How things have changed

[69stang]

Growing up dad never had a loader tractor; he had 7 boys and an endless supply of shovels and forks. I have a 4wd and 2wd loader and a skid steer. I use them all, each has their own place.

 

[NoDakInMN]

The thing about being the "best" is that it depends on the application. I have two loader tractors that I use frequently and at no point has there ever been a situation where I have said, "Boy, I wish I had MFWD.". Would it be nice? I suppose it could be, but I can honestly say that there is nothing I need it for that would justify the extra expense. But then, that is my application. The neighbor across the road who frequently gets stuck in the mud trying to haul hay to his horses when the frost goes out in the spring, might feel quite differently. I don't mind going and pulling him out, but I bet he would rather not have to call on me. So two places, very close, yet use our loader tractors for different uses. But only one of us could honestly say that having MFWD is the "best".

 

[moresmoke]

Started on a Super 55D w/ an all hydraulic loader Pa modified to fit. We graduated to a Ford 4600. The Ford fit in the steer barn to clean out. I don’t think there were many FWA in that size in any manufacturer’s line up. And if there was they were likely cost prohibitive.

The neighbor had a JD 60 w/ a trip bucket. WOW, you were busy on that platform. Another had a JD 1520 w/ 46. Another had an IH 460 with a Schwartz. What a contrast! Yet another neighbor went away from FEL because he had tried an IH utility, but had a propensity to break axles. He had a Bobcat. It had foot controls.

In those days I was happy to have a 2 wheel loader tractor to load out the back end because I forked enough out the front end.

Even those early Bobcats were something else compared to what is offered today. We ran a 440 for years. It was originally purchased to load potatoes out of storage, which it excelled at. Concrete floor with a couple shovelfuls of potato sprouts thrown where you needed to turn and it could be a fun job. Get it out in the dirt and it was woefully underpowered and slow, but still better than a shovel.

 

[DanielW]

Up until 2002 our only loader was a Ford 5000 with an Allied loader. The 5000 is a great, bulletproof tractor, but not the best loader as the hydraulic pump had such low flow. But it did the job. It was our primary logging tractor, and my grandfather/Uncle ran a small sawmill operation, and sold a heck of a lot of pulpwood and hardwood logs to other mills. It did the job dandy for both logging, skidding, and all other farm work. I think their record was something like 48 minutes from pulling into the bush - trees standing - with the 5000 and C70 logging truck with a 22' bed, to pulling out with the truck loaded to the hilt (well above the cab) heading to the mill. We still have a Ford 6600 2wd loader at that farm, and at the Southern farm a little Cockshutt 540 and Case 530 loader that I love to use (plus a 2WD Ford Backhoe).

But since then, we've also got a 4X4 Kubota, a 4X4 Deere backhoe, a 4X4 Massey loader, and most recently a Case skidsteer. While the 2wd still have their place and I certainly wouldn't say they're 'useless', I'm now spoiled and wouldn't want to go back to only 2WD loaders. For me, it's not so much because of the front-wheel traction. But rather because a loader on any 2WD tractor can really beat the holy heck out of the front end. They get the job done for sure. But especially with some of the abuse we put our loaders through, the 4WD is so, so much better at handling the abuse. Logging and working the gravel pit in particular. The 4wd's are also much kinder to the loader itself: With the 2wd's having less traction, you often had to get some good momentum going to dig into a pile when doing bucket work - especially handling packed manure in a slick barn or a well-packed gravel pile in the pit. I feel bad for our poor old 5000 and loader the way we used it. You were generally going in 6th gear to get enough momentum to dig into any manure or gravel pile, and generally ran with the engine wound up to the max due to the slow hydraulics. You'd really be crashing into those manure and gravel piles with some decent wallop. By the time we decided to take the loader off the 5000 and give it an easier life, there was so much welding/reinforcement done to that loader that there must have been 400# in extra steel and weld on it. And we'd go through front spindles and bearings quite frequently.

Now with the 4WD's, they smoothly and easily draw their way into a pile at lower speeds. No needing to crash and bash at speed to get the bucket to dig into the pile. And the 4WD front axles are just so much beefier to take more abuse.

