May. 06, 2024
Steiger No. 1 was built by the Steiger brothers in their barn in 1958 and is now showcased at Bonanzaville, USA museum in Fargo, N.D.
Originally, two-wheel drive tractors were standard until after World War II when the benefits of four-wheel drive became apparent. Early attempts with four-wheel drives in the 1920s and ’30s faced challenges due to the lack of constant-velocity universal joints, limiting their acceptance. At that time, tractors with crawler tracks provided the most traction.
Articulated steering, also known as "bending in the middle," was utilized in the 1915 Moline Universal, featuring pivot steering but only with two-wheel drive. It functioned efficiently but was low-powered. Similar models were two-wheel, front-wheel drive configurations that used tail-wheel steering instead of central-hinge articulation.
During World War II, the real advantages of four-wheel drive were recognized when front-wheel power could be engaged as needed. The terms "6×6" and "4×4" were introduced, indicating that all wheels, including the front steering wheels, could be powered.
The 1964 FWD/Wagner WA-4 featured a GM/Detroit Diesel 4-53 engine delivering around 100hp.
Post-war, the first practical four-wheel drive farm "tractors" appeared as Willys Jeeps, Dodge Power Wagons, and the British Land Rover equipped with factory-installed 3-point hitches and rear power take-offs. However, these vehicles didn't gain much popularity among farmers due to their limited maneuverability and visibility.
Farmers often connected two tractors in tandem (removing the front wheels of both) to create a single two-engine, four-wheel drive tractor. The operator controlled the machine from the rear seat via a hydraulic cylinder-powered articulation joint. Implementing clutch, shift, and throttle control was challenging but many unique machines of this type were functional in the fields. Ernest Doe & Sons built several Doe Dual Drive (or Triple D) tractors in the 1950s and ’60s in Malden, Essex, England, using two Fordson Major tractors for a total of 107 horsepower.
During the post-war period, four-wheel drives also emerged with "skid-steering" and even four-wheel steering, though these met limited success. Concurrently, bigger and more productive diggers, truck loaders, and aircraft handling heavy weights around factories burgeoned in the industrial and construction industries.
The John Deere 8010 marked the company's entry into articulated four-wheel drive tractors.
Larger, more powerful four-wheel drives were developed to address the increased needs across various sectors. Companies such as Coleman, Euclid, and Hough manufactured robust articulated machines to handle these demands, leveraging articulation for improved maneuverability. As weight and size were less of a concern, these machines were built highly durable and were soon considered for agricultural uses.
Advantages of articulation included sharp turning, dual and triple tire setups, and even short tracks for better flotation. An often overlooked benefit was that the front and back tires followed the same path, minimizing soil compaction during turns.
Challenges in articulating tractors mainly stemmed from transferring power across the hinge joint. Solutions included using two engines, one for each axle, as exemplified by Kinze’s Big Blue with two 320hp Detroit Diesels. However, this presented difficulties in cab control synchronization. The Euclid scraper/earth-mover also used this design. Pioneer articulators in agriculture included the Steiger and Wagner brothers.
The Doe "Triple D," introduced in 1957, was a conversion of a Fordson Major created to boost power and traction. It was mass-produced by Ernest Doe & Sons in Malden, Essex, England.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Eddie Wagner and his six brothers engaged in forestry using heavy mining and construction equipment. Elmer Wagner designed the first modern four-wheel drive articulated tractor in 1949 post his military stint in Germany, adapting it for farming in 1954. Full-scale production of models TR-6, TR-9, and TR-14 began in late 1955.
Various power plants were utilized without much standardization initially, making every Wagner tractor unique. Over time, Wagner’s ownership transitioned through several phases, including a stint with the FWD fire truck builder from Clintonville, Wisconsin.
A landmark deal with John Deere in December 1968 granted exclusive rights to Wagner's WA-14 and WA-17 tractors. Deere rebranded these tractors but after acquiring only 51 units, Wagner ceased production under the agreement's terms keeping them out of the market for at least five years thereafter.
The 1956 Model TR-9 boasted a 495-cubic-inch, 4-cylinder Cummins diesel with a 125hp output. It featured a 10f/2r transmission and weighed around 16,000 pounds. The TR-14, tested in 1959, included a 743-cubic-inch Cummins diesel. In 1964, the WA-4, tested with a 4-cylinder GM Detroit Diesel engine with a 212-cubic-inch displacement, was evaluated.
The International Harvester 2+2 series debuted in 1979 with models 3388 (130hp) and 3588 (150hp).
Doug and Maurice Steiger from Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, built their initial articulated four-wheel drive tractor during the winter of 1957-58 in their barn. Driven by the need for more horsepower, they used a GM Detroit Diesel 6-71 engine capable of 238hp.
Employing Euclid articulated scraper/hauler's axles, radiator, and pivot, the Steiger brothers devised a way to transfer power across the pivot joint to the rear wheels using a center gearbox and four universal joints. Their innovative swinging gearbox design allowed the tractor to "bend" efficiently, reducing universal joint angles by a factor of four.
Steiger produced more than 50,000 articulated tractors before merging into CNH-Global. The Steiger No.1, weighing 18,000 pounds, featured a 10f-2r transmission/transfer case.
In 1959, John Deere's Model 8010 surprised many by exceeding 200hp, a significant leap from previous models. As the first Deere tractor with over two cylinders since 1919's Dain, it demonstrated that farmers were eager for powerful machines.
