Loader -- no 4WD

[ljh2]

Zoomie,
As ken said if you have an 8000 pound tractor with a 3-5 thousand pound backhoe hanging off the back of it, you can find a LOT more traction than your typical CUT. You'll also notice that those dedicated TLB's use the hoe for most of their serious digging and use the loader to move dirt and other stuff. You'll notice that they make those TLB's in both 2 and 4 wheel drive models, it depends a lot on your typical work environment. A high percentage of the 2wd models are used in situations where the tractor rarely leaves improved surfaces (packed gravel, asphalt, concrete, etc...) They are used to load trucks in the rock/gravel yard, digging holes alongside roadways to access water/sewer/electrical lines, and such. Not that 2wd TLB's aren't ever used off-road, but if the operator tends to do a lot of work in mud or on slopes, they would choose 4wd in a minute, other things being equal. Of course other things aren't equal, 4wd carries a bit higher price tag.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
In my case when I'm digging with the FEL my front wheels are off the ground 95% of the time so it don't matter if I have it in 4 wheel drive or not. I steer with the brakes. So most of the time I stay in 2 wheel drive unless the ground is very soft and I need the traction for moving after the bucket is full. If I were you I would install the FEL you will be glad you did.

Charlie

 

[slowrev]

4wd tractors can overturn more easially with a raised loaded bucket than a 2wd one. The extra traction can put you in dangerous positions more easially than a 2wd. Backing up a hill with a load, the 2wd will loose traction usually before the slope gets too bad, a 4WD will push you up to where the tractor can become unstable.
Not picking on 4wd but they are different than 2wd and behave differently.

 

[Deerlope]

There are more 2wd's out there with loaders than 4WD's and you can bet on that.

 

[slowzuki]

A loader on a 2wd is helpful yes!

Having a heavy loader over the skinny unpowered front tires really hinders a tractors performance in soft ground conditions.

I've tried working in the woods in 2wd with the loader on and well /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Nowadays, most loaders ARE quick detach so you can lose the loader when needed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

To the people suggesting 2wd loader operations are safer, well I just don't know about you guys /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. 2wd with correct counterweights is safe for loader use, but a 4wd in the same situation is safer. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ken

 

[Woodbeef]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 4wd tractors can overturn more easially with a raised loaded bucket than a 2wd one.
)</font>

Huh? Could you please explain that statement?

 

[AndyMA]

I won't explain that unless he referred to possibly wider wheel stance. I will say that at least on my machines, loaded R1 tires in no way come close to enough rear weight. As I've said before, on my Ford 2120 (43hp), Ford specifies, loaded tires, wheel weights and a heavy rear implement for loader use. The weight of the rear implement get multipied by 1.5 because of where it hangs when doing your calculations. If I try to run with no rear implement, the rear tires come off the ground almost every time I try and break out a bucket near full (very fast and ver scary). Use plenty of rear weight.

Andy

 

[Rick Jay]

neilly2,

As others have said, you can certainly use a loader on a 2WD tractor, but it's very important to have sufficient ballast. I would do more than just load the rear tires. I good box blade or rear blade would not be too excessive.

Someone mentioned that the front wheels come up when digging in the pile anyway, so why use 4WD? Well, while that's true, where the 4WD is handy is when the bucket is raised. Now the extra traction of the front wheels can be quite advantageous.

Something I don't think was mentioned was braking. Most tractors, and I assume yours is one of them, only have brakes on the rear wheels. If you are driving down a slope with a heavy load in the bucket, the traction available to the rear wheels will be reduced, and that means braking is reduced. On a 4WD tractor, by engaging 4WD, applying the rear brakes does transfer some braking (through the drive train) to the front wheels. If you're operating on slopes, keep this in mind and be careful.

Lastly, maybe you should see what you could get for a trade in on a new 4WD tractor. Your loader cost won't be any more...and possibly less in a package deal...and interest rates are still pretty low so it might be a good time to trade up.

Good Luck.

~Rick

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

One of my brothers bought a 5105 JD and one bought a 5103 JD. The 5105 has MFWD and the cost was about $3000 more over the 2wd 5103. I grew up on 2wd tractors, but if you want to use your tractor for some serious loader work, you won't regret spending the extra cash for MFWD! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

If you are backing up a hill the 2wd tractor with loader will spin at a certain point and not raise the rear as high ( shifting the CG forward) as a 4wd one will ( with the front tires pushing you farther up the hill. A bit more likely to fall on its nose or over sidewayse iw you are not driving straight back up the hill. Been there done that. Have a friend that had a JD 2wd with loader, bought about the same JD with 4wd. Put it on its nose 3 or 4 times in the first week till he learned the difference.