Watch Some Tractor Origami
Jul 13, 2012
Tractors and implements are getting bigger – that’s not necessarily news. But what is interesting is how some companies are solving the ensuing transportation issues.
Take the Sunflower 6631 vertical tillage tool, for example. "Big" is just about the only way to describe it. It is 40 feet long and tips the scales at 24,000 lb. Yet for highway transportation, a series of hydraulic controls allows for a bit of "tractor origami" – the implement can fold up into a box that is only 17’9" long and 13’6" high.
"We’re trying to figure out new ways to bend implements and fold them," says Mark Wyrick, product support manager. "It’s going to take us awhile to get up to speed on it, but that’s basically what we’re doing. The other thing we’re also looking at from a design perspective is larger tires for greater stability on the highway and ability to handle greater loads."
Here’s a quick demonstration of how the Sunflower 6631 folds up for highway transportation:
