Josh Richardson’s Fastrac 8330 iCON tractor. Image: Josh Richardson
As the name suggests, JCB’s Fastrac tractor is fast – and that feature is making a difference for one South Australian farmer
JCB’s Fastrac 8330 iCON tractor boasts a maximum speed of 70km/h.
This is an attention-grabbing figure and something which makes the manufacturer proud, but for South Australian farmer Josh Richardson it represents so much more than just a number on a page.
Richardson’s farm is diverse and includes more than 5,500 acres (2,226 hectares) which are used for cropping and raising more than 5,000 ewes, about 140 cows and a piggery with about 500 sows.
Based at Tintinara in the state’s south-east, his operations also include another farm at Padthaway, located about 100km away.
With such significant distances to cover on a regular basis, the adage of time equalling money is at the forefront of Richardson’s mind.
This additional speed offered by the JCB Fastrac 8330 iCON, compared to other tractors, was a major factor in Richardson’s recent purchase decision.
“The thing that sold it to us was the travel and speed in getting wherever we need to,” he says.
“It’s the comfiest tractor we’ve got on the property but what we like so much about it is we’re spread out a bit, so we can travel from point A to point B probably one-third quicker than what we could with any other tractor we’ve got on the farm.
“When you’ve got labour sitting in a tractor, it makes a big difference for sure.
“We’ve also got the farm at Padthaway so when we need to do some pasture spreading there, we just put the spreader on and you’re there in not even two hours, whereas if you drive a normal tractor there it will take you three and a half hours.”
iCONic upgrades
In creating the Fastrac 8330 iCON, JCB has managed to combine three sought-after characteristics which seem like a challenge to mesh – a powerful tractor capable of handling the big jobs thanks to its 348hp (260kW) engine, a high maximum speed which enables farmers to move around quickly, plus a focus on improving the cabin and suspension to ensure drivers are comfortable while doing so.
Add in the iCON concept, which is a technology-packed suite that brings a new level of sophistication to what operators can do, and the result is a tractor already making an impact for Australian farmers such as Richardson.
The first significant upgrade JCB can offer thanks to the iCON concept is a new 12-inch (30cm) touchscreen display and armrest console.
This offers fully integrated ISOBUS connectivity, GPS guidance display options and implement control applications.
Its basic layout will be familiar to previous Fastrac users, however it adds the ability to swipe across the screen and access more detailed information – including front and rear spool valve settings, remote camera view and headland turn-assist programming.
A reconfigured joystick can also have virtually any function allocated to each of its buttons, creating a bespoke experience for an individual user’s specific needs.
Operators can also utilise JCB’s Smart Transmission Control, which offers a speed-based driving system with multiple cruise control options, allowing the tractor speed to be controlled by the thumb roller on the main joystick.
JCB’s Fastrac 8330 iCON is a tractor with style, but that does not come at the expense of the substance required by Australian farmers on a daily basis.
The powerful 348hp engine is backed up by 1,500Nm of torque and an impressive 10,000kg rear lift capacity.
A 50-50 weight distribution helps to optimise its tractive performance in the field and make it a star performer with even the heaviest of implements.
Dual-line steering, twin-caliper ABS disc brakes and a full-length rigid chassis provide high levels of safety, while anti-roll bars and an advanced suspension system offer improved stability at high speed.
Decision time
For Richardson, while this purchase was his first JCB tractor, it was by no means a random decision.
He has owned other JCB equipment for many years and built an ongoing relationship with his nearest dealer, Ramsey Brothers in Murray Bridge.
His story is also a strong endorsement of the importance of long-term relationships, plus the benefit of letting customers have a test drive even if it does not lead to an immediate sale.
“I’ve had a long relationship with Ramsey Brothers having bought gear for nearly 15 years, and I’ve found them to be very good to me,” Richardson says.
“About four or five years ago I test drove a JCB that was a 220hp tractor.
“It didn’t have the horsepower and the weight required for what I wanted to do with it at the time, but we’ve expanded a reasonable amount since then.
“This time when I was looking, I was after more of a broad-spectrum tractor like the JCB.
“I ultimately bought the Fastrac to travel from farm to farm when we’re spreading and when we’re rolling in crop.
“With the four-wheel disc brakes, it could also go on the chaser bin at harvest time.
“Apart from buying a tractor where we needed the horsepower to tow something, it was just a good all-round tractor for us.”
The JCB Fastrac 8330 iCON meets Richardson’s requirements in terms of both speed and power, but he says the best feature of all is one which only became apparent after purchase.
“I’ve driven a lot of tractors, but it’s by far the most comfortable tractor we’ve ever had on our farm.”
Fastrac iCON tractors are distributed in Australia by JCB CEA’s extensive dealer network.
