Converting 2wd to 4wd

[wolc123]

You can get by with a loader on a 2wd, even power steering is not really necessary. The trouble is, once you use one with these features it is very difficult to give them up because they improve performance by such huge margin. As long as you don't know what your missing then everything will be fine.

 

[RoyJackson]

You can get by with a loader on a 2wd, even power steering is not really necessary. The trouble is, once you use one with these features it is very difficult to give them up because they improve performance by such huge margin. As long as you don't know what your missing then everything will be fine.

I used a friend's old Kubota without PS (and a small loader) for a few hours.
Yeah, you can do it...you'll have arms like Popeye in a few months! Maybe that's not a bad thing...

 

[Soundguy]

Just think of it as good cardio workout and upper body. That's what i tell myself when i use my 2 1955 vintage tractors with loaders.... no canopy.. You plenty of the 'sunshine vitamin that way!!

Soundguy

 

[DAP]

You could add the FEL knowing this would not be optimal. Power steering would be of more value then 4WD, IMO. If your tractor doesn't have power steering, I don't think you should add the loader.

For small occasional jobs, I think you could get by without 4WD (or MFWD). Just because my 790 has 4WD doesn't mean I use it for every job (most though). There will be jobs requiring extra work due to the lack of 4WD...just depends if you can live with that.

Once you price out the FEL and hydraulics, you may decide to trade though.

Roy .. I'm gonna have to disagree here. While there will definitely be some usage of the FEL with 2WD, I think the real issue is a safety issue.

Being both pulled and pushed simultaneously with a heavy load in the bucket goes a long way to stabilize. Those are impressive load's on Chris's Fords, but they wouldn't make for warm fuzzies if the ground was uneven or rutted ... (as in not flat) ..

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy .. I'm gonna have to disagree here. While there will definitely be some usage of the FEL with 2WD, I think the real issue is a safety issue.

Being both pulled and pushed simultaneously with a heavy load in the bucket goes a long way to stabilize. Those are impressive load's on Chris's Fords, but they wouldn't make for warm fuzzies if the ground was uneven or rutted ... (as in not flat) ..

That's cool...we all disagree at some time.
But...my opinion...it would be safe enough with a modicum of common sense.