Practical test: Strautmann Giga-Vitesse III DO plus forage wagon Working on the ‘Straut’ ‘Giga-Vitesse III’ suggests a machine built for speed and boasting a huge carrying capacity. Which, as it turns out, rates as a pretty accurate description of Strautmann’s flagship-but-one forage wagon model. This verdict is based on our profi practical field test experiences with the Giga III last season, when we tucked the wagon into a range of crops
Unlike many of the other European wagon manufacturers, Strautmann has noconventional forage harvester within its portfolio. Think Claas. Think Krone. In fact, even think Pöttinger, which despite its recent major selling focus on wagons, continues to market and push the MEX trailed forager within its line-up. So, Strautmann is a little different to the mainstream competition. There is no flipside to its grass-gathering argument. It is totally committed to the wagon principle. End of story.
Not surprisingly, then, the company’s model line-up reflects this single-minded approach, with a sizeable number of units from which to choose – from 25m³ all the way up to 44m³. Here, though, we focus on the Giga-Vitesse III DO plus; DO refers to the discharge rotors at the rear which, though popular on drive-over Continental clamps, are a rare find in the UK. The rest of the test machine is UK applicable.
Staying with matters of specification, the Giga III certainly doesn’t skimp in this department. ‘Plus’, to be precise, relates to the total number of knives, which has increased from 41 to 45, while the tyre size has also recently been uprated, from 700/40R22.5s to 800/40R26.5s. Pick-up drive is via a right-angled gearbox rather than a roller chain. Indeed, the only real difference between our Giga-Vitesse III and the flagship Giga-Vitesse IV is in load capacity, the III measuring 80cm shorter. In terms of what can actually be stuffed inside, this equates to a drop in claimed DIN 11741 from 40m3 (IV) to 36m3 (III).
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