BRANDON – Weighing in at more than 30,000 pounds and cranking out 360 horsepower at the flywheel, the Fendt 936 Vario is the world’s undisputed biggest and most powerful fixed frame tractor.
Like most technologically advanced things, it comes with a price.
“You can figure $1,000 per horsepower. That gives you a lot more tractor than you get with a conventional 4×4,” says Ross Tufford, owner of Ag West Equipment, the Agco dealer in Portage la Prairie, Man.
Tufford said high horsepower fixed frame tractors are not really in the same market as high horsepower centre-articulated 4×4 tractors.
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“Articulated tractors are great for pulling things like air drills. That’s about it.
“With the economic situation and the high price of equipment, does it make sense to buy a tractor you can only use two or three weeks in the spring and maybe two weeks in the fall?”
Tufford said there’s no doubt about the need for articulated tractors on the Prairies. However, there’s a growing demand for high horsepower tractors capable of doing more than pulling an air drill.
Tufford’s dealership has sold more than 60 big Fendt tractors, although not all in the ultra high horsepower range. Many of his buyers are custom operators who use the tractor to haul liquid manure tanks.
“Those tanks used to be 1,000 or 2,000 gallons. Now they’re up to 5,000 and 8,000 gallons. That requires more power and better brakes. More sophisticated technology. These tractors are designed to meet that demand.
“I also have some customers who haul grain with these tractors. They pull a 45-foot grain trailer lickety-split. Just like in Europe.
“When you’re moving around the yard in the winter, these tractors will actually pull your trailer, unlike your highway semitractor.”
For farmers who expect to pull a highway trailer, the glad hand air brake connections are standard equipment, but the saddle dolly for the fifth wheel is optional.
Tufford said the technological sophistication runs from front to back, starting with the suspension.
The Fendt Vario uses automotive style upper and lower twin A-arms, which gives the independent front suspension 14 inches of vertical travel. All bearings are fluid filled so they’re maintenance free. An in-board wet brake is optional.
“I always recommend the optional front brake. It’s an extra five or six grand, but at 31 mph on the highway pulling a grain trailer or slurry tank, it’s a good idea.”
The front also has an integrated stability control system. In a left highway curve, the right suspension pressures up so the tractor remains level and stable.
Fendt’s power steering is also engineered for highway travel, with a ground-driven backup pump that automatically kicks in to give seamless power steering if the engine should falter.
“These tractors are designed for 60 km-h in Europe. Things like stability control and big brakes are expected over there. Here, we’re limited to 50 km.
“The front also has a 9,000 pound three-point hitch with double acting cylinders. It can exert 9,000 lb. of down force, which is enough to lift the front of the tractor off the ground.”
The front has two hydraulic circuits as standard equipment. The front power take-off is optional. He says there are numerous attachments for the front end, such as mowers and big snow blowers.
“The engine is a Tier III liquid cooled Deutz with four valves per cylinder. It’s quite small. It’s only 7.2 litres, but it puts out up to 360 h.p. with 40 percent torque rise. It’s amazing, really.”
Not only does the tractor have hydro-pneumatic suspension front and rear, but the cab is also fully air suspended with 10 inches of travel. The cab has an optional reverse control feature so the operator can face the rear of the tractor.
The rear has six hydraulic circuits and a 19,800 lb. three point hitch with double acting cylinders capable of lifting the rear of the tractor off the ground.
“We also have a power beyond connection for any implement that has multiple hydraulic functions. There’s a load sensing line for that system and it provides live hydraulic pressure,” Tufford said.
“Every Fendt tractor has an ISO 11783 coupler for smart implements. It’s designed to communicate directly to the monitor in the tractor.”
Fendt initiated the ISO 11783 movement in the first place, so it’s to be expected that all its equipment meets those standards.
“The tractor comes with a full three-year, 3,000 hour warranty. It’s zero deductible. In that time, the dealer provides 100 percent of the maintenance.”
For more information, call 204-857-5130 or visit www.fendt.com.
