Which tractor is the most driver friendly for a 14hr + day?
- Thread starter Pilatus
- Start date
Cowabunga
Member
- Location
- Ceredigion,Wales
JCB Fastrac. The latest models with CVT, autosteer, headland management and so on.
Of course it depends on the intended use and I wouldn't use one to scape slurry in cow cubicle sheds at all, let alone for 14 hour days.
Biggest problem might be falling asleep due to the pillow-like ride, comfort, silence, and automation. It's not the most driver-friendly for a casual driver to use for the first time having been used to an old Ford 6610 either. Probably frighten the life out of him/her.
Of course it depends on the intended use and I wouldn't use one to scape slurry in cow cubicle sheds at all, let alone for 14 hour days.
Biggest problem might be falling asleep due to the pillow-like ride, comfort, silence, and automation. It's not the most driver-friendly for a casual driver to use for the first time having been used to an old Ford 6610 either. Probably frighten the life out of him/her.
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
Well, without being brand specific, there are certain requirements for doing big hours on an arable tractor or harvester while keeping the operator relatively fresh & alert & ready to jump back on day after day
First is auto steer - it makes a huge difference to operator fatigue over long hours, allows driver to stay fresh & concentrate on other things than staying on line ( especially at night ) Auto steer is also brilliant on a chaser bin tractor when loading on the move at harvest
Suspension / a good seat
A quiet cab
GOOD air conditioning & preferably tinted windows to minimise glare & eye strain & reduce the heat coming through the glass, especially in late afternoon / early morning when the sun is low in the sky. That’s where the old green Steigers were great, their roof was quite a bit wider than the cab, so you were sitting in the shade for most of the day. It doesn’t matter how good your air con is, if you are sitting behind glass with the sun shining on you on a 40 C day - it is still hot . . . Even on a cold winters day, our afternoon sun coming through the glass can turn the cab into an oven, like today
A roomy cab, to hold a large tucker box of food, a couple of thermos flasks & a 5 litre water bottle, & also to have a bit of room to stretch out or change driving position through the day
Good lights, with a broad spread around the tractor & implement & with enough distance in front to see far enough ahead. Preferably HID or LED with a bright “white” colour, to minimise shadows, fatigue & eye strain
First is auto steer - it makes a huge difference to operator fatigue over long hours, allows driver to stay fresh & concentrate on other things than staying on line ( especially at night ) Auto steer is also brilliant on a chaser bin tractor when loading on the move at harvest
Suspension / a good seat
A quiet cab
GOOD air conditioning & preferably tinted windows to minimise glare & eye strain & reduce the heat coming through the glass, especially in late afternoon / early morning when the sun is low in the sky. That’s where the old green Steigers were great, their roof was quite a bit wider than the cab, so you were sitting in the shade for most of the day. It doesn’t matter how good your air con is, if you are sitting behind glass with the sun shining on you on a 40 C day - it is still hot . . . Even on a cold winters day, our afternoon sun coming through the glass can turn the cab into an oven, like today
A roomy cab, to hold a large tucker box of food, a couple of thermos flasks & a 5 litre water bottle, & also to have a bit of room to stretch out or change driving position through the day
Good lights, with a broad spread around the tractor & implement & with enough distance in front to see far enough ahead. Preferably HID or LED with a bright “white” colour, to minimise shadows, fatigue & eye strain
Last edited:
- Location
- Anston Farm, Dunsyre
So definitely not a Davy Broon 995 then?
No you need the 996 version for those really long days
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
ive only ever driven one DB ( in the UK ), no idea what model it was, but I had enough trouble just getting into it & behind the steering wheel, I don’t think I’d be sticking my hand up to spend a month or more of 14 + hour days in one
startinghandle
Member
The only experience I have of long tractor hours in one day was back in the summers of 1974 and 75 when I started cutting hay at 4.30 or thereabouts and I kept going till I finished .. we didn't have big acreage but cutting one way with dexta and Bamford 3R cutter bar was slow going
Then quick dinner and go and turn with acrobat or row up and bale and lug in ..
When I turned with acrobat I traveled fairly slow as it did much better job and I remember a neighbour with big
farm saying I must be the only 16 year old who drives slow
I don't think this is the reply MX7 is
Looking for
Then quick dinner and go and turn with acrobat or row up and bale and lug in ..
When I turned with acrobat I traveled fairly slow as it did much better job and I remember a neighbour with big
farm saying I must be the only 16 year old who drives slow
I don't think this is the reply MX7 is
Looking for
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
well, the question was, what is the most driver friendly ?
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
JD’s used to have shitty little cabs you could hardly fit a water bottle in, let alone a decent sized lunch box ( eg - 4020, 4440, 4850, 4955 ), although they were always relatively comfortable.
The 8000 series in the mid / late 90’s ( as in the 8400 & since ) changed all that, with a lot more room & floor space
then ILS front end
dunno about the smaller models, haven’t had anything to do with them
The 8000 series in the mid / late 90’s ( as in the 8400 & since ) changed all that, with a lot more room & floor space
then ILS front end
dunno about the smaller models, haven’t had anything to do with them
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startinghandle
Member
A tractor that is paid for is the most
driver friendly
driver friendly
- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
the owner might care if it’s paid for - I doubt the operator does ?
7020/30 JD for me we've got 1 of each and they're the most comfortable for a long day .
Just a a fastrac 4220 for a couple of days and that won't be beaten for suspension I was spreading fert in fields that 8/10k is fast enough in my R series JD. The JCB 16/18k wasn't a problem. But the JD still wins for driveability
- Location
- LINCOLNSHIRE/KENYA
When I was 9 I would happily have spent 24 hours a day on our Ford 4000 although it did have the deluxe cab. Today I am on a tractor ridging potatoes I love tractors and have a lot of them but the thought of 14 hours a day on any tractor would make me think of a career change.
- Location
- Wiltshire
My 6250r has the most rubbish cup holder, yet another mug of budgens coffee fell out of it last week. Fortunately I don’t drive it much but little things like that really annoy me. The fancy integrated radio not being DAB is another.
The answer to @MX7 question is really whatever the driver wants to drive.
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The answer to @MX7 question is really whatever the driver wants to drive.
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- Location
- NSW, Newstralya
thankfully it’s only seasonal here & now that I’ve given up contracting & only doing my own work, it’s only for a few days at a time
but - I have 30 + years of months straight of 14 + hour days behind a wheel
I don’t miss it . . .
Will Blackburn
Member
- Location
- Cheshire
If you find sh1t colour calming, it’s all good.
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