Operating tractor in 4wd all the time?

[Beaver Cove Deere]

My neighbor farmer has had nothing but problems with the 4WD JD 4720 from farm help always running in 4WD. Yes, they also use it on pavement running between the two properties because they don't have to pay the repair bills.
Kinda sad to be spending money repairing something that could easily be prevented.

 

[3gunr]

The post you posted is correct. R4 industrial tires are horrible at traction in anything OTHER than pavement. I don't have pavement and keep my tractor in 4x4 all the time.

If it causes any problems, I'll gladly pay that repair bill IF or when it comes. I've been in a couple uncontrolled slides and don't plan to do another one....

I have r4s on my two main tractors and am always in wet and muddy conditions. rarely do i have any issues,.Last yr a fellow came to my door and said he was stuck out front in a 10 acre cut corn field . I went over with my 2538 and took a look , Ford f150 4x4 dual cab sunk deep in mud .I was sure i would not budge him but i pulled him out no problem , And i was in the same mud but not as deep. loading my rear tires was a big benefit in traction.

 

[kthompson]

Smokeydog, been a few years since I have been in Knoxville, normally make Pigeon Forge area once of twice a year. Really like your area. Use to run through there about once per year visiting sister(s) that lived in Dayton Ohio for few years. In the area we visit often are glad to be able to shift into four wheel on what some call roads. lol

My truck gets put into 4wd from turning into driveway till leaving, 200Kmiles. Driveway 0.5 mile so has ~20K off-road miles in 25 years. Wife’s car awd. Tractors almost always in 4wd. 450’ elevation change just on my property. 60” rain last year. 4wd required to live in paradise.

 

[robpm]

I keep it disengaged until I need it and then engage it. When I put it away in the garage I always make sure that it is disengaged.

 

[Cranblue]

I’m same as robpm I use as needed !! In western NC the famous red dirt (clay) when dry hard as concrete when wet like eel crap I have R4s I like them running tractor around house areas where I mow but they are not good in heavy mud !! I stay off saturated ground so I don’t make ruts and have to repair them to run zero turn mower.Also as others have stated when turning sharply tractor turns easier and front tires don’t rip up like they can in 4wd.

 

[oosik]

I would guess I use 4WD 5% of the time or less. There is simply no need. My M6040 is quite heavy - 10,100# and gets around the property and driveway just fine in 2WD.

BUT - I DO use it when I need it.

 

[Berlock]

So apparently the SCUT I've ordered drives the fronts faster (ground speed) than the rears when in 4WD to improve steering.
Even so, I believe it still steers worse in 4WD than 2WD.
No wonder they wind-up drivetrains and wear out front tires!

Is that common to all or most machines with optional 4WD?

 

[oosik]

I notice no difference with steering - 4WD or 2WD. One of the ideas being - when you use 4WD the conditions are less than solid, hard ground. Yes, in 4WD the front tires are rotating SLIGHTLY faster than the rear tires. This provides a pulling action and is designed to help extract a vehicle from a less than ideal situation. These conditions allow for wheel slippage and prevent drivetrain wind-up.

I have found that when in really slick conditions - 4WD will keep the vehicle going in a straight line as well as simply "going".

 

[Blue Mule]

Just traded a 22 year old New Holland TC29 that lived its entire life in 4WD and had no issues.

I stay in 4WD constantly because it DOESN'T tear up the grass as bad. In 2WD the rears shred the turf trying to push and pull the weight of the tractor around. In 4WD there is no slippage and no ripped up turf.

 

[Kosmo]

Because my property is 100% hills and I'm never driving on asphalt (even my 3/4 mile switchback driveway is gravel) I'm almost always in 4X.