary Industries SA we had various machines on a 220 acre research centre in the Adelaide Hills . Fendt, Deutz, Kubota, Fiat & an old fergy with a Vanguard engine. The ground was very steep in parts and all but the Fergy and Fiat 500 2WD were suitable. Best value for money IMHO, & I had to work on them, was the Kubota (which was like a copy of a Fiat - the GMC power tool of tractors at that stage), extremely reliable and simple to work on. Fiat 355 skidsteer crawler was v/good but really expensive to maintain the tracks and gearbox. You need to maintain the tracks otherwise they will run off the sprockets and it's a bugger of a job to put them back on.

Most 4wd's would be OK as long as you travel up & down, NOT ACROSS. My experience was that a ROPS frame won't save your life in lots of situations. (I died 6 times - but I got better!) We had a rollover where fortunately the driver was thrown clear and not injured. If he had been belted in chances were he may have been killed or seriously injured. Enclosed cab with ROPS is the go - aircon, stereo, and filters to keep the grass seeds out for the asthmatics.

Happy tractoring.
AnswerID: 313879

Reply By: Member -Signman - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:11

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:11
Kubota B6100 4WD- with a couple of weights on the front...

AnswerID: 313880

Reply By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:34

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:34
This is the type of tractor I have been considering, as they are very low centre of gravity, also can reverse driving console - so you don't need to turn around on steep slope - just return back down with slasher now in front of you.
But (this one is a Valpadana) which are not made anymore and I am told spare parts are almost impossible to get. So I guess I am asking if anyone knows of a similar tractor to this one.Image Could Not Be Found

I think I need something around 50 to 80 Hp?
Thanks again to all those who have responded.
Cheers,
Glen
AnswerID: 313886

Follow Up By: Member - Royce- Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 22:01

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 22:01
Bloke up the road has had one of for years, on very steep country. Still alive, so maybe a good idea.

I must admit, my first thought was..."don't get a tractor". Just get contractors in to do the heavy tractor work and use your 4wd for the rest.

I've got a very steep block and some flat country. I don't use the tractor [4wd kubota] much on the steep stuff.

I have heard though that statistics say that more rollover accidents happen on the flat rather than the hills.... ditches etc.

Cheers
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Reply By: Member - Graeme W (NSW) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:47

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 18:47
You could try a couple of these "Hairy Tractors". I've heard they're fairly good over rough terrain!!
Image Could Not Be Found
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AnswerID: 313887

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 19:05

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 19:05
WEll its funny you say that Graeme, as SWMBO is wanting to get some Alpaccas - close.
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Reply By: Louie the fly - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 20:18

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 20:18
Have a look here.

Australian Tractor Company

Also, I did a web search on "low profile tractor". There's also Fantini. They look kind of like a LeMans 24hr racer.
AnswerID: 313901

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 21:20

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 21:20
Thanks Louie,
Thats a good link. I had done some searches but I did not come up with the Australian Tractor Company. Its interesting that all these types of low profile tractors seem to be Italian - built for vineyards apparently and have to go under trellises. However also makes them suitable for steep slopes.There is another called the Antonio Carraro which also looks suitable and they have an agent on Sunshine Coast not far from me. But I can't justify a new one for a hobby farm and its pretty hard to find one like that second hand. But I'll keep looking.
Thanks again
Cheers,
Glen
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Follow Up By: Louie the fly - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 09:35

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 09:35
Glen, Antonio Carraro have a history of making really good powered implements, such as single row rotary hoes. The one we had was absolutely 1st class in every way. It had a Lombardini 1 cyl diesel engine. If their tractors are anything as good they will be worth looking at. But finding 2nd hand stuff can be a problem. Contact someone like Elders and ask whats coming up in the clearing (read "closing down the farm") sales. Sadly, there's a few of them these days. Generally, from my experience, people only get rid of their tractors when they're shagged. You could always buy a JD - if you're loaded that is...
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Reply By: Nick R (VIC) - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 22:03

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 22:03
I have a JD 6400 for sale, just put a set of triples on it and it would be pretty stable!!!
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AnswerID: 313915

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 12:57

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 12:57
Do you mean triples as in this one:

Image Could Not Be Found

Yes if I win Goldlotto I think thats what I will get !!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 16:02

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 16:02
It's not as big as that one but like the one below but with a 24 speed box 6x Power Quad and Front End Loader on it, with plenty of gear
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Reply By: RosscoH - Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 22:45

Friday, Jul 04, 2008 at 22:45
Get an old Ford County, true 4wd same size wheels both ends, have 4 position adjustment on each wheel, so can be easily widened,Most engine gearbox and final drive parts are the same as the normal ag tractor (ie) easily obtainable and fairly cheap, excellent steep country machine.
AnswerID: 313917

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 06:56

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 06:56
Yeah I remember the Ford County - my FIL had one on his banana farm at Byfield years ago but that was in the 1970s so they would have to be getting on a bit now. He had a front blade and used to clear land with it - they were a great machine but pretty big I recall.
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Reply By: Member - Dennis P (Scotland) - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 03:28

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 03:28
Hi Glen,
I work on a farm over here and have been slashing for the past week, 8 foot slasher behind a New Holland TM130. Whilst it is not a true 4WD, in that all wheels are the same size, it handles all of the terrain here, some of it very steep, very well. I really believe that it is more about driving to suit the conditions than anything else.
Cheers,
Dennis
AnswerID: 313929

Reply By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 10:22

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 10:22
G'day Glen, as an old cocky,cum tractor operator, I think you are
on the right track re an orchard type tractor for your slashing. I
would recomend the slasher be fitted with rear weight supporting
wheels or skids so that weight is not all on rear of tractor. But
slashing is a last resort option I reckon. Why not utilise the grass
as stockfeed if possible. Fatten a few calves or something. Perhaps
neighbours could crash graze it for you. Slashing is costly & wasteful , & maybe in your case...Dangerous as well, so look at
your options.......oldbaz.
AnswerID: 313964

Follow Up By: Saharaman (aka Geepeem) - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 11:22

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 11:22
Thats good advice Oldbaz, and we may get some cattle or alpaccas or something in the future. But at the moment its not adequately fenced. It is an ex banana farm that was cleared probably last centrury and hasnt grown bananas for about 10 years or more. Its very rich volcanic soils and at the moment the grass (mollasses grass and green panic etc) is so thick and high its almost impossible to walk through it. Also there is some type of legume vine crawling all through it as well as lantana in parts making inroads. At present I suspect its full of ticks as well. So it needs a good clean up. I agree just to keep slashing on a recurring basis is wasteful and once suitably cleaned up and fenced we will be getting some livestock to keep regrowth in check. But I still think I need a safe tractor for maintenance work even after I have cleaned up the place (which will probably take me 12 months part time).
If you have experience will cattle - which breeds are better(more resistent) to ticks?
Thanks for your comments,
Cheers.
Glen
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FollowupID: 580050

Follow Up By: Member - Oldbaz. NSW. - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 12:03

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 12:03
Glen, I dont have much knowledge re cattle ticks, not a problem down here. I do know there are diffrent zones & action required varies...google is your friend. Resistance is unlikely to be an issue
& you would be better to chemically treat as necessary. You will,
of course require some yards, cattle will make you cry without a decent set of yards/ramp.......oldbaz.
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FollowupID: 580055

Reply By: Member - Linda M (VIC) - Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 15:43

Saturday, Jul 05, 2008 at 15:43
Try Dozerman:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~dozerman/index.htmluy.
AnswerID: 314001

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