Forestry flail finance
Fund a heavy-duty flail or reach arm for rides, verges and hedgerow work, mounted on a tractor you already run or bought as an outfit.
Whole-of-market — 60+ lenders searched, including
Can you finance a forestry flail?
Yes. A forestry flail or reach arm mower is funded as an agricultural implement, which is a well-trodden path with a wide funder panel and dependable second-hand values, since contractors and councils buy these machines constantly. New dealer purchases are simple and used units fund well. The qualifier is the same as for any attachment: a flail on its own is judged partly on what it is going on, so funders will ask whether you own a tractor of suitable weight and hydraulic capacity. A reach arm on an undersized tractor is both a safety issue and a resale problem.
Used kit: Yes — used flails and reach arms fund well, with flail head and ram condition mattering more than how old the machine is.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
What would a forestry flail cost per month?
Asset finance is quoted on a flat rate, so that is what the buttons show, with the equivalent APR beside it. Your exact rate depends on the asset, the term, the deposit and the lender.
Prime is an established, profitable business with clean credit. Specialist covers newer businesses and credit that needs explaining — the asset itself carries part of the risk, which is why finance is often available where an unsecured loan is not.
Representative example: on Hire Purchase, borrowing £25,000 over 48 months at a 5.15% flat rate (equivalent to 9.9% APR representative), you would repay around £628 a month; total amount repayable approximately £30,150, of which £5,150 is the cost of finance. This calculator is for illustration only — it is not a quote or an offer of finance, and the rate and repayments you are offered will depend on the asset, term, deposit and your circumstances. CW Asset Finance is a credit broker, not a lender, and will receive a commission from the lender that funds your agreement. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Rates shown are indicative flat rates with the equivalent APR alongside — the two are not the same number. Indicative only and does not constitute a quote or an offer of finance. Subject to status and lender approval.
How lenders treat it
Agricultural funders handle these routinely and know the brands, so the panel is wide and the terms are competitive. Resale is reliable because flails wear out in a predictable way and there is constant demand from contractors. Funders will ask about the carrier, and owning a suitable tractor strengthens the case considerably. Income here is strongly seasonal, concentrated in the cutting windows, and funders expect to hear how the rest of the year is covered. Where the buyer holds a council or highways contract, the visibility that provides helps a good deal. Private sales are common when contractors change tractors and sell the flail on separately, and they need an invoice, serial number and clear title. The usual decline is an attachment request from a business with no tractor and no contracted work.
Makes and models we fund
Examples of the machines we are asked to fund. This is not an exhaustive list — if what you are buying is not here, it does not mean we cannot fund it. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine | What it is |
|---|---|
| McConnel PA5565 | Mid-reach power arm with forestry flail |
| McConnel PA6565 | Long reach arm for scrub and verges |
| McConnel Robocut | Remote tracked flail for banks and slopes |
| Bomford Falcon Evo | Reach arm with heavy duty flail head |
| Bomford Flailbot | Remote control tracked flail machine |
| Spearhead Twiga Flex | Reach mower for hedges and woodland edges |
| Berti EKR/DT | Tractor mounted forestry flail |
| Ferri TFC/DT | Heavy flail head for reach arms |
| Kuhn Pro-Longer GII | Reach arm mower for verges and banks |
| Votex flail mowers | Mounted flails for rough vegetation |
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
Who buys one
Vegetation management contractors cutting forest rides, verges and hedgerows for councils, estates and landowners, and farming businesses that have taken on contract flailing to fill the calendar. The trigger is usually a seasonal contract with a fixed window — verge cuts, ride maintenance before a shoot season, or a highways framework where the work has to be done in a set number of weeks.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
We publish the deals we arrange, with no client named and no rate quoted. See what we have funded in arb and forestry.
How it is treated for tax
Bought on hire purchase, business plant and machinery normally qualifies for capital allowances on the full cost even though you pay for it monthly, which is a large part of why hire purchase is the common structure. On a finance lease you generally set the rentals against profit instead. The rules change between budgets and your position depends on how you trade, so treat this as the direction of travel and get your accountant to confirm the detail before you commit.
Forestry flail finance questions
Do I need to own a tractor before financing a flail?
Not absolutely, but it makes a substantial difference. Funders want the implement to have a carrier for the term of the agreement and prefer to see a tractor of suitable weight and hydraulic capacity already in the business. If you are buying both, invoicing them together makes the application considerably easier.
Can I fund a flail head separately from the reach arm?
Usually only as part of the same purchase. A replacement head for an existing arm is a component rather than a standalone asset, so most funders will not write an agreement for one alone. Where the head and arm are bought together as an outfit, they are funded as a single implement.
Is a forestry flail different from a hedge cutter for finance purposes?
Not materially. Both are agricultural implements with the same funder panel and similar resale characteristics. Forestry-specification heads are heavier and cost more, which raises the advance, but the class of asset, the documentation and the security position are identical to a standard hedge cutting outfit.
How is seasonal flailing income viewed?
It is understood but it will be discussed. Cutting windows are set by nesting restrictions, weather and client schedules, so the income arrives in bursts. Funders want to see the business can carry payments outside the season, whether through farming income, other contracting or a reserve built during the busy months.
Will a lender fund a flail bought from another contractor?
Frequently yes, since implements change hands between contractors all the time. You will need a written invoice with the seller details, the serial number and confirmation that no finance is outstanding. If the seller cannot provide those, some funders will refuse the private sale outright rather than query it.
Get a quoteor call 0333 772 4864
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See everything we fund in arb and forestry finance →
Not an offer of finance. All finance is subject to status, affordability and lender approval.
Get your quote
Tell us what you’re looking to fund and Conor will come back to you personally — usually the same day.
Prefer to talk? Call 0333 772 4864 · serving Leeds, York, Harrogate, Wakefield, Selby, Tadcaster & across North & West Yorkshire.