Bell Equipment Forestry & Agriculture has released the 2006AF Series V Haulage Tractor with a
robust 200hp (149kW) workhorse in response to market demand for a more powerful machine
capable of hauling a larger payload.
The current range consists of the smaller 140hp (104kW) Bell 1406A and 1406AF models as well as
the 173hp (129kW) Bell 1736A and 1736AF, where ‘A’ and ‘AF’ denote 2WD and 4WD configurations
respectively.
The Series V leans heavily on Bell Equipment’s tried and tested haulage tractor heritage. Its unique
characteristics make it a better tool for haulage than a standard agricultural ploughing tractor.
It retains the fabricated steel chassis, heavy-duty rear axle and hitch positioning ahead of the
axle centre line for improved load transfer, steering and traction when trailers are fully loaded. It also
incorporates key safety features like the ROPS/FOPS certified cab and pneumatic trailer braking.
Bell Equipment Product Manager Emile van Wyk says the 4WD Bell 2006AF boasts a 15% power
increase over the 173hp (129kW) units.
“We’ve built the 2006AF on the trusted and proven Series V platform, which maintains all our
customers have become accustomed to in our Haulage Tractors. Plus, more power means the engine
doesn’t work as hard to haul its load, which carries numerous operational benefits”, he explains.
Driven by the 6,8l John Deere engine, it provides 785Nm of torque through the Allison automatic
transmission, enabling it to comfortably haul on-road at up to 40km/h. Like the other models, the
engine achieves Tier 3 emissions certification without needing a complex exhaust gas recirculation
(EGR) system.
Emile says the 2006AF has rear disc brakes for more efficient braking and easily handles undulating
terrain thanks to the automatic 4×4 feature that detects wheelspin and engages 4×4 until grip is
restored and disengages again.
He comments, “One of our prototypes has clocked over 5,000 hours hauling 40t loads of timber for a
Namibian biomass customer. It travels for distances up to 65km at a time and has been reported to be
the best machine on-site”.