Just how good is 4 wheel drive

[flewism]

It make some difference on my 30hp with loader R4's, but not as much as in the truck. I've stuck it a few times in 4WD in the snow. Never got it stuck in mud though.

It weighs 3600# chains help in the winter when I'm on gravel, but I don't like them on the cement.

 

[nyone]

If needed pulling one vehicle with another i like useing straps not chains. Straps are more gentile on things and the strech they have helps in the pull.

 

[CobyRupert]

4WD'S are able to go much farther off road and get stuck than a 2WD ever could!

 

[GeneV]

4WD and a locking differential make almost anything possible.

Truth. Wheels spinning switch to 4wd, wheels still spinning hit the locking diff, wheels still spinning clam out with the bucket, wheels still spinning what the **** did you get yourself into! At that point, sure hope you got a backhoe hanging off your tail, else you're calling a friend for help.

 

[fruitcakesa]

You can do as well if not better with a chain running from a center bucket hook to a tree, then curling the bucket. That isn't much help if you can't go forward but I try not to get into that type of situation. Of course there's always that one time... as shown in this pic which I posted last winter. That day I was shoveling... despite having the bucket on front and winch on back I was stuck between the snow bank and my shed. :shocked:

I was plowing out to one of my skid roads last winter and got the M mired in about 2 feet of heavy wet snow. Chains on all 4, diff lock engaged, I kept trying to drive forward and push enough snow so that when I backed up I could get a run...not. Finally was able to curl the bucket, lower it and uncurl while simultaneously standing on the diff lock while accelerating in reverse. Took probably a dozen such actions to finally clear the deep snow. Never did get that road opened.

 

[Jstpssng]

^
I’m way too experienced with that scenario. Notice in my pic that the front tires are off the ground? The problem that time was that I was up against the deck on my old camp so couldn’t go forward, and the rear was against the snowbank I had just piled up before trying to turn around.

 

[atsah]

I've never had the luxury of owning a 4x4 tractor, but I assume it must be the cat's meow. My truck is a totally different beast when the 4x4 is engaged. It's gotta make a huge difference on a tractor too, I'd imagine.

With 2 wheel drive and a loader, it's nearly impossible for me to reverse up hill. I'm always getting stuck in little gofer holes and ditches. Muddy slopes? Not a chance. I even slide down hills in gear when mowing a steep section of my property.

How much does 4x4 change your life?? Let's hear some stories from the other side.

4x4 makes a difference no doubt about it.. Some of the tractors I have owned with R4 tires in 4x4 didn't do much better than a 2WD tractor with different tires.. I don't care for R4 tires but I understand why people buy them.. I opted for R1 this time around and it's a night and day difference for me but I don't mow with my tractor..

 

[Jstpssng]

I was just pushing stumps back in 2WD and when I tried to back up just sat there spinning, even with the rears locked. After shifting into 4wd I was able to back right out. Granted I had no weight on as I had taken the grader blade off and was on my way to hook up my winch.

 

[sandman2234]

Pulling a boxblade you can max out the capacity of when you start spinning, grab 4wd and increase the capacity just that quick!
David from jax

 

[thoner7]

Descending a hill in 2 WD with a loaded bucket can get very dicey if the rear wheels break traction...it can happen even with loaded rears and ballast...once it's free wheeling there are no brakes...

Only way to go here on our property with lots of slopes and uneven spots. BIG SAFETY hazard to go downhill not in 4wd. Stays in except for runs up and down the paved driveway.

Ralph

Yes this happens to me on my steepest hill. My wheels loose traction and I slide down basically every time. No load in bucket just mowing.

I want to make sure it's safer in 4x4?? I was thinking that maybe, it's like driving in snow, where if you slam on your brakes, your front tires grab better than the rears and your rear end wants to swing around sideways.

Does that not happen?