Tractor-pulled scrapers are a common site at construction sites across North America, and there are a number of high-HP tractors on display at the ConExpo construction show this week. This includes John Deere’s 9570RX coupled to a Deere-made scraper, and yesterday’s post on Game Equipment’s new 630hp 96ATX. The same Stage IV 6cyl Cat C18 engine is used to power another new 630hp tractor on display in Las Vegas, this time a joint venture between Versatile and Mobile Track Solutions (MTS). Made at Elkader, in Iowa, the nearly 30t MTS 3630T is described by its maker as the only true scraper tractor on the market. Other Cat input includes the TA22 powershift transmission. Specially tuned for pulling scrapers, the tranny provides 16fx 4r speeds and a top speed 34km/hr. Development of the prototype units were supported by Cat, and included over three months of testing at this firm’s Peoria test site.
With a vertical drawbar load of over 15t, the 3630T is matched to the monster 22-28m³ capacity MT-30 scraper, which like the tractor, is made in-house. The 3630T’s cab is claimed as the largest in the industry (4.9m³ volume), and is covered by 8m² of glass. The fuel tank holds 833 litres, the integrated AdBlue tank 42 litres, and the track units and 30” belts were supplied by Camso. MTS also makes a wheeled version of the same tractor, the 3630, which is available on either single 35/65R33 tyres or 710/70R42 duals.
Pictures: Daniel Foged
