2WD vs. 4WD

[quailman115]

I have a 2WD ym 2010 and I am dying to add an FEL. How much of a disadvantage will I be at, if any, using the FEL with a 2WD vs. a 4WD? I have heard that you really need 4WD when using an FEL, which means I'll have to upgrade, which is fast becoming less than popular with the wife. Another tractor, she screams!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EFC]

2wd carry more weight in the front than a 4wd (I can build you a front axel for a 2wd but I can’t easily fix a broken 4wd housing). But you need a good amount of weight in the rear to offset the loader. And just like Roger said in an earlier post when you go downhill with weight in the bucket your rear wheels can loose traction and slide. As for general loader use when I am digging the front tires are off the ground most of the time anyway. A 2010 is a sweet tractor and if your comfortabe with it put a loader on and enjoy.

 

[roger_scotty]

Side by side, a 4wd will ultimately do more than a 2wd....no doubt about it. But the 2wd will do plenty of quality FEL work for you. Its definitely worth putting a loader on your tractor. Half the time you don't wouldn't use 4wd if you had it, and half the rest of the time your front wheels are up in the air and 4wd isn't doing anything for you.
With a couple of tricks, you can work right with the 4wd lads....One is to put use a reasonable size front bucket. I'd say on your tractor 48" width is max. Next is to put a "tooth bar" on that bucket. That one will amaze you what it will do. And finally, I'd put a 4 to 5 foot wide box blade on her and clap an additional 400 lbs on that box. Now those rear tires are really going to dig in.

So keep the bucket width under 48", put quick detatchable teeth on the cutting edge, and add a small 3pt implement with a LOT of extra weight. Now if I had a 2wd tractor with those things it would work with any 4wd without them. In fact it would even do better than most.

And after you've done all that and are enjoying the way that loader is working you are now ready for the "final touch"....the "coupe de grass" if you will.........That's then you add the giant killer: power steering! I've heard that there are still some aftermarket power steering kits out there. Adding them is more than a bolt on, but worth the trouble because I guarantee you that at that point you would have a 2wd that you would not swap for a 4wd. And for less money, too.

 

[snooks]

I went through the same debate just days ago. Finally purchased a YM2500 (2wd) with front loader. Used it all day today doing landscape work and love it. Had the tiller on for counter weight and worked fine. Had a mild slope to the ground I was working. I originally believed 4wd was a must, but now I know that is hog wash. I've attached a photo of my new toy. I purchase from Hal Livengood at Livengood Equipment in Villa Grove IL. He has real nice tractors and is a great guy to do business with.

 

[kbarrett]

That's a beautiful setup! If memory serves me correct, folks have been using FELs with 2WD for many years.

Thank you for that post. Opens up a few more options for
me.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

It's all a matter of weight. Weight enough to keep the drive wheels from spinning means all the fuel going into the engine is becoming work. Insufficient weight means fuel is going to waste. The Case 380 backhoe loader was only 2 wheel drive, and even bad operators had a he!! of a time spinning wheels because of the hoe putting all that weight on the drive tires.
A machine that weighs 2000# trying to work a FEL will need an extra 1000# of rear weight to really work the loader and maintain safety. My 240D rarely runs in 4wd, unless I'm working the loader. 4wd improves the steering, powered front wheels turn easier than unpowered front wheels with a full bucket. Additionally, powered front wheels will make a turn where unpowered wheels will skid sideways. 4wd also improves digging ability with a FEL.

 

[Thomas]

I very seldom use 4wd when there fel work to be done..except snow removal..just some counter balance plus tire chains for the rear turf tires.

Hope you have power steering,if not have a good grip on the steering wheeling. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[snooks]

I'm not saying 4wd isn't handy at times. I did drop the front wheels off in a small creek and maybe 4wd would have got me back out. Used loader to get out instead. I happen to believe 4wd is overrated, especially if the tractor has proper weight on the back. Like several of the other post, when digging my front wheels are off the ground. I also can say that I used a blade on my 8N to move snow, and never needed chains. Of coarse they were not large snow storms either. Again weight is the key. I've seen post that say a 2wd with loader is "worthless". I can not imagine someone that has ever had one setup right saying this. Living in farm country I will say that if I had a livestock lot that gets muddy often, I would want 4wd. For what I do (mowing, lanscape work, removing sod for concrete), don't need 4wd.

 

[hosejockey2002]

With my 1401D if I have a load in the bucket I almost have to use 4WD, even with my box scraper on the back. But the 1401D is a small, light machine, and I have a 48" bucket with a fair amount of overhang in the front, which unloads the rear wheels. So I could probably say that my particular setup would be worthless without 4wd. But my dad has a JD850, which I think is about the size of your YM2500. His is 2WD, but has fluid filled tires and 500 lbs on the rear end. About the only time he has trouble is backing up hills with a load. Other than that, his machine will outwork mine by a long shot just because it is bigger and heavier.

 

[snooks]

Yeah, I'm sure you are right. The gentleman that sold me my tractor had a smaller 4wd unit that I was really interested in. He said basically the same thing. He indicated the HP and 4wd wasn't as much an issue as weight. That is one of the reasons I went with the larger 2wd unit. You are also right when you say this is like the JD 850. My dealer had an 850 manual which, for all practical purposes, looks like the same tractor.