Buying Advice Should A Front Loader Be 4WD?

[genusCastor]

I read a comment on here that got me thinking: A tractor with a front loader should be a 4WD because a 2WD tractor doesn't have enough traction to operate a loader. Is this true? Having grown up on a farm and worked on a dairy farm, I am somewhat familiar with tractors. But I have very little experience with front loaders...

Thanks.

- djb

 

[magicheater]

4wd greatly enhances the operation of a tractor with a loader, power steering is a plus also.

 

[johnk]

Much better braking also. Everything is a plus getting 4WD..

 

[TripleR]

There are some pretty long threads on this with a lot of people successfully using a 2WD tractor and loader. For my conditions a 4WD is essential as we tried a 2WD and traded it in after about a month or so.

 

[Dmace]

With enough ballast (weight in the rear), you would probably be ok with 2wd. With that said, even with the loaded tires and the backhoe mounted on my tractor, the rear can get light when lifting something real heavy like a rock or something that maxes out the loader. I wouldn't want a tractor loader without 4wd, that's for sure. With nothing mounted on the back of the tractor, the loader is pretty useless without 4wd as the rear tires come off the ground even when lifting a bucket full of sand.

 

[MBDiagMan]

I think that with a lightweight tractor, as many are these days with the popularity of compact tractors on the rise, 4WD is nothing short of mandatory. With heavier tractors, IF you operate on relatively level ground and not in sinking soil, 2WD can serve you well.

My JD 5045D weighs in well above 6,000 pounds. I live on relatively flat, firm soil. It is 2WD and is working out very well for me. Another member here has had the same tractor for over a year, using it in the same conditions as myself and has reported very good success.

All that said, everyones needs and likes/dislikes are different. I went through this decision process recently and it worked out good for me. Best of luck with your choice.

 

[bp fick]

Not just with loader, but almost every task on today's lighter tractors (relative to the heavy iron of the past) benefit greatly from 4x4.

My little Kubota BX may have more outright power than our little Massey from the early 1950s, but given it's diminutive stature and weight, it would be sorely handicapped to push, lift or pull much without 4x4. Traction has to come from somewhere. A tractor without traction is just a nice engine.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

If you go 2wd with a loader I would think the weight of the tractor will play a big roll on your successes. In other words, get a heavy (2,500lbs.+) 2wd tractor if that is your desire.

 

[texasjohn]

yes.

IMHO, it SHOULD be 4WD for reasonably efficient/safe operation, but does not HAVE to be if you are willing to live with the consequences.

If you had ever used 4WD, you would appreciate that it greatly expands the tractor's safe/effective work envelope.

 

[genusCastor]

I'm thinking an older 2WD tractor, like this one (pic below).

For you guys that may be in East TX, that's where I am and we have some sandy ground here. I'm also wondering about a 2WD on this soil, although I've been using my Dad's little compact John Deere 4010, which has 4WD, and I have not been impressed. Among many things on this tractor I dislike, it has no power (18hp). That's why I'm looking for a larger tractor, but I do like the front loader. I don't plan to be running it when it rains heavy here anyway. A 4WD could prolly get stuck as easy as a 2WD when it's wet here. :laughing:

Thanks,

- djb

 

[DonWorrell]

Today many beleive 4WD is needed for everything. I have never owned any motorized vehicle or piece of equipment that was 4WD. So my tghought may be tainted.

I do know my father operated a 170 acre dairy farm in the 1950-60s' we milked 50 cows daily and raised much of our own feed and many of our replacement cows. We did all of this with a Allis Chalmber CA (1950 model), a Allis Chalmbers WD-45 (1957 model) and a John Deere A (1954 ?? model? We had a frontend loader on the WD-45, which was a 2WD and a trycyle front end. We got everything we needed to do done. Back them we thought we had very good equipment. Some folks on here talk about heavy tractors for a FEL, well the WD-45 wasn't known to be the heavest tractor made at the time.

I guess it all depends on a few things.

1. How much money can you spend?
2. How quickly do you want the job done?
3. Do you want something else on thje tractor that could break?
4. How hard do you want the steering to be?

Personally I see no reason for a 4WD tractor. Look at many of the construction grade tractors with a FEL and Backhoe do all of them have 4WD?

Just my thoughts.

Don

 

[genusCastor]

1. How much money can you spend?
As least as possible.
2. How quickly do you want the job done?
I can sacrifice here, I have time.
3. Do you want something else on thje tractor that could break?
No.
4. How hard do you want the steering to be?
Easy.

