Tractor Hire Devon: John Deere 6155R and Implements

For tractor hire Devon farmers and contractors can rely on, we keep a John Deere 6155R at our Okehampton depot together with a set of matched implements: a stone crusher, a high-speed ripper, toppers, a disc mower and a 10-ton low loader trailer. The 6155R is a 155HP four-wheel-drive tractor with a full cab and CommandPod transmission, powerful enough to run heavy PTO implements all day. It is available on self-drive hire across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

The John Deere 6155R: why this size of tractor

At 155HP the 6155R sits in the sweet spot for hire. It has the power and weight to drive a PTO stone crusher or pull a 3m ripper through Devon clay, yet it is still manageable on the lanes and in typical field gateways. A full cab keeps the operator comfortable on long days, and the CommandPod transmission is familiar to anyone who has driven a modern John Deere.

It is listed with its implements on our agriculture equipment page. Ask us for the exact linkage, PTO and hydraulic specification if you plan to run your own implements behind it.

Matched implements available with the tractor

Hiring the tractor and implement together means you get a combination we know works, rather than finding out on the day that the PTO shaft, linkage category or power requirement does not match.

What farmers use tractor hire Devon-wide for

Farm tracks and gateways

Winter on Dartmoor’s edge and across the Culm Measures clay of north and west Devon leaves tracks rutted and gateways churned. With the Valentini stone crusher behind the 6155R you can crush existing stone on a track in place, or crush stone picked off fields to rebuild one. It is a popular late-spring and summer job once ground has dried enough to travel on.

Compaction and drainage

Fields that have been grazed wet, used for winter feeding or travelled by heavy machinery often develop a compacted layer that holds water. The Nardi ripper loosens that layer across a 3m width. Timing matters: ripping works best when the soil is dry enough to shatter rather than smear, which in Devon usually means late summer or early autumn.

Grassland management

Topping pasture after grazing, cutting rushes on wet ground and mowing small areas for hay are all regular bookings. The 2.8m implements suit larger fields, while the 1.8m Del Moriano is handier in small, steep or awkward fields.

Moving plant

The Bailey low loader lets you move a mini excavator, dumper or other machine around a farm or between nearby sites, within its 10-tonne payload. Check the combined weights and the rules for the route before you travel.

Hitching up and setting the implement

Most problems on day one of a tractor hire come from a rushed hitch. Take ten minutes over it and the rest of the job goes better.

1. Check the linkage category of the implement matches the tractor, or that the right bushes are fitted. We will confirm this when we match a tractor and implement for you.
2. Hitch the lower arms first, then the top link, with the tractor stopped using Safe Stop between each step if anyone is working at the back of it.
3. Set the stabilisers or check chains so the implement does not swing from side to side in work or on the road.
4. Fit the PTO shaft and check it has enough overlap at full lift and does not bottom out when lowered. The guards on both halves must be in place and the restraining chains attached.
5. Connect hydraulic hoses cleanly, wiping couplings first so dirt does not get into the system.
6. Level the implement side to side and front to back for an even cut or working depth.
7. Run up the PTO slowly with everyone well clear before starting work.

HSE’s agriculture guidance on using machines safely sets out the Safe Stop routine: handbrake on, controls in neutral, engine off and key removed, before leaving the seat, when anyone approaches, and before any adjustment or clearing a blockage. It is the single habit that prevents most serious tractor injuries.

Running your own implements

Plenty of farmers take tractor hire Devon-wide to run an implement they already own, such as a mower, a rotavator or a spreader, while their own tractor is in for repair or because it is too small for the job. That usually works well, but send us the implement’s make, model, linkage category, PTO speed and power requirement first. We will check it suits the 6155R and point out anything that needs attention, such as a PTO shaft of the wrong length or a hydraulic coupling that does not match.

Driving a hired tractor on Devon roads

All our tractor hire is self-drive unless agreed otherwise, so the driver needs to be experienced with a tractor of this size and its implements. GOV.UK guidance on agricultural vehicle licences and fuel explains that agricultural tractors fall under licence category F, with a minimum age of 17, and that most wheeled agricultural tractors can be driven on the road by someone who has passed a car test. Rules on towing, widths and speeds have their own detail, so check the current guidance for your combination.

Devon’s lanes are a challenge in their own right. Plan routes avoiding the narrowest lanes and low bridges, watch for overhanging branches, and remember that a tractor with a mounted 2.8m implement is wider than many single-track lanes allow comfortably. Keep lights and beacons working and the implement raised and locked for transport.

On fuel, our standard hire terms require white diesel (DERV) in diesel equipment and the tractor is delivered full and should come back full. Confirm fuel arrangements with us when you book.

Road rules: licences, widths and mud

Many hires involve a run along the lanes from the yard to the field. Some points to have straight before you set off, all general information rather than legal advice:

• Licence and age. GOV.UK guidance gives the minimum age for category F tractors as 17, or 16 for tractors under 2.45m wide pulling only narrow trailers. A 155HP tractor like the 6155R needs an older, experienced driver in practice, whatever the licence allows.
• Width. A tractor with a 2.8m or 3m implement mounted is wider than a standard road vehicle. Wider combinations carry extra requirements for markers, lights and, at greater widths, advance notice. Check the current GOV.UK rules for your combination before travelling.
• Lights and beacons. Make sure all lights, indicators and the amber beacon work, and that the implement does not hide them.
• Mud on the road. Leaving mud on a public road is a hazard to other road users, and depositing it can be an offence under the Highways Act 1980. Clean down before leaving a wet field where you can, put up “Mud on road” signs if needed and clean the road as soon as possible.
• Fuel. As above, our hire terms require white diesel.

