The Deere dealer I work for this past summer we rented out 4 scraper tractor units to one contractor 2 of them 9530 pulling 2 1810 ejectors and the other ones were 9630 pulling 2 2112 pans each unit pulling 2 pans. Where the tractors pay for themselves is in the cost per yard moved. granted they have there place and it takes about 2-3 days to learn how to run them unless they have autoload feature installed. They are not designed to be pushed to load, they are equiped with large tow cable out the front in case they get stuck, they are ideal for places where there are long hauls and lots of area to turn around one 9630 and 2 21yd pans are about 85ft. in length.
they may look like farm tractors but they are not they will do farm work but with greater compaction the transmission in some weigh about 1800 lbs. more than farm tractor the axles are double reduction, Ag is not, the hydraulics are faster with more flow, Ag is not, every possible weight is put in front where as Ag is put in the rear.
several years ago a local contractor done a cost comparison on our JD vs. 627g's and the cost per yd. moved on the deere was just under a dollar the 627g was almost $3 dollars. with the 627 you will need 2 of them and/or a dozer to push. not with the deere you just need the dozer to finish grade. the 627 will not move 2loads for everyone of the pull pans unless its wet or you have bad ground conditions the prevent it from running. at the end of the day the 627 might have moved more dirt but what did it cost to do it. I have never run a 627 or any self loading pan other than a deere but i know that you can see the edge. try running a machine just by the sound of the engine and the feel of the seat that seems harder to me since you cannot see what your cutting, I don't run the pans i just fix them,