Tractor and Equipment Frames and Suspension

[Phil Timmons]

Looks like the typical standard for Suspension systems in Tractor and Equipment frames is about . .. ZERO?

Do I have that right?

Have not considered it before -- I suppose because I tend to view things more Electrical than Mechanical . . . but ZERO Suspension seems to be the accepted standard of the Industry?

Not complaining about that -- saves effort and money -- but do you all see no need or desire for any Suspension systems on New / Developmental / Future Tractors and Equipment?

Thanks!

 

[bcp]

More common in Europe where tractors tend to be used on the road more.

Bruce

 

[Phil Timmons]

More common in Europe where tractors tend to be used on the road more.

View attachment 5766810

Bruce

Thanks! That is front only? Just asking.

 

[bcp]

I see only the front in photos. The rear is too hidden to see, but I suspect not.

Bruce

 

[Phil Timmons]

I see only the front in photos. The rear is too hidden to see, but I suspect not.

Bruce

That is a scary trip (at least to me). I was just thinking this thing has more go-go than brakes. And then with a grain wagon (no brakes, right?) coming right along behind.

 

[CalG]

Traction, (Think TRACTor) and suspension work at odds to one another.

Have you ever encountered "ripple" or "washboard" in an uphill dirt road?

That's what suspension gives you.

I won't happen with a solid axle and no suspension.

 

[bcp]

Google AI:

Why Rigid Designs Work Better for Farming

The lack of traditional automotive springs comes down to several structural and operational realities of farming machinery:

• Field Precision: Tools like seed drills and tillers require exact depth management. A bouncy suspension would alter the tractor's ride height over uneven soil, burying seeds at different depths and ruining crop uniformity.
• Massive Weight Fluctuations: A tractor can quickly double its total weight depending on the attachments used. Springs soft enough to provide a smooth ride while empty would completely bottom out and fail under the weight of a heavy rear implement or a maxed-out front loader.
• Extreme Torque Transfer: Tractors are engineered for raw pulling power, not speed. A rigid frame transfers 100% of the engine's mechanical power directly to the ground without wasting energy compressing a spring system.
• Low Operational Speeds: Shock absorbers and springs prevent vehicles from losing control at high speeds. Because field tractors typically operate at very slow speeds (often under 5–10 mph), the physical need for high-speed dampening is eliminated.

While basic utility tractors remain strictly rigid, some high-horsepower, modern tractors engineered for high-speed road transport feature advanced front-axle suspension. However, these premium systems utilize lockable hydraulic cylinders or gas reservoirs rather than standard mechanical springs to keep the machine stable when transitioning back to heavy field work.


Bruce

 

[Phil Timmons]

Traction, (Think TRACTor) and suspension work at odds to one another.

Have you ever encountered "ripple" or "washboard" in an uphill dirt road?

That's what suspension gives you.

I won't happen with a solid axle and no suspension.

Sorta maybe.

Contour following for max surface contact (eg., tank treads or 6 or 8 wheels) give the best traction?

And with newer designs and applications -- traction (brute pulling force) may be less needed as opposed to smooth operations.

 

[CalG]

Sorta maybe.

Contour following for max surface contact (eg., tank treads or 6 or 8 wheels) give the best traction?

And with newer designs and applications -- traction (brute pulling force) may be less needed as opposed to smooth operations.

If the road is smooth, there is no need of suspension.

 

[ptsg]

That is a scary trip (at least to me). I was just thinking this thing has more go-go than brakes. And then with a grain wagon (no brakes, right?) coming right along behind.

That tractor has brakes on all 4 wheels plus, any road legal trailer in Europe will have brakes above 1500 lbs gross weight.

In the case of the video, it will either have hydraulic brakes or air brakes just like a truck. Tractor is fitted with a complete air system for brakes and also the special brake valve in case of hydraulic brakes.

As far as rear suspension, there are some tractors with it but mostly rely on cab suspension and the bigger rear tires to absorb the shock. Front suspension is a lot more common, even on smaller tractors these days.

A bit hard to see but this one in the picture below comes with independent front suspension.

 

[TMGT]

That tractor has brakes on all 4 wheels plus, any road legal trailer in Europe will have brakes above 1500 lbs gross weight.

In the case of the video, it will either have hydraulic brakes or air brakes just like a truck. Tractor is fitted with a complete air system for brakes and also the special brake valve in case of hydraulic brakes.

As far as rear suspension, there are some tractors with it but mostly rely on cab suspension and the bigger rear tires to absorb the shock. Front suspension is a lot more common, even on smaller tractors these days.

A bit hard to see but this one in the picture below comes with independent front suspension.

View attachment 5766819

Can the suspension be locked out? Like if using heavy front attachments.

Sent from my SM-S921U using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[ptsg]

Can the suspension be locked out? Like if using heavy front attachments.

Sent from my SM-S921U using TractorByNet mobile app

Yes, as well as adjusting ride height.

 

[404nouser]

Kinda would like an air ride cab and seat like a truck.
I understand not having rear suspension.
Bobcat figured out front suspension and loaders in sxs, and some have it in bigger tractors. But I haven't seen it yet on 25-75 hp range.

 

[dieselscout80]

There have been large Front Wheel Assist (FWA) tractors (say 150 HP and up) with front suspensions in the States for close to 30 years now.

John Deere 7800 is one that started in roughly the mid 1990s.

New Holland introduced the Terraglide™ front axle suspension in the late 1990s, debuting it on the TM tractor series.

 

[chim]

Sometimes the brakes are sturdier than the tractor. Sometimes they work well:

 

[LouNY]

A great many tractors in the US with 4wd/FWA will engage the front axle when the brakes are applied.