Noob question 4 wheel drive

[ptsg]

On sandy soil, it's not going to make that much difference. Plus, it's not like the OP is running the tractor 8 to 10 hours a day, all week long.

On hard surfaces, yes, you'll destroy the front tires in no time with the 4WD engaged. Not on loose dirt or even packed dirt.

It the OP's case, and as someone said before, just leave it in 4WD and forget about it.

 

[Hay Dude]

On sandy soil, it's not going to make that much difference. Plus, it's not like the OP is running the tractor 8 to 10 hours a day, all week long.

On hard surfaces, yes, you'll destroy the front tires in no time with the 4WD engaged. Not on loose dirt or even packed dirt.

It the OP's case, and as someone said before, just leave it in 4WD and forget about it.

Keep that locked in for a real long time, and that lever might be stuck in 4wd forever.
Tires DO wear faster in 4wd, even off pavement on loose or packed dirt. As one drives in 4wd with the front tires spinning faster, the front tires spin across rocks acting like an abrasive, causing faster wear. If the tires were free wheeling, this would not happen as much.

 

[ptsg]

Keep that locked in for a real long time, and that lever might be stuck in 4wd forever.
Tires DO wear faster in 4wd, even off pavement on loose or packed dirt. As one drives in 4wd with the front tires spinning faster, the front tires spin across rocks, big and small, act like an abrasive, causing faster wear. If the tires were free wheeling, this would not happen as much.

Still, not something I would even bother in this case.

I would rather keep it in 4WD to prevent the front tires from digging and plowing when turning with a load on the loader.

 

[5030]

No joke, you have told that story 10 times in the past year.
WE KNOW!!!! Lol

Running all the time in 4wd also causes front tires to wear more rapidly, since they spin at a slightly different speed. Tires ARE expensive and front tires wear out faster than rears on 4wd tractors.
Why accelerate the wear by running in 4wd all the time when it’s not needed?

Just following your lead boss....

 

[k0ua]

I run in 4 wheel all the time, unless I am on the asphalt or concrete portions of my drive. The gravel portion requires 4 wheel. Else you won't pull the hills, depending on how wet the gravel is and if you are attempting to use any kind of ground engaging implement. You could use the blade going down hill in 2wd, but you will never make it back uphill. Most of my yard and woods areas are so steep you need 4wd to do anything including saving itself from a run away from being in 2wd. So experience has taught me to keep the rig in 4wd almost all of the time. I don't think there is any hard and fast rule, because every tractor and every users ground is different. As for me I know it must be in 4 wheel or the tractor will be at the bottom of one my steep hills, and there it would stay. A 2 wheel drive tractor here would be totally useless.

 

[Jstpssng]

Another point; unlike an auto your tractor has square* gears. Once you start sliding down a hill you're committed, there's no shifting it into 4WD when you need it.

*Terminology, meaning they aren't syncroed.

 

[Hay Dude]

Would never advocate driving up/down a hill or in mushy or loose ground in 2wd, then switching 4wd.
Id want to be in 4wd before all those situations, but Im not locking a tractor in 4wd and ripping the knob off, either.
There's a sensible middle ground, where you look at the task and the ground conditions and pick 2 or 4 wheel drive.
Its not an all or nothing scenario.
Thats why they make the 2wd/4wd lever, so you can use it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Would never advocate driving up/down a hill or in mushy or loose ground in 2wd, then switching 4wd.
Id want to be in 4wd in all those situations, but Im not locking a tractor in 4wd and ripping the knob off, either.
There's a sensible middle ground, where you look at the task and the ground conditions and pick 2 or 4 wheel drive.
Its not an all or nothing scenario.
Thats why they make the 2wd/4wd lever, so you can use it.

Exactly. In 28 years ive never been stuck wishing I was in 4x4. I know enough beforehand to be set where I need to be. Also, no hills here so I’m lucky.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I would say I use 4x4 about 50% of the time. Definitely when doing loader work or pulling a heavy box blade.

 

[5030]

Well this thread shows everyone figures out what works best for their own situation. Whatever else you do, if you're going up/down slopes, engage the 4wd since these tractors only have brakes on the rear axle. That gives braking to all 4 wheels!

Well, 2 wheels unless you have the diff locks engaged. Tractors have open differentials with manual lockup, just like a 4x4 truck or AWD car. Only 2 wheels get power.