In my experience with the Challenger tracked tractors, we were advised that running them on hard surfaces such as pavement or concrete was extremely hard on the track system all together, not just the track itself. Having to find all gravel routes can be hard at times. I would have to believe that these would not be any different.
On another post, a farmer said (he had a two John Deere two track only-no wheels) his said the tracks wear out fast on pavement and the two cost $25,000 plus labor to replace. He said he puts the tractor on a trailer even for short runs on the road.
What ultimately decides if tracks are worth the extra everything, is your ground type and your budget. Tracks will however always hold sidehills better, pull better, and create less compaction (if thats a problem in your soil type). Here in Canada (southwest Manitoba and most of saskatchewan) tracks pretty much took over. Very few new tractors are being ordered on tires anymore.
Thank you for the hard work and coordinating this field test video. As we all see the results on this video, it enlightened us on this subject. This is one test, one particular soil, two different tractors, possible excessive tire pressures and etc. Thank you for your effort and comments about this test. More tests under different variables would be helpful for some to allow the findings to be more conclusive. The bottom line is what an individual needs for their application. keep up the good work.
@Tsunauticus III if that is so you could use the same excuse for all of them, the one with duals was only squirming because it hooked a rock :) 5.36 triples pulled right through a mudhole 6.23 tracked had to lift ripper at the mudhole. on solid ground, the tracks have traction advantage but in this video with 2" or more of mud slick as grease in spots tracks don't have much to offer
I bet you’ll find most farmers will trade the 9RX off about the time the under carriage needs replaced for a new one. That’s how a lot of CAT dozer owner/operators do it now days. And you are spot on about the 9RX……they are cool as hell.
Tracks did seem to slip alot less. You could see the tires digging as he went by. And thanks for showing the tracks on the road. I was curious about that on the grain carts.
This opinion the worth exactly what you’re paying for it. I’ve been led to believe that with the same tool bar in the same conditions the slippage will be 4% to 5 % less with the tracks. Hope you got your monies worth!
Hard to beat tracks. When you look at the surface area of ground engagement with tracks versus the smaller area of where tires engage there is no comparison. Maintenance and replacement cost of 8-12 tires isn’t cheap either. My two cents.
The tracks for sure put the power to the ground more efficiently. I wonder how the fuel use compared at the end of the day. I don't know the numbers, but seems like even though the tracks are pricey, when you start getting up to triples with 12 radials the cost I would think starts to even out a bit, and I would think the fuel savings and compaction difference would be worth it then. Truly these units are designed for tillage use. I can't imagine another application where so much power and traction would be needed, or cost effective/efficient even. I also wonder about the ride quality between the two in the field and on the road.
Big and badass that's for sure from the videos I have seen with a tracks most are really good reviews I heard Minnesota Millennium farmer talking about how they can get stuck if you try to steer one way or another and really bad mud but I am a fan of both from watching I've never drove anything with tracks and I probably never will but always great content thank you so much brother for an awesome 2018 2019 we're ready to see what you got always a big thumbs up and you have a good one buddy always👊👊👍👍👍❤🤙🤙🤙🤙
Roy Nelson Two track tractors have a distinct disadvantage to the 4 track tractors. They do have much less pulling power when turning and less overall.
@@kcgibbs right on Kirk still pretty bad ass no matter what and who don't like big tractors LOL I grew up on Oliver and whites and some John Deere few International farmalls never did get to drive but one case I like them all lots of old Oliver 66 2/77 one was the wide front end with diesel other gas and Oliver 88 1600 1855 1900 big 4-wheel drive White and a couple Gleaner combines all back in the day these newer tractors are awesome thanks for the comment buddy👊👊👊
It's a great video however you never showed the track machine in a soupy area which was the only place that I noticed the 9620R having any issues. It's not really a fair comparison between the 9460R and the 9620RX has the track machine has extra weight and power on the 9460. The Nebraska tests show the tire machines generally pulling more weight than the track machines however not always and both machines have a decent percent slip.
Yeah it's an interesting comparison. I was reading a university paper, think it was U of Iowa, where they found that 800 duals actually produced the most draft force of any tire or track set up, but at the expense of additional slippage. So not as efficient, but actually the most pulling effort. Of course there are a ton of variables too. And I too was hoping the 9rx wound't lift in that soupy area. Wanted to see what it would do there.
Great video...I know the tracks are much more expensive than tires, but by the time you buy 12 tires for the triple set up is the price getting close to what tracks would cost. Also how often would a set of 12 tires need to be replaced compared to tracks in the same situations. Anyway, I like the way you do your videos, keep them going. Thanks.
I like your video cover. I drove both of these tractors Sunday October 7th for Brian. I liked the track tractor more than the 9460. I really appreciate your videos, you are spot on what you bring to the viewer.
