Does 4WD Make That Much Difference

[SPYDERLK]

For the hobby guys on here that have one tractor, 4WD can make the most sense. They seldom have farmable land, and have lots of slopes, ponds, etc. For the farmers on here that make their living with their tractors and harvest crops mostly on flat ground, 2WD combined with some 4WD where needed makes a lot of sense. No sense a farmer listening to a <10acre hobby guy, who sits inside when the weather is bad, on what tractor works the best. No sense a farmer with 100s or 1000s of acres and a crop and paycheck to bring in, listening to a hobby guy on what tractor works the best. No sense a hobby guy listening to a farmer on what makes sense, The hobby guy does not need a tractor that works primarily on flat ground. To each his own and neither is wrong.

The farmer who tills ground knows that the 4wd is more efficient at it, whether flat or not. The farmer knows that the 4wd is always superior by traction on any surface, and economy of fuel usage on tillage.

2wd is a make do that allows lower $ up front, but works at a handicap thruout its life in every area except turning radius.

,,, Whatever sense is made has to factor in those things.

 

[aczlan]

For the hobby guys on here that have one tractor, 4WD can make the most sense. They seldom have farmable land, and have lots of slopes, ponds, etc. For the farmers on here that make their living with their tractors and harvest crops mostly on flat ground, 2WD combined with some 4WD where needed makes a lot of sense. No sense a farmer listening to a <10acre hobby guy, who sits inside when the weather is bad, on what tractor works the best. No sense a farmer with 100s or 1000s of acres and a crop and paycheck to bring in, listening to a hobby guy on what tractor works the best. No sense a hobby guy listening to a farmer on what makes sense, The hobby guy does not need a tractor that works primarily on flat ground. To each his own and neither is wrong.

Ummm... Not so much in this area with all the hills and wet springs.
Around here the "old farmers" run 2WD tractors on 50-100 acres, but most farmers that are trying to make money and are on 200-3000 acres can't wait for good weather run 4wd tractors as their primary machines. Articulated 8 wheeled tractors are common, 4wd tractors with duals on the back are common, 4wd tractors with duals front and rear are not uncommon.
For farms that are run as a business, 2wd tractors aren't really used other than perhaps to run a hay rake, shuttle haywagons around or run an auger.
When chopping silage, it is common to see a semi truck and a self propelled silage chopper being dragged around the field by a pair of large tractors.

Aaron Z

 

[TomSeller]

Ummm... Not so much in this area with all the hills and wet springs.

Not sure what you meant by this. My post referred to farmers having 2WD or 4WD, whatever made sense. Totally understand the need for 4WD.

2wd is a make do that allows lower $ up front, but works at a handicap thruout its life in every area except turning radius.
.

There sure are a lot of "make do" 2WD tractors with over 10,000 hours.
.........
Bottom line is that the need for 2WD or 4WD depends on the use, not unlike cars.

 

[SPYDERLK]

2wd is a make do that allows lower $ up front, but works at a handicap thruout its life in every area except turning radius.

There sure are a lot of "make do" 2WD tractors with over 10,000 hours.
.........
Bottom line is that the need for 2WD or 4WD depends on the use, not unlike cars.

Yes.
.........
,,,Like "cars" to a small degree. ... But in that vehicle class 2wd works at an advantage for the high majority of use.

 

[4570Man]

My Grandpa bought a 2wd drive pickup for the primary reason that he is 93 years old and the lower sitting 2wd was easier to get into. He needs to drive on grass often usually while pulling a trailer which makes matters worse. Unless it is bone dry he has to just walk because the truck just spins on wet grass. He wishes he got a 4wd. I know the fuel mileage is slightly worse, but IMO unless they live in Florida every family should have at least one 4wd vehicle. My 4wd F-350 is certainly not a mudding machine, but it does a lot better than his truck.