We catch up with one of the first of 10 preproduction units of the five wheeldrive version of the Vervaet made Hydro Trike XL
Externally the latest version of the five-wheeled Hydro Trike XL doesn’t look any different to that launched in 2015 It retains the 20m³ tank, has the
same hydraulically extending mid-axle and hosts the familiar Claas cab and controls. Indeed, most of the updates on the new machine first seen as a prototype at Agritechnica are beneath the skin. For example, power comes from the latest 530hp DAF Paccar Stage V engine (previously 465hp), and inside the cab there is an improved touch-screen display. However, the big talking points on the latest XL are the new all-wheel-drive option for the mid-axle and an automatic traction control system.
Dealing first with the mid-axle, roughly half of the Hydro Trikes produced at Biervliet in the Netherlands leave as five-wheeled XL units. Although this ensures an even spread of rubber across 4.5m, customers working on hilly land wanted a powered mid-axle to improve traction. Vervaet’s answer is the new 5×5 option, which uses a 175l/min hydraulic pump to provide up to 130hp of power on the two mid-wheels. Particularly beneficial when working on hilly terrain or soft land, driving all five wheels is also claimed to save fuel when travelling across cultivated soils.
Dutch contractor Steinbusch, which evaluated the prototype for a week last year, is one of the first users of this season’s allotment of 10 pre-production machines fitted with the new powered mid-axle; others are located in Belgium, Denmark and Germany.
