If I say the word IKEA to you right now, what is your reaction?
For some it is horror, for some is it joy, and for some…well they just think of meatballs.
Flatpack furniture can be a nightmare, or a dream, it is all in the eye of the beholder.
However, what if we said that furniture is not the only thing that comes ‘flatpacked’?
Imagine that same sense of accomplishment, but on a much larger scale...
Yes, that’s right.
Flatpack tractors are not a thing of the future. In fact, here at Siromer, we have been selling flatpack tractors for over 25 years now!
As a matter of fact, Siromer has 3 different tractors that are available in flatpack form. The Tornado, the 304 and the Lightning tractors (all available to view here: https://www.siromer.online/tractors ) can all be assembled from the comfort of your own property.
(All other models come ready built as standard)
Our flatpack tractors have even been featured on The Great Yorkshire Show here:
But we know the elephant in the room.
How exactly do you build a flatpack tractor? And is it really a good decision?
In this blog post we are here to demystify everything flatpack tractor so that you can make the best choice for your smallholding, business or hobby today!
So, first things first, let’s look at the pros and cons of the flatpack tractors.
The Pros of the Siromer Flatpack Tractor:
1. It saves money
Put simply, the flatpack tractor is significantly cheaper than buying a readymade tractor.
For example, our most popular model, the Siromer 304, costs £8950 premade, but if you chose to build the 304 at home it will cost £8200. That’s a saving of £750!
In fact, by building choosing the flatpack option, you will save £750 across every single flatpack model.
Now, we don’t need to tell you that the cost of living always seems to be creeping up. Because of this, even though our prices are already heavily competitive here at Siromer, we still like to offer the option of the flatpack as we know that £750 can make a real difference for many people!
2. You become the expert of your own machine.
Building your own tractor transforms you into a master of your own machinery! Imagine the confidence of knowing your tractor inside and out. Every nut, bolt, and wire becomes familiar territory. You will know your tractor like the back of your hand!
When the inevitable mechanical hiccups arise – and let's face it, they do – you'll be equipped to handle them swiftly and efficiently. No more waiting for costly repairmen or puzzling over mysterious breakdowns.
Plus, with Siromer's UK-based parts centre guaranteeing 24-hour shipping, you'll have all the resources you need at your fingertips. That means you’ll be back in action in no time!
And even if you encounter a particularly complex challenge, our expert handymen are ready to provide personalized support. Building your tractor isn't just about assembling a machine; it's about gaining invaluable knowledge and the freedom to keep your work flowing smoothly.
3. You are in charge
We’ve all had that moment where someone else has made you a cup of tea, and its fine, but not quite right…
Maybe its too milky, maybe they’ve left the tea bag in too long, or maybe they didn’t stir the sugar in properly (I am guilty of this one!).
Whilst the gesture is always lovely, sometimes we just wish we’d made it ourselves.
Well, the same principle applies to tractors!
Because you are building the tractor entirely yourself, this means you can build the tractor to your own exacting standards.
Want to add a front loader?
Go for it!
Need a specific tyre option like turf, agricultural or industrial?
The world is your oyster!
Prefer a creeper gearbox option over a shuttle, or vice versa?
Be our guest!
No matter what specifics you need from your tractor, if you can physically put it together, you can make it a reality.
And that means the most efficient, useful and ergonomic tractor made specifically for you and your unique needs.
Now don’t say we don’t treat you!
4. It’s fun!
And lastly, whilst we might be bias, here at Siromer we think building a tractor is just great fun.
If you love a challenge, love learning, and love puzzles this one is for you. I mean, it’s basically like adult LEGO!
Managing Director Louise’s son, who is only 14 years old(!), can build all models of Siromer tractors and absolutely loves it!
Here at Siromer we say that if you have a bit of common sense, are mechanically inclined and can change a flat tire on your car, you’ll be able to build the tractor.
And if you are absolutely stuck, Siromer also provides over the phone support if needed.
