Farmers around western Canada are all switching and deciding on going toward the quadtrac for spring to help with seeding, there are a few factors that help on choosing the right tractor. First thing that comes to mind is the brand of the tractor; all farmers are interested in the brand that they would like to carry on their farm. Most farmers when they start with one brand they would like to stay with the brand. We will be comparing the John Deere 9RX and the Case IH Quadtrac. All tractors will be discussed about their features and specs that will help you on choosing the right tractor that fits your needs and hopefully I don’t offend anyone loyal to a specific brand.
John Deere just recently revealed the new high-horsepower 4-track 9RX series tractors to compete in the quadtrac market. These tractors range from 470-620 engine horsepower. The 9RX tractors on the 9470 and 9520RX model both come with a John Deere PowerTech PSS 13.5L engine. The 9570 and 9620RK model all come with a Cummins QSX15 engine to provide you with the best torque and power needed to handle the toughest field conditions. The new track also comes with placed idler and mid-rollers so when you have to change them they will not take up very much time. The tracks are equpped with Camso Duradrive 3500 and Camso Duradrive 6500 rubber tracks for great load-bearing performance in the field. The track belts are available in 30-inch and 36-inch widths. John Deere came out with this new tractor as they listened to customers on what they wanted to see improved and new features that will help there needs. For farmers that have large implements that need to have high-speed hydraulic power, John Deere redesigned there hydraulic system that allows you to deliver a standard 58 gallons per minute or an optional 115 gallons per minute which is great to have for farmers that need that in order to run large implements. A few things that customers have said when they came out with the tractor was that the ride was nice with the new cab suspensions and the visibility in the front was great. The only compliant from customers was the poor visibility in the back, when backing up to hook up to the hitch you could not see where you were positioned unless you have someone else there guiding you. John Deere has done a great job of bringing in the new quadtrac as the next competition towards Case IH.
Case IH has been working with quadtracs since 1997 when they introduced there first Quadtrac with 360-horsepower. Since they you could say Case IH have been the leading tractor when it came to choosing quadtrac. Case IH designed the quadtrac to deliver maximum horsepower with 62 horsepower if needed. The Case IH Quadtrac ranges 335 to 620, to continue to provide long lasting durability. Case IH delivers power that has been powered by the 12.9-liter FPT powertrain technologies engine. The tracks belts are available in 30-inch and 36-in tracks but its different if you are looking for a rowtrac tractor as they come in a few different sizes but here we are looking at not rowtracs. Case IH has been always trying to improve their tractors and wanting to meet the customer’s needs. I would say that I’ve heard from other customers that the visibility is really well as you can see the hitch part very good and also the ride quality with the cab suspension make it a superior ride.
Both the Case IH and John Deere each come with great different features and specs that I think personally its what ever fits your needs and wants in a tractor. If you were looking for a quadtrac that is reliable I would say go with Case IH as they have been making them longer. With John Deere coming up in the running with their new tractor, it will all come down to what brand you want to run on your farm.
The Farmers Digest 