4WD: Advantages/disadvantages

[_RaT_]

I remember reading from a Michelin website years ago about how getting more traction is more important then meets the eye. The need to weigh down a tractor to gain much needed traction and reduce wheel slip can also be a contributing factor to poor crop growth. Compact soils can severely stunt a plants growth which was easily determined by seeing plants stunted growth where the tractor ran on loose soil and out on the wings where the tractor did not. The remedy was to use low pressure and larger footprint tires. It also mentioned that 4WD and track drives have helped out in this area by helping to eliminate high front/rear weight discrepancies commonly found on 2WD where the farmer will add wheel weights to gain much needed traction. The article was geared towards farmers but I have always remembered the article and the picture of a farmer holding two plants in his hands. One from a low compaction soil and the other from a high compaction soil. The root structure was remarkably different. Here is a newer article about this subject.

Michelin AG - Reduce Soil Compaction

 

[Soundguy]

Again.. it's an application issue... If no vegitation is involved.. there may be a situation where a heavy 2wd may be cheaper than a lighter 4wd.. get the same work done, and a compaction issue may not be involved. Too many variables to tie this argument down with a right/wrong answer.

Soundguy

 

[_RaT_]

Again.. it's an application issue... If no vegitation is involved.. there may be a situation where a heavy 2wd may be cheaper than a lighter 4wd.. get the same work done, and a compaction issue may not be involved. Too many variables to tie this argument down with a right/wrong answer.

Soundguy

Oh, have you mentioned the "application" issue before?
I could see a few applications where 2WD would be good for me, in Chuck's case (the guy who posted this thread), its clearly obvious that 2WD is definitely out. Heavy loader work, snow plowing etc are all 4WD applications, areas where 2WD is miserable at best when compared to 4WD. Even if my applications involved just mowing on flat, moist to dry ground or hauling trailers loaded with hay on pavement, I would still want 4WD. After years of having a 2WD that was heavy, powerful, R1's loaded and then buying a much lighter, less powerful 4WD Kubota, I would never go back. It's that good. So Chuck, GET THE 4WD, you will never be sorry but the reverse will very likely be true.

 

[Dargo]

Again.. it's an application issue... If no vegitation is involved.. there may be a situation where a heavy 2wd may be cheaper than a lighter 4wd.. get the same work done, and a compaction issue may not be involved. Too many variables to tie this argument down with a right/wrong answer.

Soundguy

Now what?? I just bought a new tractor that is both heavy and 4wd. Does that give me the best of both worlds? I can be really heavy and 2wd if I want to, and I can be 4wd as well if need be. Yeehaa! Now with my bush hog on the back I'll weigh about 12,000 pounds and have over 80 hp to chop up anything I run over and to sling mud with all 4 tires.

Psst. You do know my earlier post in this thread was intended to be funny, don't you?

 

[N80]

FWA does allow a smaller tractor to do more to a degree.

I think that is an understatement. Anyone with a small 4wd tractor can tell you that the difference is huge. Application is important, but in any appliacation in which 4wd is useful in a small tractor, trying to do the same thing in 2wd is _dramatically_ harder if not impossible, and possibly a lot less safe.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I bought my CUT, I wanted 4wd because of my jeeping experience. I had only run an older Kubota 4wd tractor before, but really didn't know what Iw as doing when I bought mine. I knew that my jeep would get me into trouble in 2wd, but usually get me out when I put it into 4wd. I expected the CUT to be the same. I was wrong.

You cannot compare tractors to jeeps. They are totally different and there really is nothing similar from one to the other.

Just about every advantage to 4wd has been pointed out except steering. I also have a 2wd Loader/Backhoe, and my land is mostly red clay. Right after a rain, the 2wd tractor is pretty much useless. It will go forward, but you can't turn it. The tires just fill up wiht mud and slide in the mud. Using the rear brakes individually will work a little, but not much. Even a few weeks after the last rain, if I hit a wet spot, I can't steer.

With my 4wd CUT, it's not a problem. It's only 35hp, but it's my first choice to pull out anything that's stuck except my dozer. I have the R1 tires on it, so it does cause some damage, but for now, that's OK. When I'm done clearing and building my roads, I'll change to R4's for just mowing and maintaining.

Turning is better in 4wd because the front tires pull you through a turn when 2wd tires just slide. It's the difference between running your tractor and waiting for the land to dry out.

The only disadvantage besides price, is those front tires do tear up the grass when turning. In 2wd, it's not as bad. Fortunately, I can shift from one to the other, but I never do. It's just allot better to leave it in 4wd and never have to deal with losing traction.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[_RaT_]

When I bought my CUT, I wanted 4wd because of my jeeping experience. I had only run an older Kubota 4wd tractor before, but really didn't know what Iw as doing when I bought mine. I knew that my jeep would get me into trouble in 2wd, but usually get me out when I put it into 4wd. I expected the CUT to be the same. I was wrong.

You cannot compare tractors to jeeps. They are totally different and there really is nothing similar from one to the other.

Just about every advantage to 4wd has been pointed out except steering. I also have a 2wd Loader/Backhoe, and my land is mostly red clay. Right after a rain, the 2wd tractor is pretty much useless. It will go forward, but you can't turn it. The tires just fill up wiht mud and slide in the mud. Using the rear brakes individually will work a little, but not much. Even a few weeks after the last rain, if I hit a wet spot, I can't steer.

With my 4wd CUT, it's not a problem. It's only 35hp, but it's my first choice to pull out anything that's stuck except my dozer. I have the R1 tires on it, so it does cause some damage, but for now, that's OK. When I'm done clearing and building my roads, I'll change to R4's for just mowing and maintaining.

Turning is better in 4wd because the front tires pull you through a turn when 2wd tires just slide. It's the difference between running your tractor and waiting for the land to dry out.

The only disadvantage besides price, is those front tires do tear up the grass when turning. In 2wd, it's not as bad. Fortunately, I can shift from one to the other, but I never do. It's just allot better to leave it in 4wd and never have to deal with losing traction.

Good luck,
Eddie

Good point Eddie. I used to have that problem with an old Datsun truck up at Tahoe. I could navigate the tracks folks had made on the secondary roads in the snow, but could not turn off the tracks to go a different direction, the front wheels just slid in the tracks. Upon getting a Subaru, that issue disappeared. I know excatly what your talking about with regards to tractors as well, its the only way I can stay on the side of the hills around here.

 

[Glowplug]

I'll weigh about 12,000 pounds and have over 80 hp to chop up anything I run over and to sling mud with all 4 tires.

Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!! Thanks, that's the best selling point on getting 4WD yet!

 

[Soundguy]

Now what?? I just bought a new tractor that is both heavy and 4wd. Does that give me the best of both worlds? I can be really heavy and 2wd if I want to, and I can be 4wd as well if need be. Yeehaa! Now with my bush hog on the back I'll weigh about 12,000 pounds and have over 80 hp to chop up anything I run over and to sling mud with all 4 tires.

Psst. You do know my earlier post in this thread was intended to be funny, don't you?

My response was not specifically directed at you.

Also.. as for _rat_ likeing to drive his 4wd on the pavement.. I hope his manual says that is ok... many of the 4wd applications say that is a no-no.

Also... The original poster asked for pro and con. Many people listed items for 2wd as being only a 'con'.. when in reality.. there can be application specific.. where sometimes they are a con.. and sometimes are either neutral.. or possibly a 'pro'.. when you take price and application into account.

As i said.. too many variabled to hard and fast lable any setup good or bad... ( just different, and based on use.. )

Soundguy

 

[Glowplug]

My response was not specifically directed at you.

Yeah, I know.