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[johnnydel29]

When I was younger, I spent a few summers in Italy at my relatives farm helping out. The tractors they used for nearly all field work, especially plowing were crawlers (50 - 70 hp). They were awesome, unstopable, safe on the hillsides and turn on a dime. I know Struck Inc makes gas compact crawlers here in the US, but I think they are probably nothing like the ones I operated when I was in Italy.

Picture your tractor, w/ tracks and being able to use any implement on it. Honestly, I think these machines are much more versitable for the person who works on hilly and heavily wooded terrian. The engines on these little animals were awesome and require little or no maintenace. I think Fiat made them. Used very little fuel, and extemely powerful. The Europeans can do incredible things w/ engines, however, they may not meet the same emission requirements as here in the US.

Imagine if Deere or Kubota made a tractor like this in the US.

Anybody have any experience using one of these? Why do you think these kinds of tractor are not more common here in the US? They would be kind of nice, and safe.

 

[laen64]

Reminds me of the days when I drove the SUSV in Alaska.
They were awsome.

 

[bontai_Joe]

If I remember correctly, Cletrac got it's start making smallish farm tractors into crawlers in the Pacific northwest for the same reasons back in the 1930's. Track will get you where wheels won't.

 

[dfkrug]

Imagine if Deere or Kubota made a tractor like this in the US.

Anybody have any experience using one of these? Why do you think these kinds of tractor are not more common here in the US? They would be kind of nice, and safe.

Old CAT crawlers are very common here in Northern CA, and good working
units can be acquired for as little as $2500. The problem with them is
that there is no 3-pt hitch on them, and the tracks will tear up any
pavement you may have. Also, the early ones (prewar) had no hydraulics
and had to be crank started.

Even if you do find a later Diesel with hydraulics and a loader, they are so
much less versatile than wheeled machines, they sell cheap.

 

[Digdeep]

When I was younger, I spent a few summers in Italy at my relatives farm helping out. The tractors they used for nearly all field work, especially plowing were crawlers (50 - 70 hp). They were awesome, unstopable, safe on the hillsides and turn on a dime. I know Struck Inc makes gas compact crawlers here in the US, but I think they are probably nothing like the ones I operated when I was in Italy.

Picture your tractor, w/ tracks and being able to use any implement on it. Honestly, I think these machines are much more versitable for the person who works on hilly and heavily wooded terrian. The engines on these little animals were awesome and require little or no maintenace. I think Fiat made them. Used very little fuel, and extemely powerful. The Europeans can do incredible things w/ engines, however, they may not meet the same emission requirements as here in the US.

Imagine if Deere or Kubota made a tractor like this in the US.

Anybody have any experience using one of these? Why do you think these kinds of tractor are not more common here in the US? They would be kind of nice, and safe.

Nice pictures. The first two are actually French made (SAME) and they do use them out west in vineyards. I saw some in a magazine with rubber tracks.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

New Holland actaully sells one of those for the US. Never seen it though.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

New Holland, Landini and Yanmar sell them out here in California. They are great, but expensive. Years ago Case had them in the 310 series and maybe even with the 350 series. You could get them with pto and 3ph, front blade or loader. John Deere's 350 series might have had those options also, but I'm not sure on that.

So they are available now and they were available in the past, you just need to know where to look.

 

[johnnydel29]

Thanks for the feedback. I was always curious about these machines - and had no idea that SAME is French. I actually spoke to my uncle recently who owns this machine and he mentioned that it still runs like a clock, it is one of his best, most reliable machines he owns and it is nearly 20 years old. The same for his Fiat crawler you see the little kid sitting on, and that machine is nealrly 30 years old. I do remember plowing down slopes and moving across inclines w/ attachments that one would not dare attempt w/ a rubber tire tractor, it was pretty insane. I have used many tractors here at home, both very large and small, and I always felt these these little crawlers I ran in Italy felt way more powerful. They just seemed unstoppable. And yes, you are a disadvantage w/ these machines b/c they tend to be slow and tear up the pavement - but for heavy field work over rough terrian, they are the best (IMO).

I wish everyone here can one day have to opportunity to test one of these machines, and you'll see what I mean.

And lastly, I think HP in Europe maybe very different from HP here in the states. Like I mentioned, the Europeans can make some incredible engines.

