HullFencing

Bit of an update on this........... bit the bullet about 6 weeks ago and bought a P22 contractor RG30 and within an hour of fencing with it decided the tractor was going to be sold! the benefits far outweigh the few small cons and im definitely not missing jumping in and out of the tractor all day when working on my own.

It took you an hour to realise!, what where you doing drinking tea? They are a big leap forward in fencing efficiency and productivity aren't they. Your hips and knees will thank you.

Your question is one I've given a lot of thought to myself.  For me at the end of the day it came down to the level of investment required, and I didn't want to committ the capital to a dedicated tracked machine (in addition to or instead of my Massey 5445 and Kinghitter S2 expander- so 340 kg hammer with 1.8M drop).
 
I am also on the wrong side of 55, so the "wear and tear" on my frame  of climbing off and on was a big factor for me.
 
After a lot of consideration I decided Mark Hibberd's approach using a mini-excavator was the right one for me.  There are a few people doing this and they nearly all have a slightly different way utilizing the machine, my driver is a homebuilt vibratory unit with an integrated auger rather than a hammer like Mark's or Stephen Blairs - it suits me and the work I do but would not be for everyone.  All this illustrates is that there are several ways of skinning the cat . . . 
 
If you want something off the shelf (and customer perception comes into this as well, I know a lot of farmers who would laugh if I turned up with my Digger, but my lifestyle clients love it) then that also is important.
 
Cheers

That's exactly why I have a Vector.

and fixed rigid to the machine with no sloppy link arm stabilisers and tyre movement, and no paying someone else to sit in the warm on facebook, listening to the radio and not managing to position the tractor in the right place whilst your getting wet and cold. Get them out wiring up!