Traction MFWD or 2wd?

SVaughn · Dec 30, 2011

I am trying to decide whether in the future to buy a 2wd or a MFWD tractor for my farm jobs such as mowing and rolling hay, chisel plowing, dialing, and planting corn. I am thinking that it will be a small row crop tractor around 110 pto horsepower. The question at mind is whether or not MFWD tractors take more space to turn around. I have heard from some that it doesn't take much more room to turn around, and others that say that "4wd's have their place, but not in front of a roll baler, because you have to drive them to town and back to turn them around." What do you all think?

Duffster · Dec 30, 2011

This is always interesting.

dialing,?

glc24 · Dec 30, 2011

Hello S and WELCOME TO TBN

I don't know much about the larger stuff,but my neighbor has a 6430 and a 6830,and I've seen the round baler (I take it that is a roll baler?) behind both of them,and it sure doesn't seem to be any big deal in turning radius.

Greg

radman1 · Dec 30, 2011

I farm and have variety of 2wd and mfwd tractors. I have a case-in maxxum 125 which is the size you are considering. 2wd drive will turn much tighter. Small mfwd's such a a CUT or smaller utility tractor turn tightly. Ag tractors of the size you are considering take a lot of room to turn in my opinion. Bigger front tire will hit the frame or engine cover if set them to turn tight. My large ag mfwd's will actually turn tighter. Large mfwd tractors have sculptured frames/engines and allow the wheel to tuck under the motor. However, lots of guys use mfwd for haying. Just need to skip every other row of hay. You can set mfwd to wider width and turn better but that is not good for row crops. Mfwd will handle a loader better.

You mentioned tillage work like chisel plowing. 2wd without dials will have significant slippage. Mfwd will do much, much better. You won't want dials for row crops if you spray or cultivate.

If you were just haying, 2 wd would be fine. If you want to do it all, consider mfwd. Go drive a mfwd to see it it will work.

Mfwd will cost more, but the resale will almost make back the difference in the greater cost of mfwd.

SVaughn · Dec 30, 2011

glc24 said:
Hello S and WELCOME TO TBN

I don't know much about the larger stuff,but my neighbor has a 6430 and a 6830,and I've seen the round baler (I take it that is a roll baler?) behind both of them,and it sure doesn't seem to be any big deal in turning radius.
Greg

You're right, where I am from we commonly call round balers roll balers

SVaughn · Dec 30, 2011

Duffster said:
This is always interesting.

dialing,?

I meant to say disking. I am not the best at typing with small keys

SVaughn · Dec 30, 2011

radman1 mentioned earlier that I should drive a MFWD to see if it would work. My neighbor used to use a John Deere 7210 MFWD with loader to roll hay, but bought a 6615 2wd a few years ago and now uses the 6615 for rolling, drilling seed, etc. When I asked his daughter why he did so, she told me that the MFWD would "bounce" too much and that it was harder to steer.

bigbull338 · Dec 30, 2011

yes buy a 4x4 no question about it.most all of the new tractors sold now are 4x4s.the only time a 2wd is sold is if its used during the summer.

beenthere · Dec 30, 2011

SVaughn
:welcome:

Where are you from?
If no hills, then maybe debatable. But if hills, then MFWD.
Some of these newer tractors have lighter mass in the rearend. FEL needs ballast back there, and MFWD is real useful if you have FEL.

Also, 2wd resale will be much less if/when that time rolls around.

Rolling hay here is getting it into a windrow to bale, with round baler or square.