The Model 8010, measuring 20x8x8 feet, and equipped with 6-foot diameter tires, utilized a 215hp 6-cylinder GM Detroit Diesel 6-71 engine. However, the 9-speed truck-like transmission failed under agricultural stress, and financial cost became a deterrent, leading to upgrades and rebranding as the 8020.
Despite its challenges, the 8010/8020 was revolutionary, integrating features such as air brakes and a howling GM Model 6-71 diesel that earned the moniker "Howling Jimmy."
The 1959 Model 8010, featuring a 9f/1r transmission, weighed just under 20,000 pounds and wasn't tested by the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory.
A 1971 White Plainsman A4T-1600, as photographed by Andrew Morland.
Minneapolis-Moline Plainsman A4T: A Contender in Competitive Markets
Minneapolis-Moline’s A4T design began in March 1969, with testing in May and production by November. The model stemmed from a dealer in Stuttgart, Arkansas, who had built useful articulated tractors from M-M components since 1962.
The A4T used existing parts, making the transition swift and cost-effective, leading to a model that was competitively priced. Engines included the 504-cubic-inch M-M 6-cylinder, producing 139hp for diesel and 169hp for LPG, with a 10-speed range and 1,000rpm PTO. By 1971, the A4T-1600 with a 143hp, 585-cubic-inch diesel was tested by the University of Nebraska and weighed around 20,000 pounds.
The International Harvester 2+2 Series launched in 1979 aimed to blend two-wheel drive conveniences with four-wheel drive benefits. Featuring a quiet cab and better implement visibility, it was well-received.
Initially built from the 86 Series tractor back half, later models 6588 and 6788 transitioned to the 88 Series, differing mainly in transmission speeds and horsepower. The 6788's 200hp turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel and 21,000-pound weight made it robust. However, a 1979 labor strike and subsequent acquisition by Tenneco led to the discontinuation post Case-IH formation.
The articulated Plainsman was initially produced by Minneapolis-Moline, later sold as Oliver 2655, and ultimately under White branding. The engine was a 143hp M-M 686-cubic-inch diesel. Photo from Mecum Auction.
The 1970s were tough for the tractor industry, worsened by the 1980s' challenges. While manufacturers explored new models and technologies, high interest rates and policies such as the Soviet Union grain embargo and PIK Program hurt sales. Four-wheel drive tractor sales plummeted by 55% between 1979 and 1983.
However, by 1988, improved features such as operator comfort, electronic displays for monitoring tasks, and innovative traction control began revitalizing sales. Power shift transmissions and larger engines reached their zenith in the late 1970s, with articulated tractors stabilizing around 300hp and popularity growing for 150-200hp mechanical front-wheel drive tractors.
What were the early challenges for four-wheel drive tractors? Early models faced steering difficulties without constant-velocity universal joints and lacked farmer adoption due to visibility and maneuverability issues.
Who were the pioneers in articulated tractor design? The Steiger and Wagner brothers were trailblazers in the articulated tractor industry, with significant contributions and innovations.
How did economic policies impact tractor sales in the 1980s? High interest rates and government grain policies led to a decline in tractor sales, with a 55% drop in four-wheel drive tractor sales from 1979 to 1983.
For details about articulated farm tractor for sale and Diesel-powered mountain tractors, visit HUILI Machinery.
The concept of a four-wheel drive tractor, even one that was articulated, is certainly not a new concept.
01
of 12
The Big Bud 747 tractor was built in 1977 in Havre, Montana by the Northern Manufacturing Company. This behemoth, producing 760 horsepower from a 16-cylinder Detroit Diesel engine, measured 27 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 14 feet tall. The tires, crafted by United Tire Company of Canada, stood 8 feet in diameter. With a full 1,000-gallon fuel tank, the tractor weighed over 100,000 pounds.
02
of 12
CAST tractors, such as the Model 435L, were years ahead of their time, featuring innovations like four-wheel steering, braking, and suspension. CAST Trattori of Bologna, Italy, sold this model in the late 1950s, offering unique features like a hydraulically controlled differential lock and two-way PTO that operated at 650 rpm or could be linked to the transmission for 4.8 revolutions per meter traveled.
03
of 12
The Fitch Four-Drive, designed by John H. Fitch, was a trailblazer with powered wheels on all four corners. It came in eight models, with the Cat Model E 15-30 noted for its durability and high drawbar power. At the 1918 National Tractor Demonstration, a Four-Drive model impressively pulled a four-bottom plow continuously for 88 hours, covering 100 acres.
04
of 12
Introduced in 1952 by a firm in Stockton, California, the Power Horse provided an alternative to crawler tractors. Its unique planetary gear system and hand brakes enabled a tight 5-foot turning radius, and the design allowed movement reversal at 50% of the rated speed.
05
of 12
In 1915, Chris Heer patented the first four-wheel-drive technology, incorporating it into his tractor design. This model featured a 25hp horizontally-opposed, two-cylinder engine, an eight-foot turning radius, and a three-speed transmission—remarkable features for its era.
06
of 12
Released in 1961, the International 4300 boasted 300 horsepower and was paired with a 10-bottom plow. Built by the Frank G Hough Company, it featured an 817 cubic-inch, six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, delivering an impressive 166 horsepower.
07
of 12
Previous: 10 things to consider when buying a compact tractor
Next: None
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )