105hp 2wd or 85hp 4wd for Tillage?

[Redlands Okie]

Which will pull better for tillage purposes, such as pulling a chisel plow, offset disk, ripper plow, etc.?

2wd 105hp with loader with total weight of 8,000 pounds;

or

4wd 85hp with loader with a total weight of 7,000 pounds.

Good info being presented and its nice to know, but.......
Some of you guys are getting quite some distance from the OP’s original question for help. No mention of duals in the question.

 

[Hermio]

Let me add an engineering point of view. The tractive force will mostly depend on the weight on the driven wheels. A 4WD tractor of 7000lb has more weight on the driven wheels than a 8000 lb 2WD, so it will actually pull more tillage equipment. However, the RATE of tilling (i.e., the speed) will also depend on power. So, the more powerful tractor could pull faster. That is, as long as you can pull the tillage at all, the 2WD tractor can run in a higher gear and get more work done per hour. Ditto the comments about weight. I have a Mahindra 5035 HST, and it weighs over 9000# with no rear attachment, but it is only 49 bare engine Hp. It could pull more tillage than an 8000# 105 Hp tractor, but not as fast. I run an 8' Bushhog with it, an 8' snow blade, a 75" 4-way bucket and a 1/2 cord wood box. (Not all at once!). I carefully use it as a logging tractor, regularly pulling 4000# logs out. I emphasize carefully. Logging is dangerous even with a real log skidder. It is even more dangerous to both operator and tractor with a utility tractor.

 

[hugho]

While I agree with Sawyers claim in perfect conditions that the larger tractor will win a bucket full of dirt in the loader of the 4x4 and even on good ground the 4x4 will walk off and leave the 2x4 just because of wheel slippage. You also have to look at fuel consumption an 85 hp will burn 5 gallons a day less fuel. That adds up over time.

I also agree I sold my last 2wd tractor years ago and swore NEVER to not have 4wd. As to fuel consumption less with 85 hp......true maybe with a gasser but not diesel if weights of the 2 rigs were the same. Diesel injection by its design uses fuel based upon need. Both tractors would use the same amount of fuel if the work loads were equal.

 

[art]

For farm tractors today doing tillage work we hardly ever use fluid in the rear tires and never in the front. We do load some because of customer demand but otherwise we use cast ballast and up to about 3/4's of the weight of the fluid and get better results for traction as well as better overall tractor performance naturally from less fuel being burned. By doing this we have taken tire life on tillage tractors from roughly 2,000 hours to over 4,000 hours. Fluid is a great weight in a tire but decreases the tires ability to match varying conditions of the ground while in motion.. With loaders depending on the customers and the tractors not being used in tillage we do use the liquid as the cheapest ballast for the loader tractors.

 

[Hermio]

Interesting perspective. It is true that adding fluid decreases the air volume, making the tire less "springy". Also, the friction of fluid rotating against the tire would increase fuel consumption, though I don't know by how much. On the other hand, fluid in the tires lowers the center of gravity, making the tractor a bit more stable on uneven ground, a plus for me when working in my hilly woods. Tire life is not an issue for me. I change them about every 10 years due to age; I don't tend to wear them out, as I typically put only 100-200 hours per year on my tractor.

 

[CobyRupert]

Interesting perspective...
I change them about every 10 years due to age; I don't tend to wear them out, as I typically put only 100-200 hours per year on my tractor.

How do you know when to change if not by wear? Do you get cracking? Does your tractor sit outdoors or exposed to sun?

 

[Hermio]

Yes, it is always outside. I have a fabric cover I use when not in use, but pretty much any tire is no good after 10 years. They do get some sidewall cracking. But I still have about 75% of the tread left after 10 years.

 

[sixdogs]

Yes, it is always outside. I have a fabric cover I use when not in use, but pretty much any tire is no good after 10 years. They do get some sidewall cracking. But I still have about 75% of the tread left after 10 years.

Put liquid "Tire Dressing" on both side of the tire every now and then and they will last much longer. It's a water like consistency and Kubota used to sell it in quart cans. It forms a penetrating skin on the tire and must stop UV or whatever. All I know is it works. Don't waste $$ on anything but the real McCoy.

 

[Tx Jim]

equipment.


Ditto the comments about weight. I have a Mahindra 5035 HST, and it weighs over 9000# with no rear attachment, but it is only 49 bare engine Hp. It could pull more tillage than an 8000# 105 Hp tractor, but not as fast.

It seems odd to me that Tractordata lists your tractor weight as 4939 to 5389 pounds & Mahindra lists a model 6065 weight as 6746#s but your tractor that's smaller according to you weighs over 9000#s

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Yes, it is always outside. I have a fabric cover I use when not in use, but pretty much any tire is no good after 10 years. They do get some sidewall cracking. But I still have about 75% of the tread left after 10 years.

Somebody must have forgot to tell a lot of tires that I currently have on tractors and equipment, stock trailers etc that they are no good after 10 years because I have a bunch that are older than that and I am still getting good service out of them.