This is due in no small part to the luxurious new VisionView cab, providing operators with a completely flat floor and unrivalled visibility, paired with the industry leading BlueCab 4 Category 4 filtration system.
The good first impressions start as you open the door- this is hinged at the rear of the cab with no B pillars, providing excellent visibility at each side. Hopping into the cab is easy with a wide opening and low fender, while the flat floor means no transmission tunnel to catch a welly as you sit in the seat, and allows the pedals to be arranged centrally under the steering column.
The steering column is angle adjustable and telescopic, and is finished off with phone charger, drinks bottle holder and the 7” InfoView LCD display. The display shows the operator all the necessaries and is also where adjustments are made to the electrohydraulic remote: flow control, priority, lock out and motor mode – an innovative feature designed to protect hydraulic motors when a remote is shut off.
The BlueCab 4 carbon filtration system monitor has been moved from above the operator’s head to inside the InfoView – crucially showing filter life and cabin pressurisation. The system is still engaged by a simple rocker switch, meaning the carbon filter is only used as required, with the CAT 2 filter offering dust protection when the tractor is not being used for spraying.
Sitting in the air suspended operator’s seat really shows off the space and airy feel; the headlining slopes up and away from the driver, while the bonnet is even lower than the previous models to give better visibility for trimmers or pre-pruners. The seat is raised up and sat back to enable the operator to see the sides and rear of the machine easily, and the slightly wider cab allows for some wiggle room.
Controls are laid out intuitively on the right-hand side of the cab and fall to hand regardless of task required, for example, the switches for the hydraulic top link, stabilisers and drop arm are all in a bank on the right-hand rear corner of the console, just where they’re needed when looking over your shoulder in order to hitch up an implement.
Implements with control boxes can be wired into the cab via pull-out plugs in the rear and front window apertures – this means the cab stays sealed, and that it’s class leading sound level of 71dBA stays that way. Control boxes can be fitted either to the RAM mounts in the headlining, on the right-hand grab rail, or via a threaded block in the A-pillar, while there is a choice of power sockets placed to reduce any trailing leads.
Transmission, pto and hydraulic controls all sit forward on the right-hand console, with auto pto, engine speed management switches, shuttle aggressiveness and front/rear diff-lock buttons all occupying a switch bank close to the EHR paddles. Often changing the engine speed is matched with changing gear, so another engine speed management switch is located on the transmission control joystick. This joystick also features a power clutch button, meaning eight gearshifts can be made without use of the clutch pedal on Dual Command transmissions.
The cab is topped off with a choice of either halogen or LED worklights, and high mount roadlights can be fitted as an option for when front mounted implements might obscure the usual hood mounted lights.
The new New Holland T4.FNV range is available from all New Holland dealers, for enquiries or demonstrations in the South East/South Central areas please contact either Richard Smith or Matt Pinnington at Haynes Agricultural.
