New Drill Transport Operates Hydraulically

New Drill Transport Operates Hdraulically DRILLS Drills (42C) 2-6-16 Now, thanks to the Apollo Hydraulic Drill transport from Andre Industries, Bismarck, N.Dak., one man can move up to 60 ft. of different-size grain drills from field to road position, or vice versa, in less than 5 minutes, and without leaving the seat of his tractor. "Most of the transport systems we make are in the 50 to 60 ft. range for width. We make units as large as 60 ft., and as small as 20 ft.," explains Allen Andre, manufacturer. He notes that the system can handle different combinations of 8, 10, 12 or 14 ft. drills to reach the minimum 20 or maximum 60 ft. lengths. Additional drills can be added to the original system by adding on more transport sections. The Apollo transport is adaptable to most late model makes of either hoe or press type drills. Andre notes that it doesn't work to combine several makes of drills to make up a unit. From front to back width of the drills must be the same in putting together a drilling system, he points out. To change the Apollo system from field to road position, just pull a pin and fold the swinging section back to the drawbar. Drive forward and the drills will swing into position automatically. Connect the transport hitch on to the main hitch and the system is ready for road travel. Changing from transport to seeding position is just as easy. You just back the system up and reconnect the swinging section of the hitch, which is telescopic. No need to unhitch the tractor for either hitching operation. The transport wheels are mounted on the back of the drills and are thus out of the way when filling grain into the seed boxes. In transport position, the drills are raised via hydraulic cylinders to clear railroad tracks, ridges, and so forth. The transport system is designed specifically for grain drills and, so far as Andre knows, that's the only thing they been used for. He says there has been some interest in developing a similar unit for corn planters but that, at present, the firm has not explored this possibility. The Apollo system is sold complete with hydraulic cylinders, hoses, diverting valves and tires. A set of "track busters" that mount on the hitch for breaking up tractor tracks is optional. Andre notes that if a user changes drill makes he can, with a few minor adjustments, use the same transport system to mount the new drills. Prices range from $3,800 to $10,000, depending on how many and what type of drills. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Allen Andre, Apollo Distributing Corp., 135 Airport Road, Box 725, Bismarck, N. Dak. 58501 (ph. 701-255-4700)

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.