FARGO, N.D. — Necessity factored heavily into the invention of a better pull strap for farm equipment.
“I grew up in the Red River Valley, where you always get stuck a lot,” says Minnesota farmer Ben Brutlag.
“It seems there was never a good point to hook onto for pulling out.”
Two years ago, he decided it was time to build better pulling systems for cable and nylon straps. He concentrated on operator safety, preventing equipment damage and making the hookup and pullout happen in the least amount of time.
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Aimed primarily at John Deere implements, Brutlag chose the name Easy-Out Pulling Systems.
“I started with a cable system for the 9000 series T. It uses a 175,000 pound steel cable looped over a new 2.75 inch diameter drawbar pin that we provide as part of the kit,” he said.
“The cable runs forward. It’s supported under the frame with some special brackets we designed. When it’s time to pull something, you take the cable hook off the storage bracket and hook it to your nylon strap. All the force runs through the drawbar pin back at the heaviest part of the tractor.”
The next target was the 8000 series tractor. It also relies on the new drawbar pin but uses a 117,900 lb. nylon strap instead of steel. The strap is wound onto a drum at the front of the tractor for storage. The drum allows for an extra 35 feet of strap to be available.
The cable Easy-Out sustem for the 9000 series sells for $2,100. The two systems for the 8000 and combines each sell for $2,600. For more information, contact Ben Brutlag at 218-731-2117 or visit www.easy-out.com.
