Chassis
Compact on the road and stable in the field
- High-volume standard 850/50 R30.5 tires for minimum ground pressure and utmost stability
- Maneuverability due to steering angle of 21 degrees on both sides
- Road drive with a transport width of 3 meters and harvesting with an external width of 3.5 meters
- Telescopic axle with extendable telescopic rail for optimum stability in the field
- Automatic hydraulic inclination compensation for a constant horizontal alignment of the Keiler, i.e., uniform cleaning also on the side slope
- Faster and more comfortable telescoping of the axle
- Significantly more powerful steering
Improved automatic hydraulic slope leveling for optimized cleaning and greater comfort for pickers
Drive wheel
Comfortable and powerful for extreme harvesting conditions
Movement and maneuvering made easy! The ROPA Keiler 2 can be equipped with a drive wheel for increased traction and soil protection even under extremely difficult harvesting conditions. Even with this optional equipment with high-volume 850/50 R 30.5 tires the road transport width is just 3.00 meters. The integrated freewheel of the axle enables a speed of up to 40 km/h when driving on the road.
A maximum torque up to 14,500 Nm can be achieved at the wheel for a thrust of 2 tons. Coupling and uncoupling while driving is possible at any time. The maximum speed with a coupled drive wheel is
up to 14 km/h.
The new and practical automatic operation from tractors with ISOBUS is a convenient and elegant solution. The drive wheel is automatically actuated in the applicable direction of travel during start-up and controlled synchronously, then switched off again when stopped. A significant advantage, because it is not necessary to switch, stop or switch the drive wheel to reverse separately while moving or starting.
The maximum power consumption in boost operation is 65 kW.
Despite the large-volume 850/50 R30.5 tires, the steering angle is identical to the original axle and amounts to +/- 21 degrees.
Drive Axle
For a potato harvester, a drive axle is not only beneficial, but in many operating conditions it is the technically and economically sound solution.
A key argument is improved traction. Potato harvesting often takes place on wet, loose, or sloping ground. Under these conditions, non-driven axles quickly lead to tractor wheel slip. A drive axle ensures that the available ground contact is actively utilized. The harvester runs more smoothly, tracks true, and can operate reliably even under difficult conditions.
Closely related to this is the reduction of load on the tractor. Without a drive axle, the tractor must not only pull the machine but also overcome increased rolling resistance. This can lead to what is known as the "bulldozing effect": soil builds up in front of the wheel, the wheel loses forward momentum, and in extreme cases may come to a complete stop. With an active drive axle, forward momentum is maintained. The wheel sinks less into the ground and can roll continuously over the soil ridge that forms. This reduces draft force requirements and enables the use of smaller or more efficiently utilized tractors.
Another important consideration is soil protection. Wheel slip creates smear layers — precisely what should be avoided on arable land. The drive axle reduces tractor wheel spin and distributes forces more evenly. The result: better soil structure and higher yields over the long term.
The drive axle also delivers in terms of work quality and operational safety. Consistent forward travel ensures steady lifting performance, clean separation of soil and tubers, and fewer blockages. At the same time, driving stability is enhanced — particularly on slopes and when turning at the headland — a safety benefit that should not be underestimated.
The New Drive Axle
The new drive axle, equipped with Black Bruin wheel hub motors and a dedicated hydraulic pump, delivers maximum thrust and traction. The control block developed specifically by ROPA enables precise regulation of the drive axle and smooth engagement while the machine is in motion.
An anti-slip control system (ASR) prevents wheel spin, improving driving behavior, protecting the soil, and increasing operational reliability on wet ground and hillside terrain.
In automatic mode, ISOBUS enables automatic switching between forward and reverse travel. The wheel drive remains fully available at the headland without restriction.
Despite the high-performance drive system, an overall width of 3.0 m is maintained, allowing unrestricted road transport.
Regardless of whether the machine is equipped with or without a drive axle, the full steering lock of 21° on both sides is retained. The hydraulic connection configuration and PTO arrangement also remain unchanged.
Impressions from the Field
Extremely wet harvesting conditions clearly demonstrate the importance of additional drive technology for maintaining operational capability even when high draft force is required.
The drive axle actively supports forward movement and reliably pushes the combination forward, even when the tractor's tires are reaching their limits. This keeps the machine operational even on waterlogged ground, allowing harvesting to continue efficiently.
A Customer Video from Denmark — Using the Keiler as a Tumble Bunker
In this latest fun video, a ROPA Keiler 2 RK22 unloads into another Keiler 2 RK22, showcasing the additional soil removal that is achievable under these conditions.
When harvesting conditions are very wet and soil adheres heavily to the potatoes, thorough cleaning of the tubers is essential to safeguard harvest quality.
The integrated transfer roller at the handover point from the bunker trough to the unloading conveyor provides an additional cleaning stage, removing soil and debris from the tubers.
The unloading conveyor is additionally designed as a sieve conveyor. This achieves further screening during the unloading process, so that adhering soil is continuously loosened and effectively sieved away.