Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum How important is 4 wd?

Definitely 4wd. There's a hole for everything but 4wd and differential lock has saved me a bunch of times. One time bush hogging around my pond I went down a wet steep area more than I should have and the 4wd and diff lock got me out when tires started spinning. Saved me embarrassment and a hassle.

You should be able to perform almost anything you care to with the 2wd. 4wd is great for steep slopes, really digging the loader into stuff, and if you are trying to plow deep or in unbroken ground. If money is not an issue buy the 4wd. If trying to save some funds just use common sense and don't run the thing off some pond dam or in a mud hole. Most of the work we do is with tractors 35-90 horse. In the small 35 tractors 4wd is really needed on hills or with heavy discs or any plowing. But I'd rather have a 50-60 horse 2wd than a 4wd 35-40 horse tractor. However, in the 80 horse 4wd you spend more time worrying about breaking implements than you do worrying about not getting enough bite (and that can be a bigger problem). So, in short. If your a hobby farmer/wildlife land manager and can't perform the task with a 50-60 horse 2wd then you are probably doing something you really don't have to. Kind of like a truck. Most of us don't really need a 1 ton truck, but if you can afford it it sure is nice to know you aren't limited like all the other poor folk.

Semo appears to possibly be a fella that might have owned more than one tractor, and also that he also possibly drove them for more than a couple hours a few weekends a year.

My Vote = Get a 4wd if you can still afford a tractor of the appropriate horsepower. Don't get 4wd if that means you are going to get a 35hp tractor vs a 60hp tractor.

My Argument = You don't necessarily need it.

The basics of your agrument that 4wd is a necessity is not logical. If you are riding around needing 4wd because it is muddy you are also then rutting up your fields and destroying your road infrastructure by driving your tractor around on them in muddy conditions. I've got to ask why you would be doing that? Are you discing up a mud hole? Does that not plug your disc? Are you plowing up mud? Are running a bush hog through a swamp several times a year because of ____ ? Do you have a road that you need to fix and don' t know how?

I mean.... WTH are you doing? If you say I'm feeding cows I'm going to say "Ok". That's a logical reason to be in need of 4wd. Carrying more than 1 bale through some mud in February. I'm down with that.

BUT - In the 30 years I have been driving tractors regularly I have only been stuck in 2wd machine 2-3 times and ALL of those times involved needing to have that machine in the field come hell or high water because of something to do with money.

If you have a wet spot in a field fix it. Your granddaddy never needed a 4wd tractor and he might have farmed for 30 years. We had about 15 tractors when I was a kid growing up and the only one that was 4wd was an articulating giant. When we said 4wd tractor back then everyone knew you were talking about a Steiger, Versatile or something like that.. Not a little 50hp chore tractor.

If you need 4wd to pull your 6' disc then you didn't buy a large enough tractor.

It's that simple.

I could give a chit less if some guy that says he's God's gift to tractor operators says I don't need it - if I'm gonna just have one tractor to do the hobby around the house related things that I need to do with a tractor, you can guarantee it's going to be a 4wd.

Not trying to get into some internet shouting match. But Goatkiller is 100% correct. If it makes you feel good to push equipment to its max and won't let any situation, soil/weather conditions, or bad idea stop you from trying....then better run a 4wd (though you will probably have issues at some point anyway).

I liked the grandparent point you made, but then I remembered that mine had an Oliver crawler. Though that was a real death trap if you take the wrong angle on a steep slope.

Interesting thread, but I think the argument is more semantics than anything. Whether 4wd is a necessity or not depends on what kind of tractor we are talking about and what kind of implements you will use. If you are going to have a FEL, then I would say to definitely find a 4wd tractor. If you are not getting a FEL, and it's going to be used on 320 acres that are flat, as the OP said, then maybe you can save a lot of money and do without it. Then it depends on what kind of tractor you are considering.

