If you’re on hand for the NSAA Deep ’n’ Steep Slope Maintenance Conference January 15-19, you’ll find out first-hand how two tracked vehicle manufacturers, Thiokol and Kassbohrer, have put hydrostatics—a revolutionary principle in tracked vehicle drive system design—to work in their machines. You’ll see other new developments, too—from Tucker, Bombardier, John Deere, Flextrac, Cushman and others.
This year all the latest offerings will be there for the driving. Rather than the head-to-head draw power competitions of years past, operators will have a chance to evaluate the machines on their warning systems, visibility, driver comfort and safety, noise, power, exhaust, mechanical response, traction and other key buying factors. Shown on these pages are a few samples of what’s in store.
Thiokol 2500
Thiokol’s new 2500 is hydrostatically driven, a concept in which a hydraulic system, rather than a mechanical drive shaft, is used to drive the vehicle. Advantages, says Thiokol, include greater ease of operation and improved performance, though at this stage of development higher operating costs are necessary. There’s a choice of engines with this model, including a Ford 428 cu. in. V-8 gasoline engine (210 hp, 385 lbs. torque) and a gas-powered Chrysler 440 cu. in. V-8 (260 hp, 412 lbs. torque). Diesel power is also available with a “Cat” V-8 producing 200 hp and 440 lbs. torque. Fuel consumption for gas-driven machines averages about 7 gph while diesel power is slightly more economical at 5 gph. In low gear, any of the engine options will push the 2500 to 9.5 mph while high gear moves this machine to 15.5 mph. Weight is 7,850 lbs. with a designed gross of 10,000 lbs. Length is 13’, width 12’3” and height 6’7”. Ground clearance is 18”. Ground pressure is rated .67 psi under 57¼” tracks.
Kassbohrer Pisten-Bully PB36.145D
One of the few exclusively diesel-powered machines on the market, this medium-sized vehicle from Kassbohrer which also employs a hydrostatic drive system, can operate any of the company’s entire line of accessories. The German-made PB36.145 D, along with all other models in the Kassbohrer lineup, has both a hydraulic and mechanical braking system for added safety. Powered by a six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 160 hp diesel engine (296 lbs. torque), the Pisten-Bully can run to a top speed of 16 mph. The machine, says Kassbohrer, can climb a 120 percent slope and turn in its own length. Fuel consumption runs about 2.2 gph. Weight of the vehicle is 6,834 lbs. with a designed payload of 2,645 lbs. Ground pressure under its 74”-wide tracks is rated at .47 psi. A compact unit, length is 157½”, height 92½” and width 149⅔”. Ground clearance is 13” on all Kassbohrer products.
