4wd tractor vs 2wd

[aczlan]

I have seen enough to not, feel I need 4wd on a tractor. If I had a loader on it,maybe. If it was properly ballasted maybe.If had experience on both, and believed the 4wd was the way to go, maybe. However 2wd tractors have proven themselves enough to me, so I don't know about needing 4wd.

If you took a pair of tractors (one 4wd and one 2wd) with the same axle weights, hp, etc without a loader on them, and had them pull progressively larger plows, the 2wd would run out of traction before the 4wd would.

Two real world experiences for you:
1. My in-laws have a 4wd Kubota L3830 (loaded rear tires, no loader) and in 2wd mode, it will spin the rear wheels pulling the 3 bottom trailer plow if the ground is at all soft.
If you shift into 4wd, it stops spinning immediately and you go a little faster in the drier areas as the rear wheels are no longer spinning.

2. Dad went from a 2wd Massey Industrial 35 (50HP perkins diesel, 6ft bucket, monster loader, loaded rears, wheelweights and chains). It weighed at least 6000# with the weights and loader. He replaced it with a Kubota L3650 (36HP, 4wd, loaded tires all the way around and a loader). It weighs around 5000#.
On dry level ground, the Massey would probbaly pull more then the Kubota, but once you get into soft ground (discing the garden, moving dirt, bushhogging down in the woods, etc), the Kubota will work much more than the Massey did.
In soft areas, the Massey had trouble getting out of its own way.

Aaron Z

 

[ShannonCole888]

I would likely have to operate both of the same tractor, in the same conditions, doing the same work, and see which one I would prefer. At present the 2wd Massey Ferguson 2605 38hp seems it would do the job. I have not altogether ruled out a 4wd, but the 2wd seems good enough to me. If you were talking about ATV's, then I would say 4wd. Tractors, for plowing, and tillage work, with pulling heavy red oaks, and firewood. The 2wd manual transmission, properly ballasted tractor seems to be the more appropriate tool for the job. If the soil is loose, soft, and muddy regularly, and 4wd makes a major improvement, then a 4wd maybe more practical, and less hassel to operate in such soil conditions. However, I have seen 2wd tractors do fairly well in the conditions I have planned on using. 4wd may, or may not be what I am looking for in a tractor for work. I will probably only use a one bottom plow, or a 2 bottom plow, depending on which may work better. I noticed a John Deere 5045d pulling a 3 bottom plow on youtube, that seemed to be having some trouble doing a good job here is the link YouTube - ‪John Deere 5045d plowing 1‬‏ there is a part 1, and part 2

 

[ShannonCole888]

Here is a video you might like YouTube - ‪Why we needed a four wheel drive tractor‬‏

 

[ShannonCole888]

This video shows that a loader can be very handy, and that 4wd doesn't always seem to work /www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWI_GKENbHA

 

[crash325]

Its a lot better to have something you don't need.
Than to need something you don't have. :laughing: :thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

Two other reasons to have 4wd are:
Better resale value
Often easier to find a used 4wd than a 2wd

On the plowing video, the ground was very dry and the wheels were still spinning. If it was even a little wet, that tractor would have been stuck. That is exactly what our Kubota was doing when I was plowing in 2wd. When it got slightly wet I had to use 4wd.


Aaron Z

 

[SixHoeBob]

Shannon besides virtual farming on You Tube, how many hours do you have operating a tractor? Some of the guys you are debating with probably have 10-20 thousand hours of real world experience.
I have run about 30-40 different machines over the last 35 years, with a total seat time close to 25 thousand hours.
There is a lot of difference between watching a computer screen and operating a tractor.
For example; When you are plowing a field, which way are you looking?
Forward or Backwards?
Same question for mowing, raking, and baling hay

How much money do you have in your checking account? A person with money would have bought a tractor by now.

Anyone replying here could also give us a guess as to number of different
tractors/machines and total seat time.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Here is a video you might like YouTube - ‪Why we needed a four wheel drive tractor‬‏

Thats what horses and water do to ground. Extremely poor choice of tires on that tractor.
larry

 

[SPYDERLK]

Two real world experiences for you:
1. My in-laws have a 4wd Kubota L3830 (loaded rear tires, no loader) and in 2wd mode, it will spin the rear wheels pulling the 3 bottom trailer plow if the ground is at all soft.
If you shift into 4wd, it stops spinning immediately and you go a little faster in the drier areas as the rear wheels are no longer spinning.
2. Dad went from a 2wd Massey Industrial 35 (50HP perkins diesel, 6ft bucket, monster loader, loaded rears, wheelweights and chains). It weighed at least 6000# with the weights and loader. He replaced it with a Kubota L3650 (36HP, 4wd, loaded tires all the way around and a loader). It weighs around 5000#.
On dry level ground, the Massey would probbaly pull more then the Kubota, but once you get into soft ground (discing the garden, moving dirt, bushhogging down in the woods, etc), the Kubota will work much more than the Massey did.
In soft areas, the Massey had trouble getting out of its own way.

Aaron Z

A major thing here is you push the fronts in 2wd. If they are leaving 6" deep tracks in softsoil/plowedground this is a hard push. The OP also talks about pulling logs. This usually entails crossing over a log on occasion. Pushing the fronts over even a fairly small log is quite difficult. However, if the fronts are pulling they climb right over. Same idea why a 4wd uses less HP and fuel crossing a soft field than a 2wd in the same circumstance.
larry

 

[bindian]

Have you considered the 25 series from Mahindra? Like the 3825, 4025, or 4525? These are all 2WD tractors that pack a LOT of punch!... I used to own a '97 Mahindra 485 DI. I love my Massey Ferguson, but wish I'd NEVER sold the Mahindra.

They are very tough and reliable tractors. If I was to go buy a new Mahindra tomorrow, it would probably be the 4525.

Regardless, Massey Ferguson and Mahindra are all I'd buy. Period.

If you are committed to buying new and 2WD, check out the 25 series from Mahindra.
Farm tractors for Ag Farmers, Hobby Farmers - Sub Compact, Compact & Full Size 2WD & 4WD Utility Tractors
hugs, Brandi