Small Tractor

[Peter57]

Just purchased a 5 acre lot and now need to buy a small tractor. I need it for slashing the paddocks and will need to do a fair amount of landscaping once a house is built on the site. I reckon a 4 in 1 bucket is the right option but not sure what tractor to get. The Chinese Dong Feng (East wind) and Foton seem cheap enough but I'm not sure of their quality. Anybody have one?

cheers,
Peter

[DJ’s Timber]

Cannot advise on the tractors you've mentioned, but also suggest that you maybe look at a secondhand bobcat, great for doing landscaping work, bigger HP available and can also get a slasher to fit them, not to mention that they are great in tight spots.

[TheNutter]

Hi Peter

I have had the 404 (40 hp) Foton fel with the simple bucket. It is now 7years old, around 420hours. It has had no problems (that I haven't caused) it's simple and strong. I run a big 6th slasher, blast mister with a 29inch fan and a big heavy almond pickup machine without difficulty. The seem to be big horses compared to the older 40 hp tractors that are around! If it fell in hole I would buy another in an instant.

My neighbor has a 25 hp mahindra with a 3 in 1 bucket, the tractor is fine, but not a stable as the larger Foton. The bucket however isn't very strong and he broke it grabbing a stump.

Regards
Ian

[Rickey Herb]

I have a Kioti Daedong LK35. Now have 124 hours on the clock and have been very happy with it. 4 in 1 bucket, 6ft Howard slasher and 1 metre rotary hoe. All good. In hindsight I might have stayed with the standard bucket as it is a bit bigger. I really don't use the 4-in-1 capability that much. I'm on quite a steep site so wanted something with a low centre of gravity.

Rickey