4x4 tractor

boner58

Member
I have a late 60's model 4020 which I do love, but I have bought a new farm which has a lot steeper hills and even with both rear tires fluid filled and about 500 lbs of weight on each wheel, it still has a
hard time getting around. The 4020 even has a diff lock which has gotten me out of a couple interesting situations and it does have a loader, but when you can only bush hog going down a hill and the tractor
can't climb back out of it or stop on a hill and can't back up. It may be time to get something different. Does anyone have any suggestions? Cost is a big issue, and would like to stay between 70 and 100
hp. Also like to stay with an older model with out electronics. Thank you
 
(quoted from post at 21:34:35 05/23/17) Put a set of duel wheels on it.

I imagine that would basically just add more weight right? To do that I would just have to buy some bolt on husb and attach to the axle? Or would there be special wheels to buy?
 
I question whether a 4020 could pull a bush hog wide enough to mow the width of a 4020 with duals. Have to be at least 12 ft. I mowed some permanent pasture with a 4020-D with a 10 ft Deere rotary mower and spent most of the day in 1st & 2nd gear. I don'the doubt the idea that duals would stabilize the tractor.
 
(quoted from post at 15:58:16 05/23/17) I mowed some permanent pasture with a 4020-D with a 10 ft Deere rotary mower and spent most of the day in 1st & 2nd gear.

Really you think a 4020 can't pull a 12 ft rotary mower cutting grass/weeds in 4th gear???? Something must have been wrong with the 4020 you drove in 1st & 2nd gear pulling a 12 ft mower.
 
Would different tires make a difference? I have some super loggers on it right now that are made of kevlar
 
If it is that steep a 4x4 might give you a false sense of security and get you in a situation you can't get yourself out of. Just saying... be very careful
 
To add to all this good advice,,if it is too steep to be comfortable on ,,maybe you should just stay off of it...we call hills like that "Widow Makers"...
 
Duals would be cheapest and nearly impossible to upset. With cost being an issue the late 4020 if side counsel w/good loader[if nice] will sell well. JD are higher priced but a 100 H.P.+ smaller framed tractor like a 6400/6410/6420/6430 with MFWD would work good and if cab isn't needed a roll bar only is cheaper.The newer you get the more electronics are part of the deal.The DOT have all lower profile MFD tractors with duals and I have seen them mow places that really don't need mowed. I asked one guy I know and he said they will basically just slide if too steep.Hard to find nice MFD tractor for under $20K.There are several other makes cheaper but I am not as familiar. Weight will help and you need it set as wide as possible but an MFD w/duals would be your best option.
 
How many wheel weights can I put on the a wheel/axle? I had misspoke before and only have 2 plates on each wheel which should be only like 560. can I get 5 plates on each side for 700 each wheel? I do not have a stability issue or an issue where it feels dangerous to be on the hill side. I can take my pickup all around and not have any issues. The more I am thinking about all this I am wondering if my 16 ply tires have more to do with this than anything?
 
It would have to be very tall and dense material such as over ripe Reed Canary Grass. Most guys run 15 ft machines with 4020's. Also, keeping the air cleaner serviced is very important performing such jobs. Dirty fuel filters will stand out more if a tractor is pulled down hard hitting a dense area.
 
16 ply ? sounds like a lot of plys to me but than I can't say I have ever looked at the ones on our 4020 to compare.
We have both rears with fluid and if you stick the 115 rear blade on the back ( about 1000 lb ) it will counterbalance the 158 loader for anything we ever got into. I was on a sidehill once and it seemed more like it would slide sideways before it want to get tippy ? We have some old hard Firestone Field & Road tires on it with some wear.
Wonder how radials act on these old tractors on hills ?
 
(quoted from post at 13:15:55 05/24/17) How many wheel weights can I put on the a wheel/axle? I had misspoke before and only have 2 plates on each wheel which should be only like 560. can I get 5 plates on each side for 700 each wheel? I do not have a stability issue or an issue where it feels dangerous to be on the hill side. I can take my pickup all around and not have any issues. The more I am thinking about all this I am wondering if my 16 ply tires have more to do with this than anything?

I've never seen 16 ply rear tractor tires. I've seen 4020 that had 5 rear wheel weights per wheel.
 
I have seen them with 10 per side.Duals are your cheapest and safest option.If the hills are that steep I would recommend a Roll guard and use your seat belt.
 
Can you remove the loader when mowing? The loader with a long reach and a heavy bucket will shift a surprising amount of weight from the rear axle to the front wheels.

In wet conditions, construction tires with wide lugs can have poor traction compared to Ag tires. Is there an R- number on the rear tire sidewalls?
 

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