Plan the route before you set off, especially if you are not local. Satnav routes for cars often send you down lanes that are too narrow for a big tractor with a mounted implement.

Before you start: a quick checklist

• Walk the field for hidden hazards: rocks, old fence posts, drains, troughs and soft spots.
• Check for overhead power lines, especially when working near poles with raised implements.
• Know where buried services run before ripping or crushing.
• Check the PTO guard is in place and the shaft is the right length for the implement.
• Do a daily check of oil, coolant, tyres, lights and hydraulic hoses.
• Agree a plan for steep ground. Some Devon fields are too steep to work safely with a heavy implement across the slope.

Devon soils and choosing your working window

Soil type and weather decide when tractor work is worth doing, and Devon has a lot of variation within a short distance of our depot.

A simple test before ripping or heavy work: dig a spade’s depth and squeeze a handful of soil. If it smears and holds a shape like plasticine, it is too wet. If it crumbles, the ground is likely to shatter well. These are generalisations, and every farm has its own wet corners, so trust what you see on the day.

Worked example: rebuilding a farm track with the stone crusher

Here is an illustrative job. A 400m track to a hill field on the edge of Dartmoor has become rutted and potholed, with plenty of surface stone in the adjoining field.

1. Late spring or summer, once the track has dried out, the tractor and Valentini crusher are booked for a few days.
2. Loose stone is collected from the field edge and spread along the track to fill ruts, with larger rocks set to one side if they are beyond what the crusher can handle.
3. The 6155R makes slow passes with the crusher, breaking the stone and mixing it into the existing surface to create a firmer, more even running layer.
4. A camber or crossfall is shaped so water runs off rather than down the track, and the drainage outlets at the sides are cleared.
5. The surface is compacted and left to settle before heavy traffic returns.

Before crushing, check for buried pipes, cables and land drains along the track, and remember that the crusher works close to the surface, so anything shallow is at risk.

Moving plant on the Bailey low loader

The Bailey 10-ton low loader with its 6m by 2.5m deck carries machines such as mini excavators and dumpers between fields or nearby sites. Some ground rules for safe use:

• Load on firm, level ground with the trailer hitched to the tractor and the handbrake on.
• Check the machine’s weight is within the trailer’s payload and that the combined weight is within what the tractor is rated to tow.
• Position the load so the weight sits correctly over the axles, not too far forward or back.
• Lower the excavator’s bucket or blade onto the deck and secure the machine with suitably rated chains or straps at its designated lashing points.
• Check the overall height and width of the loaded trailer before travelling, especially under bridges and through gateways.

What to tell us when you enquire

The more we know, the better we can match the tractor, implement and delivery. When you message us about tractor hire Devon jobs, include:

1. The job and the implement you think you need, or just describe the problem and we will suggest one.
2. The farm or site postcode and the best gateway or yard for delivery.
3. Field size and slope, and whether ground is currently wet or dry.
4. Your dates, and whether they are flexible if the weather turns.
5. The operator’s experience with tractors of this size.

Weather is the big variable. If a forecast wet spell means the ground will not carry a 155HP tractor, talk to us early about moving the dates.

What affects the cost of tractor hire in Devon

We quote each job individually, so the figure for tractor hire Devon farmers receive depends on the work. The main factors are the combination of tractor and implement, how long you need them, and the delivery distance from our depot near Okehampton.

A farm near Okehampton, Hatherleigh or Launceston is a short trip, while east Devon, west Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset take longer. Booking the implement with the tractor usually works out simpler than sourcing it separately, and weekly hire gives you room to work around the weather. Fuel, cleaning and insurance are covered under our standard terms and should be part of your planning.

To get an accurate quote quickly, send the job, the implement, the farm postcode, your dates and any access restrictions such as weight limits on a bridge or a tight yard entrance. If you are comparing options, ask us to price a day, a few days and a week so you can see which works best for the job and the forecast.

Hire periods and Flex Hire for contractors

Most farmers take the tractor and an implement for a few days or a week to get a specific job done. Agricultural contractors and estates who need a tractor regularly can use our Flex Hire account. Tier 4, at £1,495 +VAT and delivery per month, gives access to the full fleet including the 4WD tractor, the low loader trailer, the stone crusher, the pivot loader and the 6 and 9 tonne excavators, with swaps whenever the work changes and servicing included.

For a longer season of work, our long-term rental offers monthly rates with on-site servicing included. Insurance is not included in the hire. Check your farm policy covers hired-in machinery, or ask our partner insurance4plant.co.uk about plant hire cover.

Frequently asked questions

Book tractor hire

WhatsApp or call 07841 036064 with the job, the implement you need, your farm postcode and dates. For written quotes or Flex Hire enquiries, use our contact form.