Horse power vs 4 wheel drive??

bmack95hd · Feb 25, 2018

Come spring looking at buying an upgraded tractor for my small acreage farm, 20 acres. Looking at a John Deere 5205 with front end loader, 3 point, 4WD. But I am seeing other models that are more horse power but only 2WD. In your opinion would you rather have the 4WD or the horse power?

rusty6 · Feb 25, 2018

(quoted from post at 10:48:26 02/25/18) Come spring looking at buying an upgraded tractor for my small acreage farm, 20 acres. Looking at a John Deere 5205 with front end loader, 3 point, 4WD. But I am seeing other models that are more horse power but only 2WD. In your opinion would you rather have the 4WD or the horse power?

Tough decision there. I'm getting along ok with 2 wheel drive on my old loader tractors but there has been the odd occasion I'd have given up a few horsepower just to have those front wheels helping out.

jon f mn · Feb 25, 2018

For loader work the front wheel drive will be better. For pto or tillage you will want the extra hp. You will have to decide which you will be doing more of.

Adirondack case guy · Feb 25, 2018

If you are going to be doing a lot of PTO work there is no substitute for HP. If you are going to be doing a lot of hauling and loader work, you need traction that only 4wd can offer.
You didn't mention what tasks you expect to be doing most of the time.
A smaller 4wd will maneuver in a woods much better and will likely be narrower and take up less storage space.
Loren

2510Paul · Feb 25, 2018

Good comments below. I would reiterate if you plan a lot of loader work or work on hills, then 4wd

I want to add, pay attention to the transmission for loader work. You don't want just a simple collar shift. As a minimum I would suggest a synchronized forward-reverse setup. Above that there are lots of options like a mechanical shuttle shift (likely the same as the synchronized forward-reverse), power reverser, hydro, likely others.

I am sure that tractor has a transmission option suited for Loader work.

Paul

4010tim · Feb 25, 2018

For loader work, get the four wheel drive. Wife's grandpa sent form a 3010 Deere to a caseih 75 MFWD, and wished he did it twenty years ago. No more getting stuck and bigger front tires that don't cut into the ground.

ss55 · Feb 25, 2018

Where do you need to use the loader? If you will be on concrete, pavement or solid ground 4WD won't help much. If you are on soft ground or in deep snow 4WD will help a lot.

bmack95hd · Feb 25, 2018

Don't have a house on the property yet so I do have dirt work for landscaping and other material moving projects where the FEL is needed. The farmable areas will require tillage where the 3 point is needed. I have two 8N's that are in the equation for running either cultivator or disc. The farmable areas will be converted to a hobby tree farm as my neighbor reduces the area he farms now. Thanks for the replies.

fixerupper · Feb 25, 2018

You don't have enough land to require big horsepower but the way you describe it you will be doing a fair amount of loader work. I'd stay with the lower horsepower front assist tractor.

jddrawbar · Feb 25, 2018

5205 is a really good tractor, go for it.

buickanddeere · Feb 25, 2018

With a loader , there is no reasonable choice

bmack95hd · Feb 25, 2018

Do have a pto post hole digger and a lot of holes to dig. So I want to have enough pto horse power.

Dean · Feb 25, 2018

Aside from very special circumstances, one should not consider a FEL tractor without FWA, these days.

Dean

bmack95hd · Feb 25, 2018

Thanks for all of the good advise. I think the 5205 with 4 WD and FEL fit my needs.

504 · Feb 25, 2018

I was doing some brush hog work with a Dutz 4x4. It was wet and late in the fall I tried to go in two wheel drive and I made it about 50 yd before I spun out,I went back to 4WD. That tractor was about 50hp maybe less. If you can always buy 4 wheel drive.

Adirondack case guy · Feb 25, 2018

A 24HP compact 4wd tractor will power a post hole digger nicely and be very maneuverable.
Loren

Russ from MN · Feb 25, 2018

A 5205 will have plenty of power for 20 acres if you size your machinery right, and nowadays with a FEL you want FWA. We have a 2001 JD 4600 and I think I could easily farm 20 acres with it, at only 37 pto hp.

NIK OWEN · Feb 25, 2018

KUBOTA, NOT GREEN...0% INTEREST, ETC, THE WINNER... BE BLESSED, GRATEFUL, PREPARED... L-3940

K Effective · Feb 25, 2018

I upgraded from a 78 horse 2630 2WD loader tractor to a 68 horse 5400 MFWD. While I wish it had the reverser, it is only synchro trans, but that works pretty well.

No comparison, the MFWD has more than made up for the horsepower decrease for loader work.

flying belgian · Feb 25, 2018

I just looked up horsepower on 5205. 53 horsepower. We used to run a 300 acre farm with a 53 horse tractor. I wouldn't ever consider going back to 2 wheel drive for loader tractor.

Texasmark1 · Feb 26, 2018

I used to have a pristine '79 JD 4230DC 100 PTO hp 2wd, 3900 hrs when I bought it back in the late '90's and now have an '07 downsized Branson 6530 at 57 PTO hp, 4wd for my main tractor. I use the same implements on half the fuel, same gear ranges! I am 76 and this tractor is my first of any 4wd of any type of vehicle. Good investment.

Horse power vs 4 wheel drive??

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