Its seems that CAT puts more power to the ground. The only problem is when its very wet and you are working in clay. Then when you are cutting on a slope, the CAT's differential system can pull you down the slope. Quad trac is usually a smoother ride. But end users all say that the CAT has more power to the ground.
Hmm.. We have had both CATS and QUADS on our farm and to us and from other farmers ive talked to it seems that at least in ag purposes the quad will out pull the cat.
We have a 9 shank vripper that runs about 14-16 in. deep. When we go over the ends of the field where ground was really tight, the CAT would either veer one way or the other or just stop. with the QUAD we can keep going through that. Also the QUAD seems to pull the 52' field cultivator straighter than the cat ever would. I believe its because you have 4 independent points of drive instead of 2. On a cat, one track always has to go slightly slower or faster in order to keep it straight.
We do definitely notice that it is harder to keep the CAT running strait, and I agree that it is because of the 2 independent drives. As for the power issue, I talked to some more end users, and some do say that the STX 530 can out pull a CAT. Some also said that the STX, which have Cummins Engines, do not have the bottom end like a CAT, with a CAT engine. Also sounds to me that soil conditions make a big difference. And then there is personal preference.
how does a cat compare to a quadtrac?
tmx864 3 years ago
Its seems that CAT puts more power to the ground. The only problem is when its very wet and you are working in clay. Then when you are cutting on a slope, the CAT's differential system can pull you down the slope. Quad trac is usually a smoother ride. But end users all say that the CAT has more power to the ground.
DirtGeeks 3 years ago
Hmm.. We have had both CATS and QUADS on our farm and to us and from other farmers ive talked to it seems that at least in ag purposes the quad will out pull the cat.
tmx864 3 years ago
Interesting. In what applications do you notice that the Quad out pulls the Challenger?
DirtGeeks 3 years ago
We have a 9 shank vripper that runs about 14-16 in. deep. When we go over the ends of the field where ground was really tight, the CAT would either veer one way or the other or just stop. with the QUAD we can keep going through that. Also the QUAD seems to pull the 52' field cultivator straighter than the cat ever would. I believe its because you have 4 independent points of drive instead of 2. On a cat, one track always has to go slightly slower or faster in order to keep it straight.
tmx864 3 years ago
We do definitely notice that it is harder to keep the CAT running strait, and I agree that it is because of the 2 independent drives. As for the power issue, I talked to some more end users, and some do say that the STX 530 can out pull a CAT. Some also said that the STX, which have Cummins Engines, do not have the bottom end like a CAT, with a CAT engine. Also sounds to me that soil conditions make a big difference. And then there is personal preference.
DirtGeeks 3 years ago