Check Out These CUT's

johnnydel29 · May 19, 2009

When I was younger, I spent a few summers in Italy at my relatives farm helping out. The tractors they used for nearly all field work, especially plowing were crawlers (50 - 70 hp). They were awesome, unstopable, safe on the hillsides and turn on a dime. I know Struck Inc makes gas compact crawlers here in the US, but I think they are probably nothing like the ones I operated when I was in Italy.

Picture your tractor, w/ tracks and being able to use any implement on it. Honestly, I think these machines are much more versitable for the person who works on hilly and heavily wooded terrian. The engines on these little animals were awesome and require little or no maintenace. I think Fiat made them. Used very little fuel, and extemely powerful. The Europeans can do incredible things w/ engines, however, they may not meet the same emission requirements as here in the US.

Imagine if Deere or Kubota made a tractor like this in the US.

Anybody have any experience using one of these? Why do you think these kinds of tractor are not more common here in the US? They would be kind of nice, and safe.

laen64 · May 19, 2009

Reminds me of the days when I drove the SUSV in Alaska.
They were awsome.

bontai_Joe · May 19, 2009

If I remember correctly, Cletrac got it's start making smallish farm tractors into crawlers in the Pacific northwest for the same reasons back in the 1930's. Track will get you where wheels won't.

dfkrug · May 19, 2009

johnnydel29 said:
Imagine if Deere or Kubota made a tractor like this in the US.

Anybody have any experience using one of these? Why do you think these kinds of tractor are not more common here in the US? They would be kind of nice, and safe.

Old CAT crawlers are very common here in Northern CA, and good working
units can be acquired for as little as $2500. The problem with them is
that there is no 3-pt hitch on them, and the tracks will tear up any
pavement you may have. Also, the early ones (prewar) had no hydraulics
and had to be crank started.

Even if you do find a later Diesel with hydraulics and a loader, they are so
much less versatile than wheeled machines, they sell cheap.

Digdeep · May 19, 2009

johnnydel29 said:
When I was younger, I spent a few summers in Italy at my relatives farm helping out. The tractors they used for nearly all field work, especially plowing were crawlers (50 - 70 hp). They were awesome, unstopable, safe on the hillsides and turn on a dime. I know Struck Inc makes gas compact crawlers here in the US, but I think they are probably nothing like the ones I operated when I was in Italy.

Picture your tractor, w/ tracks and being able to use any implement on it. Honestly, I think these machines are much more versitable for the person who works on hilly and heavily wooded terrian. The engines on these little animals were awesome and require little or no maintenace. I think Fiat made them. Used very little fuel, and extemely powerful. The Europeans can do incredible things w/ engines, however, they may not meet the same emission requirements as here in the US.

Imagine if Deere or Kubota made a tractor like this in the US.

Anybody have any experience using one of these? Why do you think these kinds of tractor are not more common here in the US? They would be kind of nice, and safe.

Nice pictures. The first two are actually French made (SAME) and they do use them out west in vineyards. I saw some in a magazine with rubber tracks.

MessickFarmEqu · May 19, 2009

New Holland actaully sells one of those for the US. Never seen it though.

MtnViewRanch · May 19, 2009

New Holland, Landini and Yanmar sell them out here in California. They are great, but expensive. Years ago Case had them in the 310 series and maybe even with the 350 series. You could get them with pto and 3ph, front blade or loader. John Deere's 350 series might have had those options also, but I'm not sure on that.

So they are available now and they were available in the past, you just need to know where to look.

johnnydel29 · May 20, 2009

Thanks for the feedback. I was always curious about these machines - and had no idea that SAME is French. I actually spoke to my uncle recently who owns this machine and he mentioned that it still runs like a clock, it is one of his best, most reliable machines he owns and it is nearly 20 years old. The same for his Fiat crawler you see the little kid sitting on, and that machine is nealrly 30 years old. I do remember plowing down slopes and moving across inclines w/ attachments that one would not dare attempt w/ a rubber tire tractor, it was pretty insane. I have used many tractors here at home, both very large and small, and I always felt these these little crawlers I ran in Italy felt way more powerful. They just seemed unstoppable. And yes, you are a disadvantage w/ these machines b/c they tend to be slow and tear up the pavement - but for heavy field work over rough terrian, they are the best (IMO).

I wish everyone here can one day have to opportunity to test one of these machines, and you'll see what I mean.

And lastly, I think HP in Europe maybe very different from HP here in the states. Like I mentioned, the Europeans can make some incredible engines.

JDPN · May 20, 2009

Check out this yanmar that's in the same boat

Yanmar America Corporation - Yanmar T80 Rubber Track Tractor

I do not know if it is for US consumption

soulasphil · May 20, 2009

We have many old SAME tractors in France but I think the company, now absorbed in the SAME DEUTZ-FAHR group was originally an Italian company, don't know what the letters stand for. Great tractors anyway.