Curved VS Straight Loaders: PHOTOS

[Henro]

I can't help but fall back a pillow of common sense, which keeps whispering in my ear:

"Bob's photos hardly indicate the curved hood and loader arms to be inferior. Curved+curved has to be better for visibility than square+square. It's really a matter of how much, not if..."

Sure seems like the improved visibility is reality, not illusion. This series of photos may encourage someone to try both types before buying which suits him the best personally.

This is a good thing and when you think about it, few threads have laid out comparisons so well.

Mostly we use words, and not the "see for yourself" approach.

It would be neat to see a photo comparison between a MMM and RFM, especially around obstacles, like trees and next to fences, pond edges and so on.

Would take more time than most of us would have available to produce such a thing.

Kudos to Bob for putting this thread together. It certainly took more of his time that one might think. No doubt it will be very informative to future tractor buyers.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> It would be neat to see a photo comparison between a MMM and RFM, especially around obstacles, like trees and next to fences, pond edges and so on.
</font>

HENRO I JUST SOLD MY RFM THIS SUMMER!!! NOW I ONLY HAVE A MMM. I guess you'll have to find a different volunteer for that one. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif But I will say that I like using both RMF and MMM and each as strengths and weaknesses for specific mowing applications. I think it boils down to a couple things when choosing between the two; consider the terrain and the types of landscaping you mow/mow around plus consider the non-mowing tasks required by the machine.

 

[MrJoe]

Thanks for all the work Bob. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifYou just confirmed my "seat of the pants" observation that helped push me into the CaseIH camp.
Joe

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> You just confirmed my "seat of the pants" observation that helped push me into the CaseIH camp. </font>


I should have negotiated a commission from the manufacturers who make curved arm loaders before posting those pictures /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[ByronBob]

Outstanding work with you and your family.
Reading all the comments I don't have much to add other than that fact alone wouldn't persuade me one way or another on a tractor. It isn't enough to matter. If Kubota thinks their loosing market share over it you better believe they'll make changes quickly.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

ByronBob . . . Kubota is not the only manufacturer who needs to look at this. JD's current line up is not any better in terms of visibility than Kubota, at least not with their under 40hp machines. NH, Case/Farmall & Kioti are the only 3 who offer the combination right now; and Kioti only offers them on their "homeowner" type machines right now. JD is changing their designs of their hoods as they roll out new models. I don't hear anything about Mahindra changing theirs, and they have big fat loader arms and relatively bulky hoods.

There is a lot of road construction around my business, I've noticed that many of the newer machines building the roads (rollers, loaders, etc) are dramatically more rounded and curved than older models of the same equipement. Ingersoll Rand has taken sloped engine compartments to the extreme on their large machines. I think this is a growing design trend. And the reason it is growing is because greater visibility speeds up work and getting the work done faster is a cost savings.

I believe most people UNDERESTIMATE how much benefit the added visibility is when working, but while I believe that, I wouldn't trade in a tractor to get a curved arm machine. But if buying new, I would definately factor the ease of use and the added productivity into the decision process because if I can work faster, then I can get more work done in less time . . . and that is the reason I got a tractor in the first place.

For me, even if a tractor costs $1000 more up front but if I save many hours a year in work, and I keep that tractor for a decade or more, than the added cost is going to be saved many times over.

 

[fishman]

Bob, thanks for the comparison photos. About as scientific as one could get, given all the obstacles (like "how do I afford all these tractors?") /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyway it sure looks like, all other things being equal, that curved loader arms and the NH seat geometry is the way to go.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Very nice job Bob. As has been said, the photos make a huge difference over just trying to explain one's thoughts.
Thanks to your daughter as well. I'm tickled you could get her youthful attention long enough to get through it all!
BTW, Kioti offers the sloped hood and curved loader on the CK20, 25, and 30, sloped hood only on the DK55. Look for more models to join the sloped pack in the near future. John

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> Kioti offers the sloped hood and curved loader on the CK20, 25, and 30, sloped hood only on the DK55. Look for more models to join the sloped pack in the near future. </font>

John, I think the LK series is about due for design overhaul? I know that John Deere is rolling out new machine designs as well, starting with their larger CUTs and working their way down their line. I know you and I have had some good fights on the boards, but the one thing we both agree on in every thread is the added productivity gain and ease of use of the curved arms and the sloped/curved hoods.

I suspect that as the lifecycle comes to the end of every manufacturers products they will reintroduce their new models with greater consideration to curves and visibility. It may take many manufacturers 5 years to do it, but I strongly suspect it will be an evolutionary change.

<font color="red"> I'm tickled you could get her youthful attention long enough to get through it all! </font>

Well I had to keep the engines running on the tractors while I took the pictures because she was so fidgity that I finally threatened her that if she moved I would scoop her up and put her back on the spot /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Here's the seam Bob was referring to. It does look like a "seam", but it's way too perfect. The arms do sound like they're solid, but very thick.