Are There Enough Tractor Models Produced Today?

[bandit67]

Here's an aftermarket company that makes tracks for tractors, ATV's, pickups, & SUV's. They bolt right on to the hubs, but are fairly expensive. http://www.mattracks.com/html/track-tor-assist.htm

I'd like to get a set for my tractor, my pickup, and my wife's ATV. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Tractors4u]

Yanmar has them in Japan. Attached is a pic of 28 PTO hp model.

 

[Tractors4u]

The inside of the cab

 

[Tractors4u]

120hp model

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Personally I find the tracks that replace wheels less than desireable, I saw all those when I was looking, but they keep the center of gravity of the tractor high, and they look bad under the curved rear wheel wells. I'm sure they work, but it is not what I really want.

There are some interesting European vinyard crawler tractors, and the New Holland crawler tractors are awesome looking too, but for the most part they are bigger than many small land owners (like the majority of us who post on TBN) would be interested in. There are a couple mini-ag-crawlers out of Italy, but finding one here in the states is a tough thing to do.

I think that what I want really doesn't exist. And I guess I'd like interchangable tracks too! One with an aggressive tread for doing real work, and one with a near slick tread for mowing the lawn!!!

 

[RobS]

I can't believe nobody has mentioned
Struck. They've been around forever, I remember seeing their ads in the back of popular mechanics when I was a kid.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

I was looking to find an offset tractor for cultivating vegetables. Does anyone make them still? Case-IH and John Deere each had a model during the 80's, but neither seems to have one now. You can't find a good used offset tractor w/a 3PT hitch on it. My Cub Cadet isn't high enough for cultivating. The seats on the modern compacts are too far forward to see the hitch anyway. I tried to find a good, complete set to go on my Farmall, but they are nowhere to be found.
What do the tobacco farmers use now? I imagine they must still have to cultivate? Then again, they probably don't have much use for a one-row rig. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

The mini-dozer really is not an AG machine, and what I am dreaming of is an agricultural type crawler, capable of plowing, running PTO implements, etc. I know the Magna-Tracks have been around but they are really designed for a slighly different market, they probably can do what I want done but that is not the same as what I am looking for.

Imagine a NH TC29, or a Kubota B2910 with a lower center of gravity and wide tracks. Make the loader an option, but not a necessity. Give me about 24 PTO HP so I can power a decent size implement. I would go up in HP a bit but not too far, probably no more than 35 hp, yielding about 30 PTO HP, so there would be lots of power to run sprayers and foggers through a mini-orchard on the back 3 to 5 acres. You'd have far more traction than any wheeled tractor and you could drag a proportionately larger box blade, etc. You could power a large tiller and not compact the ground before tilling.

I think the main reason the market does not exist for this machine is that there are very few of us who could afford to have 2 or 3 different tractors for different tasks. Let's face it, mowing the lawn with a crawler is not a good thing. Doing loader work with a crawler could be more productive if it handled like a skidsteer. But it would also be pretty expensive.

 

[pekabu]

Cool Link. It reminds me of some of the Tractor to Groomer conversions going on for Grooming snowmobile trails.

Ebert Welding NH Groomer

 

[RobertN]

This is kinda along those lines. If they can do this:
www.asvi.com/rc30_main.cfm
www.asvi.com/rc30_turf.cfm

They should be able to do a CUT based unit using:
www.asvi.com/asv_undercarriages.cfm

I've used this 30hp version(RC30). It would be amazing what it would do if it was a chassis with a B2910 or similar power-train to run the thing.