New Owner, Dumb Question

[DanielVT]

Simple question - why would I ever want to take my tractor out of 4WD? It's never going to go anywhere paved.

 

[Runner]

Mine tears up the yard more when mowing 4WD. That being said, my yard is hilly enough that I need 4WD all the time to get around. If I could, I would mow in 2WD.

Also, my steering is a little heavier in 4WD.

Finally, being in 4WD wears the tires faster due to the slippage required when turning.

 

[Mousefield]

I have used 4WD only a few times on my tractor since I got it about 2 years ago. There is more wear and tear on the drive train and you would use a bit more fuel. Also if I turn when it is in 4WD it tends to chew up the ground a bit more. It's like having your car or truck in 4WD drive all the time, why would you?

 

[Grandad4]

If you use your bush hog to mow pasture, etc., on basically flat ground, you may find the tractor is more nimble with the FEL removed and operating in 2wd. You can set the cruise control and use the left/right brakes to assist with sharp turns.

Otherwise, not much reason for using 2wd when off-road. Probably does save a bit of wear 'n tear on the drivetrain, but it would probably take you 20 years of operation before anyone would be able to measure it.

You probably want to keep off your lawn as much as possible with an L4400 regardless of 2wd or 4wd.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Simple question - why would I ever want to take my tractor out of 4WD? It's never going to go anywhere paved.

Wear and tear.

It's the same questions as "Why would I ever shut my tractor off?". If it's running, it's wearing.

Just for reference, try this experiment: Back your tractor in a sharp turn in 4wd, and try taking it out of 4wd. You'll likely find that the lever is much harder to shift than if you've just driven straight a short distance. To me this illustrates that you can still build up quite a bit of tesion in your driveline even on soft ground.

 

[TripleR]

You aren't going to notice a whole lot of difference one way or the other beyond what has been mentioned. I prefer to run mine in 2WD when 4WD is not needed, but can't say as I have a really good reason for it.

 

[woodchuckie]

I have to travel to different areas with mine so I take it out of 4wd to travel and I also like to forget it's not in 4wd and find out while working with it how much better 4wd is.

 

[Usta]

Everything said so far is correct. No need to get excess wear on driveline and tires if you do not need it. Some need it and some do not.

With the steep hills and slopes on my property, I am always in low range and 4WD. Even when mowing the lawn I need 4WD. I tried mowing the lawn in 2WD and went for some wild rides down the slopes on the lawn. 4WD traction is needed just as much going down hill as it is needed for climbing hills.

In the 300 hours on my tractor, maybe an hour was in 2WD when driving on the town highway.

 

[firefighter jim]

If your tasks at hand don't require 4 wheel drive, there is no reason to use it.

 

[Usta]

I have to travel to different areas with mine so I take it out of 4wd to travel and I also like to forget it's not in 4wd and find out while working with it how much better 4wd is.

Somewhat similar is on the very rare occation I or the wife (I always blame the wife ) put the tractor in high range and then later go to move dirt with FEL and wonder what broke because It lost all the digging power. I once worked for about a half hour before I realized it was in high range.

 

[nolefan]

I have never taken mine out of 4W drive after I almost lost control of the tractor shortly after having it delivered! I Started down my rather steep gravel drive with the loader on and nothing on the 3pt. As I went to apply the brakes the rear wheels began to hop and skid. Fortunately I got the tractor stopped. If the tractor had been in 4W drive I believe the front tires would have offered a little more rolling resistance and control. Ever since then I keep an attachment on the 3pt and the tractor in 4W drive for control and traction since on my property I am usually going uphill or downhill.

 

[Beltzington]

It is a paradox - tight turns will tear up some grass in 4WD however, a spinning rear tire will tear up more grass in 2WD. Constant 4WD use will wear the driveline while constant shifting will wear out the t-case. Mowing my hilly pasture I leave it in 4WD drive until I feel like I should be more farmer like and then I put it in 2WD and change speed ranges a couple times. Joking aside 4WD is awesome and I would not be happy without it.

 

[Chilly807]

You probably want to keep off your lawn as much as possible with an L4400 regardless of 2wd or 4wd.

What he said ^^^^^ :thumbsup:

Chilly

 

[Chilly807]

Like some others have said directly or indirectly... 2wd means 2 wheel brakes. Period.

4wd means 4 wheel brakes, since the drive train is unified. Locking up the rear wheels means the fronts lock too, the braking force is transmitted through the driveshaft. You'll notice it's harder to lock the brakes up when in 4wd, this is why.

Slippery downhill conditions call for 4wd if you have it.

4wd Honda ATVs are covered in warning stickers describing this situation. They say something like, "With 4WD, activating any brake control results in braking at all 4 wheels" It baffled me for a while, then I tried sliding the rear end around a corner using the rear brakes, and the front end slid as well. ATV I mean. Mine is full time 4wd. Hard on the shoulders steering in the woods all day.

Chilly

 

[mapmaker]

I live on the side of a hill in VT and I do not take it out of 4wd. I tried a few times when I first got the tractor but I found out very quickly for my property keeping it in 4wd was best. I have had the same issues as others have stated about braking going down the driveway with a bucket full of rocks. Everyone's situation is unique and you need to decide for yourself which way work the best for you.

 

[LBrown59]

I have to travel to different areas with mine so I take it out of 4wd to travel and I also like to forget it's not in 4wd and find out while working with it how much better 4wd is.

I leave mine in 4WD cause if you loose traction going down hill there hain't no brakes on the front wheels.
That's not a wild ride i want to take.

 

[pat32rf]

Once the snow is gone, I'm in and out of 4wd all the time. I didn't used to bother but I've put over 4000 hrs on that drive train in the past 8 years and if it breaks I'd be stuck.....If there is no tension on the drive train its just a slight movement of my left heel to go in and out of 4wd.