2WD HP vs MFWD HP

[art]

The two wheel drive tractor is about 20% off of a four wheel drive for load on the average. That is figuring on normal conditions not working in wet conditions or hills.

Two wheel drive tractors are ballasted different normally at a 75-25 ratio vs a 35-40 front 60-65% rear. That is what we look at when setting up tractors for optimum overall performance.

The optimum performance is setting the tractor up for what it will be doing the most of the time. Many people over weight their tractors for a few isolated jobs and then go out and buy a bigger one because they feel cheated on the horsepower for some of their chores.

On solid going with proper ballast there is really little difference in the two wheel drives pulling power vs the four wheel drive. Get them onto a field of loose dirt or on snow and wet ground and you could get to a 50% difference or a situation where "if only I had four wheel drive"!

 

[wolc123]

The case of the front loader is an obvious slam-dunk in favor of the 4wd, on that I am sure we all agree. Another task where the 4wd enjoys just as big an advantage, is pulling a disc. Here, the ground is always loose and pushing that "dead" front axle thru that loose ground wastes a tremendous amount of energy. Where this really shows up is fuel usage, and a 2wd tractor will use about 1/3 more fuel for this job. With 2wd, ballast is critical, and different for every implement. With 4wd, it dont mean much. I love to leave the loader on my 2wd when discing so I can push or pull my self out of the mud if I loose traction. I would not dream of discing with a loader on a 2wd.

 

[eatenabean]

I bought my tractor based on HP and what I wanted to do with it. I like FWD just to have, you never know. Just like my Truck I can count on my hand how many time I have put it in FWD. But the times I have used it, I was glad I had it.

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[bdog]

Good replies and good points. I still think many of you are just comparing 2wd vs 4wd on the same tractor though. Let me throw out there a specific scenario. All the tasks I need to do I can do with a 45 hp 4wd. I want a tractor with a cab. During my shopping I found a 45 hp 4wd with cab and loader and then a 95 hp 2wd with cab an loader that is the same manufacturer, same year, and within 100 hrs of the 45 hp. The 95 hp is $6000 cheaper. I don't need 95 hp, but I got to thinking that this tractor should be able to outperform the 45hp 4wd shouldn't it? My land is flat as a pancake and no trees or tight spots to manuever in so size is not a problem.

 

[RoyJackson]

Good replies and good points. I still think many of you are just comparing 2wd vs 4wd on the same tractor though. Let me throw out there a specific scenario. All the tasks I need to do I can do with a 45 hp 4wd. I want a tractor with a cab. During my shopping I found a 45 hp 4wd with cab and loader and then a 95 hp 2wd with cab an loader that is the same manufacturer, same year, and within 100 hrs of the 45 hp. The 95 hp is $6000 cheaper. I don't need 95 hp, but I got to thinking that this tractor should be able to outperform the 45hp 4wd shouldn't it? My land is flat as a pancake and no trees or tight spots to manuever in so size is not a problem.

A lot of how well it performs will be up to the operator. You'll have to ensure the tractor is ballasted adequately for loader operations. And you'll have to use a modicum of common sense.

 

[Duffster]

Good replies and good points. I still think many of you are just comparing 2wd vs 4wd on the same tractor though. Let me throw out there a specific scenario. All the tasks I need to do I can do with a 45 hp 4wd. I want a tractor with a cab. During my shopping I found a 45 hp 4wd with cab and loader and then a 95 hp 2wd with cab an loader that is the same manufacturer, same year, and within 100 hrs of the 45 hp. The 95 hp is $6000 cheaper. I don't need 95 hp, but I got to thinking that this tractor should be able to outperform the 45hp 4wd shouldn't it? My land is flat as a pancake and no trees or tight spots to manuever in so size is not a problem.

Yes

 

[roger 4400]

Hi. Don,t forget that a 95 hp will be hard on fuel compare to a 45 HP....and also think that braking with a 4 wd when you have a full load bucket is a lot more efficent because you brake on 4 wheels..:thumbsup:.. Yes tractors only have brake on the rear wheels but when you have less traction on your rear wheels (on 2 wd) because of your bucket load, that also mean less braking...but with a 4 wd braking is on front wheel also ( via the driving shaft).. good luck on your decision. Roger

 

[wolc123]

Also consider that demand for a 95hp, 2wd tractor is many times less than for a 45 hp, 4wd tractor. That has a major effect on resale value as you see now in the current price difference and that will only increase in the future as fuel gets more expensive and big 2wd's become even more unattractrive.

 

[Duffster]

Also consider that demand for a 95hp, 2wd tractor is many times less than for a 45 hp, 4wd tractor. That has a major effect on resale value as you see now in the current price difference and that will only increase in the future as fuel gets more expensive and big 2wd's become even more unattractrive.

Not around here.

 

[om21braz]

Last year I saw a local farmer pull into a wetter than optimum field to disc it. He was on a Kubota M6800 MFWD. He barely got started and the rear end started down. He raised the disc unit, then machine came to standstill and started spinning. He proceeded to engage 4WD, it was moving again and he lowered the discs, continued working. Without 4WD, he was stuck - no matter the HP. A heavier machine may have been stuck worse or kept moving, hard to say. Good Luck in your decision making !