4wd vs. 2wd

snowman · Sep 6, 2003

I too grew up/learned with rear wheel two wheel drives - upstate New York. Only got stuck once that I recall and burned out the transmission in my mother's Plymouth Grand Fury (sp).

However, my first 4WD was in 1989 with a Jeep Cherokee, and I have only driven 4WD since then. One time one winter I had to take my mother to a doctor's appointment and had to go up a steep hill. It was covered with snow and 2wd's were spinning and sliding trying to make it up; I just popped it into 4wd and went right up with no slipping whatsoever.

The reason that I stick with 4wd vehicles is for peace of mind, as I know that I have a much less chance of getting stuck that one or two times per year that we may get slammed with a N'oreaster or a lake effect storm.

The primary benefit, in my opinion, is that with 4wd you can get going from a dead stop in heavy snow versus needing to keep some momentum going with a 2wd in order to not get stuck. Some rationale with creeping along in traffic in a snowstorm - I don't have to worry about getting stuck due to the lack of momentum.

I do think many times "why do I need 4wd now when I didn't need it when I was younger", and the answer is simply that I'm more responsible now and have no real desire to deal with the hassles and cold of getting unstuck if I can avoid it

Egon · Sep 6, 2003

Me; I grew up with gravel roads or dirt roads and snow in the winter. Been stuck more times than I can remember. Guess, cause I'm not a very good driver, 4 wheel drive is a real boon for myself.

Egon

pruntyc · Sep 6, 2003

We don't get hardly any snow here, and I don't go out much when we do. You should see MS drivers on snow, it ain't safe to be out on the roads. Anywhere in the south really, they never get enough of it to know how to drive on it at all. They try to take off just as fast on snow and ice and try to stop in the same distance. I was born and raised in Ohio, down in the hills of it. And lived around Detroit, Michigan and then Omaha, Nebraska, till about 10 years ago, liked the warm weather better than 20 below. And the 13 inch snow I was talking about I went all over in the Detroit area, was with a 1959 Ply. car, not even a truck. I am not trying to brag, but I have seen very very few people that could go where I have went in snow. I know there are some, but not too many, most act like its the first time they ever drove in it. And besides we were suppose be talking about tractors not cars and trucks. Enough said. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

uno · Sep 6, 2003

( MFWD )

Doctor,
If I may ask what does the MFWD abbreviation represent ?

Thank you

Bird · Sep 6, 2003

( what does the MFWD abbreviation represent )

If Cowboydoc isn't on here right now, I'll answer: Mechanical Front Wheel Drive.

_RaT_ · Sep 6, 2003

Amazing how a relatively simple idea like adding power too the front wheels can add such a diversity of discussion. I'm sure the entire reason 4WD it ever came about must have been based on logic due to the idea that the traction may not always be best on a single drive wheel and therefore adding power to other wheels may compensate for that variance. That variable may result from changing the center of gravity from the rear to the front which always happens when adding a loader, not to mention the load we place in it. When a 3 pt implement is off the ground, the CG is in a more rearward state yet changes as soon as the implement weight is reduced or removed as happens when the implement is lowered to the ground. Going up hill, going downhill, all factors that change the CG and have an affect traction. Other situations change the traction for entirely other reasons such as traversing a hill, or a ditch especially at a angle. In most of our experiences, all situations where 4WD has had a definite benefit. I can traverse a hill in 4WD and in spite of the fact that I may slide down the hill some, can turn my powered front wheels up hill and still maintain my location on the hill, something my 2WD tractor simply cannot do since simply turnning them uphill without the ability to pull the front end back up results in a continued slide. Without a doubt, 2WD has some applications, often my 4WD tractor is in 2WD, but there are times when I want to do more, the limits of 2wd would certainly have me wanting 4WD, and in fact when on my 2WD only tractor, it's a situation I find myself in a lot. Even with all my experience on tractors, theres little experience can do to substitue for 4WD, I think it's just a matter of physics. There will be many things that 4WD's benefits are not even arguable, just try pulling a boxscraper with the rippers down and you will absolutely find out why 4WD will unquestionably be your choice of drive systems.

BillyP · Sep 6, 2003

4WD becomes somewhat less important, in a tractor of that size and 'what you'll be doing with it'. 6 grand is a lot of money, there's no doubt there. I don't know if anyone here can tell you which way to go, for sure. It's easy to spend someone else's money /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

There's a few things for sure. The resale value will be much better on a 4WD. If you ever need it, you will kick yourself for not getting it. If you get it and need it, you'll say "man, I did the right thing". But again, you may use this tractor, never sell it and never need the 4WD.

If I was a betting man (which I'm not) I'd bet in the future, you will use/need the 4WD. Whether you would ever get 6 grand worth of satisfaction? That's a tough one.

Good luck

uno · Sep 6, 2003

Thank you Mr. Bird.....
why do they not call the smaller 4wd,mechanical four wheel drive ?

F350Lawman · Sep 6, 2003

I am really looking foward to the snow this year. My 4wd 790 and FEL has got to beat a snowblower and a shovel!

As far as the truck vs. tractor thing I think most of the 2wd and 4wd properties hold true for either one. Hving the dual rear wheel truck I guess I don't have true 4wd in the truck either. All things being equal MOST of my traction comes from the rear unless I am unweighted or on a hill. Same is true in my tractor.

The tractor should be much better due as much to it's as it's traction.

Last year I pulled MANY people out but got stuck twice myself. One time because my truck is so wide that it takes up all of my gravel driveway that leads to the barn. With the multiple snows it got to a point where it was impossible to see where the field/ditch ended and the driveway began. I drove by memory....you guessed it my memory aint' that good! About 12" off course put me right into the ditch and the truck was down on the frame. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif To make matters worse my neighbor who is oh-so-proud of his Chevy Duramax Dumptruck had to pull me out, after much anti-Ford abuse /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The other time my wife spread the horse manure creating a secret horse manure pile on the edge of our property /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The grass grew on top of it and I drove over it thinking it was firm ground. It was NOT firm and I ended up about 3' deep in horse %^%$! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif this time my buddies F350 pulled me free so I saved at least some dignity even if my truck stunk /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I always carry 2/35' straps rated at 30,000 lbs. and a clevis. I find the 70' length allows me to find some good traction so I can pull most vehicles out. Even got a real stuck dumptruck free last winter. People here seem to be pretty good about helping one another out.

Bird · Sep 6, 2003

Uno, I said "Mechanical Front Wheel Drive" and it may be "Mechanical Four Wheel Drive" instead. I've heard it said both ways. ( why do they not call the smaller 4wd,mechanical four wheel drive ? ) Technically that would be right; most of us just shorten it to 4WD. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Supposedly a true 4WD is all tires the same size; look at the big articulated tractors that are 4 wheels or 8 wheels, or even more, that are all the same size, and are full time all wheel drive. And then the MFWD is like most of our tractors; bigger wheels on the back than on the front.

Minor technicality ignored by most (well . . ., maybe not by most, but by me anyway). /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif