35 hp 4wd or 50 hp 2wd

[Soundguy]

I still think in ideal conditions the hook point is the biggest variable assuming the weight of the machines and tires is similar. Can we all agree that in less than ideal conditions the 4wd wins big time?

One factor not considered is what the driver thinks he can get away with.

I own and have owned a veriety of sizes of 2wd tractros from small to large, and a few 4wd's in the medium range.

I've been stuck enough, to need assistance getting unstuck exactly one time so far. ( yes, I've been stuck more than once, but was able to reposition load, lift a bucket, drop an implement, slip a rock under a tire, etc, etc, all by my lonesome and get going.... Once... I've actually had to call a buddy and ask him to pull me out. ).

That 'stuck' time I was In a 4wd. Why did I get stuck? Because i thought that surely with 4wd, I could go where I would not normally go with 2wd.

If I'd have been on one of my 2wd jobs.. I am pretty sure I wouldn't have gotten stuck.. due to avoiding the area.

things like tire profile and size, weight, depth of the sticking material, all factor.

I've seen small 4wd's stuck, high centered in muck that a taller 2wd could, if nothing else, 'plow' thru... biggest difference was ground clearance...

So.. traction and stuck vs unstuck, and 2wd vs 4wd is a very, very complex question...

 

[Egon]

Anyone consider the two wheel drive 50 hp was designed/built to utilize it's power on the drawbar. The 35 hp. Was designed to utilize it's power in four wheel drive.

I'm having trouble trying to figure out what all the fuss is about. Each tractor pulls what it was designed for! There was a time almost all tractors were TWo wheel drive and rated at the drawbar.

 

[LD1]

Anyone consider the two wheel drive 50 hp was designed/built to utilize it's power on the drawbar. The 35 hp. Was designed to utilize it's power in four wheel drive.

I'm having trouble trying to figure out what all the fuss is about. Each tractor pulls what it was designed for! There was a time almost all tractors were TWo wheel drive and rated at the drawbar.

The fuss is that many tractors these days (just like pickup trucks) can be had in 2wd OR 4wd.

And their is a silly notion that the 4wd (if left in 2wd) will pull less than IF the 4wd components were left off the machine all together and a 2wd front axle installed under the front in its place.

 

[oosik]

Well....... I know if I error and forget to put the tractor in 4WD when working down in my moat area - I will soon be reminded via rear wheel spin. The few times I got in a hurry and forgot - putting the tractor in 4WD got me out of a stuck situation.

Would a 2WD tractor have done any better in these conditions - only if they had remembered to stay away from the moat area.

 

[2458n]

I was dumb enough to think that all 4x4 tractors had a high /low transfer case. Mine does and all the trucks I have had were that way. You start out dumb enough, you can learn something new every day. Thank you.

 

[paulfun9]

The fuss is that many tractors these days (just like pickup trucks) can be had in 2wd OR 4wd.

And their is a silly notion that the 4wd (if left in 2wd) will pull less than IF the 4wd components were left off the machine all together and a 2wd front axle installed under the front in its place.

I wont argue that weight transfer can or cant work against you because with many years of building rear wheel drive Hill climbers and racing them I have seen some real strange things happen by adding some weight to the front and also by taking it away. The problem I have is why anyone would want to make a decision on a tractor of the same manufacture/size with the only difference being one could possibly pull slightly faster or harder if the 4 wheel drive was left off but with it on its overall performance was better.

Now when buying used and having such a broad range to choose from like say a heavy 50 HP tractor that will pull at least as good as the 30HP 4x4 lighter tractor if not better the decision becomes different

I know if you give me the choice between two tractors that are the same except one is 2 wheel drive and the other is 4 wheel drive and the cost is negligible the 4 wheel drive version will come home with me every time.

 

[LD1]

Yep.

The theme of this thread was 35hp 4wd vs 50 hp 2wd.

And in general, tractors of similar.design, and "proper" field conditions the 50hp is gonna pull circles around the 35hp.

The the problem is....is this gonna be a field tractor? Or general utility?

For a field tractor, pulling a disc, chisel, drill, ripper, haying, etc.....give me the 50.

For utility work, especially with a loader....throw in some hills and slick (muddy or snowy) conditions....the 4wd smaller machine is more useful.

But that's just a generalization. Too many variables and the lines can even become blurred.

Some 35hp 4wd tractors are physically bigger and heavier than some 50hp 2wd machines.

A 37hp Ford 3230 is 5300#
A 50+ hp Kubota MX in 2wd is 3500#

If we have learned one thing from all these discussions and comparisons here on TBN....it's that things are far from black and white. Lots of overlap in horsepower and weight classes.

 

[Texasmark]

Anyone consider the two wheel drive 50 hp was designed/built to utilize it's power on the drawbar. The 35 hp. Was designed to utilize it's power in four wheel drive.

I'm having trouble trying to figure out what all the fuss is about. Each tractor pulls what it was designed for! There was a time almost all tractors were TWo wheel drive and rated at the drawbar.

Sure I'm not part of this confusion.

On the PTO vs drawbar question that was asked herein, much easier to back up to a dino sitting in the parking lot and do the test vs having to go to the field and then state the conditions: soil type, moisture, gear, tire size, weight distribution, implement pullng resistance on and on.........

 

[sandman2234]

I think I will chime in and add some more confusion.
I got my 1989 JD2555 stuck in the edge of the pond up at the church. I was pulling a 15 foot batwing mower. I hooked my newer tractor up to both of them and tried to pull it out. It is a 2013 Kubota M7040. It is rated at 3 or so horsepower less than the JD. It it 4wd, while the JD is 2wd. The Kubota would not pull the pair of them out, with both in gear. So I unhooked the mower and pulled the JD2555 out. Then I hooked a large strap I have to the rear of both tractors and ran it through a clevis on the front of the mower. With both tractors pulling, the strap started slipping towards the JD2555 side, meaning it was out pulling the Kubota, even with the Kubota in 4wd. The JD2555 is considerable heavier than the Kubota by several thousand pounds, so I think that had a lot to do with it pulling better than the Kubota. However, had I originally been pulling the batwing with the Kubota, I would probably not gotten stuck, because the front wheel drive would have allowed the front end to be steered away from the pond.
David from jax

 

[TomSeller]

I think I will chime in and add some more confusion.
I got my 1989 JD2555 stuck in the edge of the pond up at the church. I was pulling a 15 foot batwing mower. I hooked my newer tractor up to both of them and tried to pull it out. It is a 2013 Kubota M7040. It is rated at 3 or so horsepower less than the JD. It it 4wd, while the JD is 2wd. The Kubota would not pull the pair of them out, with both in gear. So I unhooked the mower and pulled the JD2555 out. Then I hooked a large strap I have to the rear of both tractors and ran it through a clevis on the front of the mower. With both tractors pulling, the strap started slipping towards the JD2555 side, meaning it was out pulling the Kubota, even with the Kubota in 4wd. The JD2555 is considerable heavier than the Kubota by several thousand pounds, so I think that had a lot to do with it pulling better than the Kubota. However, had I originally been pulling the batwing with the Kubota, I would probably not gotten stuck, because the front wheel drive would have allowed the front end to be steered away from the pond.
David from jax

Interesting for sure, both have their place. I wouldn't be without an older heavy 2 WD. But not without a modern 4 WD either.