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British company County Driveline Engineering has developed a Hi-Crop kit to convert an existing tractor.
While some tractor manufacturers make high clearance versions for increased underbelly room in high value crops, these are usually based around the utility versions of their product offerings
It seems that there is also demand for high clearance units in higher specification tractors, given the experiences of one UK-based specialised manufacturer. The wide variety of different crops that can benefit from the high-clearance treatment include brassicas, celery, fennel, maize and sugar cane.
The company recently received a request for a Hi-Crop kit to convert an existing tractor to accommodate state-of-the-art robotic harvesting equipment, which would not have been possible without additional clearance.
British company County Driveline Engineering, based in Ashford, Kent began when it rescued the name and active intellectual property rights from the longstanding Knighton-based County Tractors. It then proceeded to develop prototype Hi-Crop kits.
Starting out with a Case MXU 100, the first 2wd kit started evaluation with CNH at Basildon in July 2006. After a few design updates, the sale of the first commercial unit was in 2008. The first 4wd kit was developed for a Case IH Maxxum in 2011, while the initial 4wd kit for a New Holland tractor was fitted to a T6000 in January 2012.
Currently supplying around a dozen Hi-Crop kits a year, the most popular model for conversion is the New Holland T6.155AC. Germany is currently the most important export market where Hi-Crop is popular with asparagus growers. It is also popular with Dutch bulb and flower growers.
Strangely, they have only just supplied the first kit in the UK, fitted to a Case IH Maxxum 125. This used custom drop housings in the Hi-Crop kit to elevate the existing axles by up to 350mm. This led, when combined with larger diameter and taller profile tyres, gains of over 500mm of extra height, nearly 90% more than the manufacturer’s standard clearance.
More recently, the company has expanded its range of Hi-Crop conversion kits, to fit the latest New Holland T7s and equivalent Case IH Pumas. Available in 60, 72 and 80-inch track widths, the combined front and rear drop-box assemblies add between 700 and 800kg to the tractors overall weight.
However, it is said to have no impact on handling and the tractors drivetrain efficiency is maintained, while gearing can deliver creep speeds down to 90 metres per hour.
The kits are manufactured in the company’s own foundry in Kent, supplied ready for painting in red oxide, the bolt-on housings are said to take around a day to install on the donor tractor with suitable lifting equipment.
www.countyengineering.co.uk
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