Traction MFWD or 2wd?

[kevinwak]

While I have not personaly driven a MWFD tractor, I have had tons of experience with 2wd tractors.
On our farm we have a Case 4890 which is a true 4wd with 4 wheel steer. It is mainly used for tillage. Other then that we have a fleet of 2wd tractors and they can do tremendous amounts of work and have huge traction. The only things I can see the MFWD being a benefit in would be a loader tractor, on hills, or in mud or something where you just need tires in a different spot that can pull you through.
One of our 2wd tractors is a case 1570 with loaded dual tires. This tractor has pulled a 50' hoe seed drill with no traction issues seeding 1000+ acres yearly for the past 20 years. It is also used to pull a 90' harrow packer and a 130' sprayer. On the occasion where the 4wd tractor breaks down this has also pulled a 50' vibrashank cultivator or a 40' deeptillage cultivator with no issues. It just isn't as good on fuel as the 4wd with the cultivators, so that is why it isnt used more regularily for that.
Farm tractors have huge traction, even the 2wd ones. I have pulled out a stuck 4wd pickup truck, that another 4wd pickup couldnt pull out, with a 40 horse power Case 400 2wd tractor.
But then again we have no hills, our fields are dry during spraying season and we, as with most of the farms around here, have a wheel loader (gravel loader) to do our loader work.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

While I have not personaly driven a MWFD tractor, I have had tons of experience with 2wd tractors.
On our farm we have a Case 4890 which is a true 4wd with 4 wheel steer. It is mainly used for tillage. Other then that we have a fleet of 2wd tractors and they can do tremendous amounts of work and have huge traction. The only things I can see the MFWD being a benefit in would be a loader tractor, on hills, or in mud or something where you just need tires in a different spot that can pull you through.
One of our 2wd tractors is a case 1570 with loaded dual tires. This tractor has pulled a 50' hoe seed drill with no traction issues seeding 1000+ acres yearly for the past 20 years. It is also used to pull a 90' harrow packer and a 130' sprayer. On the occasion where the 4wd tractor breaks down this has also pulled a 50' vibrashank cultivator or a 40' deeptillage cultivator with no issues. It just isn't as good on fuel as the 4wd with the cultivators, so that is why it isnt used more regularily for that.
Farm tractors have huge traction, even the 2wd ones. I have pulled out a stuck 4wd pickup truck, that another 4wd pickup couldnt pull out, with a 40 horse power Case 400 2wd tractor.
But then again we have no hills, our fields are dry during spraying season and we, as with most of the farms around here, have a wheel loader (gravel loader) to do our loader work.

For tillage work, FWA tractors are more efficient then 2wd tractors. Yes, 2wd tractors work and have worked for years and still have their place but FWA are well worth the investment for tillage applications.

Just think how well your 2wd tractors do. Now picture those tractors having the front 2 wheels helping pull the load. How can that not help increase efficiency while still decrease wheel slippage which leads to tire wear. So your using less fuel for the same task and getting more life out of your tires in the process. Thats the advantage FWA has in tillage applications.

 

[MWRR]

I totally agree with what others have said in that the attachments are more of a limiting factor in turning in the hay fields than the tractor. One of the things that amazed me about my new 5105M was how short it turned.....shorter than my old 544IH 2wheel tractor. If you have rolling or hilly fields it would be useful. It's like buying a 4wd pickup truck......once you've had one you wouldn't be happy going back to a 2wheel. Just my $.02.