Literature Rack
By Gordy Schultz

The four wheel drive tractor theme continues this month moving from Whites to Woods & Copeland. Literature for Woods & Copeland is very rare, but can be found when scavenging farm toy shows and e-bay. Four wheel drive enthusiasts realize that Woods & Copeland are some of the least known but best kept secrets in the big tractor market.

Jones Copeland had many years of experience in designing and constructing off road articulated vehicles. He needed a tractor that could handle over 200 hours of difficult rice land farming, operate under extreme conditions and maneuver through tough terrain, even swamps. In 1970, Copeland joined forces with a rice farmer, J.D. Woods to develop such a tractor. Woods & Copeland;s number one test unit initially started trial field production operations on May 13, 1971, performing water leveling jobs in the Texas Costal Rice Best. After three complete years, this rugged unit had compiled more than 9000 hours of use with a remarkable 95% availability record. The sheet metal cover was installed after the first full year of operation. The cover represents only a change in the original design. Since May 1971, the 301C has been tested in every phase of the rice industry. This tractor, beyond a doubt, is a proven, dependable unit, but, most importantly, it has achieved consistently high production rates at low maintenance cost per hour, per dollar investment. The Woods & Copeland 301C and 220C power shift tractors aren’t designed for every farm. In fact, they are only recommended for use on 350 acre rice farms and up.

Woods & Copeland tractors were built using the best parts available from top name manufacturers with nationwide distribution centers. Cummins or Caterpillar engines, Allison transmissions, and Caterpillar axels were all standard components on these four wheel drive tractors. Simplicity of operation was another key feature provided by a four speed power shift control and throttle on the right hand of the console so that the four wheel drive can be operated simultaneously with one hand for instant speed changes to meet those alternating conditions. The 301C and 220C tractors were built with industry standard draw bar heights and John Deere standard quick couplers for implement hydraulics. Chest high pull hooks were placed on the front and rear of the tractor for snaking out of bog holes.

Woods & Copeland designed and built implements for the rice industry as well. These heavy duty four wheel drive tractor implements included a twenty-six foot folding off set parallel geometry disk that was built to decrease its physical working size, a 60 foot long by 18 foot wide land plane, and a large pull type utility blade with a twenty-four foot wide cut.

From 1971- 1976 Woods & Copeland produced the following tractors: 301C with a Caterpillar engine rated at 301 HP, 320C with a Cummins engine rated at a 320 HP, 450C with a Cummins engine rated at 450 HP and the Monster 600C with a Cummins engine rated at 600 HP. The 600C was a massive tractor for its day producing a whopping 600 HP and 2100 RPMS. It was fitted with a Cummins KTA-1150C diesel engine, an Allison power shift transmission with twelve forward and two reverse gears and was capable of 25 MPH on the road. In fact, this is one of the largest four wheel drives ever built even compared to Steiger, Versatile, Big Bud, and John Deere four wheel drives.

In 1976 the Rome Plow Company purchased the Woods & Copeland Company which had become known as the “tractor people.” Based in Cedartown, Georgia, the Rome Plow Company was a respected force in the heavy duty forestry. land reclamation. and tillage industry. The Rome Plow Company started production of a new range of tractors in 1978 that spanned eight years. These tractors included: 375C with a Catterpillar 3406 engine rated at 375 HP, 450C with a Cummins with an 1150K engine rated at 450 HP, and the 475C with a Catterpillar 3408 engine rated at 475 HP.

Rome four wheel drives in combination with their heavy duty tillage equipment put the company at the head of the field. These monster tractors offered dependability and easy service. These tractors also offered unprecedented view of the field with seven foot tall cab interiors. Rome truly made farmers feel like they were Emperor of the field.

Woods & Copeland tractors can still be found working in fields from Texas to Arkansas and Rome tractors are still working land in the deep south up to North Carolina and can be found as far north as Western New York state. Next month we’ll shift gears to two wheel drive tractor literature when we review the International 86 series.