Sales of 2WD vs. 4WD Tractors -- Do the AEM Data Seem Wacky to You?

[smstonypoint]

I chanced upon a report by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) that shows the YTD unit sales of farm tractors: http://www.aem.org/AllDocuments/AEM/MI/Reports/13_10_USAG.pdf. "These data represent the machines in each product category being sold at retail in the fifty states and District of Columbia by most, but not all, of the manufacturers" according to AEM.


The report breaks down 2WD sales by HP (<40, 40<100, 100+), but lumps all 4WD sales into one category. It is not clear whether CUTs are included in the data.

The reported YTD (though October) 2WD sales totaled 167,347 units as compared to only 5,551 4WD units. The ratio of 2WD to 4WD tractors in inventory on October 1 was 50+:1. I don't spend much time looking over dealers' new inventories (in order to avoid temptation), but I have not noticed 2WD units outnumbering 4WD units by 50 to 1 in my neck of the woods.

What gives?

Steve

 

[mikehaugen]

I agree, it seems backwards to what I would have guessed. I rarely see 2wd tractors on lots.

I thought I was in the minority with my 2wd... guess not!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would think Ag tractor sales outnumber homeowner buys by a lot, BUT, I see a lot of 4 WD farm tractors also. I don't live in a predominately row crop area and most farm tractors on the lots here are for haying /ranch use and rarely do I see a 2 WD. Almost all of the High Horsepower tractors are 4 WD also. Me thinks the report is all B.S.

 

[LindenBruce]

Out here we have a lot of row and orchard crops. And most of the tractors are 2wd. And half of those have no FEL's. They are used mainly to pull implements not lift objects. The tractors that do have FEL's are running brush guards with 6' long forks to push debris out to burn piles. Very little loader work being done around here. B.

 

[oldnslo]

Does the report consider MFWA a 2WD or a 4WD tractor. They may consider 4WD as the full time 4WD tractors that are typically pivot steer.

 

[dave1949]

Could be skewed by terminology. At the Deere site, selecting 4WD tractors displays only the big ag beasts. Selecting Utility Tractors displays both 2 & 4WD of the smaller units.

 

[tractorshopper]

I honestly don't believe I have seen a 2WD tractor on my dealer's lot in the last 3 years unless it was a used tractor. I think they are pretty much only bringing in 4WD models these days. I would assume a lot of that though is because I live in the Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

 

[wolftree]

I am pretty sure something is missing from the data. I might believe that only 5,551, 200 plus horsepower 4wd tractors have been sold this calendar year. But even that seems low for all 50 states. 167,347 units has to include scuts and cuts, of which most are 4WD/FWA. Scuts and cuts outsell AG tracors by a very wide margin.

 

[smstonypoint]

Does the report consider MFWA a 2WD or a 4WD tractor. They may consider 4WD as the full time 4WD tractors that are typically pivot steer.

Could be skewed by terminology. At the Deere site, selecting 4WD tractors displays only the big ag beasts. Selecting Utility Tractors displays both 2 & 4WD of the smaller units.

I think the mystery is solved -- the 2WD data must include MFWD tractors.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[buickanddeere]

Must be including lawn and garden equipment in those numbers? There are some markets however where only the lowest price will sell. Some people will purchase two 2WD tractors instead of one 4WD tractor .