looch
Veteran Member
In my (perhaps overly-simplistic) way of looking at it, 4WD is simply making up for lack of PSI exerted on the ground by our smaller tractors, and a smaller diameter drive wheel.
Why FWD
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MossRoad
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Exactly. You can do more with a small tractor if it has FWD. That is a fact that can't be disputed. So is it worth it to you? I don't know, but it is worth it to me.
looch
Veteran Member
Definitely worth it for me. I pull a moldboard through 20 year old, compacted soil with my turf tires - no way with without 4WD.
ric
Silver Member
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- Kubota 245DT and 175F
Wonder what's different here...? What ever it is probably does not matter what matters is using what works for you. But I do wonder why do I not need to use 4wd and you would not be without it? My tractor was built in 1979, does not have power steering, does not have filled tires, does not have rear wheel weights, weighs about 2600 pounds with the fel installed and has R3 tires. I never use chains, don't have any, never needed them. I pull a 6 foot box blade (scarfers down) or grading blade forward or reversed and use the fel for loading, scraping, dumping etc. I usually pick up the box blade when I use the FEL. I never use the 4wd and never get stuck and I have never tipped or rolled the tractor. I also have a 6 foot LMC finish mower I use occassionally. My brother in law has 30 acres he works, mostly mowing and tree farm. He has a 24 year old Kubota B7100 with 4wd and he has never used the 4wd for anything. His tractor has turf tires too. His property is twice as hilly as mine and he mows nearly 12 acres of the 30 he owns. About two years ago a friend of mine was working on something and decided to shift into 4wd only to find he was already in 4wd and had been for several months without realizing it. It took us two hours to finally get it to shift into 2wd. He has an older crash box tractor like mine and supposedly you are not supposed leave them 4wd all the time. My next tractor will likly be 2wd, over 40 horse with an FEL and a cab or a bobcat with a cab, sure like bobcats. ric
looch
Veteran Member
<font color=blue>Wonder what's different here</font color=blue>
Let's see...
I don't have a box blade so I can't say whether I'd need 4WD to use one. I don't yet have a FEL, so likewise.
<font color=blue>I never tipped or rolled the tractor</font color=blue>
Not sure how that relates to using 4WD.
<font color=blue>he mows nearly 12 acres</font color=blue>
I don't use 4WD for mowing, so we're even on that one.
Have you ever pulled a mold board with your tractor? How about blowing snow?
I am a firm believer of doing what you can with what you have. All I need to do is think of those farmers that worked the land without a tractor. On the other hand, there is no question in my mind that you can get much more done, more easily with 4WD.
Let's see...
I don't have a box blade so I can't say whether I'd need 4WD to use one. I don't yet have a FEL, so likewise.
<font color=blue>I never tipped or rolled the tractor</font color=blue>
Not sure how that relates to using 4WD.
<font color=blue>he mows nearly 12 acres</font color=blue>
I don't use 4WD for mowing, so we're even on that one.
Have you ever pulled a mold board with your tractor? How about blowing snow?
I am a firm believer of doing what you can with what you have. All I need to do is think of those farmers that worked the land without a tractor. On the other hand, there is no question in my mind that you can get much more done, more easily with 4WD.
DVerbarg
Platinum Member
Ric,
Normally speaking 4wd does not add much to my tractoring experience. It has made a significant difference in two types of situations. The first is snow removal. I'm a little handicapped by the tires being industrials instead of ags and not having chains. The second situation is doing heavy FEL work. 4wd allows me to add at least 25% more to each bucket load without digging holes with the rear wheels. 4wd also helps when the bucket load is too heavy and the rear tires too light. Could buy a heavier rear weight but why bother putting more weight on and off when I can just flip a lever and keep traction while going up and down slight grades.
