Does 4WD Make That Much Difference

[BigTee]

I've looked at a 1538 and also the 5525 or 4540 in 2WD. I will mostly be mowing, plowing and discing on about 50 acres. I do have some roads to take care of and they are on hills. Would I be better with the bigger 2WD or stick with the 4WD, price range is a big factor.

 

[tractchores]

In my opinion, yes 4wd makes a HUGE difference

 

[KubotaToy]

4WD Yes...:thumbsup:

2WD with chains gets darn close.

 

[k0ua]

Yes... Yes it does..It makes huge difference. 4wd with chains... even better yet when it gets icy. If you have steep hills.. you can forget about the 2wd. You only get to use your tractor once, then it arrives at the bottom of the steep slippery hill, and that is where it lives for the rest of its life. At least around here that is what would happen.

 

[Soggybottom1]

Just bought my first 4wd tractor. I, too, live on hills. Night and day difference from 2WD especially with FEL. 4WD is the way to go. New tractor is 35hp but can do more dirt work than my 50hp.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like to look at it this way. 4wd is better then twice 2wd. On a 2wd the rear wheels have to propel themselves as well as push the fronts. On a 4wd every wheel looks after itself. It would be like trying to carry another person through deep snow rather then each of you walking on their own.

 

[seaneastok]

Yes ..It most certainly does..I have owned 2wd tractors for most of my life and they served me well. Nothing wrong with them ,depending on your terrain, and what you are going to do with them..After my first 4wd tractor purchase, as with my truck..I would never be without one again..
Regard's
Sean

 

[k0ua]

Yeah, my first tractor was a 2wd. But it was a big heavy utility tractor with loaded AG tires too. And the ground I was operating on was mostly flat. It still got stuck quite a bit. But the larger the tractor, with really larger rear wheels, makes a big difference. But if you have a lot of steep hills (like I do here) your really have to have 4wd

 

[4570Man]

If you don't have a loader I think 2wd would be ok. If it is wet enough to get stuck then you don't need to be plowing or grading anyway. I'd take a larger 2wd. In low traction conditions it makes a big difference, but very minimal on firm ground. You are not even supposed to use 4wd on hard ground.

 

[CobyRupert]

I will mostly be mowing, plowing and discing on about 50 acres. I do have some roads to take care of and they are on hills. Would I be better with the bigger 2WD or stick with the 4WD, price range is a big factor.

So mostly field work. 2WD would be fine. Most field tractors have been 2WD for the last 100 years.
When you say take care of roads, what do you mean?

 

[Jim Shooz]

When you're sliding down a wet grassy hill, that's not the time to make the decision to buy 4w drive. Note: the brakes only work on the rear wheels and they're the ones sliding.

 

[Grateful11]

For tillage I say no it's not neceassary as long as it's not too wet. Then again if it's that wet you should not be in the field anyway.

Now if you're talking loader work, most definitely 4WD.

Just check out these videos:

This Amco F-17 Disc harrow weighs about 4000 lbs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Yz_KCEN8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfkHTSkkiaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGzPywj3eY0

 

[BigTee]

Both of the roads are on hills and pretty rough. They will have to be graded pretty regular to keep them in good shape. They have ditches cut across them for drainage to stop the washout also.

 

[brown40]

I wouldn't buy a truck or tractor without it--mother nature seems to have a problem with rwd vehicles in Maine 4 mos/year. Vital if you can't wait for suitable conditions to work/get to work.

 

[CobyRupert]

The question is sort of like asking: Is buying insurance really worth it?

 

[TripleR]

The last two wheel tractor on our farm was in 1986, it was back on the dealer's lot in under two months replaced by the same model in 4WD. All our 2WD drives are 40-60 years old and used on flat land without a FEL.

No one has used 2WD to farm in my area for years and if you see one it will be an older model hooked up to a grain elevator or irrigation pump. Our renters use an old IH 2WD to unroll poly pipe, but it stays in the barn most of its life.

 

[streamin]

I don't know why they even offer 2wd anymore, it's a tractor and you will need 4WD! Money? Don't buy the tractor until you have saved for the extra amount.

 

[aczlan]

I wouldn't get a 2wd for anything larger than a lawnmower unless it was going to be dedicated for something that for sure didn't need 4wd (and even then, I might get 4wd).
Yes, its cheaper, but it will be harder to re-sell and it wont be worth as much without 4wd.

Aaron Z

 

[Gary Fowler]

Yesterday I took my B26 out to do a little digging in my dried up pond. I had already dug out a pretty steep ramp and after loading up the FEL, I tried to back up the ramp and all it would do is spin. I tried to turn to the side and drive our forward up a small incline and couldn't make it. It was then that I remembered that I had taken it out of 4 WD. Shifted to 4 WD and came out with fully loaded FEL with no problem. This was with the backhoe mounted on the rear for counterweight. Little traction on the rear when carrying a full load, something that you don't notice when on flat ground. I would have been up the proverbial creek without 4 WD.

4WD doesn't help you when you fall into a quicksand area and sink up to the frame though which I did a few days ago. The only thing keeping the B26 from going over into the pond was the FEL on the ground. Backhoe was no help trying to lift the rear end and pull it around. I had to run to my shop and get my LS P7010 and drag the B26 sideways to get it out of the soft sandy spot. Dragging it sideways caused the tire to pop off the bead and loose all the air plus get small rocks around the bead seat. I managed to get the mud out by whapping it with a rubber hammer while hosing out the debris then prying the bead down with a large screwdriver and blowing out the rocks with air. It took me about an hour to get the tire to seat but still less time than it would have taken to go to a tire shop and have them repair it.

FYI, I drove the tractor back to the shop (about 100yards) on the flat tire. The tire is so stiff that it didn't even look flat other than the tire tread was flat rather than slightly rounded.

 

[davesl708]

4wd vs 2wd is the difference between getting it done and not getting it done.
There are jobs 2wd are not going to be able to do. 4wd makes a lot more jobs doable.