Another 2wd vs 4wd question

[jacobsdaddy06]

Ok as far as money goes not much diff in a 30-35 hp 4x4 with loader or 40-45 hp 2wd with loader, which for close to the same money would you buy and why?

 

[WilliamBos]

The extra traction the front wheel assist gives is worth more than 10 HP.

Are you talking about two compact tractors??

 

[Chilly807]

If I needed 30-35 hp I'd buy the 4x4, if I needed 40-45 hp I'd need more money to buy the 4x4 version.. just as simple as that. The number of times I've needed 4x4, especially with a lighter compact tractor, far outweigh any savings I'd have realized going with 2wd only.

The key part of tractor is "trac", which is derived from "traction", therefore more wheels driving = more traction.

I have a few folks that tried to convince me I didn't need 4x4, some even claimed that 2wd was superior to 4x4. Depending on what you need the machine for, and where you live, 4x4 may not be essential. But one thing is for sure, it's NEVER a bad thing to have.

My 2 cents,

Sean

 

[jacobsdaddy06]

sorry more specific for example JD 3320 vs a 5045d, just trying to see what everyones opinion is on a compact utilty 4x4 vs a utility 2wd with loaders, for the money what would you buy? thanks

 

[WilliamBos]

sorry more specific for example JD 3320 vs a 5045d, just trying to see what everyones opinion is on a compact utilty 4x4 vs a utility 2wd with loaders, for the money what would you buy? thanks

If you were doing a lot of heavy work , get the utility. Even if you can't swing the extra for FWA, I vote utility.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Ok as far as money goes not much diff in a 30-35 hp 4x4 with loader or 40-45 hp 2wd with loader, which for close to the same money would you buy and why?

Also important, are you figuring on the same tire type on both?

 

[bigbull338]

only you can decide between the 2wd drive an 4wd drive.an that depends on how much youll use the tractor when its wet.

 

[k0ua]

Not that 2wd loader tractors cannot be useful. I ran one for years, BUT and a BIG BUT, a 4wd loader tractor is more useful Think about what you are doing when you slide your bucket into a nice heavy pile of materiel, and start to curl and lift a little to break out, you are unloading the rear tires when you need them the most they are now much lighter from all that weight on the front tires. Sure you can load the rear tires, and ballast the 3pt. and you MUST with a 2wd tractor. But with 4wd you are now going to have a nice assist of traction up front with all that weight on it. Also sometimes just getting around in muddy or wet conditions or backing up a slick hill, or dropping a rear wheel in a hole.. just too many things can happen and you need that "little extra" to get your unfortunate self back home safe and sound. instead of doing the "walk of shame" to get the truck, or your other tractor, or the absolute worse.. Your neighbors tractor. In my experience the larger 2wd tractors are a lot more useful with a loader than the smaller 2wd tractors with a loader, as their overall weight and very large tire size can make up for it. Thats why you see large farm tractors with 2wd and loaders. But when you start going smaller, there is more reason to go 4wd than ever. Opinions are like..... and you have just heard mine. take it for what it is worth..

James K0UA

 

[chevyman29]

for my use i would never own nothing but a 4wd period . for that matter you may as well get the biggest 4wd tractor you are ever likely to need and just be done with it . dont make the mistake i did and have to trade up in a year on another new tractor .

 

[TripleR]

As mentioned, lots of factors to consider such as uses, terrain, type of tire even.

When my father in law retired in 1986, he bought a 2WD Massey Ferguson 375. Around two months or so later, it was back at the dealer with a new 4WD 375 in our shed.

We have some 2WD on our flatland farm, but not a one on our hill farms.

 

[jacobsdaddy06]

wow thanks for all the replies the tires will be ags or ind, alot of diff points and information from actual real world users to me is a lot more easier to hold a candle to than what a dealer says, nothing against the dealers

 

[grsthegreat]

I don't know, I've run older 2wd loader/backhoes and they were major gutless compared to the 4x4 models. I know of the issues i run into while running mine in 2wd where i suddenly lose traction, especially with a heavy loader full of gravel. I LOVE my 4x4. i would personally never buy a 2x4 compact tractor.

 

[RoyJackson]

Ok as far as money goes not much diff in a 30-35 hp 4x4 with loader or 40-45 hp 2wd with loader, which for close to the same money would you buy and why?

About the only time a TBNer advises getting a 2WD tractor is when the poster's budget is pretty meager and the primary task would be snow removal (blowing or using a rear blade) and tasks related to ground engagement.
The 2WD tractors suggested would be larger, older Utility machines, not CUTs.
And, this would be due mostly to the limited budget aspect...

