Buying Advice Does no one buy big 2wd tractors new anymore?

[Sawdustsmb]

I agree with Dave, It all depends on what you are doing with it. Bush hogging - fine I need horsepower and not necessarily weight 4 wd would be great. Bringing 10 or 14 round bales weighing 1000 - 1500 lbs. each down a hill I want weight, lots of it and I don't want the front end holding me back. When that load starts pushing the rear end of that tractor around you're in big trouble in a big hurry. Had a good friend and neighbor who died trying just that. Make sure you are wearing the seat belt, have a ROPS, and know how to go fast to get back in front of it.

Bob

 

[rtimgray]

I've been having this argument with myself lately - as far as whether or not to purchase a larger 2wd tractor if I find one at a "good" price. I started rolling my own hay a couple of years ago, and am completely happy with the results. However, there are times that a cab would be really nice, due to either dust, heat or insects.

I've seen a couple of large 2wd tractors (and when I say large, I mean 80 to 100 hp - that's large for me) for sale locally at reasonable prices. But after having owned both 2wd and 4wd tractors, I have said to myself - I'll never own a 2wd tractor again! Then again, I go back and echo some of the comments already made: if the field is dry enough for bushhogging or rolling hay, then I won't need 4wd, and the 2wd will be just fine. Then I go back AGAIN and say "Well, but do I want to spend that much money on a tractor that might not be useful for setting out rolls in muddy conditions in the winter? I know hay got set out for years and years with 2wd tractors, but......

Anyway, I'm not going to completely rule out owning a 2wd tractor, but it will have to be a good deal. And I should have several years to think about it - I've got far to much debt right now to be tractor shopping anyway.

Good luck and take care.

 

[MESSMAKER]

4wd is pretty handy. Getting a 100hp tractor unstuck can be trouble. Hooking the truck to it usually will not do the trick. Not many winches handle that kind of weight. You need another big machine or a big wrecker $$$$$.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

If your rolling hay with a 4wd you will love the tighter turning of a 2wd. I use both a 4020 and a 5083E for hay making and other than being one valve short and not having a cab, the 4020 makes hay well. The powershift and the tighter turning of the 4020 really make navigating a hay field a breeze. Upshift under power, no clutching, downshift for the end of the row, turn the corner, then put the smoke back to it. There is something to be said for being able to smell and see the hay as well as listening to the equipment and what its telling you about the operation and the condition of the hay. I would say that if you can justify the cost, a big 2wd is a good haying machine. Now, if you have alot of hills and larger equipment, I think that goes out the window. I definitely prefer the 2wd for raking and running a tedder.

The comment about getting the 2wd stuck is mostly true. I have never had our 4020 stuck. Then again, I don't try and push my luck at all because I know its 2wd. I have taken some scary rides and have gotten temporarily slowed down in mud with the 4wd E because I thought the 4wd would make up for any shortfalls or extra mud. I do think that the larger tractor rides across the field much better too.

 

[dave1949]

The Deere dealer at the Fair last summer had a 2WD tractor in the display. I'm not sure of the exact model but I think it was one of the 50XXE series. the price was around $20K and I remember thinking how nice it would be if I could get by with a 2WD tractor. :laughing: I suppose I could if I had to. For my uses, 4X4 is mostly important for winter snow clearing and getting around in some wet backhoe work in summer.

Just out of curiosity, the 2WD MSRP pricing on Deere's Build Your Own looks like this:

5055E 41-45 HP 2WD std. $22,097 base. Add $5,296 for MFWD

5085M 70 HP MFWD std. $55,814 base. Deduct $6,845 for 2WD

6125M 102 HP MFWD std. $82,722 base. Deduct $8,398 for 2WD

 

[MHarryE]

Consider if the 2wd purchase will be for a machine to run until it won't run any more or if you might trade. My brother-in-law swears by 2wd due to lower purchase price. Last year at this time he bought a 2wd NH utility, 75 HP. Now he realizes that tractor sits too much and he really needs a 90 PTO HP tractor that can run his second Discbine. The dealer has 5 that fit his needs but he found the trade in value of his 2wd is less than he still owes. The 2wd tractor of the possibilities he is looking at is priced much lower too by it has a loader. The previous owner traded it in because of lack of loader performance. The 2wd price is low but if it doesn't retain value... However if it satisfies your needs and trade in value is of no concern, good buys to be had.

 

[tjkadar]

The hay farm across the road bought a 2WD JD 6000 series tractor a few years back. For what they use the tractor for, MFWD wasn't needed. It had to be ordered though as there are no 2WD tractors on the lots.

 

[HEC]

Been the 2wd route, never again, I would get stuck way to many times . With 2wd , snow , mud , even wet grass on an incline can be a real issue .

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I think for doing hay work a 2wd is perfectly fine. I used a 4020 the past three years for doing ours and never had any issues. I very much prefer a 2wd for raking or running a tedder too.

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

I would love to have a 2wd (already have 2 without cab) open station 100 hp tractor to mow hay with and as a backup rolling tractor. Have 4wd 5083e to roll with and enjoy that quite well. I just like 2wd tractors , they handle so much better and are just fun to drive.
Although if I could only have ONE you better believe it would be 4wd with a cab. My main argument for 4wd is if it's engaged you also have four wheel stopping power. That is my main reason for baling with a 4wd. It's all fun and games til you can't stop.

 

[mjcountrybumpkin]

A small side note:
I have absolutely zero land that even resembles flat. Mainly step hill sides.

 

[MHarryE]

Auctions past two weeks. First one had a JD, can't remember model, but it went for $55,000. Looked it up on Tractor House wand the price was in the ball park. Next auction identical model. I was standing away from the tractor (hundreds of people at this auction) and I was very surmised to hear it sell for $22,000. I had to fight the crowd to look because I remembered the tractor as being exceptionally clean. Finally got to see the front end - 2wd. The tractor a week earlier had been MFWD. In our area if you want a 2wd you can get a real steal but if you buy new and don't plan on keeping for its lifetime, you will kiss a lot of money goodbye.

 

[Will_C]

My cousin has a large dairy farm in the hills of Northcentral Pennsylvania. They have several 150hp+ John Deere for the bulk of their crop work. They also have 1 or 2 2wd tractors around-purchased used at a very reasonable cost. They use those tractors to rake hay, pull the fewer mixer, etc.

Will

 

[Verticaltrx]

I wouldn't want a 2wd compact tractor (especially one with a loader), but for larger field tractors there are a number of benefits to 2wd, if you are using them in the right application:

-lower purchase price
-tighter turning radius
-lower maintenance costs, especially front tires
-less complex/more reliable
-more options for row spacing

Between me and my family we make between 60-80ac of hay a year and the tractor that does all the cutting, most of the raking, and runs the square baler is a 2wd JD 2550. Its got good power, is heavy with a long wheelbase (better ride) and it turns sharp. We use a 4wd JD 5045e for tedding and sometimes raking, and a 4wd Kubota M9540 for running the round baler. I can't think of a time when we have EVER used 4wd on one of those tractors in the hay field. In fact, aside from loader work those two tractors only get put in 4wd maybe a handful of times in a year. For loading round bales with the loader in the hay field they are left in 2wd.

IMO there are only a few situations where 4wd is considered almost mandatory:
-heavy loader work or loader work on steep hills/muddy conditions
-work on very wet ground

For haying, bush hogging, chore work and general field work I gladly use 2wd tractors.

 

[jenkinsph]

I use 4x4 when box blading and pulling the land plane but everything else I use 4x2.