The Cons of the Flatpack Tractor:
Here at Siromer we pride ourselves on our honesty, so we have to admit there are definitely some drawbacks to building your own flatpack tractor.
1. Time, effort and a little bit of background knowledge
Here is the big one!
Whilst at Siromer we can build even our largest model (https://www.siromer.online/lightning) in a couple of hours, we definitely cannot guarantee this type of time frame at home.
Especially if it is your first time, we would recommend taking a whole day to put the tractor together.
As mentioned above, whilst you by no means need to be a tractor building expert, it will take a bit of mechanical knowledge. So if this feels well within your wheelhouse, go for it!
However, if you are not feeling too confident and think it might end up as quite a big project, it might be worth looking into a premade machine.
Additionally, all ready built tractors are made by a Siromer Engineer. This means you can drive off on your tractor completely confident in the knowledge that it has been fully checked over, tested, and has been delivered ready to work.
Ultimately, this point comes down to a cost/benefit analysis for yourself and your unique situation.
If you think you can build easily and quickly then the savings will outweigh the effort.
However, if you are low on time and just need to get your tractor going as soon as possible, a ready built machine is probably the way to go.
2. Space
Now if you are buying the tractor for a smallholding or farm, this probably won’t be an issue, however we want to cover all possible obstacles!
Although the tractor arrives in a small-ish box like that pictured below, by the time the equipment is spread out ready to assemble this will take up considerably more space.
Whilst space probably isn’t an issue, please double check your own personal situation to see if you think assembling the tractor is a viable option for you.
It is also worth noting that some models are larger than others so please bear this in mind.
At Siromer we would personally recommend choosing a large, designated space for this build. This space is probably already at your fingertips and could just mean clearing a garage or storage area to make room for the parts.
Additionally, the kit also includes electricals so we would recommend building at least this part in an enclosed area if weather is bad (as it so often is in the UK!).
3. Equipment
Probably the biggest obstacle in building your own flatpack tractors is just in having the right equipment.
All flatpack tractors come delivered on a lorry and weigh aroud 1250kg (and measure 1.5m x 2.4m). This means you will need access to a forklift or telehandler to lift the tractor off the lorry.
Whilst we know that it has been done without equipment, as documented in this blog: https://thecountrysmallholder.com/animals/the-flat-pack-challenge-6245080/ this is not something we would recommend for you and your tractors safety.
Of course, equipment can be borrowed or hired for the day, but it is worth weighing the potential cost of this against any potential savings.
4. Accessibility of Delivery Point
And lastly, the final potential hurdle in building your own flatpack tractor is if your point of delivery is accessible.
Whilst our readymade tractors are delivered by a vehicle with ramps, so that the tractor itself can be unloaded and then driven off and down the drive, all of our flatpack tractors can only be delivery by a lorry.
We know a lot of our customers live pretty rurally, and as such, if your drive/land cannot be accessed by a lorry unfortunately this means that flatpack is not an option for you.
Whereas all readymade tractors can be dropped off to wherever accessibility ends and then be driven to you directly, this sadly is not the case for our flatpack options.
TLDR: Is the flatpack tractor the right decision for you?
So, in conclusion the flatpack tractor is the right choice for you if you:
1. Are happy to trade your time and a bit of effort to save a nice bit of change!
2. You enjoy building things, have some mechanical knowledge, can read instructions well and you feel up to it.
3. You have enough space to store and assemble the tractor.
4. You have access to a forklift or telehandler.
5. You have accessibility to receive a delivery by a lorry.
Ultimately, a Siromer flatpack tractor offers a cost-effective and rewarding experience for those who enjoy hands-on projects.
And if you’re now itching at the bit to learn everything there is to know about the flatpack, why not check out our good friend Tom Permberton’s video here:
It was a real laugh to make and we think it shows the realities of building the tractors very well!
We hope that now that you’ve got to the end of this blog you should feel informed enough to know if the flatpack is the right choice for you. However, if you still have more questions please check out our guide to building the flatpack here: https://www.siromer.online/flatpack-tractor or feel free to ring our handy crew on 01253 799 029.
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