... Country Life Beats Working... :laughing:

- djb

 

[TripleR]

Today many beleive 4WD is needed for everything. I have never owned any motorized vehicle or piece of equipment that was 4WD. So my thought may be tainted.

Don

In that we often base our needs on our experience, that is a real possibility. I did not appreciate the versatility of 4WD until I started using them as I too grew up on a farm without 4WD on anything. We use 2WD on our flat land farm and 4WD on our hill farms. Having used both I recognize and accept the advantages/disadvantages of both types.

 

[Jay4200]

I read a comment on here that got me thinking: A tractor with a front loader should be a 4WD because a 2WD tractor doesn't have enough traction to operate a loader. Is this true?

Yes, this is absolutely true.

Really - I was just doing some loader work for a neighbor a couple of weeks ago - I was moving loam for him. It had just rained, so the dirt was heavy and his driveway was soft. I was completely unable to dig into the pile in 2WD - the bucket didn't go in more than a couple of inches before my wheels spun and I started trenching his driveway. 4WD solved the problem (I still had to rake out the driveway after I was done though...).

JayC

 

[Jay4200]

Look at many of the construction grade tractors with a FEL and Backhoe do all of them have 4WD?

Actually, most of them do. OTOH, a typical construction backhoe weighs 16,000 pounds, so it's kinda apples vs. oranges in terms of traction.

JayC

 

[MBDiagMan]

I'm thinking an older 2WD tractor, like this one (pic below).

For you guys that may be in East TX, that's where I am and we have some sandy ground here. I'm also wondering about a 2WD on this soil, although I've been using my Dad's little compact John Deere 4010, which has 4WD, and I have not been impressed. Among many things on this tractor I dislike, it has no power (18hp). That's why I'm looking for a larger tractor, but I do like the front loader. I don't plan to be running it when it rains heavy here anyway. A 4WD could prolly get stuck as easy as a 2WD when it's wet here. :laughing:

Thanks,

- djb

The best I can tell from the picture, this is an early Ford 3000 or close cousin of one. I have run one of these for the last 24 years in NorthEast Texas albeit without the FEL. My new tractor is a bit heavier than that with an FEL. I believe the tractor in the picture would serve me quite well on my relatively flat place with firm soil. If you have sugar sand, it might not work great. Does your pickup get stuck easily in your soil?

 

[genusCastor]

I believe the tractor in the picture would serve me quite well on my relatively flat place with firm soil. If you have sugar sand, it might not work great. Does your pickup get stuck easily in your soil?

When we have a good rain around here, I don't try to run anything in the field. A local here once told me he's seen everything stuck in this soil; cars, trucks, 4WD trucks, tractors, cows, horses...

- djb

 

[MBDiagMan]

genus,

With that said, I think you need to narrow your search to a 4WD. I'm fortunate not to have to deal with such soil. Most all soil types have their positives and negatives, but it doesn't sound like firmness is on your side in this situation.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[MikeD74T]

I'm thinking an older 2WD tractor, like this one (pic below).
For you guys that may be in East TX, that's where I am and we have some sandy ground here. I'm also wondering about a 2WD on this soil, although I've been using my Dad's little compact John Deere 4010, which has 4WD, and I have not been impressed. Among many things on this tractor I dislike, it has no power (18hp). That's why I'm looking for a larger tractor, but I do like the front loader. I don't plan to be running it when it rains heavy here anyway. A 4WD could prolly get stuck as easy as a 2WD when it's wet here. :laughing:Thanks,- djb

Your link indicates a 39 hp tractor. I had that loader on a Ford 841D. It's a great loader. You'll want a smaller bucket, toothbar, at least 800 lbs of rear ballast for digging. I have a Case 580CK that's 2wd and will out dig 580's 6 models newer because it has a really heavy backhoe. The previous owner sold it to me & bought a 2wd 580K that won't 1/2 fill the front bucket without a large rock in the backhoe bucket for ballast & if you lift a full bucket it lifts the rear wheels off the ground. Making the tractors & backhoes lighter caused the necessity of 4wd. Someone suggested you need at least a 2500 lb heavy tractor, that's not a heavy tractor -it's a heavy lawnmower. :laughing: You can make a 2wd dig if it's heavy - just try before you buy. MikeD74T

 

[RoyJackson]

Full sized Utility tractors (4000 lbs or more) would be what I'd want with 2WD and a loader.
Bottom line: Traction is the key. If you get that traction with 4WD (compacts) or weight (big UTs) would depend upon your circumstances