Tractor advice please!

roseberryrose1

Looking for some advice on small tractor selection for a small project involving general farmwork we are undertaking on a small farm in rural Zambia. Tractor is going to be shipped over with a two sod plough (need on of those too)We originally looked at 35 but prices and collectors have driven us away from that option. My question here is which of the 100 series provides the best value for money or is there any other make that people might have an opinion on.

Our budget is arounf 5k so what is best value in terms of reliability and accesibility worldwide to spares for that sort of outlay.

Thanks in anticipation,

Casinoking

For reliability and access to parts you won't get better than a 135. Thousands of them all over the world, and you should pick up a mechanically good one here for about €3500.

reilig

I agree with Casino King, you won't beat a 135. Easy to maintain and get parts for across the world. You may also pick up a mechanically sound 148 or 165 for your budget if you wanted to have a few more horsepower. Another brand that you could look at would be Ford. There are a lot of clean Ford 2000 / 3000 / 4000 series tractors out there at reasonable money. Its a good time to be buying a tractor, especially these older models. They have never been as cheap.

roseberryrose1

Thanks for taking the time to reply. keep it coming. One lad I know has suggested MF 188. He is of the opinion that this is one of the best of the 100 series they produced.

MrFoxman360

roseberryrose1 wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time to reply. keep it coming. One lad I know has suggested MF 188. He is of the opinion that this is one of the best of the 100 series they produced.

True that the 188 was probably the best of the 100 series, there is still tractors made today that copy its design. There is a huge difference between a 135 and a 188, in terms of size, power and weight. 188 would be over kill for a two sod plough for instance.

Hard to pick which of the 100 series is best, most popular would be 135, 165, 168 and 188, the "8's" were just improved versions of the "5's". MF 148 would also be a good choice, more or less the same as 135, just a little bigger, or Ford 3000 or 4000 either. Should be good parts availability for these too.

Your choice will really depend on the work that will be done with it and the size of the implements it will be using.

roseberryrose1

Thanks Foxman.
The work being undertaken is that of replacing two oxen and a wooden plough so thats where the notion of a two sod came from. The recipients have no experience of using a tractor and plough but a number of those travelling with us will provide will some basic training.
At the moment the soil is barely broken with the oxen so the tractor is to be used for ploughing, transporting maize and sweet potatoes. We have a 20 ton allowence on the container, so size or weight is not a serious issue.
You can check out the farm and Sr.Teresa Molloy who has set up this farm at www.actionzambia.net.
Once again thanks to all of you for your opinions.

MrFoxman360

I see, well I reckon a MF 165 or 168 or a Ford 4000 or 4600 would suit best then. Just that bit bigger than a 135, can lift more weight, tow heavier trailers and probably wouldn't get stuck as easy! By the way a 'multi power' MF cannot be tow started, is not a great system anyway, and is difficult and costly to fix, and they do worng, believe me!

These would be good reliable tractors, with excellent parts availability all over the world. They are cheap and easy to fix and many parts are interchangable between the model range.

Not sure whether or not you'll want a cab, but if its going in a container you'll have to remove it anyway.

These tractors go for reasonable money, compared to some smaller models, 35's 135's and 3000's are often over priced for what you get. Buy the best tractor you can mechanically, and don't be fooled by something that has been painted up to look like a good straight tractor, they often end up to be unreliable. Something that has been properly refurbished is a different matter, but those ones will be commanding a premium.

reilig

We have had multi-power on 1 series MF tractors on our farm for over 30 years. We have never had a problem with multi-power. The only problems that you will have with it is if some "genious" decides to adjust it unnesessarially or disconnect it. Multi-power is a useful high/low switch for field/road work, I wouldn't hesitate buying a tractor with multi-power if it was working properly. They are often to be got cheaper than a non multi power tractor, even though they were more expensive on day 1.

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

I see, well I reckon a MF 165 or 168 or a Ford 4000 or 4600 would suit best then. Just that bit bigger than a 135, can lift more weight, tow heavier trailers and probably wouldn't get stuck as easy! By the way a 'multi power' MF cannot be tow started, is not a great system anyway, and is difficult and costly to fix, and they do worng, believe me!

These would be good reliable tractors, with excellent parts availability all over the world. They are cheap and easy to fix and many parts are interchangable between the model range.

Not sure whether or not you'll want a cab, but if its going in a container you'll have to remove it anyway.

These tractors go for reasonable money, compared to some smaller models, 35's 135's and 3000's are often over priced for what you get. Buy the best tractor you can mechanically, and don't be fooled by something that has been painted up to look like a good straight tractor, they often end up to be unreliable. Something that has been properly refurbished is a different matter, but those ones will be commanding a premium.

JohnBoy

I was over at cheffins a year or two ago, looking at the older stuff, and anything big with a hundred series badge was bought by the africans, 165 upwards and they were all over them.

plus they're worth less here than the smaller models from a collectability point of view, get the best you can get in your budget, and you'll probably find implements are cheaper too, as they're too big for the lads like me who're just playing with something small but too small for serious tillage work these days.

I suppose a trailer is something that can be made locally so isnt worth bringing, but a plough, and some other culitivation kit like harrows would probably be good, and maybe a drill if you have the room for it