While I admire your inventiveness, there have been MANY times I have tried to move a large rock with the FEL on my Deere and if I didn't have MFWD there was no way I could move it. Now, about your counterweight...you don't state how often you actually have it on your tractor or for what purpose you use it for. On my tractor the MFWD option adds 300 lbs. of weight and I cannot remove it. HOWEVER, it is ALWAYS available, I don't have to (bleep) around installing or removing it, and best of all I still have the option of installing an implement (blade, plow, disc, etc.) on the rear 3 point. And as far as fuel economy goes, I would rather haul around 300 extra lbs. all the time than 1,000 pounds some of the time, especially when I don't have to waste time installing and removing a rear counterweight.
I have about 15 acres of woods with a equal amount of hay lot. I own a 4 wheel Farmtrac Compact and a Ford 5000 The Smaller Farmtrac is much more useful in the woods, especially with the 4 wheel drive. Someone mentioned that you don't need 4 wheel, they do not use the tractor in slippery conditions with a loader. My Ford never goes in the woods unless it is dry, I use the Farmtrac for almost everything that does not require the HP
All I can say is that my tractor would be very close to worthless with only 2wd. I rarely take mine out of 4wd.
Interesting, I rarely use 4wd on my DK45, are your tires loaded? Of the 3 tractors I've owned, I've found I need 4wd less and less as the tractor gets bigger and heavier. Still, when you need it, you need it.
Interesting, I rarely use 4wd on my DK45, are your tires loaded? Of the 3 tractors I've owned, I've found I need 4wd less and less as the tractor gets bigger and heavier. Still, when you need it, you need it.