Very cool. That might have been around the time I took the thumbnail pic. They were parked on the By-Pass across from Hutson and I drove by on a Sunday and saw them parked and thought I need that side by side pick to make a video like this one.
The John Deere"RX"series has slight advantages in muddy conditions,the"RX"series tends to be somewhat narrower too,making on road driving easier to deal with on coming traffic,the biggest advantage of the"RX"series is no flat tires to ever deal with B.T.P.. Now,on the down side,the biggest issue with the"RX"is safety,if you check these tractors when negotiating muddy ground with alot of trash in it,the trash tends to build up near the engine compartment,possibly causing a engine🔥🚜fire.
@@Azzi61 I mentioned that in my post,that's a good way to lose a nice $400,000.00 tractor quick!!.I'm glad Deere fixed this issue,but what about older ones like this one in the video??.
The first 2019 updated 9620R with the engine panels just arrived at my local dealer. I posted a video tour on Instagram of the 19 9620R and should film it in the field in March. It’s an improvement for sure. The 9620R and 9620RX shown at the begging of the video are 2018 models. This farm trades every year so I am excited to see 2019 models soon.
The 2019 9R and 9RX models have a new fully enclosed engine. The first 2019 9620R just arrived at my local dealer and I have short tour video of the 9620R on Big Tractor Power Instagram.
These tractors hold up pretty well I believe. I have filmed the 9620Rs since 2015 and the 9620RX since 2016. I have not heard of any major issues. Although the farms featured in this video trade each year.
@@kylekenan2321 track also have 32 wheels and 64 extra bearings that has to be maintained. they both has their place but in the long run it cost more to run tracks
The tracks does make less ground pressure per sq inch. I think the largest practical downside with the tracks is that if you hit a soft spot you have less chance of "diggin´and wigglin´your way out of it again. Also, the newer Metric large foot print tyres like the Trelleborg Pneu Trac and Michelin XEOBIB can deliver phenominal traction and power transfer . I´m not sure if that is the type of tyres that are on the 8 wheeler though
Better footprint with tracks, however, the RX did lift much more than the wheeled machine. Road work can cut the tracks faster than the tyre equivalent, so what’s gained in the field, can be lost on paved surfaces over the same period of time. Great video thanks.
Thank you for watching. The 9620RX lifted a few times because of stones in the field. There was an old drive way on the first pass. You can here the shanks running through the rocks and see the lighter soil working up.
Side by side they are the same depth with the 9620R on triples and 9620RX. The alone shot with the 9620RX he lifts a few times because there are stones/gravel. You can hear the shanks cutting through an old gravel road bed in that clip and see a yellowing soul pull up in those spots.
I thought the same, you can tell by the after cut the ground looks a lot more ripped up behind the tired tractor, not taking away the tracked machine, it’s obviously gonna pull better regardless, it has a much big contact patch leading to much better traction
Nick Carr The tire tractor on triples with the slippage is tearing up the top much more than the track machine. I don’t think what you’re seeing is from the implement.
Truly they should avoid spots that are that wet. Any tillage through ground that has standing water will completely seal off the soil profile not allowing water to pass through again.
That was not soupy or wet spots he was avoiding. There is a layer of rock and the points were hitting the rock. You can see the dust come out of the ground when he picks up the ripper at 3:07. He was trying to keep from damaging the points. I guess the 9RX was pulling it a little deeper.
Unless you were referring to the wet spots later in the video. It is hard to believe to some but tracks do not work that well once you get mud in the tracks they start to slip. Most turn based on friction against the drive wheel not cogged belts like a true bulldozer.
@@terrellfarms1 That is true for the John Deere 9RT series tractors, but not for the 9RX series tractors. 9RX series tractors have positive drive between cogged drive wheels and the lugs on the inside of the track belts. The 9RT relies on friction drive between the large, rear drive wheel and the inside of the track belt. However, the rubber vulcanized onto the drive wheel has a pattern to it, so that it will clear out mud an debris more easily. I am a John Deere employee, but not involved in tractor design since the 9030 series.
I just want to say thanks, my dad died when I was 5 years old and he was a farmer, I worked with my grandpa when I was a kid and miss farm life greatly. Thank you so much for doin this page it helps fill the void in my life a lot
Thanks again BTP! Wouldn't it behoove the 8-12 tire machine to lower the tire pressure a bit to get just a bit more contact patch? I agree that they dig and wiggle a bit more than the track, but maybe food for thought? I don't know, I'm just a silly city boy.
yes but look at the cultivator it in deeper ..... more load, so making it spin easier, maybe this would be a fair test if they worked at consistent depths !!!
