When to use four wheel drive?

[Oldoak]

I don't even know if mine will come OUT of 4 wheel drive. Nor do I care. I operate in 4X4 all the time. Its why I traded for 4 wheel drive.

That wouldn't be me. Operating in 4 wheel drive when it's not necessary is a waste of fuel and extra wear and tear on the front tires and drive train. :confused3:

 

[4570Man]

That wouldn't be me. Operating in 4 wheel drive when it's not necessary is a waste of fuel and extra wear and tear on the front tires and drive train. :confused3:

Agreed. My tractor sees a fair bit of hard surface or on the grass use. There’s a rare occasion when I forgot but I pretty much only use 4wd when needed.

 

[FTG-05]

One thing to remember is tractors don't have front brakes. 4wd is the only way to offset that. When going down a hill with weight in your loader you could find out too late that the rear tires don't have enough weight on them to keep them from skidding.

THIS! If you're going down a hill, 4x4 better be on.

If not, get ready for the "Two Inch Ride"!

A Two Inch Ride is where your butt sucks up two inches of seat cushion until you a) get the tractor under control or b) you get to the bottom of the hill, hopefully with the shiny side still up and you still in the seat - safe.

I hate them. I usually do it once a year. Usually.

 

[Jstpssng]

THIS! If you're going down a hill, 4x4 better be on.

If not, get ready for the "Two Inch Ride"!

A Two Inch Ride is where your butt sucks up two inches of seat cushion until you a) get the tractor under control or b) you get to the bottom of the hill, hopefully with the shiny side still up and you still in the seat - safe.

I hate them. I usually do it once a year. Usually.

I've only done that once, last winter when the hill on my road was a sheet of ice. I had the brilliant idea that I would roughen it up with the tire chains... I knew I had erred as soon as I dropped over the crest and the tractor started speeding up more than anticipated. I looked at the tires and none of them were turning. uh,oh I wasn't long dropping the bucket and the 3pth winch, otherwise it would have been a bad ride. It took about an hour and a half to get to the top of the hill again, for a while I thought I was going to have to winch myself up.
At least I roughened the road up though.

 

[goeduck]

I wonder what would happen if you lowered the FEL in that situation. Not that I going to try it and report back. Might be better that than the consequences depending on the hill.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had the both the loader and winch dragging on the ground, to get the darned thing back under control and also to keep the center of gravity down if I started going sideways.

 

[daugen]

I also feel that it is better to cycle the tcase and front diff actuators regularly rather then let them sit in one position.

I've always been told this is a good idea. I put my truck in low range at least once a year, slowly on grass, and just let the gears turn a little. Otherwise I never use low range. Living where I do, hard enough to get 4wd seat time in truck as it is. Now the tractor, mowing ditches has taught me the wisdom of 4wd.

 

[dragoneggs]

My guess is that those of you that only engage 4WD when you think you need it, generally flatlanders. As I have mentioned before, I am off pavement most all of the time and on slopes and/or bumpy or unstable ground. 4WD is the default and is a safety thing for me.

 

[Jim Shooz]

I have a steepish hill running across my place and having twice been in 2 wheel drive and driving down that hill had the traction break and the tractor slide down the hill one wheel rotating forward the other backwards, no steering control, and heading straight for some large chestnut trees. I now have the tractor permanently locked in 4WD. There is only 20/30 yards of seal/ concrete at the entrance to the garage. There has been no visible additional tyre wear and I'll gladly pay cash for that rather than pay with my life splattered against a chestnut tree.

 

[shooterdon]

Different conditions warrant different drive selection. Stupid to be in 4WD driving on pavement and stupid to not use it with the FEL and/or hills is what seems to be the consensus.