4WD: Advantages/disadvantages

[Doc_Bob]

Any insight into the advantages/disadvantages and indications for 4WD would be most appreciated.

When you lose traction with 2WD,, all you do is slip into 4WD and traction restored. Today, I was moving buckest full of rotten horse manure. The stuff was heavy and very slippery. I guess I had 800# of manure in the bucket. The area I was working in was on a slight slope and wet. I went into the pile with 2WD, but after the bukcet was full, I could not leave in 2WD, as I was now backing up a slight hill. No problem, slipped into 4WD and traction restored.

I was bush hogging next to my wetlands. In 2WD, just humming along. Then, the tires got moist (too close to wetlands) 2wd lost traction. Slipped into 4WD and backed out. Then, resumed in 2WD. If I start to slip while working in 4wd, I don't have any more traction to call on.

I love 4WD and would never buy a tractor with just 2WD.
Bob

 

[_RaT_]

You'll be sorry if you get 2wd and what about re-sale?


murph

What, murph, your alive!? Re-sale, I found that is important.

 

[johnk]

I can't see any disadvantage to 4wd except the extra cost. The pleasure of having it as an option far outweighs the price paid for it.

 

[deereguy]

You mentioned 3-4 good reasons when you would use 4WD (front wheel assist) on a tractor (plowing, disking, LOADER work, and snow removal). Did I mention loader work??

I bet when you get a 4WD, he won't stay off of it!!

 

[wolc123]

A 4wd is much more efficient at putting power to the ground than a 2wd. This means less fuel and less horsepower are required to do the same work as a 2wd. 100 % of the tractor weight, and any additional weight placed anywhere on a 4wd will contribute to traction and pulling ability, while any weight forward of the center of gravity on a 2wd will decrease these important attributes. With todays fuel prices, it makes little sense to use a 2wd for tillage or loader work. For pto work on hard ground, the 2wd still has a place due to its lower cost. For most of the uses you list, 4wd wins by a wide margin.

 

[Soundguy]

If you have hilly land.. I don't see how 4wd would be a disadvantage except only inthe terms of price.. I.E. it's not a functional disadvantage..e tc.

Soundguy

I am looking to purchase a new moderate-sized agricultural tractor very soon. Probably a Kubota M8540 w/ 4WD and hydraulic shuttle transmission. My father-in-law keeps telling me not to get 4WD. He says that's only for loggers. They're hard to maneuver. Now, he's an old school country boy. He probably equates an AG tractor with a JD model A or 1940s Farmall to give some perspective. The tractor would be used mostly for bush-hoggin', heavy FEL work, some agricutural, a little snow plowing, landscaping (with a 1500# hydraulic box blade), some plowing and disking, and various other fun tasks. I have only sixteen acres, hopefully soon to be 28 acres, of mostly flat pasture. The 4WD, or front wheel assist, whatever you want to call it, on the Kubota M8540 is intermittent. In other words, it is manually engaged only when you need it.

Any insight into the advantages/disadvantages and indications for 4WD would be most appreciated.

BTW, I WANT 4WD. You can never have too much power options!!

Oh, and I may use the tractor some at my in-laws as well for land clearing and bush-hogging. That is 50 acres of very hilly largely wooded land.

 

[jcmseven]

I was thinking of trading my MFWD tractor for a non-MFWD tractor, because I would like to spend more time on my tractor and being less efficient is a good way to do this. Part of the preceding statement is true and part is a joke, can we decide together which one is which?

John M

 

[Soundguy]

Alot of the advantage that a 4wd has over a 2wd will be dependent on use and land type. I actually traded my 4wd tractor for a more capable 2wd tractor. In 3ys of ownership.. I only used the 4wd 2 times. one to disc my pasture, and the other when crossing a mostly 'dry' lake bed that I ended up getting burried to my floorboards in. Had I not had 4wd.. I would not have got stuck.. as I would not have tried to cross it in 2wd.

So far.. I've never been stuck on the 2wd unit... Though i routinely drive down some dirt roads that strand 2wd cars and trucks every day.. ( big tires can have nearly as much to do with not geting stuck, as having 4wd.. etc.. )

Soundguy

 

[Glowplug]

Thanks for all the good advice. I know I was looking for ammo to use for the argument to get 4WD but I didn't expect it to be so one-sided! That helps me not feel too guilty about getting 4WD. I was kinda feeling that it may be overkill. But from the statements here I think it would definitely be worth the extra cost.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Alot of the advantage that a 4wd has over a 2wd will be dependent on use and land type. I actually traded my 4wd tractor for a more capable 2wd tractor. Soundguy

Good points. I assume that since you live in Central Florida, you have flat land? My land is sloped and lot's of heavy soil, making 4WD a very nice addition. I run AG tires.
Bob