 

[JDPN]

Check out this yanmar that's in the same boat

Yanmar America Corporation - Yanmar T80 Rubber Track Tractor

I do not know if it is for US consumption

 

[soulasphil]

We have many old SAME tractors in France but I think the company, now absorbed in the SAME DEUTZ-FAHR group was originally an Italian company, don't know what the letters stand for. Great tractors anyway.

 

[BarryinMN]

Here is my 1968 still working 40hp diesel

 

[boxygen]

I worked for a General Contractor that did residential construction while I was in high school. He had a late 60's Case Track loader with a backhoe. He bought it brand new and it had over 6000 hours on it last I knew. He used it year round in the woods, at the jobsite, digging foundations, dozing, everything. The only downside I ever saw was the tracks were hard on finished surfaces. Other than that, it got a **** of a lot lot of work done. He is now in his late 70's and it doesnt sit long between uses. He keeps it painted and well maintained. He has couple woodlots and a sawmill that keeps him moving these days, just for fun. Extremely versatile, bull of a machine.

 

[BarryinMN]

Yep year round uses.

 

[kenstrac]

SAME is an Italian co had 2 SAME,s Solar 60 and Drago 120 both were excellent machines and very thrifty on fuel for the horsepower

 

[Renze]

Both SAME and Fiat made their own engines, in the 70's models you show in the pictures.
Fiat is the mother company of Case-New Holland, the smaller engines are Iveco branded, which is the name of their truck and engines division.

Same is only building its air cooled diesels for certain countries, and certain lower hp classes where the stringent emissions arent phased in yet.
Same took over Lamborghini (the sports car manufacturer used to be a tractor manufacturer, but sold the tractor division to Same) and Hurlimann from Switzerland.
Later they took a share in the ag division of Deutz-Fahr, in which they later took a majority share. The implement line was sold to Kverneland, and the Deutz engine division is owned by Same, Volvo and some smaller financial investors. The Deutz marine engine division is also sold to private investors who have resurrected the name MWM, which was taken over by Deutz in the 80's. The MWM do Brazil company, tied up with Navistar, supplying diesels to Ford pickup trucks, used to be a subsidiary of MWM when they still were independent.

Zetor used to build a 2023, which was a 25 hp narrow crawler intended for steep vineyard hills. Their 50hp standard size Super P crawlers were discontinued after 2 years, as a political fate, in favour of competing Soviet designs.

 

[20 20]

Owned a oliver cletrac ran good except on steep hills when the float style carb would cut of the gas flow. Own a Nortrac dozer now with the 3pt great machine for the price. nice being able to go places{a tractor NEVER could} without tearing everything up because of size.

I do like the looks of the Yanmar, wonder if others will start chimming in??? I did check out the Strucks but don't really feel they're worth what they're asking.

 

[ChuckinNH]

When I was in high school, JD had a series of small dozers that were universally used by the local loggers. They were the two cylinder gas engines, and I don't know how much HP they generated. They were outfitted with a boom that ran over the operators station, and a heavy winch. What they could accomplish with those little dozers was amazing. I worked in a game preserve that had one right after I got out of the Army, and really enjoyed using it. Sloping ice, and loose rocks on ledge will teach you new respect for tracks though! I think they would be great if small enough, and they could find a way to make track maintenance, and costs less burdensome.

 

[baronthered]

Caterpillar makes a tractor called the Challenger that is on rubber tracks. The single biggest cost on a crawler tractor is the undercarraige. They is expensive. Engines and drivetrains aren't cheap either but usually they can be rebuilt for much less than the U/C can be built for. Generally when the Undercarraige is gone its all gone at the same time.

 

[dgl24087]

We have many old SAME tractors in France but I think the company, now absorbed in the SAME DEUTZ-FAHR group was originally an Italian company, don't know what the letters stand for. Great tractors anyway.

SAME- Societa Anonima Motori Endotermici, don't ask me what that translates to in English

 

[johnnydel29]

Here is my 1968 still working 40hp diesel

Amazing, these machines are just so versitle. Again, too bad Deere does not still make this machine, especially the little 350.

Attached is another pic of me turning some dirt w/ the SAME a few years ago when I visited fmaily.

Some folks thought I was nuts when I went to Italy b/c I spent most of my time running this machine and just hanging around the farm. Running this crawler beat going to Rome sight seeing on a hot day, by far.