Tractor help please (bit different to normal)

[Pheasant Surprise]

Post 97 liscences, gvw and trailers, tractors are less hassle than plant, the dumper question has been raised and stopped many times, if it didn't need to go on the road (less than 50 yards) it may be a better idea, there are concerns over the articulation (my opinion no worse than a tractor) and crushing.

It wa decided to stick to tractors.......

Oh well keeps me busy when the weathers cold and wet.....

50 yards!! Is that all. If your lot are going to go all stickler for rules, then technically your running illegal unless that tractor is on white. If the tractor is ag registered your breaking the rules too by rights.

 

[ollandroverman]

Seen this whilst on holiday on the Gower.
View attachment 576954 View attachment 576956 View attachment 576958 View attachment 576960

That has had large spacer blocks made to lift it above the axles. Simple and effective

 

[Cowabunga]

Ah, i missed the road part. I agree this could be an issue.
Crushing is not a risk. You would have a job to get crushed on a standard site dumper. They are designed for brain dead idiots to drive. With the tipping skip removed there is absolutely nothing to get trapped between.

Only the pivot danger area. And falling off it I suppose. Visibility is great, which is a major advantage. Not sure about how efficient their brakes are, but my experience is limited to old thumping dumpers from the 1960's, which are not the same thing at all. I think that all they had was a single drum brake on a propshaft if I remember correctly.

 

[HDAV]

Quite....

Decision was made to stick to tractors

Now we need to find a suitable tractor, we could buy any old tractor, trying to buy the right tractor and make it last longer and not cost thousands a year in maintenance.

 

[Cowabunga]

50 yards!! Is that all. If your lot are going to go all stickler for rules, then technically your running illegal unless that tractor is on white. If the tractor is ag registered your breaking the rules too by rights.

If its 'off-road' than technically if signs are put up, then the temporary site may be extended to that bit of road, just like road repair contractors do I believe. That's what I'd tell anybody with a clipboard that asked anyhow.
Again, insurance cover in case of an accident is THE major critical factor. They must ensure that nothing they do jeopardises third party liability and accident cover.

 

[HDAV]

That has had large spacer blocks made to lift it above the axles. Simple and effective

They spent quite a lot on having that all done as a commercial operation makes sense. It's a brilliant set up they drive it into the sea boat comes in and they reverse out with boat on trailer.

The local rnli station has £200k of talus tractor and that has loads of issues too,

Brilliant hobby...

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Now we need to find a suitable tractor, we could buy any old tractor, trying to buy the right tractor and make it last longer and not cost thousands a year in maintenance.

I think there in lies the rub with tractors generally, they’re not really designed to have axles, kingpins, hitches, wheel bearings etc dipped in saltwater on a regular basis. Older tractors especially will have higher likelihood of water and salt getting in where it shouldn’t due to larger tolerances, wear, poorer seal materials, ageing of the rubbers, elastomers etc. Even worse a machine used on weekends only then sits around the rest of time as the crap that finds its way in then has greater chance if causing damage. In short, without some serious mods, and a heap of preventative maintenance, I don’t think you're going to find any standard tractor that will be particularly good here. I think you need to be prepared for that, given the capital budget you have in mind. They simply will need to be repairs when the salt water takes its inevitable toll. You either spend/fix or scrap.

 

[ollandroverman]

Only the pivot danger area. And falling off it I suppose. Visibility is great, which is a major advantage. Not sure about how efficient their brakes are, but my experience is limited to old thumping dumpers from the 1960's, which are not the same thing at all. I think that all they had was a single drum brake on a propshaft if I remember correctly.

Brakes are always excellent.
Inboard wet discs.

 

[HDAV]

The annoying bit is we are prepared for the salt degradation but ended up spending loads on none slat related issues as they are old tractors used for a couple of hour on a weekend and rarely get a good run nice and warm etc which they need, also the preventative maintenance is dire and something that needs changing. The great plan is find the right machine and maintain it as well as we can. Hoping it costs less in the long run.

Most people can't be bothered I'm loosing interest as well it's not "my money" I just want to go an launch my boat and enjoy a few days out on the water

 

[bravheart]

Perhaps you should be thinking about changing on a more regular basis, ie while they are still useable before the salt really takes over and still worth a bit.
Also.
As the prices rise and more hobbyists are buying into vintage tractors, surely there are still some useable parts salvaged from your current end of life tractor, therefore also worth more.

