Kubota B6100 2wd- but do I need 4wd?

[4570Man]

I have a B7200 which is a real workhorse and nearly indestructible, but I'd hate to go smaller or less HP. Mine is 4x4 and it's the only tractor I've never had stuck. This poor tractor seems to always get the short end of the stick because I have better suited machines for most task.

 

[oosik]

I could probably get by if my Kubota M6040 were 2WD but I KNOW it would mean chaining up for winter snow plowing the driveway. I have a valley in the driveway that ices up on the far side - going out of the valley - and it can be a bear trying to plow snow, maintain directional control and going up the hill & out of the valley - even in 4WD. There are places - on the property - that I could not go if the tractor only had 2WD. H*LL, there are places on the property that I have to avoid even with a 4WD tractor. Those are the areas where I venture with my ATV.

 

[Thomas]

Had B7100HST for number years did lot different chores w/out prombem,for hauling wood don't over weight trailer,might consider front weights,and good set tire chains helps a lot.
Indeed working mule.

 

[Baby Grand]

Wow - 400 hrs is nothing, if the machine was well cared for. We have a 4wd B5100D and its a little bull. As long as you don't hang any weight off the front and you're not trying to climb any hills or pull a trailer through a swamp, you'll probably not need the 4wd. Chains & counterweights/wheel weights will definitely assist any traction challenges you may have with the 2wd. This was our first diesel ag type tractor & intended to replace our Craftsman lawnmower, which kept blowing head gaskets and had 1 engine replacement. My intent was to sell the tractor when we got the B2320, but it's such a great trailer hauler that my wife threw a fit when I proposed the idea.

A few thoughts after 7 or 8 years of use:
The front PTO, which you will need for a front mount snow blower, is almost impossible to find.
With only 12hp (10 at the PTO), you'll need to use that granny gear a lot if you ever do find a snow blower that fits & is in working condition.
The rear 3pt hitch has a lift capacity of only a hair over 300 lbs, which limits the range of 3pt implement that it can use.

As much as I love our little bull, I would recommend another machine if it's going to be your go-to machine for blowing snow and cutting grass.

Good luck & tell us what you decide!

Jim

 

[bspeedy]

Interesting that some folks are fine with 2wd. I've owned a couple 2wd tractors for short periods of time. In fact, I tried one out at my place the other day. In 20 minutes of light work and riding around, I managed to get it stuck enough to have to 'rodeo' it out of a low spot. Very frustrating. A 4wd tractor would not have spun at all in this situation. Not deep mud or anything - just soft dirt and front tires pointed slightly downhill. If I had the choice of a free 2wd tractor or a 4wd tractor that I had to buy, the frustration of 2wd would not be worth the freebie.

 

[Tractorable]

I use a '52 Ford 8N to maintain my 8 acres. I'm frequently traction and/or horsepower limited but I make do. I make do because I recently had to shell out a lot to buy the property and I also need a new car, truck, and to pay for a wedding.

As much as I'd like to buy a new $30k tractor, it's just not in the cards right now. So I make do with 2wd, no diff lock, no independent PTO, no HST, no diesel, no cab, no loader, just like our forefathers did.

The thing about the 8N is that it's cheap, reliable, easy to fix, and with a 630lb bush hog hanging off the back, it gets pretty decent traction.

I'll probably buy a new Yanmar or Kubota next year. It will be like getting into a spaceship compared to what I have now. Then I can worry about where to place my latte macchiato whilst mowing the fields.

 

[California]

I don't think 2wd is a deal killer, It's just a little more limited in where you can go. Since your parcel is flat I would say that aspect is minimal but acceptable. (I've owned a 2wd Yanmar for 14 years now, prefer the smaller 4wd Yanmar I bought more recently, but consider both to be competent tools). And anything made by Kubota will be rugged and trouble free.

However: I think 300 lb maximum capacity of the 3-point really is a deal-killer. That limits you to special tiny implements, you can't use the broad range of stuff you could find on Craigslist etc. Buy that 'almost-a-tractor' and you've painted yourself into a corner.

If it were priced like a 30 year old Craftsman lawn tractor that might make sense but at that real-tractor price - I would keep looking.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

For that price you can get a much bigger tractor, a 2wd tractor without deff lock R1s would be best, turfs will be fine in dry conditions and not too bad in snow.

You could make due but I personally would keep looking.