Why is Weight The Only Solution Being Offered To The Problem Of Traction?

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

We have one member here who preaches the gospel of weight: Tractor Sizing - TRACTOR WEIGHT as ONE (1) CRITERION in TRACTOR SELECTION

My question is why aren't other alternatives being considered by the industry like this one:

 

[Roadworthy]

They appear to be a wonderful innovation, especially for paved or smooth surfaces. I don't believe they'd have much gripping power in the dirt. Weight is not the only criteria for improving traction, the amount of tread on the tire or the addition of chains can be another factor. Weight is probably the simplest and least expensive way to improve tractor traction.

 

[Agvg]

If you are in to farming then this type of wheels is way to rigid and stiff, radial tires with low pressure gets much better grip in soil.

Most of the smaller tractors are very price sensetive in combination whit very conservative buyers makes new technology hard to sell.

 

[bcp]

Weight is cheap and easy to add.

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

The biggest problem with those is they cost half as much as your tractor. And they really weren’t designed for peak traction in loose dirt. Short of dozer tracks R1 tires are about as good as it gets.

 

[Diggin It]

That thread title is often misread as that poster has a fixation on weight.

It should read:

Tractor Sizing - Tractor Weight as One Criterion (among many) in Tractor Selection.

 

[Agvg]

We have one member here who preaches the gospel of weight: Tractor Sizing - TRACTOR WEIGHT as ONE (1) CRITERION in TRACTOR SELECTION

My question is why aren't other alternatives being considered by the industry like this one:

Heavy weight is a friend and a enemy, today heavy agricultural equipment packs the soil and damages growth and drainage. Not easy to solve as farming today is cost and volum focused.

There are projects that focuses on light equipment in combination whit automation, swarms of machines that operates 24/7 instead of a few large.

 

[mikester]

Great video demonstrating why I hate skidsteers.

Also why I want an accumulator on my tractor loader.

If you enjoy pogo-stick action and limited lift and carrying capacity get a lighter machine. I personally want to minimize seat time. If I have to be in a seat I expect it to be comfortable and quiet. Noise + discomfort = unnecessary stress

 

[oosik]

Weight is one way to improve traction. 4WD is another. Chains is a third way. I have/do utilize all three. I hate chains. I've only ever had the ladder type chains. They do provide superior traction - they ride like a COB. I no longer use chains. If I were to go back to their use - the European style would be my choice.

 

[BnRidge]

There are only two things that govern tractive force - coefficient of friction and the force between the surfaces (weight).

Changing the tire design changes the coefficient of friction.
The coefficient of friction (cf) would be highest in most cases if all tires could be lugged with chains- steel on hard surface, steel on ice, soil on soil. Reducing damage to the surfaces then becomes a concern.

Changing the weight changes the tractive force developed for a given cf.
So if the surfaces are what they are, and tires are a compromise between traction and damage, weight is the last variable, and the easiest to change, especially when choosing eq.