4WD benefits seen first-hand

Marveltone · Sep 20, 2010

Try tugging and pushing stuff around with turfs. Virtually impossible without 4WD. In fact I'm going to be ordering chains soon, as they will be a huge asset in all four seasons... But still no replacement for 4WD, especially when doing loader work.

Joe

Car Doc · Sep 20, 2010

I went the last 15 years with an old skinny front Massey Harris 22 drawbar hp gasser and I did the mowing, post hole digging, back bladeing snow-dirt etc and wishing I had a good diesel 4wd especially during the winter.

Now I have one its a new lease on life its a whole different world project wise nothing I cant do now where there was only a few things I could do before.

Chilly807 · Sep 20, 2010

rd_macgregor said:
On the other hand, having 4WD means that when you are stuck, you are really STUCK!
BOB

And THAT, my friends, Is The Truth...

Sean

Interlaux · Sep 20, 2010

Fer new owners I'm thinking that it and a FEL with a big bucket should be required before your first time to cut some trails after its rained - a lot. Dont ask me why.:laughing:
Really I thought I was stuck when someone showed me the magic of 4wd and a little front end help. Never stuck again!?! SWEET

Car Doc · Sep 21, 2010

Off subject but the previous post reminded me with his bucket leverage comment anyway which is very true.

The first time I watched a guy unload and after work done onload a backhoe off the side of his trailer not using ramps. That was interesting use of hydraulics and buckets and skill these guys do stuff like that all the time. I could do it now myself I think but I was sure amazed when I saw it the first time.

stravis · Sep 21, 2010

I'm surprised no one has mentioned while using the loader. I've been helping a friend build his house. We've moved about 15 truckloads of dirt from one pile to another and from a pile into his foundation block. Him on a Case 580 2wd backhoe and me on my JD 5101E. The backhoe is made for that work, but is two wheel drive and he had a hard time getting the bucket to fill because his tires would just spin. He didn't have the traction to dig the bucket into the pile. My JD however, with MFWD engaged had a full bucket every time. I'd be willing to bet I moved about a 1/3 more soil than he did while we were working simultaneously even thought he backhoe is made for it and has a bucket significantly larger than mine.

On a side note, when we were done he was covered in dust and sweat (open cab on the Case) and I was fresh as a daisy in my cab.

slaveToHorses · Sep 21, 2010

MBDiagMan said:
How heavy is your tractor? I pulled several pretty good size trees out of the ground this weekend with my 2WD 5045D JD. I had to use the differential lock on one of them but they popped right out of the ground. With FEL this tractor weighs over 6,000 pounds. With the smaller machines with less weight, the 4Wd is indeed mandatory.

Sure, a heavier tractor is better. My JD 2355 2WD will out pull my JD 3720 4WD even when the 3720 has the loader and backhoe mounted and it has all 4 tires filled. If I need to pull something out of the mud or yank out a hung tree, I always go for the 2355.

However, it would pull even better if it was 4WD!

MBDiagMan · Sep 22, 2010

I suppose that I'm just lucky enough to be on relatively flat land with good soil. Never found 4WD to be necessary. For those who need it, I guess it's good that it is so common these days. Makes more money for the tractor makers too. That's a win/win.

wedge40 · Sep 22, 2010

MBDiagMan said:
I suppose that I'm just lucky enough to be on relatively flat land with good soil. Never found 4WD to be necessary. For those who need it, I guess it's good that it is so common these days. Makes more money for the tractor makers too. That's a win/win.

Ditto.. I'm not saying I wouldn't like 4wd, but my 2wd with loaded tires seems to work just fine for me so far.

Wedge

Ford tractor · Sep 22, 2010

MBDiagMan said:
How heavy is your tractor? I pulled several pretty good size trees out of the ground this weekend with my 2WD 5045D JD. I had to use the differential lock on one of them but they popped right out of the ground. With FEL this tractor weighs over 6,000 pounds. With the smaller machines with less weight, the 4Wd is indeed mandatory.

The old 2wd ford is 9000# and it can't back up a 20 degree grade with the fel bucket full of dirt (3/4 yd bucket). Ballast? over 3000# with 2500 off the rear. One of the smaller 4wd machines with a 9 cf bucket goes up and down like nothing. So for that one use, the 2wd would accomplish zero work compared to the smaller (6000#) 4wd machine moving about 100+ cu-yd a day.

Backing up a grade in 2wd with a FEL bucket full is the hardest thing to do (at least that's what I've discovered).