Why 4 Wheel Drive
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One of my favorite features of a 4wd is, when doing operations such as early season plowing or disking where there is risk of getting stuck even with 4wd, you can just leave the loader and bucket on the tractor. Using that, I have been able to push or pull myself out of anything I have gotten into in the last 4 years of mucky-bottomland spring tillage. Unlike a 2wd, the extra weight of that loader on the front does not hurt you a bit with a 4wd. A 2wd would be lucky to even manage to pull a plow or disk if there was a heavy loader on the front in the conditions where I typically operate. They say 4wd will just get you stuck deeper, but I wouldnt know that since I have not been stuck since getting a 4wd 4 years ago. Before that, it was 3-4 times a season on average. The spring planting is getting done much earlier also without the need to wait until all the wet spots are completely dried up. The fuel savings could not have come at a better time with the crazy prices over the last few years. I am just mad I waited so long to get one when I think of all the time and money I wasted by sticking with 2wd's for so long.
LBrown59
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20 20
Elite Member
I have 4wd and only use it once 2wd starts slipping. I can go places with my 25hp 4wd that a guy down the road with his 50hp 2wd drive can't touch. IMO It's not so much about having 4wd verses 2wd drive it's wether or not if the operator knows how to use it. Like some one esle pointed out when a 4wd gets stuck it is STUCK!!! Kind of like these yuppies with there all wheels drive SUV's and such, they think they're invincible.
pat32rf
Veteran Member
Once the snow is gone and the mud has dried enough to remove the chains I quite often use 2wd for running up or down my gravel driveway, unless I am towing or carrying a load. If I'm on a hill, outback or on uneven footing then its 4wd.....
Charlesaf3
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Whenever my tractor's performance is really bad, I look down and see the 4wd lever got kicked into 2wd. Its amazing how much difference it makes
I would not only never buy a 2wd tractor, I can't see a situation where I'll ever take one of my tractors out of 4wd to use 2wd. Amazing how much of a performance difference in all situations (note - I don't drive on paved roads)
I would not only never buy a 2wd tractor, I can't see a situation where I'll ever take one of my tractors out of 4wd to use 2wd. Amazing how much of a performance difference in all situations (note - I don't drive on paved roads)
I will often deliberately START something doubtful in 2WD, then shift to 4WD to get me out.
"Out" often means back the way I came.
If things are looking bad and look as if they will be getting worse I do NOT use 4WD to get me "through", that is the basis of the "4 times as stuck and 4 times farther in" joke.
"Out" often means back the way I came.
If things are looking bad and look as if they will be getting worse I do NOT use 4WD to get me "through", that is the basis of the "4 times as stuck and 4 times farther in" joke.
I was askin a State Dot supervisor, who looks after the highway mowings one day why the fleet was 90% 2wd. He said one reason, the guys who were making $15 hr to drive $100k worth of equp. wouldn't get in to much trouble. He said one worker that had just started, drove down a vertical 8ft ditch that had 3 feet of grey clay in the bottom, thought 4x4 would get him out.
I mentioned it at the end of my post about 3 posts before yours
No offence to anyone, but i often wonder if anyone reads all the posts before commenting . Just seems the same answers are given over & over . No big deal, just curious .
. Bob
LD1
Epic Contributor
No offence to anyone, but i often wonder if anyone reads all the posts before commenting . Just seems the same answers are given over & over . No big deal, just curious .
I have often wondered the same
LD1
Epic Contributor
No offence to anyone, but i often wonder if anyone reads all the posts before commenting . Just seems the same answers are given over & over . No big deal, just curious.
shane
Gold Member
I was just being a wise guy when I asked "has anybody mentioned braking?". I was thinking of the improved braking as I was reading through the posts and was going to mention it if no one else had. Toward the end of my reading before I posted it was mentioned three times. I just could not resist.
4wd is about efficiency. It痴 the best way to get power to the ground. Back when I worked on a farm we could do the same work with a 85 hp 4wd that a 105 hp 2 wd drive could do except PTO applications. It would pull our disk and plows without duals that our 2wd had to have weight and duals. When towing if the tractor is set up properly you will actually be pulling down on the front end (no not always but a lot of the time) this allows the front end to help. Usually 4wd has a larger front tires and greater floatation. We could leave the tractor set up much lighter and do the same work or heavier and do much more. Lighter reduces wear and tear on the machine and the ground. Most 4wd have heavier front axles and can handle a loader much easier.
As far a braking unless you have a machine that kicks the 4wd drive on under braking it would only help off road at lower speeds. Most 4wd do not recommend leaving it in over certain speeds.
As far a braking unless you have a machine that kicks the 4wd drive on under braking it would only help off road at lower speeds. Most 4wd do not recommend leaving it in over certain speeds.
Lasgambler
Gold Member
Same here. Everything I own is 4 wheel drive with the exception of the Motorhome and I wish it was too. Terry
Lyrch75
Bronze Member
Saw that when my neighbors got their first 4wd tractor.
They had always bought 105-125 hp 2wd tractors for tillage, so they got their first 4wd in this range as well. They would end up bogging the tractor down before they would spin the tires. Next tractor was a few horsies more.
For the CUT/UT I would not have a 2wd. Loader work, mowing on rough hilly land, or plowing snow; the 4wd really makes the work easier and safer.
jimmyj
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You guys crack me up.
I also have a CUT and it's the first time I have had 4wd. It is GREAT just to be able to have choices. I have found it indespensible for snow work and also when doing muddy loader work. It just gives you an extra edge, particularly with a smaller tractor. I usually use the unit in 2wd but there is no way I could have done all the work I've had to with just 2wd.
I think it is completely worth it.
NOTE: I do not do any tilling or haying, so I would think 2wd is ok for those applications since most of my farming buddies use 2wd for that sort of stuff, they just have bigger tractors.
LD1
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Has anyone mentioned breaking yet?
SPYDERLK
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No...Has anyone mentioned breaking yet?
But sometimes they do break when the front drive is not designed with appropriate margin to take full engine transmitted torque in low gear at least for short periods. In loader applications, a heavy lift-push situation can virtually stand the tractor on its nose. Tremendous weight and traction on the front.Anyway, I think the versatile traction advantage of 4wd is great just by itself. Add the others; efficiency in tillage and [similarly] climbing over obstacles, 4 wheel braking, steering on side slopes, being able to back up even with a fel load, etc, and the greater initial cost becomes justified many times over.
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