Gday Dave, i run only 30 piddly acres, but then i contract out a fair bit. The Mercedes Benz i have is a 1988 Model, its a 90hp turbo, its a 16 spd transmission in two ranges with four gears in each plus a high low preselector (like a truck). The machine i think is very similar to a JCB fastrac. My machine has front coil spring suspension, and the cab is suspended completely on rubber blocks. It has all round disk brakes with an air over hydraulic system. Parking brakes are again air, exactly the same as a truck type system, all components for the air system are Wabco, which makes it extremely easy to get parts for them. All hydraulic pumps for the tractor are belt driven and run off the front pulley, again making it extremely easy to access if there is a problem. The air compressor works off the crankshaft i believe and has a separate cylinder head on the side of the engine block.
The road speed for my machine is about 42km/h in miles thats 26.1mp/h.
The machine can easily be fitted with a ring feeder for trailers, theres ports on the back for trailer air brakes, up to 6 hydraulic remotes can be fitted to the machine, i have two.
The front linkage is of a quick hitch design, very sturdily build, i have lifted 800kg with no issues what so ever. The front PTO is a standard six spline, the speed can be controlled in the cab 540 or 1000 rpm. The choices i have for pto engagement are: Front, Back or Front and Back together.
From what i've read through the net the MB TRACS did compete with the Fastracs. My understanding of the downfall of the MB Trac design was that they were too far ahead of their time further compounding their woes their marketing was not that effective and with the high initial price tag, Mercedes Benz ceased to manufacture the MB TRAC line. After production ceased i believe the designs and tooling were sold on to other German companies finally ending with Doppstadt. Doppstadt is a manufacturer of recycling equipment and produced a newer version of the MB TRAC, it had full electronics for everything, the cab design was brilliant, but again they ceased production due to lack of sales.
Mercedes Benz / Unimog does now produce a similar product the U400 and U500, these are very similar to a smaller truck, although they have 250 to 320hp engines in them. They have a four wheel drive capability, with all the bells and whistles of a good tractor. There are options for both front and rear linkages, with up to 6 remotes both front and back.
PTO's can be optioned in the front and back as well as the underneath the center of the vehicle. Road speed for it is 70pkh but can work at all the slow field speeds required for doing tillage and other agri operations.
I think it has an infinitely variable transmission, with all different modes to suit the application.
I hope this is interesting for someone, i can give more details if you'd like more information
best wishes
Alex