Hillside Combines
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There's really no ONE "best" hillside combine. They are all very good, as are regular combines. Yes, Case-IH and Deere are the most popular in hillsiders, but that's just because they are two leading manufacturers of combines, period.
Due to the rising cost of the hillside combines as opposed to their flatland counterparts, the manufacturers have all quit building their own hillside features and have gone to contract manufacturers such as Hillco or Rahco. Both are very good makes, too. No, these are not just some after market add-ons the new farmer or harvester owners install. The combines are sent out to the respective companies for professional installation. This stuff HAS to work; otherwise some person could die! Both Hillco and Rahco work jointly with the combine company to do this.
Yes, I've seen other combines [pre-owned] have these hillside features added. I can only presume in such a case, the dealer or even individual makes all needed arrangements whereby the mods are made at the respective factories.
Still, back to your basic question about combines themselves. I truly believe that since all combines are built to be the best money can buy, then it is up to the OPERATOR to decide HOW WELL to set it, run it, maintain it and KEEP it running at its best for many years to come.
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Due to the rising cost of the hillside combines as opposed to their flatland counterparts, the manufacturers have all quit building their own hillside features and have gone to contract manufacturers such as Hillco or Rahco. Both are very good makes, too. No, these are not just some after market add-ons the new farmer or harvester owners install. The combines are sent out to the respective companies for professional installation. This stuff HAS to work; otherwise some person could die! Both Hillco and Rahco work jointly with the combine company to do this.
Yes, I've seen other combines [pre-owned] have these hillside features added. I can only presume in such a case, the dealer or even individual makes all needed arrangements whereby the mods are made at the respective factories.
Still, back to your basic question about combines themselves. I truly believe that since all combines are built to be the best money can buy, then it is up to the OPERATOR to decide HOW WELL to set it, run it, maintain it and KEEP it running at its best for many years to come.
Well now, I know for a fact there is quite a few farmer installed Hillco kits around here. Done a couple myself. Some John Deere owners may want to chime in here but I believe the Rahco system levels a little more than the Hillco, I'm not sure. The Hillco is a after market system. They build them for different makes of machines. The Rahco, a couple of years ago anyway, was only J.D. The real difference is the way the hillside systems make the respective machines handle. You have to be careful because they don't level to the extent of the terrain that is farmed. You can find yourself in some BAD situations. I cannot remember the actual spec's on the levelers. I still consider the old I.H.C. 151, 403 and 453's with 4 way levelers the safest. They were factory installed too. My .02 anyway.
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Grass, Harris could level most for self propelled. They were narrower tread since they used enclosed chains instead of U-joints and could level up to 60 percent as I'm sure you know. Rahco were originally mounted on the 1470's. I remember before Hillco came out that there were rumors of CIH not putting on levellers anymore. Got too expensive to mount them in the factory I guess so that led to the add ons. I do like the looks of the Rahco unit on the Deere's though I don't know much about the late model stuff.
The old pull types were the best. The crawlers could take almost any hill as long as it was powerful enough and the combine would stay up like you couldn't believe if you didn't have old steel wheels that could dig into the hillside. Now that goes back a ways.
The old pull types were the best. The crawlers could take almost any hill as long as it was powerful enough and the combine would stay up like you couldn't believe if you didn't have old steel wheels that could dig into the hillside. Now that goes back a ways.
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Hi look forward to 98j posting on this link.
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Grass, I was NOT aware of that. Just looking over Hillco's own website, all indicated it was only a precision factory-installed job. Still, what you say, certainly does explain all the older combines using their Hillco's. I had just thought such had been delivered to the factory for professional installation.
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Yes, one MUST be most careful and REALLY KNOW what they are doing.....or else! I liken modifying a regular combine to a hillsider to building your own airplane. Yes, quite a lot of that is done, too, but still requires utmost knowldege as lives are at stake.
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Yes, one MUST be most careful and REALLY KNOW what they are doing.....or else! I liken modifying a regular combine to a hillsider to building your own airplane. Yes, quite a lot of that is done, too, but still requires utmost knowldege as lives are at stake.
My son and 1470 coming off full level and getting ready to go back to full level in about 200 ft.
Bad pix quality because its through my cab window. This particular field hates combines. I've slid to the bottom numerous times. Have burned up two machines here. Have also rolled tires off rims here too.