Tracks hands down with low pressure n narrow foot print is first choice, second would be narrow width you can fit track tractor in shed easy n transport width, you need escort for triple tyres here in Australia. Great vid👍
If the drive sprockets, rims, and tracks where twice as wide would be even better on the John Deer 9RX tractor. If they bolted a coupler to the inside drive sprocket and to a secondary drive sprocket and a whole track assembly on the outside of the inside tracked assembly it would be a huge amount of traction in the mud, making it the ultimate tracked tractors.
Fuel consumption upfront investment and how much road travel you do all play into if the tracks are worth it. My limited experience with tracks is the more road travel you have the quicker you wear out the cleats and tracks are even more expensive to replace than tires. They do really have better traction and in years like this last one probably paid for themselves a few days that tires struggled or couldn't go. Worth it? That depends on each individual operation and their numbers. Nice video ready for the next thing you find.
A comparative analysis would likely show that the tracked tractor is more efficient, easier too maneuver and has less compaction overall vs the metric dual or the triple tire set up. Of course, there are variables one must consider. Type soil and condition of. Type implement etc. Just watching the video, one observed the awesome power of both tractors, but the wheeled tractor in triple configuration just looks far more aggressive. Which may be necessary in certain fields. However, in my opinion, the tracked tractor has more finesse and just looks more smoother overall. Operationally speaking, both tractors are likely pretty neck in neck, but again there are variables. Driving wise, I would say the tracked tractor is smoother and easier on those turn around's. As for cost of tires vs tracks. This can vary. Allot from what I understand. However, in reality, the decision to go with tracks vs tires depends on cost or bottom line. Both versions are capable and technologically advanced. Personally, I'll go with the tracked version.🚜
One other issue. Weight. 12 tires vs 4 tracks. Tires tend to get bogged down. Tracks just float across. Not suggesting tracked tractors never get stuck, but it's less likely. Overall weight in that triples monster might not be so good after all for the ground. Again, there are certain variables......
I hate to see you farmers on a 30's case or john deere with the steel dished seats (no springs & seat bolts that pinched your ass when you hit a bump ) poor babies with these air ride seats & air conditioning---radio---internet etc
I see in the soupy spots that the track tractor pulled the implement completely out of the ground till he was past it where the tired one didn't except at the very end. Still less slippage though it appears. I can see adding extra weight to the tired version, the track system by itself would be a lot heavier than the tires alone. I still wonder in very wet conditions if the extra weight on the track tractor would make it more likely to get stuck than the tired version. I don't know. I guess the best way to find out is to operate them yourself so you can make sure the challenges were the same on both tractors. I've read that road travel is a lot harder on tracks than tires and tracks are much more expensive to repair and or replace. jmo. Love the video's, a lot of nestalgia when I watch. I haven't driven a tractor since I was 18 and my life took a different direction. I'm 2 months away from 58 and a retired FF/PM. I still miss driving tractors though. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for commenting. The 9620RX lifted up because the caddy wheels where dragging in the mud. The tractor was not really held up. The 9620R splashes through a wet spot but notice it only plows up half a pass in the soupy spot rather than plowing right up the middle of it. This way one set of tires stay on firm ground.
There is a cost gap. At the beginning of the video you see a 9620R on triples and 9620RX on tracks going side by side. Base price on a 9620R is $512,000 and base price on a 9620RX is $628,000.
There’s a soy bean plantation property not far from where my father in-law lives and they have the 570horse 9rx with all the goodies... what a machine! it’s a father and son operation and both the guys reckon as it is the 570 is more than what you need. The 620hp model is just gluttony and at nearly 100k more expensive!! For the sake of 50 more hp and a Cummins badge (This is here in Australia mind you).
For field efficiency, the tracked machine wins hands down, way less slippage. For cost efficiency, the tires are the winner they are way cheaper than the tracks. He better clean off that debris off the engine. Several of them 9RXs have gone up in flames due to buildup coming off the front tracks. I think the newer ones have a shield or something now.
The 2019 9R has new side shields to keep dirt and debris build up off the engine. I just posted a 2019 9620R on Instagram with the new hood shields. I should be filing the 2019 model in March out in the field.
I've owned and run both quad tracks and 2 track designs, the 4 track design is better, but where I pull scraper pans as well as heavy field work the wheels are better. If you have ever replaced a set of tracks from torn up drive lugs, you would understand why I say wheels are better. As far as field performance, you do have a little better flotation, but I've also seen conditions such as dry hard pan where the 4 track design simply seemed to glide on the ground and wouldn't hook up like a good set of metric 800's, and a 2 track system, forget about it.
I hope to film some pan tractors in 2019. Tracks do well for field work here but on pan work the stone base tears up tracks and dual wheel 4wds are the only way to go on pans here.
