Illusion or reality...curved loader arms/hood...?

[PineRidge]

I don't have much to compare with. My last tractor did indeed have the squared off hood but I didn't have a loader at that time. I am sure that if it did have a loader though that I wouldn't have been able to see the bucket at all anyway.

I can post a picture of what my TC-40D looks like when you are looking over the hood. This picture was shot in the normal seated position and it does afford excellent visibility over the hood as well as over the loader arms. Is it worth it, you be the judge, I'm pleased.

 

[Henro]

Here is a shot of the same view from my cockpit...for comparison purposes... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Edit: I'm not sure if this the exact view I see when sitting in the seat or not, though...the guard I have over my hood may actually be a little higher in the normal field of view when actually operating the tractor.

 

[PineRidge]

Henro comparing the two pictures what is your personal opinion? Hype or not......

 

[ThistleKop]

Well I'm relatively new on this board and I make no claim to objectivity. I've never had my initiation but I'll bet I'm about to get it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think the curved arm deal is much ado about very little. I've noticed that when a few"leaders" on the board stake-out a position on a feature, or an issue, that position gets repeated by a few others also and becomes the factual position that is used repeatedly. I just think it's comical and sort through all that for other information that is useful.

TK

 

[Dargo]

Cool comparison! When I first saw the curved loaders and hoods a few years ago it was on a NH. Since the dealer never pointed out why, I just assumed that the tractor manufacturers were like the car manufacturers and were just trying to make their tractor look more aerodynamic. I figured that I was never going to run Talladega with my tractor, so I thought it was a stupid idea.

It appears that there is certainly a less obstructed view with the sloped or curved hood and loader. Believe it or not, when NH came out with that design I went back to Deere on my next tractor. I personally just do not like the looks of the curved loader and curved hood. Now that I've been "enlightened", maybe they aren't so ugly after all. I thought a Glock pistol was about the ugliest pistol I'd ever seen when they came out. Now I own 9 of them. Maybe the looks of a curved hood and loader will grow on me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

TK everyone here is entitled to his or her opinion and we don't burn you at the stake if you don't agree with the consensus either.

Some of us like the extra visibility that comes with the sloped look and others don't think it's a big deal one way or the other, and I have to agree that it's probably not that big of a deal anyway.

 

[Bird]

TK, I agree with both you and PineRidge. To me, the curved arms on the loaders are neither better nor worse; just different. But as PineRidge said, everyone is entitled to his own opinion. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif As long as everyone buys the one he likes best, we're in good shape. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Henro comparing the two pictures what is your personal opinion? </font>

PineRidge,

When I looked at the picture you posted I said wow, that sure does look different than what I am used to seeing!

Then I remembered I had a shot that was similar that I took some time ago, and when I looked at it, I was surprised that I was able to see almost as good, except for the corners of the bucket, where the loader arms are in the way more.

But then I realized that in your photo, the bucket may be on the ground. And mine is probably not resting on the ground, but rather is about a foot up in the air...

My guess would be that the sloping hood/arms have to be better, and can't be worse. How much better I can't gage, since I have never even sat on a tractor with them. I don't feel the need to have them, but if I were buying a tractor and had the choice between the curved set up, and the more boxy set up that I have now, I would choose the curved set up, all else being equal... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[8561]

Bird - totally agree with your post, along with Pineridge and TK.

 

[Typhoon]

I am suprised nobody has mentioned this yet.. however its probably a good thing, maybe I am the only person it has happened to. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Anyways, when I first saw the curved loader arms, I wished that I had them because they looked so much better (to me) and looked like they would lend better visibility. I have the square 7308 loader. Anyways, about 3 weeks ago I was moving some large pieces of tree trunks into a fire. Well, I consider myself very experienced with my tractor/loader, and I am very careful when working with it. But all of us have accidents sometimes. Well I had a piece of tree that was about 8 ft long, and maybe 1ft in diameter laying across my bucket. It wouldnt fit inside of it so the bucket was curled all the way up and the toothbar was kind of holding it up across the bucket. (Those with a toothbar know what im talking about probably). Anyways, I got careless and hit a slight incline and that pole rolled up my bucket and right over the top.. BAM... it fell and came to rest between the loader arms and the top of the bucket. Well, after looking at the situation, if I would have had the curved loader arms, the trunk would have rolled right down the arms, snapped the steering wheel off at least, and landed right on me. But the "dogleg" arm design prevented this from happening. Now, I am sure this probably happens to only 1 in a million operators, but I was thanking my lucky stars that day that I had the 7308. I just had to tell this story. It was one of those days! Needless to say, if possible I will always have the older square design loader arms. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
-Brad