Top equipment and attention to detail helps fencing contractor get the job done

Wed 8/07/2015

As something of a self-confessed perfectionist, completing a length of fencing that looks right and does its job well is a satisfying outcome for Derbyshire contractor Jim Brocklehurst. Among the ingredients that help get a fence looking right as well as being functional, he says, include careful planning, having good equipment and paying a lot of attention to detail.

The outfit he uses to tackle fencing contracts within a 50-mile radius of his base at Whaley Bridge, north of Buxton, Derbyshire, is geared towards easy mobility from site to site.

“Previous tractors I’ve run had their good features, but this new McCormick is the best all-round package,” he says. “It’s easy, fast and comfortable to drive over long distances, with a lovely smooth transmission. And being able to set up the precise hydraulic oil flow needed for different equipment is fantastic.”

The 165hp McCormick X7.660 Pro Drive supplied by Derbyshire machinery dealer Alkmonton Tractors carries a Bryce Suma Supreme post driver on the rear linkage, towing a trailer laden with posts, wire and all the tools and other materials needed for a day’s work. Up front, there is a Quickfencer for dispensing rolls of barbed wire and high tensile netting.

“I wanted something with a bit more grunt than the previous tractors and also with the stability to carry the heavier Bryce post driver,” says Jim.

With its 6.7-litre engine and heavy-weight cast chassis frame, the McCormick has the mass to safely handle the fencing equipment on the road and up in the Dales. Auto-shifting between the gears and ranges in the Pro Drive transmission makes life easy on the road, Jim adds, while the creep speeds in the optional 40x40 ‘box are ideal on site.

“I’ll spend long hours in the seat when I’m gritting and snow ploughing, so having something to drive as comfortable as the McCormick is great,” Jim says. “The independent front suspension means there’s no bounce or shudder, and the cab and air seat absorb bumps and potholes.

“The tractor has a good turning circle for its size, too, and the telescopic pick-up hitch is really useful for lining up on a trailer drawbar,” he adds. “It’s the core machine in an outfit that helps me do the best job I can for fencing that will last – and look good into the bargain.”

For the full story, read the press release using the link on the right.

For other News and pictures of McCormick tractors from users and dealers, visit the McCormickAgriUK page on Facebook and follow McCormickAgriUK on Twitter.