Reliability is key when the tractor is required to do a range of jobs, and a Kubota L5740 has proved its worth at The Limes, a private farm in Shenington, Oxfordshire.
The 250ha of farmland is worked by contractors, but a versatile tractor is required for a host of jobs in the gardens and grounds.
“We had a compact with a ROPS previously,” explains Ady Gulley, who looks after grounds maintenance, “But when it came up for replacement we spoke to Geoff Dean at our local dealer Hunts Engineering Ltd and he recommended the L5740 which has a full cab and at 57hp, plenty of power for the jobs we need it to do.”
With lift capacity of 1750kg, the tractor comfortably handles a reach arm hedgecutter, post driver and small flail; it is also frequently used for haulage with a two tonne trailer and tackles paddock spraying.
“The hydrostatic transmission makes it so much easier for jobs where I need to shuttle back and forward, such as operating the hedgecutter and the tractor is nippy and manoeuvrable for tighter areas when working around the lake in the gardens or in paddocks.”
A spacious cab with heater and air conditioning ‘makes a big difference’, he points out.
“It’ so much more comfortable all year round.”
All servicing is carried out by Hunts, who Mr Gulley says provide ‘great back-up’, although it has proved highly reliable in the three years since purchased by the farm.
“It doesn’t do a lot of hours compared to the bigger tractors, but it’s extremely useful and dependable and we expect it to be here for many years to come.”
