Smart sensors & telematics on older tractors

[Alan]

Hey, have you ever put telematics or sensors on older Deere tractors? Did it actually make them work better, or did it just cause more problems?

 

[deerestjohn]

We added basic GPS and engine monitors to some of them. It makes tracking and upkeep easier. The old wiring and computer can be tricky, so keep the install simple if you do it. It's worth it.

 

[Buff4loberry]

Hey, have you ever put telematics or sensors on older Deere tractors? Did it actually make them work better, or did it just cause more problems?

yeah, we added a simple plug and play telematics unit to our older 7800 just for maintenance tracking and location.
It works great. It doesn't tell us how the hydraulics are feeling, but it automatically logs hours, shows us exactly where it is (great for contractors/shared machines), and gives us the basic service reminders.
I think it's totally worth the investment just for the headache it saves the maintenance crew

 

[hay&hydraulics]

Sounds good! Just make sure the CAN bus plays nice and the EMI shielding cuts out the noise, older setups can be a bit touchy with sensors. Also, think about isolating the external power to keep things from draining when they shouldn't.

 

[Greenbutdirty]

yeah, we added a simple plug and play telematics unit to our older 7800 just for maintenance tracking and location.
It works great. It doesn't tell us how the hydraulics are feeling, but it automatically logs hours, shows us exactly where it is (great for contractors/shared machines), and gives us the basic service reminders.
I think it's totally worth the investment just for the headache it saves the maintenance crew

Aftermarket telematics work really well for basic fleet management tasks like tracking hours, setting up geofences, and sending service reminders, they quickly pay for themselves. While they might not provide detailed diagnostics, they do take the guesswork out of maintenance schedules. They're a fantastic return on investment, especially for shared equipment or operations across multiple sites.