@@bigtractorpower Same situation where I'm at, rocks and tracks don't mix. When tracks made their appearance years back they became wildly popular, but in more recent years wheels are becoming more popular. Great video as always!
Good video and I think in those conditions tracks won out but I would like to know how the life of the track stacks up to the life of the tires and if there is any more maintenance on the track system.
Tracks or wheels doesn't matter I enjoy all your videos.Especially the ones with green iron.Is this the same farm that was wanting to buy more V-rippers.Saw some on the TractorHouse website.
With the wheel slippage. I would say the tired tractor fuel consumption must be noticeably higher. Do you have any numbers on fuel consumption for this demo and the factory rated consumption for comparison purpose?
Nice video! I love the look of the track units but once you take in the high cost of track maintenance compared to tires, I would stay with tires. You should compare the track unit to a set of LSW tires. You would be surprised! As we all know roading is killer for tracks and components!
bigtractorpower My Great Nephew works at our local tire shop which Is huge and he has install lots of LSW tires in single mode or in dual mode. The farmers just love them!
I need to look up the cost of triples. I think the 520/85R46 tire used on the triples is $1,200 per tire. That would put a tire cost of $14,400 on the 9620R with triples shown in this video. A base price on a 9620R is $512,000. The base price on a 9620RX is $628,000.
Lsw is the answer for that plus you get rid of 12 tire's save gallon's per hour and don't have the money lost in track wear which is quit a lot. Nice channel!
The tracked deere will do better in muddy and loose conditions due to having a bigger imprint on the ground. I believe if the air pressure on the tires was lowered it may pull better. Regardless both machines are awesome. This is probably one of those do i need tracks over my tires deal and is it worth the extra cost to the farmer.
@@fartsoundeffect5013 on an m4 or m16 and ak rifles the safety has 3 prisons safe,semi, and full auto. Most civilian guns just have safe and semi. A giggle switch is when the safety has the 3rd position. If you are into guns and shoot a full auto you can't help but laugh
New comer to the whole tractor world I don't know much but from what i'm gathering is on a Track tractor you have to raise the implement to not slip/bog down and Tire tractor you can continue on right?
No the part show the track and tires was not the best filming opportunity. There was an old road bed where the tracks ran and it lifted as it encountered stones. Thank you for watching. .
I don't know a lot about tractors (I am not a farmer), but I know quite some stuff about tanks. So, it really doesn't surprise me that the tracked one does better. The tracked one looks like it has a lot more area where it touches the ground and with (probably) pretty much the same weight less ground pressure. And well, the results of this video fall in line with that. Btw, while I am at the topic, a small fun fact: the King Tiger had with 0.76kg/cm² (10.8psi) less ground pressure than the M4 Sherman with 0.9843kg/cm² (14psi). Staff Sergeant and tank platoon sergeant Charles A. Carden once said in a report: "The Mark V [Panther] and VI [Tiger] in my opinion have more maneuverability and certainly more flotation. I have seen in many cases where the Mark V and VI tanks could maneuver nicely over ground where the M4 would bog down. On one occasion I saw at least 10 Royal Tigers [Tiger II] make a counterattack against us over ground that for us was nearly impassable." And well, physics are the same no matter which kind of vehicle you have. PS: The tracks have another advantage: You are narrower which is an advantage especially on roads (and hey, I am from Europe, we have streets here where these tractors wouldn't even remotely fit from even a height pov).
Well here on our farm the only downside of LSW is around 4 % more slip than Tracks. ride comfort is so much better. compared to twin and tracks. we are turning our JD's into LSW here. also since you cannot take tracks to the road here. so LSW on every thing. exept for the 6r's 9 and 8 series here have LSWs now. Maby ask the local tire dealer. maby he knows where ya can find a farm that have got em mountet :)
That's stupid tracks have a smaller weight footprint than tires I think that las goes for people the misunderstanding about tracks like tank tracks and bulldozer tracks not rubber tracks in articulating tractors but City people are mostly too stupid to understand the benefits of tracks on the road. ..
Like the comparison. Yes i agree the trax system upsets the soil less. More contact area per footprint however weight is spread out. For me the wheeled version looks better either 4 or 6 per axel. More wheels = more problems flat or damaged tires. Don't know costs tires/trax but tires could cost more. Trax do not require inflation, another task not needed in checking pressure leaves time spent. Time is money. Like going to Ag school. Entertaining & Educational. Best Regards
I like the look of triple tire machines. I will try to do a comparison of a 9620R and 9620RX on 60 ft air drills this summer and consider some of the points you make as I film and ask questions.
They did. The 915 on the 9620RX came from a farm in Iowa. The farm added the 9620RX to get tillage done and needed a ripper for it. It worked out well.
