4wd - 2wd limitations

[KiotiJohn]

I personally wouldn't have a non-switchable tractor again as I go between the two as needed. The only real disadvantage of 4WD to me is that the gearing is such that, used on hard surfaces, it's hard on the gearing and tires. 2WD is recommended for hard surfaces.
Major disadvantages of 2WD are, as stated, less traction with a loader, wheels may sink into soft soils and can't pull, When pulling trees and such, rear tires may only spin with extra weight where 4WD will pull more. John

 

[Soundguy]

Here's one way to look at it. 4wd gives a smaller tractor a similar advantage as a larger tractor using only 2wd. For instance. Many early and mid to late model af tractors ( 80+ hp ) were 2wd, and very large and heavy. Some used dual rear tires on each side. Tractors do much of their work based on traction. Power has to get to the ground. If you one have 2wd, you need more weight to keep that power moving and not spinning. Agg tractors get the weight advantage as they weight in the 3 ton and up class. Smaller cut's and subcut's are way down on the weight level..less than 2 tons in most cases. Without this weight.. 2wd doesn't cut it was well for some heavy tasks. Locking diferential shelp.. but in many cases like loader work, or soft ground tillage.. 4wd is nice.

Soundguy

 

[eee]

I depend on 4 wheel drive for being able to go off road as well as pulling power. My tractor is virtually useless for my needs in 2 wheel drive. A tractor twice my size that is 2 wheel drive could outpull me in 4 wheel drive,but I can go places in 4 wheel drive that the 2 wheel drive no matter what size could not go.

 

[Egon]

<font color="blue"> </font> I can go places in 4 wheel drive that the 2 wheel drive no matter what size could not go.

Are you sure of this?

Egon

 

[familyman]

For me the big advantage of 4wd (besides getting unstuck) is maneuverability in soft conditions. I was digging a shallow runnoff ditch the other day, following a spray painted, curving line. The soft ground had a slight pitch, which made the tractor creep and slide off the line as I tried to back the backhoe into position. Shifting into 4wd gave me much improved control, and I got back onto the line. I've also had some touch and go situations while digging deep trenches and relying on planks to get me across where I had dug. Having extra tires pulling when you are at risk of slipping off a plank has saved my bacon (and my tractor) more than once. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[eee]

<font color="blue"> </font><font color="blue" class="small">( Are you sure of this? )</font>
<font color="blue"> </font> Yes I am sure....
Right behind my house,you might get a 2 wheel drive down in the hollows,but you would not get it back out.

 

[Todd_C]

I have limited experience with tractors, but hear's my 2 cents. The area where I live is right in the middle of the Jefferson National Forest. The elevation varies greatly from a 800 feet above sea level to about 4,000 feet above sea level. We get a fair amount of rain and snow (though most snow storms are under 12"). The county where I live is approixmately 85% national forest so most people have gravel driveways and live a long way off state maintained roads. While driving this weekend across the county almost every house had a tractor. The majority of the tractors were 4wd compacts. I did see a few older dual wheeled John Deere 2wd tractors.

I live in a home owner's association at the end of our gravel drive that is almost a mile from a state maintained road. The home owner's association has a Ford 8n that has been used to maintain the road and scrape snow for several years. Two hurricanes went through our area and washed out most of the roads this year. The Ford 8N just did not have enough traction in the mud to rebuild the roads. I used my little TC 30 along side my neighbor on the 8n. I could not believe the difference between my 4wd and the 2wd. I went in places the 2wd couldn't even get to and drug gravel back onto our road. I would never purchase a similar sized 2wd compact when 4wd are available.

 

[eee]

<font color="blue"> The home owner's association has a Ford 8n that has been used to maintain the road and scrape snow for several years. </font>

I can vouch for the 8N no traction,we had a big snow here a few years ago and I could hardly get an 8 N that belonged to my neighbor out the road I live on which was virtually a flat stretch of road much less get it in my driveway to clear the snow out. No comparison whatsoever in traction.Of course this all happened befroe I purchased my JD 4400 4x4.

 

[mark777]

IF....there are any limitations on a 4 wheel drive tractor I can only think of a few.
ONE- 4x4 requires slightly more maintenance;
TWO - tire sizes are critical in relation to gear ratios from front to rear rolling circumferences;
THREE - as many have stated, your original investment is higher when the tractor is equipped with 4x4, but that is usually recovered when selling or trading in as the residual value is higher than a 2x4.

2 wheel drive tractors are fine for applications on firm even ground and are certainly better than anything else except tractors equipped with 4 wheel drive.

There is an old saying here in America about 4x4's: "It's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it".

Good luck on your project. Regards, Mark

 

[Soundguy]

Another good old saying i remember.. and have experienced...

4 wheel drive just gets you stuck farther from home.

When I had my Nh 1920 4x4... I ran it out acorss a 'dry' pond... that pond that had been dry for 2 years had about 1" of dry crust, then about 2' of soupy muck... tractor sank up to the axles and high center before i could even hit the clutch.

It took digging the wheels out with a shovel, and using my trailer ramps, and the neighbors truck, and two snatch ropes tied together to get the tractor out. We had to use 2 ropes, as the truck couldn't get traction anywhere near the tractor.. hence the saying.. 4x4 gets you stuck farther out.. etc.

I think a very light tractor 4x4 or 2x4, perhaps with wide turf tires might have made it across.. or a big honkin monster ag tractor with dual rears, and 6' tall tires would have done ok as well, as the muck firmed up to solid clay at about 2' to 2.5' A large rim/tired tractor could have sunk that 2', hit good ground and then kept going.. Unfortunately I was in the wrong machine!.. not light enough.. and tires / rims not big enough!

Soundguy