2 Wheel Drive LS

[Old Wheat Farmer]

I was wondering about the 2wd LS tractors, on the website it shows some models come in 2wd, but when I contacted my dealer, he said they can't get 2wd?

Anyone else have this issue, or is it just my dealer?
Thanks

 

[George2615]

Most local dealers around me only order 4WD units. I haven't seen a 2WD LS on any lots but dealers in my area are not on my normal travel route. My area is snow country where 4WD is usually needed.
If you only need a tractor for mowing, shredding, gardening, spraying, and on occasion perform front end loader applications, you may not need 4-wheel drive. There are people in my area here that do use 2WD tractors plowing snow but the majority of buyers want the 4WD. I'm sure 2WD's are available to your dealer but it may be your dealer sells 10-20 4WD tractors for every 2WD they sell so he just doesn't order them and want them sitting on the lot for a long time. If you really want a 2WD check with another dealer to see if they could order one for you.

 

[Old Wheat Farmer]

Most local dealers around me only order 4WD units. I haven't seen a 2WD LS on any lots but dealers in my area are not on my normal travel route. My area is snow country where 4WD is usually needed.
If you only need a tractor for mowing, shredding, gardening, spraying, and on occasion perform front end loader applications, you may not need 4-wheel drive. There are people in my area here that do use 2WD tractors plowing snow but the majority of buyers want the 4WD. I'm sure 2WD's are available to your dealer but it may be your dealer sells 10-20 4WD tractors for every 2WD they sell so he just doesn't order them and want them sitting on the lot for a long time. If you really want a 2WD check with another dealer to see if they could order one for you.

Thanks, I'll do some more checking around.

 

[Old Wheat Farmer]

I have never had a 4wd before, I know one would be handy, but I'm going to be using my LS for field work and I'm thinking that a 2wd tractor will be a lot cheaper (not sure how much cheaper) and I will be able to take the money I save and get a higher HP tractor.

You don't need 4 wheel drive to run a loader, I have had lots of 2wd tractors that would dig incredible with the loader, I even had a front wheel drive tractor/loader ("Reversed" Allis Chalmers WD) and I could dig a hole 6 ft deep with no problems. The secret to a 2wd loader is weight on the rear end, my 2wd Kubota L2000 (20hp) was worthless until I fluid filled the rear tires and added on 2 sets of wheel weights. It does really good when I throw the weighted box blade onto the 3-pt

 

[antlers125]

From personal experience, 4wd makes a significant difference even w/ FEL on. I'm no expert but, you may save more by buying a smaller tractor w/ 4wd that has the same capabilities as a larger 2wd tractor.

 

[jeff9366]

I have never had a 4wd before, I know one would be handy, but I'm going to be using my LS for field work and I'm thinking that a 2wd tractor will be a lot cheaper (not sure how much cheaper) and I will be able to take the money I save and get a higher HP tractor.

Everything indicates you keep equipment a long time. You will use more fuel and lubricants, and spew more pollutants with that higher HP tractor. While I bow to your experience, in your area; ag science studies consistently demonstrate the negative effect of soil compaction. 'Zero' is the unobtainable goal.

To me, tractor 2-WD and organic/sustainable farming are incompatible.

I am aware a few 2-WD tractors still sold are in the Plains region. However, fewer every year. The potential buyers are dying off.

Dealers hate to be jacked around on quotes.

I suspect your credibility in Moundridge, KS, has diminished.

THINK GLOBALLY; ACT LOCALLY.​

 

[oldpilgrim]

Get a 4wd.

I've had both and my new Mahindra 4wd, although it has less hp and less weight than my old tractor, will out pull the old one by a large factor, and go places I would never dare before.

And if you don't need the 4wd, press a lever and you have 2wd !

 

[japody]

They show some 2wd's on their site:

Compact Tractors « LS Tractor USA

 

[Old Wheat Farmer]

Thanks for everyone's info on the 4wd, I always thought the 4wd would pull better but not enough to get a smaller 4wd tractor over a larger 2wd.
Although I am always afraid of 4wd tractors, I just figure it's more to go wrong lol.
Thanks again for the impute, this changes a lot, hopefully I can get my new LS this spring/summer

 

[jeff9366]

I was wondering about the 2wd LS tractors, on the website it shows some models come in 2wd, but when I contacted my dealer, he said they can't get 2wd?

The demand for cab, 2-WD, LS tractors may be so minimal that assembly line production is unfeasible. No 2-WD tractors are farming rice paddies in Korea, I promise you.

Asia invented "just-in-time" parts delivery and assembly. Parts are not maintained in factory inventory, parts arrive from LS sub-contractors just hours before the assembly line begins to move.

Perhaps minimum orders necessary to set up a production run is 200 tractors of one model. So filling an order for 1-5 cabbed, 2-WD LS tractors would require craft building at impossibly high cost and possibly inferior reliability. ( Nor would the worker's labor union at LS be happy.)

I encountered this situation with a special order Chevrolet Express van from General Motors. I wanted windows on just one side, a blank wall on the other, so I could install two-high racks for racing bicycles. The order was put together off GM's web site but it took nine months to receive the van and way too much heartache for the dealer. Good news: The van was dependable.

I assume GM would not build my van until they had sufficient identical orders for a production run but rather than tell me, GM just made ETA promises to the dealer, which GM missed one after another.

I now drive a Ford.

I was wondering about 2wd LS tractors. On the LS website it shows some models come in 2wd, but when I contacted my dealer, he said they can't get 2wd.

Anyone else have this issue, or is it just my dealer?

Way too much heartache for the dealer.