Scraperduties for big tractors?

['Guest']

I've noticed on other forums how many farmers in the US use big articulated 400+hp tractors to pull scrapers for roadconstruction. Either in the off-farming season or they use their tractors for that purpose only. Also both JD 9020 and CIH STX are available in "scraper versions".Will this be the future of big tractors? Are the manufacturers moving towards building construction-equippment that can also be used for farming rather than the other way around beacuse that's where the market is?Will tractors be so expensive that one have to finance them with roadwork? If so the machines will rapidly grow heavier, too heavy to be practical for many farming applications, since raw power is a requirement and soilpressure won't matter. This will also make the tractors more and more expensive and specialized. It's like the infancy of the bulldozer all over again.Of course, increasing the number of hours of use on any machine will reduce costs, and that's ultimately a good thing.

['Guest']

Laapa,I think it was FLA Veggie that used to talk about that use down in his area. I guess if you are in an area with a building boom,and the job becomes available in the off-season,then why not take it.I wonder who pays for the repairs though.In certain areas of the southwest they use scrapers every year to level the fields before planting is done.

['Guest']

Hi,

I've also seen pictures of blades being used to build silage clamps in the US. Have a look at
pages.ivillage.com/mom4younggrls/Lennox6/id7.html (slow download)

In Ireland we use industrial loaders with large buckrakes to build silage clamps. The JCB Farm Master is the current favourite www.jcb.co.uk/products/product.asp?id=74

A lot of Irish contractors have bought dumper trailers in recent years and keep their tractors running in the off season hauling spoil from building sites. It also helps them keep their operators in a time of low unemployment.