So for me, I certainly wouldn't say that 2wd loaders are useless and we still use them (especially for bale handling and some logging where they're more nimble in the bush). But I'll confess I'm too spoiled to go back to only 2WD loaders.

 

[PJH]

Recently I have seen many comments of how useless a loader tractor is, without 4 wheel drive. Frankly, I don't believe I ever saw a 4 wheel drive, farm loader tractor, prior to about 1975. I saw a lot of N series Fords, TO series Fergusons, H&M Farmalls, many with what I call waterpipe manure loaders. They dug ponds, dug out for house foundations, loaded gravel, lifted engines out of cars and trucks, plowed snow, hung animals for butchering. Many, like my dad, and I'm sure many senior members on here, were absolute magicians, with what they could do with those old two wheel drive loaders. It just took a little longer, and a lot more thought. Now; I have to agree, if I needed a loader tractor, it would be 4 wheel drive

I gave $5 for my first loader. It was a Freeman bracketed for a WD45 that had been turned over. I repaired it and modified it to fit my JD 630. It served me well. I now have a couple of JD 45 loaders to fit my old 2 cylinder Deeres. I feel like I'm on the cutting edge of technology.

 

[Brian G. NY]

Recently I have seen many comments of how useless a loader tractor is, without 4 wheel drive. Frankly, I don't believe I ever saw a 4 wheel drive, farm loader tractor, prior to about 1975. I saw a lot of N series Fords, TO series Fergusons, H&M Farmalls, many with what I call waterpipe manure loaders. They dug ponds, dug out for house foundations, loaded gravel, lifted engines out of cars and trucks, plowed snow, hung animals for butchering. Many, like my dad, and I'm sure many senior members on here, were absolute magicians, with what they could do with those old two wheel drive loaders. It just took a little longer, and a lot more thought. Now; I have to agree, if I needed a loader tractor, it would be 4 wheel drive

I still use mine regularly. These pics were taken a few years ago but I used this same snow bucket yesterday cleaning up and leveling around the yard.
My Dad built everything from scratch back in the early 60s. The rams are build from buzz saw mandrel shafts and black iron pipe and fittings.
As others have said you never missed what was not available at the time.
The Allis back-blade and a few suitcase weights help a lot with traction.
Thats a cherry tree being lifted for sawing and one of the many times the ol' WD has bailed me out after a massive snow storm.

 

[Jimmydog]

Interesting thread.

Dang, I just got my first loader tractor. It's the IH 460U that I've been posting a lot about on here lately. It's been soooo wet around here I haven't had a chance to play with it much. I couldn't help myself the other day, and hauled some compost for the wife's flower garden. Made a royal mess out of the yard. Those tri-rib ag front tires seem to cut in pretty deep. With the clay that passes for soil around here, I'm sure this is going to an on going problem. Seen a guy name of JT on the YouTube put some big floaty type tires on the front of his IH 560. I'm thinking that might help. I would probably have to get different rims too. Any thoughts? Will it make it too bouncy? Where's a good place to get tires and rims? Will it be worth the effort? I see lots of folks put truck tires on the front of their loader tractors. Seen some 9.5x16 rims that might fit, wondering what the widest tire that would fit that rim would be. Any way just ruminating on the idea for now. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[DanielW]

Interesting thread.

Dang, I just got my first loader tractor. It's the IH 460U that I've been posting a lot about on here lately. It's been soooo wet around here I haven't had a chance to play with it much. I couldn't help myself the other day, and hauled some compost for the wife's flower garden. Made a royal mess out of the yard. Those tri-rib ag front tires seem to cut in pretty deep. With the clay that passes for soil around here, I'm sure this is going to an on going problem. Seen a guy name of JT on the YouTube put some big floaty type tires on the front of his IH 560. I'm thinking that might help. I would probably have to get different rims too. Any thoughts? Will it make it too bouncy? Where's a good place to get tires and rims? Will it be worth the effort? I see lots of folks put truck tires on the front of their loader tractors. Seen some 9.5x16 rims that might fit, wondering what the widest tire that would fit that rim would be. Any way just ruminating on the idea for now. