Front End Loader on a 2WD Tractor?

[sweettractors]

My old 4010 2wd

Now, thats my kinda tractor. :thumbsup: Ken Sweet

 

[jlsmith]

Ive ran 2wd tractors with FEL for years and never had any prob. Even most of the backhoes you see are still 2wd.

 

[sweettractors]

Ive ran 2wd tractors with FEL for years and never had any prob. Even most of the backhoes you see are still 2wd.

I am old to remember that thru the forties, fifties, sixties,seventies and eighties, you never seen a 4 WD tractor and we made it just fine. I farm over 300 acres with cattle, hay,corn,tobacco, strawberries,gardens, foodplots,landscaping and never had a need for one. Ken Sweet

 

[Storm56]

Anyone that doubts the capabilities of a 2wd vs 4 wd with a loader only needs to try a 4wd, and dig in pile of dirt or stone with the tractor first in 2wd, then switch to 4wd. HUGE difference. Also as noted get a really full bucket and start down a wet grassy slope in 2wd, even with weight, then try it in 4wd. You will be a believer.

By the way I never missed 4wd in a tractor or pickup - UNTIL - I owned one. Every purchase since has been 4wd.

 

[wykubotaguy]

Growing up on a ranch as a kid we used a OLD John Deere G (johnny popper) with a DUAL loader and grapple for large round bales. The rear tires were loaded w calcium. Lot of work to move 1200# bales w/ no ps and a hand clutch instead of a foot clucth. Pick bale up and drive to trailer. If not in right spot, put bale down to lift up front end. Lift up bale, move tractor to right spot. Take tractor out of gear. Push in clutch to engage pto pump( yes I said push in, the clutch would pop in once pushed forward enough) let go of bale and start procedure over again. The fun times were when you would go down a slight incline and the tractor would move faster than the wheels would spin. Then you would white knuckle the steering wheel with one hand and the same to the seat rail ( oh what fun to clean out your shorts later).:laughing: The other fun would be when you were coming to a place where you needed to stop and you could not pop the clutch out. Then you would pull on the clutch handle as hard as you could and stand on the brakes and hope one would work.:shocked:

 

[TripleR]

My experience is like Storm56. I grew up farming with 2WD pickups and 2WD tractors. I bought my first 4WD pickup in 03 and will never own another 2WD. My father in law bought a new MF 375 2WD in 85 just before he retired. After two months of getting stuck and poor performance especially in the hills, he traded it in on a 4WD model that we still have.

Apparently some like them, but I won't buy one with FEL.

 

[tessiers]

Ballast, Ballast, Ballast. weight on the rear equal to weight on the front and 2 wheel drive will be all you will ever need. 4x4 never got me unstuck, only got me further before I got stuck, incedently when I get the 4x4 tractor stuck the 2 wheel drive always pulls the 4x4 out, at least it always has. That being said 4x4 with power steering is awful NICE (not nessesary) if you are doing a lot of loader work.

Just my 2 cents, good luck

 

[dex3361]

Tractors 4WD, Trucks 4WD, ATVs 4WD. We have so many hills in WV it would be very difficult to manage without it. My former tractor had field chains on that never came off and it did not have a FEL. I would not buy another without 4WD. If it were flat and dry I may consider it but I am spoiled by what 4WD allows you to do.

 

[sweettractors]

Anyone that doubts the capabilities of a 2wd vs 4 wd with a loader only needs to try a 4wd, and dig in pile of dirt or stone with the tractor first in 2wd, then switch to 4wd. HUGE difference. Also as noted get a really full bucket and start down a wet grassy slope in 2wd, even with weight, then try it in 4wd. You will be a believer.

By the way I never missed 4wd in a tractor or pickup - UNTIL - I owned one. Every purchase since has been 4wd.

I have sold new and used 4 WD tractors for many years. I know the advantages. Biggest disadvantage that no one ever mentions is: after you get 2000-3000 hrs on one and the maintenance issues start to be a common occurrence. Lots of people will be digging deep into their pocket book on a regular basis just to keep one in the field. If you just play with one on weekends, you will never have any problems. Ken Sweet

 

[gregsons]

Another vote for 2wd

I never got my truck stuck untill i bought 4wd. Im from the Buffalo NY area if that means anything.