Loader Fel - 2x2 vs 4x4

[tracterorizer]

Tomorrow (sat) I'm buying my first tractor. It is a kabota mx 5100 2x2. I up graded (pre purchase) from the l3400 4x4 after reading on here about a lack of robustness of the pto system since I intend to set a lot of posts in hard ground. When I told the salesman I was switching up he asked if I was going to do a lot of Fel work and went on to say that with 2 wheel drive the balance if sketchy, but upgrading to 4 wheel drive would help. I asked if there was another cheaper ($2,000) option like weighting the back. He seemed to think 4x4 was the best way to balance Fel work. My question; is this just an upsale. Thanks in advance.

 

[Grandad4]

Welcome to TBN. You'll find plenty of information and hopefully some good advice here.

4x4 on a tractor the size of an MX5100 is the real deal if you will be doing loader work. Here's why. You've got a tractor that weighs something in the 6,000 pound range, including the loader. Maybe a little more depending on what kind of implement you have on the back. And you have a loader that can lift roughly 2,000 pounds, or 1/3 the weight of the tractor itself, sticking several feet out in front of the front wheels.

That throws the balance to the front and off of the back wheels, where a 2wd tractor has its traction. Now you can start hanging lots of weight on the back to bring it back in balance, but the overall tractor is getting even heavier and harder to handle. And you still have a bunch of weight sitting on the front axle doing nothing to add traction.

With 4wd, all that weight, both front and back will be carried by a drive axle.

Many people say a 4wd tractor will be about 20% more effective than a 2wd one of the same size and power. I don't know if that's right or not, but I can absolutely tell you my tractor will do twice as much loader work running in 4x4 mode vs. 2wd mode. You dig harder, go better, stop better, climb and descend hills better, and have more control over the load being carried. And the 4x4 will go in wet or slick conditions where the 2wd will dig ruts and mud trying to get traction.

A 2wd tractor can do loader work, absolutely, but it's not even in the same league as a 4x4 of the same size. Also, it's a bit different story with bigger farm tractors (say, 100+ horsepower). They have so much weight that adding 4x4 isn't quite so essential.

Well, that's my opinion, anyhow. Hope it helps.

 

[638]

I don't feel like it is just an upsale. Every time I do any FEL work I find myself reaching for the 4x4 lever. Yes, it can be done in two wheel drive, but I find I can drive a little farther into the gob pile, get more into the bucket, and generaly do the job safer and faster in 4WD. You definatly want 4WD if you need to go down hill with a bucket full. I find that even with the tiller or backhoe on my BX the back end is a little light with a full load of rock or mud on a down hill slope. Think, no brakes, rear wheels want to slide in 2WD.

 

[LeadPoison]

I have a 2WD M4900 with a loader. Get the 4WD. At times I lose traction on flat ground with a bucket load. I also filled the back tires. I run into situations often where 2WD just doesn't cut the mustard. Just get 4WD and be worry free.

 

[Wolfy]

No matter if its a 2wd or 4wd, loaded tires, wheel weights, & 3pt weight are just about a requirement, if you want to get any thing done. The 2wd will need more weight, and split brakes help at times.

 

[TripleR]

In my opinion, for most, it is not an upsale, but rather valuable addition that will help when using your FEL. My father in law bought a new 2WD Massey Ferguson 375 and 2WD GMC pickup when he retired in 1986. Less than two months later, he traded the MF in on a 4WD 375. He kept the truck a couple more years and got a 4WD. He never owned another 2WD truck or tractor.

We own some older 2WD tractors without FEL's we use in the flat lands. I tried them on our hill farms and won't do that again.

Take some time and read some old posts using the "search" feature as I doubt any of us can say anything that has not already been said pro and con, here are just a couple. Good luck.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...isons/184399-should-front-loader-4-wheel.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/182437-front-end-loader-2wd-tractor.html

 

[mjribeiro]

I've done mostly FEL work with mine in the last few months. Even on my lawn I find times when I have a full bucket and cant get going in 2wd. The result is torn up patches from a single spinning wheel. Get the 4wd - you will be happy you did!

 

[dex3361]

Do yourself a favor and get the 4WD. It will save you time and time again. You didnt say where you are from but if you have hills 4WD makes your work much safer. You will retain control much better going down slopes especially if you have a FEL loaded it will remove the weight from the rear and a 2WD the rear s will likely slide. :thumbsup:

 

[redberankubota]

Def. get 4WD...mine`s in 4WD nearly all the time. My land is flat and mostly cleared...and the few times I`ve tried it without was a lot less efficient.

Well worth the extra money:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

It really depends on where you will use the tractor. First off you will need weight in the back, either loaded tires and/or a ballast box. A ballast box you can make, I used a 55 gallon drum full of cement. If where you will use your tractor has pretty good grip then 2wd will work just fine.

My Case Backhoe is 2wd and while it can almost lift the rear off the ground only if conditions are muddy or if I'm trying to back up a hill with a full bucket will traction be an issue. Even then I can just lock the rear diff for extra traction.

That doesn't mean 4wd is not a real nice thing to have. If you will be going down hills with a loaded bucket then you could find yourself out of control. Most tractors don't have front brakes so if your load is trying to lift the rear wheels off the ground then stopping can be a real issue.