 

[joe soapy]

50 yards!! Is that all. If your lot are going to go all stickler for rules, then technically your running illegal unless that tractor is on white. If the tractor is ag registered your breaking the rules too by rights.

Not sure if its still available, but used to be able to tax as a "yard tractor" which gave similar use as ag exempt class

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Not sure if its still available, but used to be able to tax as a "yard tractor" which gave similar use as ag exempt class

It’s a whole can of worms, hopefully the OP and friends have bottomed out. That and insurance as Cowabunga pointed out. There’s a clipboard and blame+claim waiting round every corner.

 

[michael N123]

http://m.agriaffaires.com/occasion/tracteur-agricole/11570226/ford-5610.html You will need to drive it from portugal tho

 

[7610 super q]

I'd just stick to 70's / 80's classics, use um, and scrap um every 5 years.
I don't think there's a ' cheap ' way of doing it.
As an aside, NFU insurance won't cover vehicles once they leave the tarmac, and drive onto the sand, I've been told recently. I don't know if this is the case with other insurers.

Nice selection here.....might be above budget though.

http://kenttractors.com/Tractors/Ford 6610 Tractor II

 

[Cowabunga]

As an aside, NFU insurance won't cover vehicles once they leave the tarmac, and drive onto the sand, I've been told recently. I don't know if this is the case with other insurers.

I cannot think this to be true. They will surely insure for the risks as presented to them. For my simple use, I have not heard that my insurance becomes invalid as soon as I drive into my most sandy field. Indeed I expect all cover, including public liability, and comprehensive cover all to remain fully valid.
Obviously a boating tractor would not be insured for only agricultural use. It would need to be insured for the risks involved with that job.

 

[HDAV]

I'd just stick to 70's / 80's classics, use um, and scrap um every 5 years.
I don't think there's a ' cheap ' way of doing it.

Nice selection here.....might be above budget though.

http://kenttractors.com/Tractors/Ford 6610 Tractor II

That's stunning and ideal but realistically at £12k on the beach it's double the budget.........

 

[Cowabunga]

Thinking outside of the box, why not give the job to a retired farmer in the locality who would do each job for a fee paid by the boat owners. He would be responsible for his own equipment, insurance, health and safety and so on.
Here in New Quay, Wales, there is a specialist boat transporter and storage contractor that does most of this kind of work for boat owners and the small harbour. Everyone seems happy enough and there is no cost to the yacht club directly. He stores boats on two farms I know of, one with secure monitored buildings, and seems to make a good living from it.

 

[HDAV]

If we could find one that would do it that would be a great concept "valet" launch I'd be up for that, know anyone a bit further east who fancies a job launching and recovering boats. Providing machines, manpower and all other facilities (insurance, fuel, maintenance etc) for £8k a year send them my way..... working a potential 365 days a year, sounds like a cracking deal for someone.

 

[Cowabunga]

If we could find one that would do it that would be a great concept "valet" launch I'd be up for that, know anyone a bit further east who fancies a job launching and recovering boats. Providing machines, manpower and all other facilities (insurance, fuel, maintenance etc) for £8k a year send them my way..... working a potential 365 days a year, sounds like a cracking deal for someone.

I doubt whether they would be interested in doing it for a wage. They would run their own business, be self employed on their own terms, and individuals who wanted to make use of his services would contact him directly and be invoiced for the services provided at a commercial rate. No monopoly. Anyone with the correct insurance as shown to the harbour committee can compete for every job if asked. That's how it works here I believe. If there's only enough work for one, part time, then that's not a problem.

 

[HDAV]

Public harbour? Council operated? To justify the service the cost would be high for a launch at start of the year and recovery at end £30-50 is no bother but every launch £30-50 soon adds up a good year I will launch 15-20 times, some are out a couple of times a week every week They won't pay £10 a time let alone £30+ annual membership with 365 days of launching is under £200 all in as it's a private slip no council fees to pay, and membership level is still a struggle years ago ,there were 300+ memebers and a waiting list if we can get back to 100 ish full memebers we can start to invest back into the club it's not just the tractors that are in need of upgrading........