Dirt Scraper (Dirt Pan) / Towed Vs. Dirt Scoop / 3-Pt. - WHICH ROUTE ????

[jeff9366]

Hoelscher pricing today, from Alachua Tractor & Equipment, Alachua, Florida:

DB-4 $6000 Optional Apron +$1780

DB-5 $6400 Optional Apron +$1810

I have revised post #1 to include current prices.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Skip the towable dirt pan, you don't have near enough tractor for it. Even the small model would stop the Kubota like a ton of bricks, Hoelschers hp ratings are very conservative IMO. I would probably size a 5' 1yd scraper to my 50hp Deere to get good use out of it. I've run scrapers behind tractors before and they take a tremendous amount of power to effectively use.

The dump trailer or the 3pt scoop would be my choice for a B3200/3300. Either will do fine for what you are doing, the trailer will be faster but obviously costs more.

 

[Piston]

Remember that he is digging soft sand, not packed clay.

 

[DJ54]

Before spending that much money, then finding out you don't have a big enough horse... I wonder if they have one they use for a demonstrator, OR, if a equipment rental place would have one you could rent for a day. I'm pretty fortunate to have a New Holland dealer near, that also has rental models, of what they sell.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Remember that he is digging soft sand, not packed clay.

If that is the case he needs to be looking at 2x+ of the min suggested requirements I would think.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Before spending that much money, then finding out you don't have a big enough horse... I wonder if they have one they use for a demonstrator, OR, if a equipment rental place would have one you could rent for a day. I'm pretty fortunate to have a New Holland dealer near, that also has rental models, of what they sell.

Good point. Last year I was looking at one rated 60-100 HP and the seller said with 80 HP it was a struggle. From that and other reading my take one should have the high number HP and in part one seldom gets the required weight/traction without getting the HP.

 

[Renze]

Good point. Last year I was looking at one rated 60-100 HP and the seller said with 80 HP it was a struggle. From that and other reading my take one should have the high number HP and in part one seldom gets the required weight/traction without getting the HP.

The whole deal of working near the traction limit, is being experienced enough to lift the implement right before the tractor stops spinning in its tracks. Then it digs in quickly and you'd need to lift the implement even more to A. overcome the drop rate of the tractor thats digging down, and B, cut down the draft requirement so that the tractor can climb up from the holes it dug with its tires. When you stop it spinning and lift the implement on the spot to get the tractor moving again, youve created a nasty bump which makes it harder to get an even cut in the next pass (and you'll probably stop it spinning again and create more and more washboarding)

The trick is to use the scraper (or dirt scoop) as an icecream spoon to scalp even layers off that curl nicely up into the bucket. Get the dirt rolling and keep it rolling. When you take a huge bite, it takes tremendous force to just squeeze that solid chunk of packed dirt into the pan.

Anyways, IMHO the hp rating Hoelscher advises are so that inexperienced operators can fill the scraper as if it were a scoop.

 

[jeff9366]

Before spending that much money, then finding out you don't have a big enough horse... I wonder if they have one they use for a demonstrator, OR, if a equipment rental place would have one you could rent for a day.

Hoelscher is a small manufacturer located in Bushton, Kansas.

Hoelscher may be the sole US producer of scraper pans sized for compact tractors. Not surprising, considering specialty use and prices -- scraper pan volume in the CUTS category likely modest.

I am pondering input from 30+ T-B-N posts.

( Ideally I would have a 60-hp / 3,000 pound tractor to pull a DB-5, but I don't. )

I may contact Hoelscher and ask them location of nearest stocking dealer and/or equipment delivered to customers in North Florida/South Georgia during the last two years.

I may fly to Kansas in Spring, visit the Hoelscher plant, meet the people and demo there.

At the moment I am on top-dead-center.

The John Deere tractor in the Hoelscher video does not look much bigger than my B3300SU. Anyone know what model it is, horsepower/weight? Tractor has "John Deere 420" lettered on the FEL.

The video pan looks like 72" width.

Psychologists say anticipation is half of satisfaction.

 

[Renze]

The John Deere tractor in the Hoelscher video does not look much bigger than my B3300. Anyone know what model it is, horsepower/weight? Tractor has "John Deere 420" lettered on the FEL.

TractorData.com John Deere 4200 tractor dimensions information
TractorData.com John Deere 4400 tractor dimensions information

The 420 loader was only fitted to the 4200-4400 tractors, according to Tractordata. That means in this video the scraper is operated by anything between 2900lbs - 35.7hp or 2400lbs - 26.3 hp.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/005/2/9/5298-kubota-b3300su.html
I only saw a B3300SU listed, not a "just" B3300 but it says it should be 1930lbs - 33hp.

 

[Piston]

It's pretty easy to add weight to a tractor if that was the determining factor. However, I think this sounds the the perfect excuse for a bigger tractor!

A call to the factory to inquire about past nearby sales is an excellent idea.