Four wheel drive??

[Kelvin]

Re: Four wheel drive?? - Safer...

I'll address the safety issue since no one else has.

The 4wd, if used, is much safer than 2wd. If you have any hilly terrain, the 4wd is the only way to get 4-wheel braking. Several people, including myself, have "wild ride" confessions on this board where the wild ride occurred as a result of starting down a hill and accidentally leaving the tractor in 2wd. These type incidents are much more likely with a loaded FEL.

Kelvin

 

[Farmerjohn]

Many thanks to all the kind people who have answered my question about 4WD! This decision has been giving me many sleepless nights, but now I feel much better informed. Thanks again! John (AKA Farmerjohn)

 

[JRP]

Disadvantages:

Cost is higher.- $3500

More parts - very expensive parts. There are two gears on each front side, one is $750, the other is $250. Plus differential parts. If you added FWD in the future the parts would cost you $20,000. I hope that I'll never need parts. I decided that 20 years from now, if it fails, that I could remove the drive gears and run it as a 2WD. Sort of like stripping the AC out of an old car after it is no longer cost effective to repair.

You can't change the size of the front tires. Tire sizing, as well as tire pressure, is more critical.

The front differential lock has a cable like a bicycle brake cable that is pretty vunerable the way it hangs down. The one tye wrap strap is not enough guard, so someday I'll build one.

I have an M6800SD FWD and am pleased with the tractor. It has turned out to be much more tractor than I need, but I'm glad I got a big one and I'm glad to have FWD.

The question for you is - Are you getting the hydraulic shuttle or the standard shuttle? This is an important decision. I tried the hydraulic shuttle and knew instantly that I didn't want to buy until I drove one with the standard clutch. It was very difficult to inch with the hydraulic shuttle/hydraulic clutch. Almost scarry. Imagine an electriclly operated clutch. Push the button - disengage, release the button - engage. Now think about trying to control the release. The hydraulic clutch might as well been an electric switch mounted to a pedal and was hard to control. I decided to save $2000 and get the manual clutch. Great decision.

Let me know what you get.

If you want to save $3000 and not get FWD, go ahead and save $7500 and get an M4900 2wd. I would not get an M6800 without FWD.

The $21,000 price in an earlier post is a great price. Keep in mind that Kubota has a new loader for the M6800 that is better than LA1002. I think it is LA1162.