Curved Loader & hood vs. Standard loader & hood

[npaden]

Some of the manufacturers are really pushing the benefits of the curved loaders and hoods that are out now (i.e. Case IH, New Holland)

Do these really give you a big advantage on being able to see what youare working on over the standard loader and hood like on a Kubota?

Thanks, Nathan

 

[RonR]

Nathan,

No need to rush into anything new. I mean, that old Farmal is just now broken in well, right.

Sorry, can't help on the other as my BX2200 has the straight hood/arms. I'm not sure you get 100% visibility until you go to a bobcat type loader.

ron

 

[SWB]

There was a thread a little while ago showing the difference in visibility with pictures. the visibility was really better. I have a Case with the curved loader arms and thinks it is great.

 

[npaden]

I searched under everything I could think of and couldn't find the post.

The 1945 Farmall M is still running strong, but I really think 4wd, a loader, independent PTO, live hydraulics, etc. might make a little bit of a difference in usefulness!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I searched under everything I could think of and couldn't find the post.
)</font>

Here it is /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Curved arm loaders versus Straight arm loaders

 

[tjkadar]

I think a lot of it might be what you are used to. I demo'ed a Toolcat and a Bobcat. Both of those machines have the loader right in front of you. However, I still felt I knew where the loader on my M6800 was better then with the Cat machines.

Visibility was better on the Cat's, but with my experience level on the machines, I felt more comfortable with the Kubota. I think it has more to do with what you're used to working with.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think a lot of it might be what you are used to. I demo'ed a Toolcat and a Bobcat. Both of those machines have the loader right in front of you. However, I still felt I knew where the loader on my M6800 was better then with the Cat machines.

Visibility was better on the Cat's, but with my experience level on the machines, I felt more comfortable with the Kubota. I think it has more to do with what you're used to working with. )</font>

No question that you can get used to anything. But there are 3 people who regularly operate my tractors (Kubota B2910 and New Holland TC24). All 3 of us prefer to use the New Holland instead of the Kubota and yet all 3 of us have more time on the Kubota. The hours of the New Holland will easily pass the hours on the Kubota this year, despite the fact that the Kubota is several years older than the New Holland. The reason the New Holland is used more is simple, the loader design is vastly superior and more productive. There is no question that the Kubota is more powerful and more comfortable to operate (larger operator's platform, better seat) but for loader work the choice is clear that the New Holland is the first choice by a very wide margin of all 3 operators.

Plain and simple the high visibility design is more efficient in real world use, so work gets done faster (even in the case of my machines where the Kubota has the larger bucket and slightly greater capacity)

 

[daTeacha]

Yeah, I agree with the idea of the curved hood being easier to use. Driving a DX29 around Saturday and playing with the loader made it clear. I could use that loader with more confidence than I can the loader on my B7100, despite the size difference between the tractors. -- the 29 could pick up my B and drop it in a truck if I wanted to.

 

[DavidA]

In my opinion the curved hood and curved loader arms make it much easier to see what is happening in front of the tractor. My son has a Kubota 3130 with a Woods 1012 loader (straight arm loader, straight hood) and it is (to me) very difficult to see the quick attach points when attaching the bucket or pallet arms on his 3103. My TC-33Da with curved hood and curved arms is very easy to see the quick attach points and to pick up stuff with either the bucket or pallet arms. Of course, you can get used to anything.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In my opinion the curved hood and curved loader arms make it much easier to see what is happening in front of the tractor. My son has a Kubota 3130 with a Woods 1012 loader (straight arm loader, straight hood) and it is (to me) very difficult to see the quick attach points when attaching the bucket or pallet arms on his 3103. My TC-33Da with curved hood and curved arms is very easy to see the quick attach points and to pick up stuff with either the bucket or pallet arms.)</font>

Yup, the difference is dramatic. And that difference is why the curved arm, sloped hood tractors are much easier to use.

The photo pretty much tells the story. My daughter is sitting 24" in front of the bucket lip. All the pictures were taken from the drivers seat, by me, with the seats adjusted as I would normally sit. I did my best to provide close to the same frame of reference in all the photos. The tractors were lined up so the bucket front edges were sitting side by side. Notice how much of the bucket you can see on the NH and how little you can see on the Kubota.

