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2wd or 4wd

K

knightstead

Member
I asked a couple of questions awhile back about a shop/house I'm building and you guys had some great feedback so I'm looking for a little more advice. My building is approaching completion and I'm thinking now is the time to purchase another tractor. I currently have a Kubota M4050 (which I'd like to keep) and I'm thinking a 55 HP Kubota with a loader will meet my needs. The question is, is 4wd a necessity? Budget is up to 20k, so 4wd is doable but those tractors have more hours than the comparable 2wd. I'm hoping that I can use the loader to finish grade around the building. My pond was re-dug a couple of years ago so I have plenty of dirt to accomplish what I'd like to. I've never owned a loader tractor so I'm really wondering how well I can scoop dirt and gravel without loosing traction. Thanks in advance.
 
Depends on the work you need it for. You get a lot of slippage with a 2wd tractor digging with a front loader. You would get more work done and make less ruts on you place with a 4wd.
 
I have moved tons of gravel, dirt, manure, snow , hay, etc with the ole two wheel drive Massey and now continuing to do the same with the 2 wheel drive JD 2140. A front wheel assist tractor might be better if you have extreme conditions to work with but I find I can get by with two wheel drive year round.
 
Immediate uses will be moving dirt from behind my pond to around the building and also fixing the damage done to 1/4 mile long driveway from construction equipment. I have a field cultivator that I was thinking I could use to loosen dirt before trying to dig, it sounds good on paper at least. And for anyone wondering, yes I understand a tractor is not a skidsteer or highlift. I'm not looking to move large amounts of dirt, and the loader will be handy with cleaning up many other parts of the property.
 
For what its worth, I have FWA loader tractor and whenever I'm moving dirt my front axle is locked in. Even with weights on the rear tires if it is a bit wet or backing up hill you spin out when the bucket is full. I was tempted to do without it as I never had one, had old 2WD loader tractors and got stuck a lot. Now so thankful I kept looking for deal I could afford and have the front wheel assist. Also a lot less stress as I do not like getting stuck.
 
I have 3 2WD loader tractors and 1 non-loader 4 wheel drive. Many many times I wish the 4 wheel drive was my loader tractor. Use 4 WD with box blade, a regular blade, bush hog mower, snow blower and 5' tiller. 4 wheel drive makes every job so much easier.
 
Necessity? No.
Do you have hills? If yes, it is moving you closer to necessity.
I am sure you will very much appreciate 4wd on a loader tractor.

The other question you should be asking is which transmission? Hydrostatic or Power Reverser.

How about a Compact Tractor also with a box scraper for leveling both around the shed the driveway. A box scraper with scarifier teeth to dig up hard surfaces would be perfect.

A JD 4320 would be perfect. I understand Kubota has an L series so check that out. What is comparable to the JD 4320.

Good luck.

Paul
 
Farm is at the northern edge of the ozarks, so yes plenty of hills. All the tractors I'm looking at have the shuttle shift transmission and I think that will suit me well. I don't have anything against the other brands, but the Kubota dealer is 10 minutes away which makes it very tempting to stick with them.
 

You will never regret the 4X4 option I can not say that about the 2WD... Both will need a counter weight the more the better...
 
I've got 2 tractors with loaders that are 2wd and it's aggravating. You go to dig and the back tires just spin. Can't get enough traction to dig with it even with a rear weight. Once I did buy a JD tractor that was 4wd and it would do what you asked it to do. The tractor was defective though and the dealer and company wouldn't do anything about it so I had to send it back.
 

When I was a kid growing up around farms when there were few 4 wheel drives, tractors with loaders pretty much always had extra rear weight in the form of a steel 55 gal drum filled with various heavy items.
 
I traded my 52hp two wheel drive kubota in on a 4 wheel drive 65hp kubota last winter. Didn't really figured I needed the 4 wheel drive but decided I would get it for resale value. I could really tell a difference in just doing simple tillage work compared to the two wheel drive tractor or even when my new one was in two wheel drive. Glad I got it now. I do have it on my small kubotas but really need it since they are allot lighter tractors and one has a loader on it. If you are putting a loader on your tractor I wouldn't think of not getting four wheel drive too.
 
I had loaders on three different two-wheel-drive tractors in the past, and damaged two of the front axles. Now I use a JD 5400 MFWD with 541 loader, the front axle seems far heavier and more capable than the 2WD tractors, and the extra traction is amazing.
 
Hobo mentioned counter weight, the box scraper is my counter weight on my JD 3320. I also have fluid in the tires, 6" axle extenders, and 3 sets of weights because everything I have is hill(s). I always have something on the back, Woods box scraper, Woods brush hog, 72" tiller, or Farmi Winch.

My brother and sister both have JD 4320's and absolutely love them.

I am very serious about the box scraper. It is a super tool. Mine has the teeth, a forward blade, and a backward blade that works great for feathering the material when the top link is lengthened.

