Do I need 4wd and/or loader?

[jed1894]

Hello, I'm new here....first post and new farmer. I just recently bought 40 acres and have decided to start farming (part time). The land is flat (no hills). Also just bought my first tractor, a 2wd John Deere 5045D. Here's my question and dilemna:

Uses:
1. Harrowing
2. Planting.
3. Bush hog.
4. Pulling up stumps
5. Clearing wooded area--small trees and bushes (new roads).

I trying to decide if I actually need a 4wd. Also, I'm trying to decide whether or not to put a loader on my 2wd tractor. I will be hauling hay bales from time to time so I'll need a loader or rear spear. I don't have enough experience to know what I need.

My 2wd will pull my harrow and 2 row planter (already tested). So, I don't need a 4wd to plant my crop. However, if I were to use the loader to push up stumps and clear my wooded area, would the 4wd be a must? Or, can I off-set the weight in the rear to make the tractor seemed like a 4wd?

Here are some questions:

1. Can I make the back heaiver to make loader work better on a 2wd (I understand the water in tires...anything else)?

2. Should I spend approx 5K to put a loader on a 2wd tractor?

3. If I did, can I make it heavier to off-set not having the 4wd?

I guess my main concern would be adding the loader to a 2wd tractor....is this a mistake based on what I've typed?

Any advice from experience would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this so anything would be important. One other thing, been looking at trading the 2wd on the 4wd version of same tractor. However, it will be a 14,000 difference with the loader....wow! Is it worth that?

thanks in advance, jed

 

[jed1894]

Been reading old post for an hour or so.....seems like 2wd with loader is not recommended. Here's another argument:

For 5K for a loader, I could buy used 2wd tractor with loader.
For 14K difference (4wd version of my tractor), I could buy really good 2nd tractor (4wd and loader) and would not lose that trade-in value (money).

jed

 

[whistlepig]

Of all things a 4WD can do using a loader is what a 4WD does best. For pulling stumps and clearing brush the loader is ideal. And a loader saves a lot of wear and tear on the body.

 

[Heavyduty]

If you add rear wheel weights and by leaving a raised bushhog on the 3 pt you will have a lot of traction, but a 4 wd is better in muddy condtions.

 

[deputy11]

It would be hard to put a $ value on a loader, the amount I use mine and the many uses it is good for is priceless. It has saved big $ in medical bills just in back pains alone. Can't imagine a tractor without a loader around a small farm.

 

[whistlepig]

It would be hard to put a $ value on a loader, the amount I use mine and the many uses it is good for is priceless. It has saved big $ in medical bills just in back pains alone. Can't imagine a tractor without a loader around a small farm.

I agree. Priceless is a good description.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Hello, I'm new here....first post and new farmer. I just recently bought 40 acres and have decided to start farming (part time). The land is flat (no hills). Also just bought my first tractor, a 2wd John Deere 5045D. Here's my question and dilemna:

Uses:
1. Harrowing
2. Planting.
3. Bush hog.
4. Pulling up stumps
5. Clearing wooded area--small trees and bushes (new roads).

I trying to decide if I actually need a 4wd. Also, I'm trying to decide whether or not to put a loader on my 2wd tractor. I will be hauling hay bales from time to time so I'll need a loader or rear spear. I don't have enough experience to know what I need.

My 2wd will pull my harrow and 2 row planter (already tested). So, I don't need a 4wd to plant my crop. However, if I were to use the loader to push up stumps and clear my wooded area, would the 4wd be a must? Or, can I off-set the weight in the rear to make the tractor seemed like a 4wd?

Here are some questions:

1. Can I make the back heaiver to make loader work better on a 2wd (I understand the water in tires...anything else)?

2. Should I spend approx 5K to put a loader on a 2wd tractor?

3. If I did, can I make it heavier to off-set not having the 4wd?

I guess my main concern would be adding the loader to a 2wd tractor....is this a mistake based on what I've typed?

Any advice from experience would be greatly appreciated. I am new to this so anything would be important. One other thing, been looking at trading the 2wd on the 4wd version of same tractor. However, it will be a 14,000 difference with the loader....wow! Is it worth that?

thanks in advance, jed

I have a FEL on my 2WD Ford 4610 and I use it to handle large round bales. I'm looking for a FWA tractor with a loader to do the bale work( winter feeding, clearing hayfields ofbig round bales, round bale stacking etc). The type of work I do is hard on a the front end of the 2wd because they are not really designed for that type of heavy loader work. 2WD tractors with FEL's are usefull for loading manure and light duty loader work only.

Further, if you ever tried to load a big bale into a feeder when it's muddy around the feeder, you realize pretty quick you need a FWA tractor.
If you're going to farm some flat ground and do some light loader work , a 2wd might be ok, but a FWA tractor with a laoder will allow you to do more things. And one thing about tractors if you're a newbie, you will always want to do more things with it than you think you do when you are buying. Just look at what the full time farmers use.
Think twice about using a wheel tractor to pull stumps. Yes it can be done but it' s hard on the tractor and it can be dangerous. Consider renting a small cat to that kind of work.

 

[whistlepig]

I agree with Jerry/MT about the danger of pulling stumps with a loader. The loader is more for digging around the stump to get it out. Sure beats a pick axe, spud bar, and a round nosed shovel.

 

[jenkinsph]

I think a tractor loader backhoe much like my 110 is what you need along with your larger tractor. Now if you were to trade up to 4x4 then I would also go up in power too. If I had just one tractor on 40 acres with your tasks in mind it would be a 60 to 80 hp machine.

 

[texasjohn]

Welcome to TBN.:thumbsup:

You are on the right track.... read, read, read existing posts on TBN....you will get lots of info quick...some you realize you need now...some will be useful in the future... try the TBN search feature for your topics of interest....will sort down the threads to look thru.

You are asking the right questions, we love to spend your money. If money were no problem, I think everybody would have front wheel assist, loader, all the implements available, and MORE HORSEPOWER.

Get a rear fork for large round bales... this will work fine with a 2wd tractor...more fun to lift a round bale into a bale feeder, but I have lifted many bale feeders onto a round bale by hand... NOT much fun in rain, cold wind, but can be done.

If you get a rear fork, it makes a good platform base for a carryall... another great tool you will use often, and makes the rear fork an all year tool, not just during hay season.