4wd vs. 2wd

[pruntyc]

One says he needs it on his hilly ground. Mine is 15 to 20% on most of it, and I don't need it. I don't slid or spin, on it and it is kind of sandy to boot. Some times when I get on a real steep little hill it does spin, the I use the dif lock and it come right out of it. I drove on snow and ice most of my life and with 2wd drive, I still would do it with 2wd if I lived there. I think of a fellow I use to work with, he said most of his hunter friends had 4wd on theie trucks, and that when he needed to start worrying with his 2wd, so did they, for they were just about through going also. Maybe he and I were just better drivers, I don't know.

 

[chrisjbell]

<font color="blue"> One says he needs it on his hilly ground. Mine is 15 to 20% on most of it, and I don't need it. </font>

"Hilly ground" varies by region. My property is almost all on slopes, some of them as steep as 45 degrees (the tractor does not ever go there /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif). My neighbor has a 2WD Ford that he uses to mow his pastures and it works fine, but that is because it isn't a CUT - it is a full sized tractor with all the weight involved. For a smaller, lighter CUT the 4WD becomes much more important, especially when you're dealing with hills.

 

[Soundguy]

I think one of the other guys hit the nail on the head ( normed2001 )

Many of the older larger ag tractors were 2wd.. and worked fine... they had the weight to make the traction available at the rear tires for the huge engine to push. You get a smaller lighter tractor, and the rears just don't offer enough traction.. 4wd helps immensly then.. and when pulling, etc.

Thin of a 4wd tractor of being able to do similar traction based work as a larger 2wd model.

Soundguy

 

[chrisjbell]

Yup, I agree completely with Soundguy. He made the point I was trying to - and much more better /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

 

[Bird]

Dick, I've heard it said about a lot of things that you don't know what you've missed if you've never had it. Reminds me of a good friend and rancher who had 4 tractors and no front end loader. He had a 3-point Hay King hay spear and a very strong home made carryall and told me about 8 years ago that he'd never had a front end loader and didn't need one. Then about 4 years ago he bought another old tractor with a front end loader. Within 6 months he had told me twice that he just didn't know how he got along without one so long. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif And the same guy has told me he doesn't need a 4WD tractor. Of course he's never used a 4WD tractor and maybe he really doesn't need 4WD since he has so many tractors and I lost count of the number of times he's had to use one tractor to pull another one out of the mud. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Egon]

I use my tractor on the side of a drumlin. Average degree of slope is 10 % going up to 20 % . When things are wet I don't go uphill unless the four wheel drive is engaged.

Egon

 

[jinman]

Re: 4wd vs. 2wd, ++Calling John Miller++

In my opinion, if you go with 2WD to save the money, you might as well save a lot of money and skip the 32LA too. I will never, never, never own another tractor with a loader and not have 4WD. I owned one tractor --a Ford 4000 heavy industrial-- with a loader and 2WD. If the bucket was half full, I could not back up a small incline, even on a gravel road. If you plan on using your loader on your new property's hills or maybe putting a bale spear on the front, you will be very happy you went for 4WD. I'm surprised that it is a $6k option. I'd expect it to be more like $4k. Anyway, on a TN with 32LA, you will love having 4WD and be kicking yourself for a long time if you decide against it. If you can't afford the TN with loader, I'd suggest you look at a TC45 which can be had with a loader and 4WD for the $19,500 price. I own a TC45D and actually leave it in 4WD most of the time since my property has a lot of hills and "character."

One other thought... Did your dealer just quote 4WD or does that include Supersteer? Both those options could very easily add $6k, but that much for 4WD alone is close to full retail with no discount, from the info I can find /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif.

 

[cowboydoc]

"Many of the older larger ag tractors were 2wd.. and worked fine... they had the weight to make the traction available at the rear tires for the huge engine to push."

I guess if you have a few acres and you're not doing much that is true. If you're doing any kind of serious farming though there aren't very farmers who would take a 2wd over a 4wd or mfwd tractor. It's like comparing diesel tractors to gas tractors. There really is no comparison. If you do any kind of farm work where you need every bit of your pulling power and/or traction with a tractor, esp. with a loader, then the mfwd or 4wd is a far superior tractor.

 

[tdenny]

I would agree heartily with all the folks who are recommending you get the MFWD. I was just outside mowing one of my pastures and it is pretty hilly. I usually always mow it in MFWD due to the aforementioned hills. I had forgotten to engage the MFWD but quickly noticed that when going down the hill the tractor tended to just take off (almost slide down the hill) on me. As soon as I engaged the MFWD no more problems occurred. The trick for me is remembering to disengage it once I get back on the driveway (asphalt). Memory is the shortest thing on me. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Get the MFWD you'll not regret it.

 

[Rch]

4 MFWD in snow precludes chains which are a PITA and often don't fit anyway because of fender/ clearance problems. It makes the tractor more salable when you realize you bought too small or your wife has to sell your toys /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Personally, I wouldn't buy a tractor without 4 wheel drive.