use of mfwd or buy a larger 2wd?

shady1701 · Aug 4, 2003

I was wondering on use of mfwd while most larger tractors around here are 2wd. I was wondering since i don't use a loader how good does a ~30hp ~3000# + or so 2wd do? on my tractor ~24hp 2200# i can't do anything w/o 4wd on i have filled tires also.

The only tractors around here are 2wd ~30-35hp kubota and then there some huge 8000-9000 series JD and a huge white tractor the rest are 2wd in 30-35hp range..

thanks

CTyler · Aug 4, 2003

I guess it depends on what you want to do. My L3130 is 3305#, loader is 850#. The boxblade is 575#, mower 600#, rear blade 300#.

Using the rear blade and mowing is fine in 2wd. Pulling the boxblade is ok at best in 2wd. Put the rippers down and forget it unless your just scratching around. I use 4wd most of the time for box blading even if I dont need to, less tire slippage.

Using the loader is ok in 2wd just have to be gentler on the HST scooping up rock or dirt. Digging with the FEL I use 4wd.

The above statements are refering to dry conditions. All bets are off when wet. If the tires were filled it would make a big difference using 2wd in dry conditions.

The guys that farm my property use Big 2wd tractors. I asked them about 4wd and they said if you need 4wd its to wet to be in the field.

Just depends on what your doing.

CTyler · Aug 4, 2003

Forgot....

The reason I know filling the tires would be a major help is this...

The backhoe weighs 1800# and it makes a huge difference in rear traction. I can dig with the FEL fairly well in 2wd when the BH is on there. The BB is on there most of the time though.

shady1701 · Aug 4, 2003

That's what i was thinking mainly i wanted something about 30hp+ I have a 6' finishing mower and a 5' tiller and was wanting to go ahead and get a 6' rotary cutter.

When i rototill i have to put mine in 4wd it tends to sink in the rear tires and simply start sinking. The same with graderblade 6' and 5' box graderw/rippers they just spin and won't pull it in 4wd with rippers in the ground 2'. the back tires just spin away.

Soundguy · Aug 4, 2003

Perhaps this will give you some comparison. My NH 1920 is 30something HP and weighs about 3300, plus I have filled tires.. guess that is another 2XX lbs... the rotary mower is about 450 lbs.

I almost always use 2wd. I've only used 4wd in 3 situations.. discing... A must.... mowing in thick wet tall weeds/grass/soft soils, and when running in mud/loose soils/ice, etc.

Tractor work is one of those weight vs traction things... if you are light, you break tracttion..

For instance.. many of the large ag tractors were 2wd... like a nice ford 8000.. 2wd.. though may use dual rears and diff lock.. a pulling monster even at 2wd.. but then it weighs like 9000 pounds too... I've heard it quoted that a 4wd tractor will do the pulling of a 2wd that is 20% or so.. heavier/stronger.

My guess is it is mostly situational.... I would just as soon have the 20% larger tractor and 2wd.. unless I really had a specific need for the 4wd...

Ask a ford/NH person if they would rather have a 4wd 1920, or a 2wd 2120.... my guess is the 2120 will be sold out.

slowrev · Aug 4, 2003

Almost all of the compact tractors have 4WD to optimize the pulling power for their relitavely light weight.
Generally speaking the more a tractor weighs the more it can pull.

Ledgemere Farm · Aug 4, 2003

My Cub Cadet is in 2WD 98% of the time. I do alot of ground-engaging work and traction is not an issue. I put it in 4WD to assist with steering sometimes if I am pulling a heavy load up hill or when the ground is slick. An old farmer once told me to use 4WD to get OUT of trouble, not INTO it. I also use R1 tires. My other Cub had R3's on it and it "spun on a horse turd". It was almost useless with a loader in 2WD. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

grandad · Aug 4, 2003

Guess this is one of those "your mileage may vary" issues where the need depends on the circumstances. I am in 4WD probably 60% of the time for what I do. Don't need it for mowing for example, but it's essential for doing loader work with heavy material like crusher run gravel around my place.

Using the loader, which hauls over 3/4 ton per trip, I have had to take probably 200 tons of the gravel down a muddy, downhill trail that is impassable for a dump truck. Doing that with the loader of a tractor having just 2WD would be an invitation to an unwanted joyride, while 4WD does it safely all day long.

shady1701 · Aug 4, 2003

I've seen alot of quotes on % increase of traction a mfwd system yields one website yielded only about 10% increase in traction another article yielded 20% vs 2wd.

The biggest problem i have around here is the soil has no organic mater and is red/brown clay and nearly never dries out add to that an extremly hard hard pan and around in there a ton of slate rock.

I'm wondering now how much weight my tractor is split % wise if a larger 2wd tractor weights 3300# and 80% or say 2200# is on rear vs my whole tractor weights 2200-2600# that seems to me there'd be little difference as my front tires alot of time spin and hop around on my hard ground.