Front End Loader on a 2WD Tractor?

[jlsmith]

Don't get too mad at me... for a while we were posting back-and-forth without seeing our latest comments.

I noticed we have been responding to older comments!

Not mad actuly enjoying the conversations between us and yea i noticed that to. :thumbsup:

 

[rjkobbeman]

Not mad actuly enjoying the conversations between us and yea i noticed that to. :thumbsup:

I noticed it got really quiet in this thread -- except for us. The topic stray must have bored everyone else!

 

[Duffster]

Well, it must either be different tires or different toe/camber/caster. Limited slip front diffs offer some resitance in turning... so that might contribute... but I wouldn't think it does much. Tires probably make the biggest difference. I have seen OLD 2wd tractors with the classic old front tires... but do the modern 2wd have those?

I feel bad for the OP. We have gotten WAY off topic.

I would get a FEL no matter what.

Older as in the classic 3 rib?

Our new tractors have 4 rib that are even better than the 3 rib. A diamond tread would be ideal for loader work in the hay field.

 

[jlsmith]

I noticed it got really quiet in this thread -- except for us. The topic stray must have bored everyone else!

I guess so but i enjoyed it. Beats sitting here at work lol. It is nice to get on here and have conversations like this and not get mad at each other. It just boils down to what a person prefers.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Unless you are old enough and followed the industry trends carefully, many people may misunderstand WHY 4wd became popular, even though its been around for years. It first became popular through the import market, though companies like Oliver had it much earlier. The imports had great little tractors, but when it came to farm duties, they did not have much weight, and even in many cases had poor weight distribution. When 4 wd became popular, it improved the usability of the tractors and their applications. Still today, many of the "import" tractors do not have the same weight as more traditional "farm" tractor brands. Now of course 4wd is everywhere, and people think its indispensable. I like 4wd. I am not against it, and of course, I will still point to weight distribution issues. The problem with 4wd loaders is that people come to depend upon the front to haul the working load. The very people that cite safety are likely to try to back an overloaded bucket out of a hole with all the weight on the front and the rear tires in the air. The little 4wd tractors are especially prone to broken axles and leaky front components, and other issues relating to balljoints and axle mounts because of this. Larger ones are not as prone, but I have seen many a half shaft snapped in two because of poor loader operator skills. (Not to mention raising the tractor off the ground when digging, then slamming the spinning front tires down into the dirt to "bite" in.)

ONE critical issue involved with front end loaders on tractors is turning radius. 2wd tractors typically (unless it is some super steer or something, even then tracking can be off) turn tighter and are more maneuverable than your average 4wd. This makes them great in close quarters. Turning on hills is not an issue in many regions of this country.

My point was that a 2wd loader is better than NO loader at all, and in many cases can perform as good as a 4wd, depending upon the circumstance.

 

[jlsmith]

Unless you are old enough and followed the industry trends carefully, many people may misunderstand WHY 4wd became popular, even though its been around for years. It first became popular through the import market, though companies like Oliver had it much earlier. The imports had great little tractors, but when it came to farm duties, they did not have much weight, and even in many cases had poor weight distribution. When 4 wd became popular, it improved the usability of the tractors and their applications. Still today, many of the "import" tractors do not have the same weight as more traditional "farm" tractor brands. Now of course 4wd is everywhere, and people think its indispensable. I like 4wd. I am not against it, and of course, I will still point to weight distribution issues. The problem with 4wd loaders is that people come to depend upon the front to haul the working load. The very people that cite safety are likely to try to back an overloaded bucket out of a hole with all the weight on the front and the rear tires in the air. The little 4wd tractors are especially prone to broken axles and leaky front components, and other issues relating to balljoints and axle mounts because of this. Larger ones are not as prone, but I have seen many a half shaft snapped in two because of poor loader operator skills. (Not to mention raising the tractor off the ground when digging, then slamming the spinning front tires down into the dirt to "bite" in.)

ONE critical issue involved with front end loaders on tractors is turning radius. 2wd tractors typically (unless it is some super steer or something, even then tracking can be off) turn tighter and are more maneuverable than your average 4wd. This makes them great in close quarters. Turning on hills is not an issue in many regions of this country.

My point was that a 2wd loader is better than NO loader at all, and in many cases can perform as good as a 4wd, depending upon the circumstance.

Mark I think u said it verry well and i agree 100%:thumbsup:

 

[sweettractors]

+1 for Mark. Ken Sweet

 

[TripleR]

How can you?? As soon as you pick up a load in an FEL your weight distribution changes greatly. That's why 2wd tractors don't stop going down hills with a load nor are able to back up any incline with a load in the bucket.

Actually, I was talking about the pickup v Jeep; should have made myself clear.

 

[TripleR]

Most of the farm tractors here, with FEL only move round bales of hay, We hardley ever sell a bucket with a loader anymore. Don't need the extra traction for feeding cows rolled hay here. I have a new 6 ft Allied QT bucket that has not been on in 15 years. Ken Sweet

We don't have very many cattle operations in my area and those that are are in the hills, so maybe that influences what they buy. The only 2WD drive tractors I see are out in the flat lands.

These are the type I see for the most part.

 

[sweettractors]

We don't have very many cattle operations in my area and those that are are in the hills, so maybe that influences what they buy. The only 2WD drive tractors I see are out in the flat lands.

These are the type I see for the most part.

I see the big disc harrow in your picture. In this area a 12 ft disc is big. Ken Sweet