FEL and 4WD - How necessary?

[mthornton]

Hey guys, still on the search for my first tractor and have a question. How important are the FEL and 4x4 on a tractor? I will be using the tractor for bushhogging and maintaining small roads on 40 acres of hunting property and for some landscaping type work around the house(~1 1/4 acres). I would also like to expand the road system on the hunting property(ie. make new roads through timber). Can most of this work be done without a FEL? I would prefer to have the FEL, but I am buying used and haven't had much luck finding a tractor with 4wd and FEL that fits my budget(<$10,000). I have however found some nice tractors, often with attachments that are well within the budget. Are there implement for the TPH that can be used for clearing roads, moving downed timber, etc.

Remember, I am a newbie at the whole tractor thing. Thanks for your help.

Mark

 

[dragoneggs]

Well Mark... welcome! Personally I don't see how anyone can get along without an FEL if you truly want to do some significant landscaping. Differing opinions will come for sure on 4x4 need but for me on sloped hills, I am pretty sure it has already been a lifesaver.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think 4wd makes a small tractor a true utility tractor...

My Grandparents farmed all of their lives and never had a 4wd... the had a dairy farm.

Most use tractors for Utility... a little bit of everything... just something to keep in mind.

 

[jeff9366]

Contemporary compact tractors are light relative to their horsepower. You need four wheel drive.

A 3-Pt. Dirt Scoop will do some of what an FEL will do. Some.

Most implement manufacturers offer a Dirt Scoop within their line.

You need four wheel drive to fill a Dirt Scoop.

SCOOP LINKS:

SCOOP | A&B Eagleline Farm Equipment

http://www.kingkutter.com/store.aspx?id=154

 

[JasG]

Around here 2wd tractors have become a rare site in any size, same with backhoes. One your see what a difference it makes, if you can afford it, its worth it. If you get a loader you will never see it's full usage unless you have 4wd.

Kind of like automatic trans in trucks, never used to see them.

 

[RBA50]

Can most of this work be done without a FEL? Mark

CAN the work be done without a FEL? Sure. It CAN be done without a tractor too. Just takes a lot of back breaking labor and time. Before there were tractors there were horses, before that, manpower.

Seriously though, a FEL makes hundreds of jobs easier, and with a small tractor, 4wd makes the FEL work better. Traction is likely to be the limiting factor in how much you can move with your tractor. Small tractors are relatively light, and light tractors have less traction than heavy ones (generally).

Keep looking, I see 4wd tractors with FEL's on Craigslist for around your budget number all the time. Also, you might want to check out the 0% financing on new tractors, and either use your cash as down payment, or to buy attachments, etc. (I always assume if someone has a budget number they plan to pay cash, otherwise it's the monthly payment amount that becomes the deciding factor in how much you can spend.)

 

[mthornton]

Thanks for the replies. I think you probably just validated what I was thinking. Looks like I will just have to keep looking and maybe trade newer/nicer for a little older but with the FEL and 4wd.

 

[mthornton]

I have looked at the new ones and really liked the Mahindra and MF that I looked at but twith a FEL they are nearly double the 10K I'd like to spend. I might be able to put some money down and finance the rest at 0%. Don't know why I hadn't thought of that.

 

[pinetree10]

I bought my first tractor early this year. I wasn't going to purchase a loader because I didn't think I would use it. Thank God my friends talked me into it because I've used it HEAVILY over the past eight months. As far as the FWD, the process of using the FEL is frequently impossible without using FWD because the back wheels just spin. I'm no veteran tractor operator compared to many of the guys on this site, but I recommend including both options because they make the work so much easier and more efficient. It's well worth the money in my opinion.

 

[PHPaul]

I bought my '88 JD750 with a front blade rather than a loader.

Some years later, I came across a deal on a loader for it and swapped over. No comparison whatever. The loader is the most generally useful attachment I've ever owned. It's not just a fancy power shovel, it's also a hoist, a grader, a tool lugger, a snow mover and with a subframe mine is also a snow plow, fork lift and grapple.

