John Deere Gators are a lot of fun to drive, but just imagine if your Gator could handle the driving while you travel to different spots around your farm. All you would have to do is sit in the driver’s seat and watch while your Gator cruises along your property lines or takes you on a pass through your field. You could check your fences, flag issues in the fields, and perform any jobs you need to get done, all from the comfort of your reliable utility vehicle.
If you bring home a new John Deere Gator in 2023, you’ll have that option. Even better? If you own a Gator right now, it could already be compatible with the AutoTrac feature.
AutoTrac Takes You Where You Want to Go
John Deere’s AutoTrac is a smart feature built into some new models of John Deere Gator. It’s a bit different from the auto steering systems large-scale farm tractors used in the 80s and 90s. It still offers hands-free steering. But AutoTrack is an automated guidance system the Gator uses to navigate around your property.
Unlike the self-driving John Deere tractor, though, you do have to be in the vehicle to use AutoTrac,
AutoTrac itself is not new. It’s been available for John Deere tractors for a while. And there has also been an option for picking up an AutoTrac kit and retrofitting compatible Gator vehicles for a few years, too.
But this is the first year the Gator has been packaged with AutoTrac built in. It’s going to be a real-time saver for hobby farmers.
Use Your Gator for Small Spaces & Muddy Places
One of the best parts of owning a Gator is that takes over where your tractor leaves off. It can’t rototill your fields or scoop up rocks. But you can make your day a lot easier by choosing from 100 different attachments and implements designed for the Gator.
There are attachments for spraying and towing, as well as tools for boundary mapping. You can also add a blade to plow snow or a winch for towing.
A Gator is helpful because it can drive into small spaces a lot easier than a tractor. 4×4 Gators are lighter so are less likely to be buried in mud than a tractor, too.
A Gator that has AutoTrac can become an even more powerful tool for your hobby farm. It will use a touchscreen display and GPS coordinates to control the vehicle. All you have to do is set where you’d like to go, take your hands off the wheel, and relax while you’re safely transported by your utility vehicle.
Read more: Self-driving tractors could soon come to a field near you.
How AutoTrac Can Help a Hobby Farmer
Anyone who owns a hobby farm knows that the days are long and don’t always end when the sun goes down. Fatigue makes for careless driving, and that can be just as dangerous on a farmer’s field as it is on a busy road.
With a hand-free driving system like AutoTrac, you can stay on task for longer. You don’t have to worry you’ll make a careless mistake while driving tired. Your Gator will drive for you!
You can focus on your other tools and tasks and let the Gator be your chauffeur.
Is Your Gator AutoTrac Ready?
AutoTrac will be built into models 835 and 865 in 2023 John Deere Gators. It’s also available as an add-on for older Gators that are compatible with the AutoTrac display and receiver.
You’ll need a subscription to use the system. Once you sign up, though, you can input your GPS coordinates, sit back, and let your Gator take the wheel.
