Does 4WD Make That Much Difference

   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #11  
When you're sliding down a wet grassy hill, that's not the time to make the decision to buy 4w drive. Note: the brakes only work on the rear wheels and they're the ones sliding.
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #12  
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference
  • Thread Starter
#13  
Both of the roads are on hills and pretty rough. They will have to be graded pretty regular to keep them in good shape. They have ditches cut across them for drainage to stop the washout also.
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #14  
I wouldn't buy a truck or tractor without it--mother nature seems to have a problem with rwd vehicles in Maine 4 mos/year. Vital if you can't wait for suitable conditions to work/get to work.
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #15  
The question is sort of like asking: Is buying insurance really worth it?
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #16  
The last two wheel tractor on our farm was in 1986, it was back on the dealer's lot in under two months replaced by the same model in 4WD. All our 2WD drives are 40-60 years old and used on flat land without a FEL.

No one has used 2WD to farm in my area for years and if you see one it will be an older model hooked up to a grain elevator or irrigation pump. Our renters use an old IH 2WD to unroll poly pipe, but it stays in the barn most of its life.
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #17  
I don't know why they even offer 2wd anymore, it's a tractor and you will need 4WD! Money? Don't buy the tractor until you have saved for the extra amount.
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #18  
I wouldn't get a 2wd for anything larger than a lawnmower unless it was going to be dedicated for something that for sure didn't need 4wd (and even then, I might get 4wd).
Yes, its cheaper, but it will be harder to re-sell and it wont be worth as much without 4wd.

Aaron Z
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #19  
Yesterday I took my B26 out to do a little digging in my dried up pond. I had already dug out a pretty steep ramp and after loading up the FEL, I tried to back up the ramp and all it would do is spin. I tried to turn to the side and drive our forward up a small incline and couldn't make it. It was then that I remembered that I had taken it out of 4 WD. Shifted to 4 WD and came out with fully loaded FEL with no problem. This was with the backhoe mounted on the rear for counterweight. Little traction on the rear when carrying a full load, something that you don't notice when on flat ground. I would have been up the proverbial creek without 4 WD.

4WD doesn't help you when you fall into a quicksand area and sink up to the frame though which I did a few days ago. The only thing keeping the B26 from going over into the pond was the FEL on the ground. Backhoe was no help trying to lift the rear end and pull it around. I had to run to my shop and get my LS P7010 and drag the B26 sideways to get it out of the soft sandy spot. Dragging it sideways caused the tire to pop off the bead and loose all the air plus get small rocks around the bead seat. I managed to get the mud out by whapping it with a rubber hammer while hosing out the debris then prying the bead down with a large screwdriver and blowing out the rocks with air. It took me about an hour to get the tire to seat but still less time than it would have taken to go to a tire shop and have them repair it.

FYI, I drove the tractor back to the shop (about 100yards) on the flat tire. The tire is so stiff that it didn't even look flat other than the tire tread was flat rather than slightly rounded.
 
   / Does 4WD Make That Much Difference #20  
4wd vs 2wd is the difference between getting it done and not getting it done.
There are jobs 2wd are not going to be able to do. 4wd makes a lot more jobs doable.
 

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