Nothing against Kubota, I am just more familiar with JD. I have been told the Kubota's don't have the pressure you want to run the bucket at lower idle so check that out on any tractor you buy.

My 3320 does a great job with the loader at lower idle. I am moving a huge pile of demolition ruble right now, 80 yards so far, and the 3320 does all I want it to do at 1500-2000 rpm. I am 66, not 16, so I like the lower RPM. Nice and easy, not rip and tear.

Let us know what you get.

Paul
 
Whether two or four wheel drive I'm all for a guy getting another tractor.
But the things you mention using it for I'd want a skid steer for.
After you finish the landscaping how much heavy work will you need the tractor for?
I'm thinking a couple day's rental on a skid steer would do Way more earthmoving than Any 55 hp tractor w/loader.
If youre thinking 2 wheel might? do the job after this task is done and you can get more tractor that way, renting the skid steer makes some sense.
 
Yup for a loader tractor 4 x 4 is a must. 2wd is fine for raking or baling hay but not loader work
 
If you?ve got that kind of money mfwd and never look back . Two wheel drive gets a lot of work done with tire claims and weights but for a little yard tractor mfwd
 
I'm really wondering how well I can scoop dirt and gravel without loosing traction.
Any time you lift something in front bucket, you remove weight from rear wheels. Solution is rear ballast, not tire ballast, rear ballast.

Front bucket moves dirt best and using front bucket to finish grade isn't the best thing to use.

When it comes to yard work, the bigger the tractor the deeper the ruts you put in the ground. So having ballast in rear tires only adds to problem.

Friend has 55 hp YTM 4w. Not very impressive when he has a full bucket of dirt. All the weight is on smaller front tires. He can get stuck in a mud puddle.

That is why for landscaping, I like my terramite, it only weighs 3100#. Front bucket is rated at 1700#. It's only 2w so I use rear ballast to remove weight from front tires.

I don't think bigger is better doing landscaping. Go to diy rental and rent either a terramite or a small Kubota with loader and back blade to see what works best.

When it comes to moving dirt with a loader, you need HST not a clutch and gear box.
 
I would never put a loader on a 2wd tractor. Have run plenty of them and unless weighted very heavily in the rear they are a pain to run.

If you really want to do dirt work have you thought about a skidloader and the attachments that can be used on one?
 
I always say when faced with a choice of 2wd or 4wd better to have 4 wd and not need it then to need 4wd and not have it !
I usually run around in 2wd until I get stuck then shift into 4 wd and get out of where I should not of been in the first place.
 
I purchased a Kubota L4400 2wd a few years back, I wanted a tractor to brush hog
and run my 5ft rotor tiller , it runs great the traction is amazing.
lots of power and easy to work on .
 
I agree with Rusty6....Have no problem getting by with 2wd, In fact, I would prefer a 2wd and not have those front tires tearing up the ground on every turn. My rear tires are loaded and with wts., traction is not a problem. The down side is resale value, hard to sell 2wd, everyone thinks 4wd is a must. The exception is the smaller tractors that are so light you can't do much work w/o 4wd.
 
I run a J/D 5203, 522 FEL, 4WD, loaded 16.9 X 28?s and it works for me. Used my neighbors 2WD unit and what a difference. 4WD only way to go.
cvphoto31030.jpg
 
(quoted from post at 10:24:52 07/26/19)
Once anyone uses a 4wd loader tractor . They will wonder why they put up with a 2WD loader tractor .
Click to expand...

Different strokes for different folks. I've owned a 70HP MFWD for 7 yrs that I purchased a MFWD tractor just to get hyd shuttle shift. It's handled 1000's of 4X5.5 rd bales with FEL & only be put in 4WD a very few times in 7 yrs when it was very muddy. I do keep a heavy counterbalance on the 3 pt hitch.
 
(quoted from post at 13:13:22 07/26/19)
(quoted from post at 10:24:52 07/26/19)
Once anyone uses a 4wd loader tractor . They will wonder why they put up with a 2WD loader tractor .
Click to expand...

Different strokes for different folks. I've owned a 70HP MFWD for 7 yrs that I purchased a MFWD tractor just to get hyd shuttle shift. It's handled 1000's of 4X5.5 rd bales with FEL & only be put in 4WD a very few times in 7 yrs when it was very muddy. I do keep a heavy counterbalance on the 3 pt hitch.
Click to expand...

slippery clay, mud, ice and snow here. Not dry loam soil like Texas.
 
AND THE REASON IS 86 % of Kubotas sold are four wheel drive, just fact if a man ever runs a four wheel he will never go back. Been selling KUBOTAS over 30 years and the few folks that do buy the two wheel will be back , it just takes time saying I sure wish I had got the 4 wheel you tried to sell me.
 
I like 4wds because the front end is heavier and usually have wider tires for better ground contact. Other thing is if you are into cleaning out your pond during drought conditions, 4wd will PULL the front end up the hill when blading rather than it deciding to get it's treads wet and embarrassing you by having to call your neighbor to come and pull you out!!!!!!!
 
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