Pioneer Homesteader video

[near horse]

Here’s a Youtube clip showing the versatility of the new Homesteader unit w/ adjustments etc. Unfortunately, does not show it in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0YiRR-7lYU

[sickle hocks]

I think the video shows the second generation cultivator attachment…most of the photos around show a cultivator with fixed shanks, but after talking with them I’m under the impression that they are now building it with shanks you can remove or slide a little bit to adjust spacings, or accomodate different row crop sizes a bit.

I actually have one on it’s way this spring, so maybe I can take some pics of it or answer some questions for you later. I felt a bit foolish dropping that kind of cash and getting a new implement, as I’ve been trying to scrounge. The reality is my part of the world seems to have been in big fields of grain, even back in the day. There just aren’t many if any, row cultivators kicking around the fencerows here. And without mains electricity for a welder or much of a shop to work in, it’s tough for me to efficiently repair something or fabricate pieces if it’s in rough shape to start with.

I’m gonna have to grow and sell some quantity of stuff to pay for the homesteader, but i’m hoping it will serve for a long time.

[Scott G]

From a logger’s unbiased perspective…pretty cool. You gotta’ like the modular system. Most of all, I really enjoyed the synthesized version of ‘Old McDonald had a farm’!! 😯

[J-L]

That looks like a heck of a nice tool. Sickle hocks, I don’t think there is a thing wrong with dropping some cash on one of those. The engineering that has gone into that machinery is great. I would love to have one too, but it’s down the list from some more haying equipment for me. Be sure and let us know how you get along with it.

[jen judkins]

I really want one of these. Thanks for posting.

[Kevin Cunningham]

I am really curious how this tool shapes up for those who end up using it. It my seem costly but with my accounting it is cheaper than a new rototiller and way more versatile. Gotta love the music on that video!

[Ed Thayer]

I called Chuck Cox and he picked up his homesteader in PA in April. He is willing to demo it for us sometime in August. or early September. We are still working on a date to set up a workshop at his farm in Lee, NH.

I will keep you all posted.

Ed

[Andy Carson]

I am also very curious how this turns out.

As a riding cultivator, this tool looks ideal, and I have little doubt that it will work fantastically. The pedal steering seems esp nice, smooth, and efficient.

I am unclear if the disc is intended as a light or heavy disc. I am not certain it is heavy enough to be a primary tillage disc, and it’s pretty narrow for a finish disc (a compromise to fit between the wheels). You could get more work done with a committed implement either way. It is an advantage, though, to have it mounted on wheels for transport.

I have concerns over the harrow design, as the teeth are spaced pretty close and in a single line. Trash might not pass through (as would with a mult-gang setup) and might not be pushed to the side (as it would if the tines were in a deep vee). Having either a multi gang set-up or a deep vee setup would require having tines set back a significant distance from the the axle. If these were left down when turning, the wheels and/or the tines would be drug sideways adding significant resistance to turns and putting alot of lateral stress on the wheels. The single line tine geometry probably represents a compromise so that the wheels aren’t stressed and one doesn’t have to elevate the tines in every turn. It’s also pretty narrow for a harrow, you could definately get alot more work done with a committed harrow.

I know very little about plow design and function, so can only make comparative assessments. How important is it that the furrow wheel be at an angle (as in many designs)? How important is it that individual wheel height can be adjusted (so that there is not a tilt from the landside to the furrow side)? It also looks like alot of sulky plow designs use furrow wheel and landside wheel placements that are not exactly in line with each other front to back, and many place a third wheel. This would give a high degree of stability (along the pitch axis) that seems difficult to achieve with a two wheel setup of equal height and equal front to rear spacing. The overall constuction of a committed plow seems heavier and more resistant to stress in almost every respect. Did engineers overbuild traditional sulky plows, or underbuild this tool? This might be why Pioneer offers a 10 inch plow only… It would be useful to note that if this is the only tool you’ve got, and you break it plowing, you have just broken ALL your implements. Again, I am not a plow guy so can only compare this design to committed plow designs and question how important these differences are, but it seems you could do more work with a committed plow. How much more, I don’t know, but if everything else is waiting on the innately slow process of plowing, I bet one would want to most efficient plow possible.

Despite my concerns, I still think this is a pretty cool implement. I look at it as a very nice riding cultivator that might do other stuff too. I suspect alot of people that buy this as an “only tool” will end up replacing this or that attachment with committed tools that suits their situation better for whatever reason. That said, some of the tools may work great for some people in some situations, and no matter what you would always have a really nice riding cultivator. My two cents…

[near horse]

In the future it will be interesting to see how owners of the homesteader “create” new attachments or modify current ones to suit their needs. Ed – thanks for trying to get a demo. I thought I could make it down to SFJ this year and see/video one in action but couldn’t swing it.

Maybe Jenni Grey saw the demo by Midwest Leather. Jenni????

[sickle hocks]

That sounds about right, Andy. I am most interested in the row cultivator, hiller, and potato plow functions, and that’s what I will be starting out with. I already have a disc and I can tow harrows with the forecart.

I would like to see an an angle adjustment on their disc harrow so you could set it up to throw dirt either in to the center or out to the sides. Looking through Miller’s ‘Horsedrawn tillage tools’ there is a wonderful variety of sweeps and scufflers and it would sure be nice if they came up with a few more options, maybe even a rotary hoe….For a guy like you it might be a good platform for experimental DIY rigs that you could make to fit…

I suspect that as a regular plow it will be a compromise implement, and not as efficient as a dedicated sulky plow. The wheel spacing has some lateral adjustment, and I think this is to allow it to follow the furrow in plow mode. Plowing really isn’t a part of my program right now…I may order that attachment and try it some year down the road, and I think for the very little plowing I plan on doing it might get it done just fine and be a good compromise. If I had a lot to do I would look for a sulky plow.

[mitchmaine]

we were out in ohio last fall and dropped in to pioneer. the wengards gave us a tour in the back of the shop and got a look at the first six prototypes (?) for the homesteader. they farmed them out to amish neighbors for testing and they returned used. so well used that they could explain differences made in steering and attaching tools and most of the changes they had made. we were really impressed by their interest in making it a working, well working tool. the bugs have been worked out. if it hadn’t been monsoon season, we could have tried out one of the test models. great family. great tool.

[Author]

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