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

[Hoodoo]

I know zip about tractors, but as a lifelong builder and just generally that kind of guy, it seems if you're using a tool (tractor) to lift or move heavy things, you need a heavy counterbalance. Whether that be a heavy tractor itself or just ballast.......right?

 

[Jchonline]

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:

What you posted will be absolutely garbage in the mud. R1s are much better...R1s with chains even more. The reason we dont buy an entirely new wheel/tire is because they are a pain to swap out and take up a lot more space than chains!

 

[oosik]

I saw a pair of those TWEELs a couple years ago. They were on a "top 'O the line" JD zero turn mower. They looked good on that mower. That's about as far off road as I would want to take it.

I would have nightmares with those things on the Taco Wagon. Going thru streams or mud and then having it freeze up at night when the temps went below zero. Going thru mud in the summer - I wonder how well those things would expel mud from between the vanes.

I don't think they had off-roading or tractors in mind when designing these things.

 

[herm0016]

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I saw these at the Colorado farm show, they look interesting.

 

[mx1alex]

Correct me if I'm wrong fellas but I think a lot of the weight discussions are coming up in regards to counter balancing the tractor for loader work.

Maybe on a forum like this where most folks have small compact tractors with loaders. But look at any row crop tractor out in the field. Just about every single one of them will have weights hanging on the front of it. Imagine how much traction you need to pull a 60 ft planter across the field.

 

[CADplans]

For a "chore tractor" ,, not a field tractor,, IMHO,,
the number ONE thing a tractor can have to enhance traction is hydrostatic drive.

I think hydro drive even surpasses 4WD as far as traction improver,, especially with a novice operator.

I still remember the first time I plowed snow with a hydro Cub Cadet garden tractor,
instead of the previous gear drive Cub Cadet.

The tractors were identical except for gear versus hydro transmission,
(the gear was a 128 with a 14HP engine, the hydro was a 149 with a 14HP engine)

I could literally push 2X as much snow with the hydro.

Then I got an 855JD with a loader.
That tractor was amazing as to what it could do,, even in 2WD.

The 855 could do more in 2WD than my JD 650 in 4WD,,
and I believe it is due to the hydro transmission.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Now try those Michelins in 5" of mud.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

What you posted will be absolutely garbage in the mud. R1s are much better...R1s with chains even more. The reason we dont buy an entirely new wheel/tire is because they are a pain to swap out and take up a lot more space than chains!

I guess it depends on the application but then again I saw this video

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I know zip about tractors, but as a lifelong builder and just generally that kind of guy, it seems if you're using a tool (tractor) to lift or move heavy things, you need a heavy counterbalance. Whether that be a heavy tractor itself or just ballast.......right?

Correct, the front axle pivot makes them tippy without a proper amount of weight to keep the back axle firmly planted on terra firma. I never carry anything high, just a foot or so off the ground, Even so I've had a few tippy moments when I've lowered my ballast to the ground to get off and open a gate.

 

[CADplans]

I guess it depends on the application but then again I saw this video

The problem is that the video is not a comparison,, it is a demonstration of the Tweel.

IMHO, if they had done a side-by-side comparison of the Tweel to a regular ATV tire,,
the Tweel would have horribly LOST!!

Other than the one mud scene, I believe my 2WD ATV would out-perform that Tweel equipped 4WD ATV.
I do ride like that OFTEN,, and I keep trees down on trails, just for the fun of riding over them.

I think the Tweel, performed poorly at best,, in that video.
The reason being that the Tweel acts like a much higher tire air pressure tire.

They want to sell Tweels, so, I doubt they will ever show a side-by-side test,,