 

[wolc123]

It depends on your land and intended usage. My dad's farm, about 15 miles away from mine, is well drained, and he gets by fine with just 2wd tractors. At my mucky, bottomland place, I got by with 2wd tractors for many years, but I always held my largest one in reserve for the times (usually once or twice a season), when the mud got the best of the second biggest one. I would never again be without a 4wd, since getting one 6 years ago. My spring planting has got finished an average of a month earlier, and I have not been stuck since. You mentioned that the tractors have loaders and that is another big strike against the 2wd. With the 4wd, that weight ahead of the front axle adds to your overall traction force potential, unlike the 2wd where it subtracts from it. I always leave that loader on my 4wd when I am doing risky field work, and there has been several occasions, where I have used it to pull or push myself out when I manged to loose traction on all 4 driven tires. A 2wd tractor cant even get out of its own way in mud with a loader hanging off the front, which forces you to pull it off before trying to do any serious field work. Another thing to consider is fuel usage. I will guess that any job involving loader work, or operation in soft ground (tilled or mud) is going to take around 25% more fuel if using a 2wd tractor compared to 4wd. That there is the main reason we are not likely to see any big 2wd tractors doing serious tillage operations any time soon. There is a steep energy price to pay for pushing a dead axle thru the soft ground. If all you are doing is mowing and/or hay and never have to contend with mud then the larger 2wd may work for you.

 

[Smallplot]

Sounds like this question is nagging at you already. If you have the means to get the 4wd, I say go for it. You will always have the questing nagging at the back of your mind if you get a 2wd anyway.

There have been a lot of good points made but you will have to live with your decision either way. Besides, I don't remember the last time someone complained about having something that may be more than they need. The complaint comes when they don't have enough.

 

[IndyIan]

Ok as far as money goes not much diff in a 30-35 hp 4x4 with loader or 40-45 hp 2wd with loader, which for close to the same money would you buy and why?

I went for the 40hp 4wd with a loader... Its only money:laughing:
Really 2wd makes about 2/3 my 100 acres unsafe to get to or travel on, so I had no real choice. If I had a level dry lot I would've got a bigger 2wd machine and chains for winter like some of my neighbors.
I justified it as a 20-30+ year investment and you'll find yourself doing things with 4wd that aren't possible with a 2wd machine.

 

[Redneck in training]

Another aspect of using 4WD versus 2WD is braking on hilly terrain. Most tractors have brakes on rear axle only. When going downhill even on moderate slope with moderate load in the bucket the 2WD tractor can loose traction and just slide downhill with very little control from the driver. In fact it happened to me with empty bucket when I didn't have 4WD engaged. Almost flipped the tractor when I reached the bottom of the slope way faster than I wanted. Trust me. After it happens first time you don't want it to happen second time. If your land has slopes and you have FEL don't even think about 2WD.

 

[tessiers]

sorry more specific for example JD 3320 vs a 5045d, just trying to see what everyones opinion is on a compact utilty 4x4 vs a utility 2wd with loaders, for the money what would you buy? thanks

Thats like comparing a ford ranger to a superduty. The 5045 will out pull the 3320 all day long with a loader or not. If I was doing yard work and maintaining a property I would choose the 3320, if farming or any heavy work I would choose the 5045. I have a 2005 JD 790 that is awsome for little chores around the barn, however when I go to the field I climb on my old Farmall H, or even the Ford NAA, both of which outweigh the JD by about double. All three are about equal in the HP department.

 

[deere5105]

There is no comparison to the 4WD. I had a JD 5105 2WD which is very similar to the 5045. It did what I needed, but would spin with ground engaing equipment even with tires loaded. I added a FEL to it and enjoyed it, but as mentioned was limited in what I could do with it. I didn't realize how much limitation there was until I traded it on JD 5303 4WD. It is night and day difference and as others have said, I wouldn't want anything else without the 4WD. I do recommend when looking or ordering to go with the very largest rear tire sizes available. This will help some. Also as mentioned, the two tractors mentioned really aren't comparable even if both are 4WD. If all you did was hayfield work the 2WD would be fine, but even then you would probably want to go larger and the moving of bales still benefits from 4WD.

 

[jenkinsph]

I also would vote for the 4x4 tractors, if what you feel you need is the 5045 then get the 5045E. The 4x4 tractors are much less likely to get stuck from my experience.