As long as I have tractors, I'll have a loader.

My advice: Spend the money now, or you'll just wind up spending it later.

Same deal with 4WD. Wouldn't be without it on a CUT.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Having done it both ways I consider having a tractor with out a loader equal to missing your right hand and not having FWD on top of that equal to missing both hands. You can still go ahead but you have a hard time grabbing onto the work and putting it where you want it.

Pinetree10: If your tires are spinning a lot while loading you don't have enough ballast in the tires or on the 3PH. Did you get your rears liquid filled?

 

[RBA50]

I used my Kubota B2320 for a month or more before I paid a cent on it. $0 down, 0% for 60 months.

 

[RalphVa]

If you have any hills or uneven terrain, you MUST have 4wd for safety. I started off with a Gravely, even went to dual wheels on both sides on it to gain enough traction going up and down the back hill down to our creek. Only thing that worked is getting 4wd. Gotta ALWAYS keep it in 4wd unless going down a paved level road.

To me, not much sense in having a tractor unless it has a FEL.

Ralph

 

[TripleR]

We got by without a FEL or MFWD for a long time and still have four like that, but every one of the last five my brothers and I bought all have it.

 

[bigbull338]

yes you can get by without a 4wd drive an fel on the tractor.but it would be so much easier with them.2wd drive tractors are cheap an easy to find.

 

[k0ua]

A tractor without 4wd and a Loader is like a" day without sunshine" (my apologies to Anita Bryant) You can "get by" with a lot of things. A loader is THE most useful attachment on ANY tractor, and a 2WD tractor with a loader is a weak sister unless it is large and heavy. A small CUT 2wd tractor with a loader is not a lot of fun. What you want is a 4WD tractor with a loader.. That is why you are not finding many of them on the used market, because their owners are happy with them and keeping them. You can find 2wd tractors without loaders for sale... does that tell you something?

James K0UA

 

[varmint]

Yup- if you bought a two wheel drive no loader tractor, you would soon regret it. All the remarks above are basic truths. Done.

 

[txdon]

Very necessary. I use the 4wd and FEL every time I start the tractor. Even on the days I just mow there is usually something that needs pushing or loading. When you use the FEL with a load the back end gets light and 4wd will keep you moving instead of the rear wheels just spinning. I also have not had to put water in the rear tires for weight with 4wd but I usually do keep a box blade or BH on the back.

 

[Zebrafive]

My first tractor was 2wd without a loader. John Deere 2030. Bought 20years ago used. It will be 40 years old next year. It's more weight and HP then most small tractor here. I wanted a loader and 4wd, but the budget would not allow. Three to four years after I bought it I found a used loader for it. Handiest attachment I have. Then came the grapple, second handiest attachment. After 17 years I finally got both 4wd and a loader. I bought a used JD 6415.
Stretch your $$$ and buy used. Maybe you can then get both 4wd and a loader first time around.

 

[newbury]

<SNIP>I am buying used and haven't had much luck finding a tractor with 4wd and FEL that fits my budget(<$10,000). I have however found some nice tractors, often with attachments that are well within the budget. Are there implement for the TPH that can be used for clearing roads, moving downed timber, etc.

Remember, I am a newbie at the whole tractor thing. Thanks for your help.

Mark

Call Messicks.

Going on about a year ago I was looking for a 40HP w/ 4WD & FEL for < $15K. Messicks had one. But I bought my M4700 w/ 4WD and FEL for about $12K first. 50HP, 10 more than I wanted, but I put up with it.


So far I've had to sink about an extra $5K into it. Of course that included:
8" Jinma Chipper - $1,800
Plow - $450
Tiller - $800
PHD - $500
Pallet forks - $250
PEC - $150
Oil - $20
Hoses - $50
And a lot of diesel!

The point is those bargains are out there IF YOU CAN WAIT AND REALLY SEARCH!! If you need something soon look at Messicks.