Having real trouble deciding between the two for our next telehandler so after peoples thoughts/opinions/experiences please, many thanks
Claas or Kramer
- Thread starter Dfarmer135
- Start date
For a dairy farm I should add so lots of load feeder wagon, dung grab work and pallet fotk work
manfromhill
Member
Get a good demo of each also what’s your back up from dealer especially if it’s sat down and dairy cows need fed
Have demo'd both and struggling to decide which I prefer. Nothing in it price wise and warranty wise. Back up is supposedly good from both dealers having spoken to people. Very similar machines although the kramer has a couple of nice touches that the claas doesn't such as self grease and reverse camera. Also 3 speed hydraulics. However the claas has 15 more horsepower which would come in handy on the bale trailer
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Have Kramer built claas scorpion (2013), really like it, only real bug bear is the controls are different to everything else on the market.
Forward reverse is on top of the joystick nearest the operator, where everything else has the boom extend / retract, and the boom extend retract is the outer switch on top of the joystick. Takes a bit of getting used to and means you find yourself wanting two thumbs to change direction and operate boom retract at the same time.
Old mans JCB has the same joystick, but with traditional controls, shuttle control is on reverse for operation with index finger, much better, but overall its a minor detract from a good machine.
Other minor things are that the safety interlocks etc feel a little ott, but maybe similar to everything else these days, examples being not allowing full road speed without being in 2ws, and boom lowering speed seeming to be being restricted above approx 40 degrees. Sometimes seems a lot lower so not 100% sure what the criteria is for that one. Bit annoying when loading muck etc. have to stop to wait for boom to lower before going back in doorway. Probably a sensor that can be disconnected somewhere but not a priority atm.
Road speed is 40k on the flat or downhill, but it doesn't take much of an incline for that to be significantly reduced. I believe there was a varipower plus option with an additional pump to boost transmission power on the road, which sounds like a useful option but never tried it so don't know how effective it is.
Forward reverse is on top of the joystick nearest the operator, where everything else has the boom extend / retract, and the boom extend retract is the outer switch on top of the joystick. Takes a bit of getting used to and means you find yourself wanting two thumbs to change direction and operate boom retract at the same time.
Old mans JCB has the same joystick, but with traditional controls, shuttle control is on reverse for operation with index finger, much better, but overall its a minor detract from a good machine.
Other minor things are that the safety interlocks etc feel a little ott, but maybe similar to everything else these days, examples being not allowing full road speed without being in 2ws, and boom lowering speed seeming to be being restricted above approx 40 degrees. Sometimes seems a lot lower so not 100% sure what the criteria is for that one. Bit annoying when loading muck etc. have to stop to wait for boom to lower before going back in doorway. Probably a sensor that can be disconnected somewhere but not a priority atm.
Road speed is 40k on the flat or downhill, but it doesn't take much of an incline for that to be significantly reduced. I believe there was a varipower plus option with an additional pump to boost transmission power on the road, which sounds like a useful option but never tried it so don't know how effective it is.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
I've also got a scorpion (2008. I like Kramer I think there good robust reliable machines.
And agree the joystick is needing rewired....
And agree the joystick is needing rewired....
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Not just a case of switching wires tho, since the shuttle switch is a digital momentary contact, whereas the boom extend and aux switches are proportional. Would want a digital trigger switch and second proportional thumb switch. Maybe not expensive so will ask next time I'm in.
I wouldn't worry about hp too much neither will be much good at towing due to the hydrostatic. The Claas won't pick up a trailer with 14 bales on anyway the pickup hitch is a disaster.Have demo'd both and struggling to decide which I prefer. Nothing in it price wise and warranty wise. Back up is supposedly good from both dealers having spoken to people. Very similar machines although the kramer has a couple of nice touches that the claas doesn't such as self grease and reverse camera. Also 3 speed hydraulics. However the claas has 15 more horsepower which would come in handy on the bale trailer
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Aww sod of course.
Had to do an unofficial replacement of the neutral switch because apparently claas only offers the entire joystick as a spare part and not the individual parts for the joystick.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Oh FFS!
That's not surprising but really annoying. Our neutral button seemed on its last legs when we got it but still going, just needs a very deliberate press since the cover has gone.
Wonder if we could find the joystick OEM, they probably use off the shelf buttons.
Probably adding more confusion, look at the Weidemann machine.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
That looks pretty close to it...
Looking at it do you reckon you could just directly switch the two switches they're about the same size surely should fit in the same space..
Isn't weidemann the same family as Kramer?
Yes, they are with a few differences but well worth a look.
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
They've just recently started doing bigger telehandlers as well haven't they?
In the past it's mostly been focused on pivot steers and mini telehandlers... I think
Having just bought a new Kramer Kt407 after multiple JCB’s I am very impressed.Yes joystick does take some getting used to but the hydrostatic gearbox is so smooth compared to a torque converter. Hydraulics if anything are a bit to fast but you can turn them down.
- Location
- Dorset/Wiltshire
We have a 2011 scorpion and I love it, been very reliable. We tried a new scorpion and everyone disliked it so will go Kramer next time!
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