Normally speaking 4wd does not add much to my tractoring experience. It has made a significant difference in two types of situations. The first is snow removal. I'm a little handicapped by the tires being industrials instead of ags and not having chains. The second situation is doing heavy FEL work. 4wd allows me to add at least 25% more to each bucket load without digging holes with the rear wheels. 4wd also helps when the bucket load is too heavy and the rear tires too light. Could buy a heavier rear weight but why bother putting more weight on and off when I can just flip a lever and keep traction while going up and down slight grades.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
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My IH2500b is around 8000lbs with industrial tires that are filled. It is 2WD with a loader. I have had a box blade scraper or a 55 gallon barrel full of concrete on the back for counterweight. My soil type is tyner A, B, C and D(sand on flat to steep slopes) along with adrian muck. I have gotten it stuck on numerous occasions. I have gotten it unstuck one of two ways; by using the FEL to push myself backwards or by hooking my 85 Chevy 1/2 ton 4wd to it with a cable and pulling it out from solid ground. I've had several 4WD tractors through there, including the farmer that used to plant it, and they said that they would never be able to work it without 4 wheel drive.
(I cut this paragraph out, sorry.)
I think that is about as good an argument you can get for 4WD.
(I cut this paragraph out, sorry.)
I think that is about as good an argument you can get for 4WD.
jdkid
Gold Member
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- 8350 valmet with 980SL FEL duels had a 150 Hp deutz just sold it 10 NOV 01
Hi ya
well with being a bit bigger and driving a few other tractors 2WD FWA and true 4X4 (all wheels the same)here is a bit of a run down ,on firm ground with right tires and set up right for the job in hand a 2WD will do all a FWD will do, even better as a FEL tractor with a heavy axle or FWD axle ..now FWA what most of us have being compact ,agri ,lawn mower will pull better than 2WD in soft or lose condishans(?)as for being a better loader tractor or more stable NOT true, if needing FWA to carry loads the prob is with the back end being to light there are many cases of axles braking gears by being over loaded many be not so common in smaller tractor but 70Hp plus it happen more than alot of dealers would like to let on ..4X4 don't realy come in to this forum..bottom line is 4X4 and FWA let tractors get more traction ,better use of fuel it should not be used to over come poor set ups
catch ya
JD Kid
well with being a bit bigger and driving a few other tractors 2WD FWA and true 4X4 (all wheels the same)here is a bit of a run down ,on firm ground with right tires and set up right for the job in hand a 2WD will do all a FWD will do, even better as a FEL tractor with a heavy axle or FWD axle ..now FWA what most of us have being compact ,agri ,lawn mower will pull better than 2WD in soft or lose condishans(?)as for being a better loader tractor or more stable NOT true, if needing FWA to carry loads the prob is with the back end being to light there are many cases of axles braking gears by being over loaded many be not so common in smaller tractor but 70Hp plus it happen more than alot of dealers would like to let on ..4X4 don't realy come in to this forum..bottom line is 4X4 and FWA let tractors get more traction ,better use of fuel it should not be used to over come poor set ups
catch ya
JD Kid
ric
Silver Member
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- Kubota 245DT and 175F
pbenven,
I never tipped or rolled the tractor
Not sure how that relates to using 4WD.
*I was responding to someone elses reference in the thread that somehow this might occur if 4wd was not used in certain situations.
Have you ever pulled a mold board with your tractor? How about blowing snow?
*To me, moldboards are multi-bottom plows used to break ground for planting. The smallest one of these I ever pulled was a 6 bottom unit the biggest was a 10 bottom unit and I always used a large 2wd tractor, with no problems. I don't think my little 4wd tractor could match the Oliver or Deere I used. I use my grading blade reversed to remove snow, don't need a blower we don't get alot of snow here.
ric
I never tipped or rolled the tractor
Not sure how that relates to using 4WD.
*I was responding to someone elses reference in the thread that somehow this might occur if 4wd was not used in certain situations.
Have you ever pulled a mold board with your tractor? How about blowing snow?
*To me, moldboards are multi-bottom plows used to break ground for planting. The smallest one of these I ever pulled was a 6 bottom unit the biggest was a 10 bottom unit and I always used a large 2wd tractor, with no problems. I don't think my little 4wd tractor could match the Oliver or Deere I used. I use my grading blade reversed to remove snow, don't need a blower we don't get alot of snow here.
ric
woodmills1
Gold Member
just have to jump in. you really want to get stuck on flat dry ground 4x4 or not. then load your ten foot trailer with too many 18 foot logs so there is negative tounge weight. whoops the thing wouldnt even go. take off long and put on some 8 footers and back to reality haha.