Information Sheet info@lewco-equip.com.au • telephone 08 8268 3428
New Developments in Specialised Tractors for Orchard and Vineyard Work Working in a vineyard or orchard is specialised work, and so ideally you should be using a specialised tractor that has been designed to suit the job. Leading agricultural machinery manufacturers have been refining and improving the ranges and models they offer, and there have been some significant leaps forward in utility tractor design in recent years. Top of the range machines now feature a number of noteworthy enhancements, so if you are in the market for a specialised tractor, it is useful to know what features you can now expect to find on the best models available. For instance, as a utility tractor very often needs to provide high power output in a compact package, top of the range machines now have outputs of up to 106hp, which marks quite an advance on the capabilities of previous tractors in this class (usually at around 97hp). This should be accompanied by a torque rise of at least of 30%, which is especially needed if you are pulling a heavy load or climbing a steep incline. As working in orchards and vineyards does often mean operating on steep or
uneven ground, there have also been many improvements to the quality of the transmission locks on utility tractors. The best models now feature a 100% mechanical park lock which will keep a machine completely still when it’s parked, essential when you are parking on a hill or incline when towing a spray tank, for example.
A utility tractor, as the name suggests, needs to be versatile, as it may be required to fulfil any number of functions. In this case, when you are using the tractor with high load applications, you don’t want the effort required to use the application to hinder its overall performance, and so the quality and
www.lewco-equip.com.au
design of the clutch assembly is particularly important; leading models feature a heavy duty 3- or 6-pin drive plate, and either a stressproof steel or stainless steel driveshaft. Versatility in a utility tractor is also enhanced by the range of applications that can be used with it, and this is increased if there is a frontmounted 3-point linkage and PTO drive shaft, a feature you will now find on the leading tractors in this class. The range of functions a specialised tractor can perform is further improved if it features mid mount electro hydraulic remote valves that can be easily and efficiently controlled via a joystick in the cab. The cab itself is also an important feature to consider - although utility tractors have become narrower in response to changes in the way vineyards and orchards are laid out, operator comfort has not been compromised in the best machines. The best specialised tractors will have controls that are ergonomically designed and positioned for easy and intuitive use, while still providing
“Top of the range specialised tractors now feature greater horsepower, enhanced transmission locks, high levels of operator comfort, and they can be used with a variety of applications� sufficient leg room for an operator to be able to climb in and out easily, especially important if you are working independently. Therefore, if you are in the market for a utility tractor for use in an orchard or vineyard, or anywhere where space can be an issue, talk to your local agricultural machinery expert to find out more about the latest developments in the work of leading manufacturers. You will find that there is now available a new and more advanced range of powerful, versatile utility tractors designed especially for work in narrow spaces, but which still provide high levels of operator comfort.
Lewis Construction Equipment, based in Adelaide, are one of South Australia’s leading suppliers of agricultural machinery, including the award-winning New Holland T4060F tractor. To arrange a demonstration of the T4060F at their sales yard in Wingfield, contact Dylan Caldwell on (08) 8268 3428
sales@lewco-equip.com.au This article was written and distributed by Cadogan and Hall, a freelance writing agency based in Adelaide, South Australia. We specialise in producing online content, websites, blogs, articles and press releases for small- and medium-sized buisnesses.
www.cadoganandhall.com enquiries@cadoganandhall.com