Krone has joined the gap between farming and road transport with the recently announced GX 520 AgriLiner trailer which is an extension of its GX universal transport wagon range.
The trailer is intended for both field and road work and is built to be attached to the fifth wheel of a road truck rather than a hitch of a farm tractor.
The GX 520 AgriLiner is based on the body of the GX 520 universal transport wagon with the third axle removed; its place being taken by the rear axle of the truck.
A lorry from Krone?
There is though, a lack of clarity on whether Krone is also offering a truck to go with the trailer as part of a package or whether it intends entering the off-road truck market in a more general sense.
Information from the company mentions the trailer being matched to what the company refers to as an Agro Truck, but no details of this are given despite images of a matching green cab unit being shown towing it.
However, it does appear to be a Mercedes Benz Arocs tractor unit; the Arocs range of trucks being primarily aimed at the construction industry and utilities.
Vehicles from this stable are available in a multitude of combinations with all-wheel-drive and two grades of chassis build, as well as various axle arrangements.
Pulling a trailer of forage around a field would appear one of the easier tasks asked of them.
Power aplenty
The power of the ArgoTruck is stated as being 510hp which puts it on par with the largest field tractors in general use on European farms.
Applying that to the ground through road size wheels may offer something of a challenge in less than ideal conditions, but having it available for general haulage duties is a huge bonus.
One obstacle to adoption that such a lorry-based transport system may encounter is servicing. Being a road orientated truck, it will require a different competence than that found in most agricultural dealerships.
This is not to belittle the skills of such workshops, but trucks are a different animal to tractors with strict maintenance schedules and testing regimes. Farm tractors, basically, have none.
Multipurpose trailer
The trailer itself has a volume of up to 52m³ which, in combination with the spring-loaded conveyor belt connected to the front wall, allows a variety of goods to be conveyed without damage.
To facilitate loading, the floor belt can be run in either direction, enabling not only loose material to be carried, but also pallet goods and other miscellaneous items.
Overall Krone appears to have bit the bullet and is finally making the connection between haulage and agriculture, two industries that are already closely entwined but serviced by two completely separate manufacturing structures.
