Top tractors 2018: the contractors' verdict

Buying a new tractor that has just been launched can be like delving into the unknown. With so many brands on the market, all offering high-quality machines, it can be difficult to make a decision on what tractor might suit each individual. Farmers and contractors need to take the time to consider the pros and cons of different tractors when making the decision to make an investment. We caught up with some agricultural contractors around the country who have invested in new tractors this year.

Wexford-based farmer and agricultural contractor Willie John Keogh purchased a new John Deere 6250R in February this year. Up to then, Willie John had never run any John Deere tractor in his large fleet of mixed brands that includes Case, Claas and Fendt. However, he explained he always keeps an open mind and shops around when buying a new tractor.

The 6250R is fitted with the new Command Pro joystick. This joystick has 11 reconfigurable buttons that can be used for functions such as front/rear PTO, SCVs, and AutoTrac. Willie said he was impressed with the layout of the Command Pro joystick. It was one of the deciding factors that led to him purchasing the tractor. He informed us that the Command Pro joystick makes this auto power transmission more user friendly in comparison with other Vario transmission tractors in his fleet.

With over 1,000 hours on clock, the tractor has operated smoothly, with no issues to date.

The 6250R has 1hp to every 31kg, making it a powerful tractor for its weight class. This is something that suited Willie John. He said: “The high HP to weight ratio means the tractor is universal. It is easy to add weights to a tractor to weight it up when necessary.”

Willie John explained the new tractor is very comfortable. However, he said this is what he would expect with purchasing such a high-spec tractor in the modern era.

To date, Willie John has used the tractor for ploughing, power harrowing, cultivating, pulling a corn drill, pulling a large forage wagon, and to operate square and round balers.

Willie John explained he was that happy with the performance of the 6250R, and he opted to purchase another John Deere tractor in mid-season. This time he purchased a 6130R auto command.

He said he would give the tractor a solid 9/10, with the only issue being the price. He added: “I’ll put it this way, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would have a full fleet of 6250Rs”.

John Deere 6250R

Engine: 6.8l Deere Power Systems Powertech PSS

Rated power: 250hp (184kw)

Max power with IPM: 300hp (221kw)

Transmission: Auto Power (CVT)

Hydraulic flow: 160l/min

Fuel tank capacity: 470 litres

Max permissible weight: 15t

List price: €250,000 plus VAT

Mike Barry runs an Agricultural Contracting business based in Cappawhite, Co Tipperary. He is running a fleet of Claas and Valtra tractors. He travelled to Agritechnica last November with the intention of picking out a new high-horsepower tractor for his fleet. He later made the decision to purchase a new Valtra T254.

Mike opted for the Versu model. This has a power shift transmission, but it can be driven similar to a CVT. It has both an automatic and a manual mode. The tractor also comes with the multifunction lever. This controls many functions including forward/reverse, hydraulics, and rpm memory settings.

Mike took delivery of his T254 in mid-June and has clocked up over 400 hours on the tractor to date. The tractor was purchased mainly for driving butterfly mowers. It is currently being used to pull a low loader. In the future it will be used to pull a large tandem axle tanker and for pumping slurry.

The main features of the tractor that have impressed Mike are the raw power, the comfort and how compact the tractor is for its horsepower. Mike said there’s an abundance of power in the tractor. However, he added the light dry crops over the summer have meant the tractor hasn’t truly been tested. As regards comfort, he jokingly compared the tractor to his couch, saying it is seriously comfortable.

Mike said the cab control layout is simple. However, the one issue he has with the tractor is the limited visibility in the back left corner of the cab because of the fridge. This limited visibility is an issue when trying to watch the edge of the rear combination mower while working in the field. The tractor is fitted with Valtra’s new Smart Touch terminal. Mike said: “It’s like moving from a button phone to an Android. It may seem take a little time to get used to it, but when you do you’d never go back.”

Valtra T254

Engine: 7.4 litre AGCO Power

Rated power: 235hp (173kw)

Max power: 271hp (184kw)

Transmission: Versu (Powershift)

Hydraulic flow: 115 l/min (with the option of 160/200 l/min)

Fuel tank capacity: 380 litres

Max permissible weight: 13.5t

List price: €174,720 plus VAT

We caught up with Sean Canniffe, who runs Canniffe Plant and Civil Ltd. Based in Bandon, Sean covers areas throughout Cork city and county. Up until recently, Sean was running a New Holland T7.210. However, he needed a tractor capable of travelling at higher speeds for road haulage purposes. Earlier this year, he made the decision to purchase a new JCB Fastrac 4220.

The 4220 Fastrac is kept busy daily as a road haulage tractor. Typically, the tractor is used to pull a dump trailer by day, while it shifts diggers between sites at night. Other duties the tractor has been used for include hauling silage and maize. Sean took delivery of the tractor on 1 July and has clocked up over 1,400 hours and in excess of 28,000km to date.

The main features that have impressed Sean to date are the comfort and the throughput of work through the high road speed. Sean said: “The sheer comfort of the tractor on the road is super. It’s more comfortable than a truck.” He noted that the self-levelling cab is a great feature. If a heavy load is placed on the front linkage or rear hitch, the cab will automatically readjust itself to a level position.

As regards the cab and control layout, Sean is very impressed with both, especially the huge visibility. Making the move from a power shift transmission to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was a game-changer for Sean. He said: “The Fastrac is travelling in excess of 60km/h on the road at 1,700rpm, burning 2l/hour less than the power shift transmission”.

Sean said the four-wheel steer makes the tractor extremely manoeuvrable, especially when operating around building sites with restricted access. The tractor has a closed-centre hydraulic system for the auxiliary services. According to Sean, the 148l/min pump provides for super-fast hydraulics. The tractor is equipped with five electric spools.

To date, the only issue the tractor has caused was a sensor that needed replacing. Other than that, the only bone that Sean could pick with the tractor was that the gap between the 4000 and 8000 series tractors should be closer. This is because he would like a little more horsepower for day-to-day duties without having to move up to the bulkier 8000 series.

JCB Fastrac 4220

Engine: 6.6 litre AGCO Power

Rated power: 217hp (162kw)

Max power: 235hp (175kw)

Transmission: Two range continuously variable transmission (CVT)

Hydraulic flow: 148l/min

Fuel tank capacity: 390 litres

Max permissible weight: 13/14t

List price: €170,000 plus VAT