pros and cons to running a 4WD tractor in 2WD

[neverenough]

Mine's in 4WD all the time unless I'm on the lawn or pavement. I'd be interested in seeing some manufacturer's suggestions in regards to this topic.

BR

Quote from my John Deere operators manual,

"USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE... NOTE: Use four-wheel drive when more traction is needed. Tires will wear faster if four-wheel drive is alway's engaged.

Four-wheel drive enables the powertrain to drive all four wheels for improved traction on difficult ground conditions. Four-wheel drive can be engaged and disengaged on-the-go with light loads and on low-traction surfaces."

I use the 4wd on my tractor about 80% of the time with the snowblower on, and when ever it is needed in the spring, summer, and fall months. I never leave it in 4wd if it is not needed. I've seen too many guy's go into the soft parts of fields with front wheel assist tractors locked in and bury them, and I have to go get my true 4wd 8 wheeler to get them out. Going into a situation in 4wd makes you lose sight of your limitations. Once your stuck in 4wd, it's all over, better call for a tow.

 

[Prashantnagar1994]

hello Everyone
I am bringing a New Tractor of John deere 5055.
but i am confused about which one i should be selected 4wd or 2wd.
Please suggest me.
Best Regards
Prashant Nagar
Project Maneger at EM3 Agri Services India

 

[RoyJackson]

I use the front wheel assist very little...maybe 20% of the time when I have the loader installed and doing work requiring the loader.
As far as snow removal, if the chains are on, don't really need 4WD most of the time.

There's no "black and white" answer...it all depends on one's situation.

 

[Dead Horse]

Mowing on slopes, logging in mud. plowing snow

 

[SPYDERLK]

Mowing on slopes, logging in mud. plowing snow

... Backing up with a loader. Going down a steep hill with a loader.

 

[crazyal]

One thing to be aware of is that most tractors (if any) don't have front brakes. If you don't have enough weight on the rear of your tractor (no ballast in the tires and a light or no attachment) you could find yourself quickly in trouble going down a hill. The rear tires will just skid offering you no braking force. Normally I leave my tractor in 4wd unless I'm on pavement or if I'm trying to protect lawn from being torn up.

 

[Texasmark]

For many operations like soil tillage, fuel consumption is significantly increased when operating in 2wd. This is because a lot of power is wasted pushing a "dead" axle thru the ground. If you ever want to check this out, notice how much more throttle it takes to pull a disk when you are in 2wd than it does in when in 4wd. Most folks here realize that fwd lets a smaller tractor do the work of a larger 2wd. Smaller tractor, same work=less fuel. If you have fwd the only time you should not use it is on the road. As fuel costs have risen, the popularity of 2wd has decreased, especially for ag operations.

My Branson is my first ever 4wd vehicle. In a tractor I noticed a lot of smaller 4wd tractors being used around here. I had a 100 PTO hp JD. My Branson is 57. I have one instance where I can pull a cultivator assembly with the Branson that I pulled with the JD and just as fast. I run B1 or B2 out of a range of C4 gears @2600 rpm pulling this with only 57 PTO 4wd. Not bad. When I forget to engage 4wd when plowing it only takes a few feet to realize I forgot it.

I totally agree that the extra drive axle makes a big tractor out of a little one and my little one is much better on diesel.

Mark

 

[skyhook]

I never knew there was a 2wd on mine.

 

[Capricious]

"..I totally agree that the extra drive axle makes a big tractor out of a little one and my little one is much better on diesel..."



According to my operator's manual, the 4WD drawbar pull on mine is almost exactly 50% greater than when in 2WD: 1301 lbs vs. 860 lbs.

 

[buickanddeere]

How did such a simple non problem become so complicated ?