Is Full Time Use of 4WD a Problem?

[rScotty]

What I'm learning from this thread is that most of us use 4wd most of the time and that mechanical problems are rare. In fact, I'm surprised at how few problems happen considering the hard use. For years I only used 4wd when necessary, but for the past decade I've been using it most all the time. The worry we used to have about wearing the front end doesn't seem to be borne out by the evidence. I wonder how much of that rumor was just rationalization by the owners of older traditional 2wd tractors?
Obviously it's not wise to use 4wd on the road.
rScotty

 

[mmorisoli]

I have an L3940, Polaris Ranger Crew 4x4, GMC 2500HD pickup 4x4, Jeep CJ5 4x4 and would never operate any of them in 4x4 mode until I was in a situation that required it, like serious rear tire slippage.

Look at the size of the front and rear differentials on your Kubota, they are not close to being the same size.

There are All Wheel Drive vehicles that are designed to be in AWD mode all the time, but they have a lot of technology to prevent the lockup problems that 4x4 have.

That is my $0.02 worth

 

[/pine]

...and would never operate any of them in 4x4 mode until I was in a situation that required it, like serious rear tire slippage...

If you're operating a tractor on a down hill grade and your rear tires "slip" it's TOO LATE...! i.e., being in 4wd prevents a lot "situations" you really don't want to experience...

 

[wmonroe]

If you're operating a tractor on a down hill grade and your rear tires "slip" it's TOO LATE...! i.e., being in 4wd prevents a lot "situations" you really don't want to experience...

That's why mine is always in 4wd (unless on the road), because my entire property is a situation that requires it.

 

[Bluegill2]

If you're operating a tractor on a down hill grade and your rear tires "slip" it's TOO LATE...! i.e., being in 4wd prevents a lot "situations" you really don't want to experience...

A little slip here and there is no big deal, if ya do it right it's called a controlled slide.

I'm in the Ozarks, so yes we have some steep hills an stuff here.

Guess I spent too many years with 2wd tractors?

 

[dragoneggs]

A little slip here and there is no big deal, if ya do it right it's called a controlled slide.

I'm in the Ozarks, so yes we have some steep hills an stuff here.

Guess I spent too many years with 2wd tractors?

My two scary experiences with my 4WD disengaged, involved the tractor hopping down the hill. No slip and controlled slide at all.

 

[TBarD]

I leave mine in 2wd except when I need 4wd. Not so much of a tractor wear issue, but you will tear up the ground (or driveway) when turning in 4wd. Just remember to put it in 4wd on steep slopes.

 

[Bluegill2]

My two scary experiences with my 4WD disengaged, involved the tractor hopping down the hill. No slip and controlled slide at all.

Yes 4wd is very handy at times!

 

[Bluegill2]

I've also noticed when I have enough weight on the 3 pt to counter the loader, the brakes work much better in 2WD goin down hill. But really I rarely use the brakes goin down hill, I use the gearing...

 

[mmorisoli]

I guess I forgot how uncommon common sense is. When I said "unless the situation required / requires it" I figured people would understand things like steep slippery downhill grades, steep slippery uphill grades, slippery side hills, big loader bites that cause too much wheel spin, soft loamy disking that caused too much wheel slip, on and on and on.

Maybe this conundrum is why so many things must now include huge long placards explaining the risks of what used to be common sense knowledge.

In that case 4x4 everywhere on everything, seat belts, arm straps on the stealing wheel, helmets and perhaps we should have to file work plans like we do with airplanes that say where we are starting from, where we are going and when we expect to be finished so somebody will know where to look for us if we are late to dinner.