When to use four wheel drive?

[houstonscott]

I’ve put the L3800 in four wheel drive and don’t ever plan to change that unless on pavement.

 

[donaldj]

4WD is best used to get OUT of where 2WD got you. Not to go further. =)

4WD is often needed, though, when pulling ground engaging attachments.

 

[greggyy]

I leave mine in 2WD 99% of the time, but I know I知 in the minority. My land is billiard table flat and dry most of the time. My machine is also 68hp and 7k lbs with R1s. Traction isn稚 an issue unless it痴 wet.
I only engage the 4WD when needed, or when I am putting a lot of weight on the FEL. Being a power shuttle, I use the turning brakes quite a bit when doing field work. The turning bakes don稚 do much if I leave it in 4WD.

Your not alone, I am on undulating land, but no FEL, but at times 4WD is prudent or reqd, however forget the braking to assist turning if 4WD is left on, you will just wear out one brake

So I leave it off when not required.

And frankly, when I have overcome the traction of one wheel such as when pulling old stumps, I had lost it with 2 & with 4, so was only a matter of digging more holes when engaged and locking rears in that situation. So there is specific circumstances where you will and won't use it, not as simple as just leaving it on by default all the time unless your circumstance is near always identical, such as single use task for one tractor.

 

[greggyy]

Really boils down to terrain and tractor and use. No right answer.

Yep..

 

[greggyy]

Seeing there is a number of people who seem to just want to have 4WD engaged no matter what (except hard surfaces scare them)

It has me thinking.....

1 is there just a lot of people that do not understand all aspects of the tractor/s

or

2 Do a lot of later tractors with newer transmissions have more like an AWD system, not a true locked 3-4WD

 

[ovrszd]

Seeing there is a number of people who seem to just want to have 4WD engaged no matter what (except hard surfaces scare them)

It has me thinking.....

1 is there just a lot of people that do not understand all aspects of the tractor/s

or

2 Do a lot of later tractors with newer transmissions have more like an AWD system, not a true locked 3-4WD

None of the tractors discussed in this thread have AWD.

I'm going with #1.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm going with #1.

I'm not in the #1 or #2 group. I think I pretty well understand most all the 'aspects' of my tractor. I have definitely pushed and learned the limits of my BX25D with various implements on or off.

Significant slopes, loose dirt, and 2WD don't get along... since I am generally on a hill and most always off road, I'd rather not be shifting back and forth multiple times, making short runs moving material. Seems that would/could put just as much wear on the tractor as leaving it mostly in 4WD IMO. I don't see the reason to 'skimp' on use of 4WD in my case.

 

[ovrszd]

I'll simply go back 50-ish posts and say again, do you shift your truck into 4wd the moment you leave pavement?

 

[/pine]

If their use was not required by law I bet there are people that would not use seat belts whenever they didn't think they needed them...just to save wear and tear on the mechanism...:laughing:

 

[4570Man]

I don’t think the ratio is quite right in my L3800 despite having factory tires. You can hear the transmission working harder in 4wd. I only use 4wd in it when it’s needed. My other machines I don’t worry as much about, but I still don’t use 4wd when in asphalt or mowed grass. I don’t see any good reason to lock it in forever and I’m not a flat lander.

 

[/pine]

Is there anyone out there that owns a 4WD tractor that does not disengage 4WD when making extended travels on paved or flat, level lanes etc?

 

[downsizingnow48]

I've tried to stay out of this but honestly the thread is a bit absurd.

My 2004 B21 has had the front wheels engaged except on pavement for 14 years. Loader work, soft surfaces, inclines, etc. Needless to say there is no evident wear in either tires or gear train. This is not that complicated.

 

[tjkubota93]

Is there anyone out there that owns a 4WD tractor that does not disengage 4WD when making extended travels on paved or flat, level lanes etc?

I don't.............because I forget.

I try to not use it on pavement. Just like a truck. You can feel it bind up.

 

[ovrszd]

I don稚 think the ratio is quite right in my L3800 despite having factory tires. You can hear the transmission working harder in 4wd. I only use 4wd in it when it痴 needed. My other machines I don稚 worry as much about, but I still don稚 use 4wd when in asphalt or mowed grass. I don稚 see any good reason to lock it in forever and I知 not a flat lander.

My 3910 is the only 4wd tractor I've been around that is identically geared. It displays no pull or push when going straight. And it won't turn for crap.

