DRIVING IMPRESSION: Largely down to its focus on self-propelled foragers, Claas has never been a front runner in the UK and Irish silage wagon market; in fact it’s probably closer to the bottom of the list. This could be about to change, though, with the introduction of the new Cargos 8000 series shown at the Grassland event earlier this season
While Claas introduced the Cargos 9000 way back in 2011 and even brought a unit to the UK in 2012 it was deemed just too big for many users. Fast forward to 2015 and the more mass-market Cargos 8000 is launched with capacities of 30.0, 35.5 and 41.0m3. We tested the mid-range model, the 8400, which in test specification tips the scales at 10.5t.
Not a concern in the UK or Ireland, but because of its weight Claas will only be making the Cargos with a low slung hitch with tongue loads of either 3t or 4t. The drawbar is nice and slim to allow for tight turns, and it comes with hydraulic suspension. If you want to use the Cargos for carting from a chopper, users can boost the payload by up to 2.5t by dropping off the pick-up/rotor and, if fitted, the rear discharge rotors — a job that can be done in less than an hour when you’ve mastered the art.
The pick-up is identical to the Cargos 9000’s, with the unit’s five rows of 29 tines powered hydraulically to give a work width of 1.72m.
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