In my experience here in Australia, the main reason people buy TBH is so they can see what's happening at the bar (trash flow, etc) and the main reason they buy TBT is because they don't want any tyre tracks/compaction where they have just seeded.
Manufacturers only suggest one or the other if you are farming hills. They recommend TBT as it won't tend to crab the bar as much as a TBH.
Personally, I prefer TBT as I don't like having anything riding over where I've just seeded.

 

I prefer the TBH. We used to have a TBT and when the tool bar plugged up in trashy conditions it was frustrating. We have a few hills which was the main reason we ran the TBT, but now I have to use my head and go straight up or down the hills and not sideways and it seems to work okay. The tire tracks after the drill are a moot point in my opinion.

 

Handier to fill and/or jackknife
Cheaper.
More stable on hillsides.
More efficient use of hydraulics and air flow.
8000 pounds of hitch weight so don't need added weight on the tractor.
Couldn't give me a TBH.

Don

 

Ran TBT 1610 flexi years ago and liked the added ballast tractors tire pressure not quite as critical but the side walls of the cart tire would tear out from always turning when seeding round and round, couldnt see what was happening behind, switched to TBH and will never go back.

 

obviously TBH will pull harder

Wouldn't take a TBT especially because you can't see whats going on back there and it's alot handier having the drill up front

 

Your going to have to draw me a picture to explain that statement.

Don

 

I much prefer a TBH tank because I like to see what the drill is doing. The rest of the pros and cons seem to be moot points, I could get along with any of them. But I need the drill visibility. As far as compaction, we have only ever experienced it with swallow seeded oil seeds. Rice tires fixed that problem.

 

From the mouths of my customers here are some pros and cons I've heard about each setup:

TBT's are easier to transport and safer because you don't have that cart (which ideally is empty during transport, but realistically always seems to have some grain or fertilizer in it) with it's extra weight back there, making control of the tractor and implement more challenging (and dangerous).

TBT's don't drag that heavy air cart over the seed you've just planted.

TBH's allow better visibility of the seeding tool. Now, I have no-till (1890 JD) customers tell me that visibility shouldn't really be an issue, because those no till openers should go through anything and not plug. However on a hoe drill, planting in residue, I can see where this could be more of an issue.

TBH's allow a bigger cart option than TBT's (at least with Deere, 270 bushels to 430). Of course, then you have more weight when the cart is loaded, passing over the freshly sewn seed.

TBT's compact the ground in front of the seeding tool, thereby causing premature wear on the opener disks that follow the tractor tires/tracks and the cart tires.

Also on the subject of compaction, I had a farmer tell me that the weight of the cart really isn't a concern in heavier residue, for the fact that the residue acts as a "pad" and helps cushion the weight of the cart as it passes over the soil.

Those are some of the points air seeding customers have made to me. I think it all boils down to doing lots of research and determining what works best for your operation. Hope this helps.

 

Thats being a little bit stubborn isn't Don?

 

When it was a wet spring here in Alberta people were calling on hoe's to dig out their TBH tanks when I could just split the rig and drive out with my cart and pull the tool bar out with a tow rope no need for another tractor, but if it is close it is handy to get a pull though. My dealer could not believe what I could pull that drill through with only 255hp on the PTO.
JD 8520 3850 TBT 40 foot air drill 10 inch spacing 5.5 inch spread/semi nematic packers. single shoot.

 

only way i would consider a tbt tank would be if i was towing a nh3 tank...only drawback to tbh tank is in extreme wet conditions

 

Thats being a little bit stubborn isn't Don?

I guess so.
You could give me a TBH.
But I'd regift it.

Wait a minute, that would be silly.
I'd trade for a TBT, take the 8 grand and run.

Don

 

We run TBT and for the most part like it, 2 drawbacks are tool bar visibility, not so much for plugging trash but just the ability to see broken opener tip or air line that came out or something along those lines in center section, also would be nicer on headlands as not as much offset during turning.

On the plus side it does help in damp conditions as mentioned, we find by the time the toolbar hits the wet spot the tractor usually has good traction again and can pull through most areas. For filling we use a semi and a 45' auger and can drive under the downspout and fill and if set up right can do 2 tanks from one location only need is to move semi from compartment to compartment then back unit out and go again.

The visibility of the air cart is a plus as well we have 2 times had a hydraulic line to the fan get a hole and caught it right away, plus can see fan intake if it is covering with trash, plus ability to see shafts turning I do not totally trust monitors, they are very good but we have had issues with shafts and monitors not giving the same reading.

 

I've owned both, I'm neutral. Use what works best for your operation.

 

I believe only NH/FC/CIH come in both versions of all sizes for NA manufacturers anyway.
And I think their split is about the same as posts here.
Roughly down the middle.
Makes sense.

Don

 

We have both too and both have their benefits. But the finish in the Field is what it is all about. Who wants tire tracks on the nice seeded Field. That is why the TBH is a small 1720 Tank and the TBT is 3850. Plugging is poor straw management. Buy a better chopper or heavy harrow it right after combining on a HOT DRY day at least 12 mph!!! Just hire a teen to do it while your harvesting if you have no time. Save a lot of trouble in the spring. This year we had so much straw we made piles with the HH's and baled the straw up. So much straw it would build up 10 feet in front of the beam on one round when it was dry. That straw would not break down. Two weeks after you can't tell. Almost want to spread that straw back on the land.

 

TBH has bigger capacity as TBT limited to drawbar carrying capacity.

Jono

 

what's the tank going over the seeding going to hurt? how is that really any different than planting into the tire track?

 

I would like to have both on the same drill,bourgault now makes some really big tanks tbh and tbt.Put a 550 tbt with a 700 tbh and that rig could cover some ground.

 

I see a need for a Big Bud now

 

I pull a TBT and really appreciate it when we have a wet spring for seeding, true we can't see the main frame of our drill but that extra 25' we get with the TBT gets the tractor onto dryer ground, and we then have traction (usually) to pull the drill through the wet spots.

 

They should pull the same, horsepower requirement, if it is steep at all, like 25plus percent where having the hold back is an issue the tow between is the only way to go. If you are in Cananda, Montana, or anywhere else where we call you flat landers, the tow behind would be a no brainer. Some of us need the tool in the back to be our brake so we don't jackknife. Wish of the covenience of a tow behind.

 

I need a tow behind, no question. Too much compaction and wheel marks in front of the drill with TBT. Plus the TBH seals up the wheel marks from the tractor. That's the gumbo world I live in.

 

compaction behind the drill on the freshly seeded crop is better?

 

Yes, that's usually the first up. We are careful not to drive on the unseeded. Spraytracks from the preseed burnoff can be very troublesome.