Combiness; Liability made Case quit hillsides. I'm not sure how Lenny Hill (Hillco) handles that part. I believe there is someone posting here that works for Hillco back east that may answer some of these questions.
Bad pix quality because its through my cab window. This particular field hates combines. I've slid to the bottom numerous times. Have burned up two machines here. Have also rolled tires off rims here too.
Combiness; Liability made Case quit hillsides. I'm not sure how Lenny Hill (Hillco) handles that part. I believe there is someone posting here that works for Hillco back east that may answer some of these questions.
Grass, you know what folks say after you've told them you broke your arm in two places. Just stay out of those places!
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LOL!
Maybe you should consider leasiong that field to a "sucker" and keep your combines safer.
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No, I had not heard anything about the liability factor, either. I do know that prices had really gotten high so a dealer had told me that back when...but also, what do Oklahoma or Kansas dealers know about hillsiders, anyway?
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Maybe you should consider leasiong that field to a "sucker" and keep your combines safer.
No, I had not heard anything about the liability factor, either. I do know that prices had really gotten high so a dealer had told me that back when...but also, what do Oklahoma or Kansas dealers know about hillsiders, anyway?
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2,229 Posts
@combiness
eere,Claas,Laverda and Agco(Massey and Fendt) are still producing their own hillside combines for the european market.Deere now offers even the 9880STS combine for europe with the factory installed Deere hillside system called hillmaster and this model is produced in the US.
Regards
Hans-Georg
eere,Claas,Laverda and Agco(Massey and Fendt) are still producing their own hillside combines for the european market.Deere now offers even the 9880STS combine for europe with the factory installed Deere hillside system called hillmaster and this model is produced in the US.Regards
Hans-Georg
Jaydee, I rather gathered that much from browsing the Euro combine websites and such. Most of those are still just "side hill" combines, which still counts, but do not have as much leveling capacity as do the true hillside combines.
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I also like the various, unique ways some of the Euro combines do their leveling, too.
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Yes, there is still a much wider diversity among Euro companies as well as their various combines, compared to N A, even though many of the European firms have had their share of mergers/acquisitions during the past 2 decades. Claas is one example of a big corp that has remained steadfastly autonomous, just like our Deere. Neither have had to merge with anyone just to stay in business.
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Yes, there is still a much wider diversity among Euro companies as well as their various combines, compared to N A, even though many of the European firms have had their share of mergers/acquisitions during the past 2 decades. Claas is one example of a big corp that has remained steadfastly autonomous, just like our Deere. Neither have had to merge with anyone just to stay in business.
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thanks a lot for all the answers
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@combiness
thanks a lot for mentioning Hillco and Rahco just have checked there website there is lots of information!! definitely a +1 !!
@grass
yeah the rahco can do 32% and the hillco 27%
-> what tires size do you use at the hillside combine?
@jaydee to what extend do they level?
just wondering is there any type of draper that could used at a hillside combine?
@combiness
thanks a lot for mentioning Hillco and Rahco just have checked there website there is lots of information!! definitely a +1 !!
@grass
yeah the rahco can do 32% and the hillco 27%
-> what tires size do you use at the hillside combine?
@jaydee to what extend do they level?
just wondering is there any type of draper that could used at a hillside combine?
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2,229 Posts
most of them level between 15% and 18% slopes.
Quote:thanks a lot for all the answers
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@combiness
thanks a lot for mentioning Hillco and Rahco just have checked there website there is lots of information!! definitely a +1 !!
@grass
yeah the rahco can do 32% and the hillco 27%
-> what tires size do you use at the hillside combine?
@jaydee to what extend do they level?
just wondering is there any type of draper that could used at a hillside combine?
Hey there Bushel.....useing a 2062 Flex Draper ( by Mac Don for
Case,IH, NH, etc,etc)....36 feet.
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@combiness
thanks a lot for mentioning Hillco and Rahco just have checked there website there is lots of information!! definitely a +1 !!
@grass
yeah the rahco can do 32% and the hillco 27%
-> what tires size do you use at the hillside combine?
@jaydee to what extend do they level?
just wondering is there any type of draper that could used at a hillside combine?
Hey there Bushel.....useing a 2062 Flex Draper ( by Mac Don for
Case,IH, NH, etc,etc)....36 feet.
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