Pull is usually geared into a 4wd system so they will turn easier.

I consider it an operator failure when I realize I've still got 4wd engaged beyond the need for it.

 

[AxleHub]

Seeing there is a number of people who seem to just want to have 4WD engaged no matter what (except hard surfaces scare them)

It has me thinking.....

1 is there just a lot of people that do not understand all aspects of the tractor/s

or

2 Do a lot of later tractors with newer transmissions have more like an AWD system, not a true locked 3-4WD

Greggyy,

I think your question misses a key 3rd choice -

3. that part of tbn members - perceive a far different user mix than TBN has.

10 years ago there were far fewer scut owners on TBN - and today there are significantly more. But its not just the tractor size that makes the difference - but the reason they have the size they do. Scut owners are far more likely to have small acreage and use their units far differently than the more hobby or mid sized farm needs of prior TBN posters. That difference in land location and type is substantially varied from traditional hobby farm land. While I have a total of about 4 acres contiguous - I don't have more than 150 feet I can go on relatively flat land - everything else is slopes and sidehills and most are steep pitches. I have another 1 acre of lawn 2 miles away that is flat - but I certainly don't transport my scut there each week as it isn't worth the effort - and that is just lawn that gets cut with an aging lawn tractor.

So during normal seasons - my scut is either mowing or digging or log moving or hauling items on primarily hills where 4wd is absolutely needed. And in winter I'm plowing or snow removing on a large long steep concrete driveway and sidewalks - again in 4wd.

But I think there are a quantity of tbn posters who can't imagine that there are very many like me - and they still think in terms of 15 to 60 acres of land with much of it flat or near flat and a tractor in the mid to large compact sizing ranges.

As another example - my scut is certainly not awd - however I'm in 4wd (front wheel assist if you require the phrase) - but neither I or anyone else could tell on lawn or dirt or gravel - that my steering is altered in any way from 2wd. Only on dry concrete or dry blacktop can you "sense" a different sound in 4wd to 2wd - and in no way does it alter the turning ease and turning circle. Maybe larger compact tractors and older equipment is stiffer steering in 4wd compared to 2wd - but I've never ridden on any that are even though I know my neighbor's jd x728 lawn tractor is stiffer in 4wd.

My point greggyy, is that I think older or larger tractor owners assume alot about smaller tractor owners and believe those small unit owners have less awareness in their opinions - or maybe less skill in their decisions. My point is I think it is just the opposite too often - that larger tractor owners or land owners maybe don't recognize how much things have changed in tractor ownership in the last 6 to 8 years. If I had 30 acres and a Massey 1700 series unit instead of 4 acres and a Massey GC1715 - I'd have more flat land and easy rolling land to use 2wd for. I might have a lot of tilling to do or pasture land maintenance or rebuilding. The number of scut tractors and small frame compact tractors (like Kubota's B series etc.) are outselling percentage wise each year these last 6 or so years especially - and its because of their land locations and land sizes and because they are often in areas once were rolling farm land that now is subdivided for homes with 1 to several acres with far less flat land percentages and more hills and challenging landscapes and woods issues.

I live very close to many farms who would rarely need 4wd - but I live in areas right next to me that ALL need 4wd.

JMHO

 

[ruffdog]

Growing up we NEVER had 4x4 tractors. They were all 4x2 with chains and individual brakes for the rear wheels. Before my legs were long enough to reach the peddles, I knew how to climb steep grades using those brakes and the front tires were rarely touching the ground. A 4x4 tractor was only NEEDED for the hills too steep to walk on.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'll simply go back 50-ish posts and say again, do you shift your truck into 4wd the moment you leave pavement?

No,but my truck don’t do where my BX does

 

[/pine]

I don't.............because I forget....

Which is why it makes a good argument to leave it in 4WD when working between steep grades where it is needed and some flat areas where it's not...
...It's too easy to get absorbed in the work and forget and once you start down a wet, steep grade with a load on it can be too late...!

 

[dragoneggs]

I've tried to stay out of this but honestly the thread is a bit absurd.

My 2004 B21 has had the front wheels engaged except on pavement for 14 years. Loader work, soft surfaces, inclines, etc. Needless to say there is no evident wear in either tires or gear train. This is not that complicated.

I am with you here!

 

[/pine]

No,but my truck don稚 do where my BX does

Most trucks have brakes on all four wheels and equally sized tires...