When to use four wheel drive?

[houstonscott]

I’ve put the L3800 in four wheel drive and don’t ever plan to change that unless on pavement.

 

[donaldj]

4WD is best used to get OUT of where 2WD got you. Not to go further. =)

4WD is often needed, though, when pulling ground engaging attachments.

 

[greggyy]

I leave mine in 2WD 99% of the time, but I know I知 in the minority. My land is billiard table flat and dry most of the time. My machine is also 68hp and 7k lbs with R1s. Traction isn稚 an issue unless it痴 wet.
I only engage the 4WD when needed, or when I am putting a lot of weight on the FEL. Being a power shuttle, I use the turning brakes quite a bit when doing field work. The turning bakes don稚 do much if I leave it in 4WD.

Your not alone, I am on undulating land, but no FEL, but at times 4WD is prudent or reqd, however forget the braking to assist turning if 4WD is left on, you will just wear out one brake

So I leave it off when not required.

And frankly, when I have overcome the traction of one wheel such as when pulling old stumps, I had lost it with 2 & with 4, so was only a matter of digging more holes when engaged and locking rears in that situation. So there is specific circumstances where you will and won't use it, not as simple as just leaving it on by default all the time unless your circumstance is near always identical, such as single use task for one tractor.

 

[greggyy]

Really boils down to terrain and tractor and use. No right answer.

Yep..

 

[greggyy]

Seeing there is a number of people who seem to just want to have 4WD engaged no matter what (except hard surfaces scare them)

It has me thinking.....

1 is there just a lot of people that do not understand all aspects of the tractor/s

or

2 Do a lot of later tractors with newer transmissions have more like an AWD system, not a true locked 3-4WD

 

[ovrszd]

Seeing there is a number of people who seem to just want to have 4WD engaged no matter what (except hard surfaces scare them)

It has me thinking.....

1 is there just a lot of people that do not understand all aspects of the tractor/s

or

2 Do a lot of later tractors with newer transmissions have more like an AWD system, not a true locked 3-4WD

None of the tractors discussed in this thread have AWD.

I'm going with #1.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm going with #1.

I'm not in the #1 or #2 group. I think I pretty well understand most all the 'aspects' of my tractor. I have definitely pushed and learned the limits of my BX25D with various implements on or off.

Significant slopes, loose dirt, and 2WD don't get along... since I am generally on a hill and most always off road, I'd rather not be shifting back and forth multiple times, making short runs moving material. Seems that would/could put just as much wear on the tractor as leaving it mostly in 4WD IMO. I don't see the reason to 'skimp' on use of 4WD in my case.

 

[ovrszd]

I'll simply go back 50-ish posts and say again, do you shift your truck into 4wd the moment you leave pavement?

 

[/pine]

If their use was not required by law I bet there are people that would not use seat belts whenever they didn't think they needed them...just to save wear and tear on the mechanism...:laughing:

 

[4570Man]

I don’t think the ratio is quite right in my L3800 despite having factory tires. You can hear the transmission working harder in 4wd. I only use 4wd in it when it’s needed. My other machines I don’t worry as much about, but I still don’t use 4wd when in asphalt or mowed grass. I don’t see any good reason to lock it in forever and I’m not a flat lander.