If you are only going to be running a bush hog to mow roads and deer plots, and then maybe a disc for planting deer plots, and you are getting a decent sized tractor, you can get by fine with 2wd. The first tractor I used was a Super C, and we used a 300 acre tract of land similar to what the OP has. That 2wd tractor did every job we needed on the place. I have a Yanmar that is 4wd and rated about the same HP as the Super C, but the Super C is at least twice the tractor. It would pull a 2 disc discplow that the Yanmar would struggle to budge. The OP is likely not interested in a Super C, but it's an example of a tractor that doesn't need 4wd.

Outback has a JD5210 that is 2wd and doesn't need 4wd unless you have a FEL. It's basically the same tractor as the 5055 the OP is considering. I ran a 5210 for 12 years and it was a fine machine. I got it stuck several times, always in the same field where it would break through the upper crust when plowing. The Super C was stuck in the same field several times. When I got 5075 with 4wd, I was hopeful that the days of getting stuck in that field were over. Unfortunately, they were not. I might have made a few extra rounds before breaking through, but it broke through and I wound up calling a wrecker to get me out.

If you are just gonna use a 50 HP tractor for keeping up roads and deer plots, I would save a lot of money and find a good 2wd. If you are gonna run a loader and do other work, I'd spend the money and get a 4wd. If you are gonna run a tractor of 30 hp or less and do more than a garden, then I'd go 4wd.

Since this is in the Serious deer hunting forum, I assume we are talking about a tractor for deer plots. I think a good 2wd is all you need for that purpose.

The other factor to consider is, will this be used at home or will you need to trailer it from home to camp & such.

That 50hp 2wd will likely weigh 2,000lbs+ more than a compact 35hp 4x4. Depending on what you have, you may need more truck & trailer too to go along with the new tractor.

If you are buying a new tractor, I don't think 4x4 adds much to the price. Maybe 2 grand or so. I have 4x4 and it does make a difference when disking. It also helps the steering in a muddy or soft field. Although, using the breaks properly will help a two wheel drive in these situations. I need a tractor in the 70hp range and I have opinions on both 4wd and 2wd. If I get the 2wd and get stuck a lot, then I will be mad but if I get the 4wd and don't get stuck then, great. The only time I have been stuck with my 4wd, it was stuck terribly. I still have night mares about that. I may just go with a 2wd model.

Funny thing. I never once stuck a 2 wheel drive tractor. I’ve had a 4 wheel drive tractor for 3 months and I already got it stuck once and had to use the bucket to lift and push back to get me out. Luckily, I knew how to do that. Otherwise I might still be sitting there.

LOL. I was stuck way beyond that point.

Well the deed is done. Hopefully I will be using anew 5055e to finally get my plots planted Friday and Saturday. Ended up getting the 4x4 since I got a loader and this should be the last tractor I ever own.

Congrats on the purchase.

Sweet

Congrats, that's a fine tractor and you needed the 4wd since you got a loader. My 5075e is the same tractor except a little more air to the engine. Mine has been a solid tractor and let's hope yours is too

What about bush hogging around lakes/ponds? I've got a very shallow pond that I can bushhog around in 4wd and get the area nice and clean for fishing. That area will never be dry, by definition.

If you can't figure it out spray it or use your push mower.

BrabB - Congrats on purchased I think you made the right call. You will wind up using the loader a LOT.

4wd with a loader if for not anything other than the heavier built front end. My dad had a 2 wheel drive tractor with a loader and it was constantly an ordeal with front spindles breaking due to the weight and the bouncing caused from the added weight and leverage of the bucket.

Nobody needs a tractor.

A push lawn mower and a garden tiller is all anybody needs.

And anybody that says different just does not know how to use them as good as I do!

Cannot wait to use that loader. I have two stream crossings that need a new culvert and some dirt and I have not been able to take care of it until now.Also have two shooting house already built and this is gonna make them a lot easier to put up.I am very stoked.Only fly in the ointment is we have a huge trial coming up and I may not be able to swing a trip up until the first week in November.

Congratulations on the purchase. You'll wonder why you went so long with out a loader now that you got one. It's as handy as a pocket on a shirt. I leave my loader on while I bushhog to move fallen trees or big limbs that broke off from the edge of fields and move hay rings and feed troughs in the pasture while bushhogging.