The farthest mark on the driveway is 6' in front of the lip of the bucket, on the Kubota your view is obstructed to 5'9" over the hood or 6'8" over the grill guard. You cannot see the top corners of the bucket on the Kubota.

On the New Holland you can see the ground at 2'10" over the hood. You can see the top corners of the bucket on the NH. The ground is visible 24" in front of the bucket on either side of the New Holland hood over the top of the bucket.

I am 5'11" tall, so someone taller would have a slightly better view, someone shorter would have a worse view.

[image]http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/842959-download.jpeg[/image]

 

[Charliebrn]

I think it won't be too long before all the Botas have the curved design. My BX2350 is curved, so I expect this will continue with new models...

And yes, the view is better in the 2350 than it was in my old 2200...

 

[BruceNorthEast]

Hi npaden, others:

I'm a tractor newbie, but thanks to TBN & the good folks here - I made a reasoned choice.

They convinced me to slow down, and really consider what I wanted and most importantly - to go around and look at AND DRIVE many different machines. I also spoke with owners of each major brand.

I really liked the Deeres, but the added cost of the name/colors pretty much put that out of my mind.

Due to the strong following of the Kubotas, coupled with their excellent reliability & value, I was leaning strongly towards the orange machines. In close second place was the New Holland/Ford "Boomer" line. It's seems their reliability, while not quite as high as the Kubota, is still right up there. Ditto dealerships & parts availability. The number of dedicated owners (and therefore resale value) drops off a bit, but not precipitously.

In the end I purchased a NH TC35; the better view provided by the curved hood & loader arms was the final reason I went blue. By comparison, driving the other machines made me feel like I was behind them.

Good luck with your purchase, and take the wise council offered by many here; look and drive and speak with many before you buy.
Bruce.

 

[KiotiJohn]

To me, my Kioti with sloped hood and curved loader makes it a good bit easier to see just what's going on, especially on the sides where a dog-legged loader would be blocking my view.
New Holland / Case hoods are sloped a little steeper, and may provide even better visibility.
I've used both, and could "used" to the old design, but I wouldn't want to go back.
John

 

[Builder]

I love the curved hood & arms on my L-39 Kubota. It's like night & day compared to other designs.

 

[pekabu]

Thanks for the pics. There is quite the change from the L35 to the L39. Are you sure the L39 is not a NH TC40 in disguise? Just kidding. Love the International dump truck. Does that front axle make a big difference? How about highway traveling?

 

[Builder]

Thanks for the compliments! The L-39 is a pretty big improvement over the L-35, which was a really nice machine in its' own right! The L-39 is just better designed, more ergonomic & more powerful.

The IH 4WD dumptruck drives just like a 4x2 over the road, even goes 70MPH with its' O/D tranny. The front axle makes a big difference off road. My 4x2 dumps used to get stuck on wet grass.

 

[KiotiJohn]

L39, enjoyed your pictorials. Really nice setup you have in the L39. The projects were great to see. I'd sure hate to have to be the roofer on that beast! Thanks for the pics.
John

 

[Builder]

Thanks! You're too kind.

It's ashame I never became handy with a digi-cam until about a year ago. I've built some projects you wouldn't believe. I'll have some more this summer.

 

[CMunger]

There has been alot of discussion about "New Style Curved Boom Loaders" vs "Old Style Dog Leg", and the loader engineers have a different point of veiw. It seems that the benifit that every one aggrees on is you have better visabilty with curved boom, but , to do that you have to move the bucket futher foward to get the same reach, therefore putting more weight futher forward in front of the tractor, harder on front axle and can make rear end lite with full bucket.
For smaller tractors the consumer that wants looks and convenience the small tractors with curved boom may be fine. If you are farming with larger HP, say 60 and above, tractors lifting large hay bales etc., it's been the engineers challange to have the bucket close to the front axle and give them good reach at full lift height. I do not think there is an "Old Style" and "New Style" here, just different uses. Oh, and by the way, it is much less expensive to build a curved boomed loader than the "Dog Leg Style"
Chuck

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( you have to move the bucket futher foward to get the same reach)</font>

You know, I noticed this, but I thought it was just me. It seems like the buckets are getting pretty far from the front axel. This imporves visibility, but I would think it would make it a bear to navigate around the farmyard (or suburban yard).


Cliff