Should I even think about 2 wheel drive

[rasmutl61]

I agree with much of is said above! I own both 2wd and 4wd tractors. I also have been involved in appraising equipment for more than 15 years. Resale value of a 2wd tractor will be much lower than a 4wd as a percentage. 4wd and a loader are the two most important options in compact/utility tractor values. I would never buy a new compact/utility tractor without them.

 

[Dirt Dog 22]

Thinking about a slightly larger tractor than my BX2230, mainly to pull logs, power a chipper and maybe bushhogging. Limited budget of course. Looking at some 40-50 hp tractors like a Massey 150, but the two things that concern me are- one-our terrain is fairly steep, as in for a lot of it I back the BX up the hill and mow down, just not comfortable turning around on top, and the top is not that steep.I think the larger tractor may be more stable but I'm not sure. And two, will the 2wd have enough traction. I do plan on a winch in the future, so traction may not be an issue. Most of the trees I am harvesting are 22"+, so a 16' log is around a ton. Not going to hook that to the BX going down hill, even with chains and filled tires. SO, am I crazy even looking at 2wd, or try to talk my wife into spending 2-3x for a 4x4(going to be a hard sale. I have been around tractors a lot, but would value other ideas.

Unless you're a dyed-in-the-wool *********, get the 4WD. Otherwise get used to pulling the thing out of mud, holes, uneven ground, ice, snow, stumps, etc. Personally I'd rather whack myself in the head with a 2x4, but that's me...

 

[Jonsdeere]

I live in the heartland of Florida....lots of sand! My JD3320 & I rely on 4WD when bushhogging, even more when carrying a bucket load
of stuff; it's nice to have 4WD in the sand. If a front wheel starts spinning, the tractor wants to lean towards it quickly.

 

[Yanmar J]

Thinking about a slightly larger tractor than my BX2230, mainly to pull logs, power a chipper and maybe bushhogging. Limited budget of course. Looking at some 40-50 hp tractors like a Massey 150, but the two things that concern me are- one-our terrain is fairly steep, as in for a lot of it I back the BX up the hill and mow down, just not comfortable turning around on top, and the top is not that steep.I think the larger tractor may be more stable but I'm not sure. And two, will the 2wd have enough traction. I do plan on a winch in the future, so traction may not be an issue. Most of the trees I am harvesting are 22"+, so a 16' log is around a ton. Not going to hook that to the BX going down hill, even with chains and filled tires. SO, am I crazy even looking at 2wd, or try to talk my wife into spending 2-3x for a 4x4(going to be a hard sale. I have been around tractors a lot, but would value other ideas.

Don't know much about tractors but I have a 2500 Yanmar with FEL. Only 2 acers of flat half wooded lot but got stuck on my own propriety 4 or 5 times. Next tractor HAS to be 4wd.

 

[Zetorboy]

Yes your are crasy! Even if your are not in a snowing or frozen area. Log are difficult to work with. I am a lumberjack myself! Be smart , cmyyoung2. And your machine will keep its worth, when you will sell.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

Thinking about a slightly larger tractor than my BX2230, mainly to pull logs, power a chipper and maybe bushhogging. Limited budget of course. Looking at some 40-50 hp tractors like a Massey 150, but the two things that concern me are- one-our terrain is fairly steep, as in for a lot of it I back the BX up the hill and mow down, just not comfortable turning around on top, and the top is not that steep.I think the larger tractor may be more stable but I'm not sure. And two, will the 2wd have enough traction. I do plan on a winch in the future, so traction may not be an issue. Most of the trees I am harvesting are 22"+, so a 16' log is around a ton. Not going to hook that to the BX going down hill, even with chains and filled tires. SO, am I crazy even looking at 2wd, or try to talk my wife into spending 2-3x for a 4x4(going to be a hard sale. I have been around tractors a lot, but would value other ideas.

I keep a 1960 Massey Ferguson 35 (Perkins Diesel) purely to run my PTO winch. With 37 hp and an 8000 lb winch, it has useful power in the woodlot, good stability, and I don't worry about damaging it. It runs less than 20 hours per year, sits outside, and starts on cue whenever I need it. It is great after wind storms to allow the immediate and safe cutting of fallen trees by repositioning things for safer cutting. Thinning stands of pine or demolishing buildings, I just position the tractor with an operator on the winch, and drag the cable to whatever I need to move. I have a set of tire chains for the tractor but I don't recall using them on it in the last few years. The tractor also has a loader with down pressure, forked bucket, but no power steering, so I use another, more modern 35 hp for loader work involving more precision lifts. It is a 1995 2WD TAFE 351DL with a 5' bucket with float, removable dealer-built cab for winter use and shun shade for summer. For the last 19 years I have used it for snow removal with the winter cab, loader, chains, and 5' snowblower with electric flue rotation device.

What might be an important factor in your decision on a 2WD tractor: a reliable 35 hp tractor with loader and power steering can likely be bought in good condition for under $10,000 CDN. Pretty well any machine in this class can lift a significant butt log onto a trailer or saw mill, and skid one or more logs out of a congested area of a woodlot due to the 5' 6" width of the wheels.

 

[FERLING]

Thinking about a slightly larger tractor than my BX2230, mainly to pull logs, power a chipper and maybe bushhogging. Limited budget of course. Looking at some 40-50 hp tractors like a Massey 150, but the two things that concern me are- one-our terrain is fairly steep, as in for a lot of it I back the BX up the hill and mow down, just not comfortable turning around on top, and the top is not that steep.I think the larger tractor may be more stable but I'm not sure. And two, will the 2wd have enough traction. I do plan on a winch in the future, so traction may not be an issue. Most of the trees I am harvesting are 22"+, so a 16' log is around a ton. Not going to hook that to the BX going down hill, even with chains and filled tires. SO, am I crazy even looking at 2wd, or try to talk my wife into spending 2-3x for a 4x4(going to be a hard sale. I have been around tractors a lot, but would value other ideas.

I have a New Holland WorkMaster 50 (53hp) four wheel drive. What few times I use it in two wheel drive reminds me how limited two wheel drive is. With a loader on front you realize two wheel drive is used only when traveling from one workplace to another. 4x4 on a tractor is money well spent.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

One small thing to remember: A 4-wheel-drive will get you stuck in places you'd never go with 2 WD!
My ground is pretty level, so if I were going to go bigger, a 2 WD would be fine. In general though, as someone else has said already, you never someone saying "I wish I'b bought a 2 WD."

 

[rScotty]

For compact tractors 4wd is pretty much a necessity.

For real specialized work - like pulling big logs out of the woods - where you need for a 75 hp and up tractor to weigh at least 8000 to 10,000 lb. That is where you might want to consider 2wd for a couple of reasons.

One is that tractors that size are real expensive new but remarkably affordable used. Great big old 2wd ag tractors last forever, but nobody wants one. So your money can buy a whole lot of tractor for heavy work. They have weight and power and a diff lock ... and the option for duals on the rear.

To give you an idea of the difference, in the world of old pre emission JD310 backhoes you will pay $35K and up for a clean 4wd regardless of hours - and you have to be quick to buy it. The same tractor in 2wd is lucky to bring half that. It's more common to see them go for even less.
rScotty

 

[MHarryE]

Having gone to many farm equipment auctions over the past 12 years, I found that 2wd's come cheap, at least in the flatlands of Minnesota. Your hilly country may be different. My nephew has a dairy and beef operation, 16 tractors at last count, 4 with 4wd, 12 have 2wd. His reason is can get HP for much lower cost and most of the time doesn't need 4wd. Would only get a MF150 if it had the ROPS option.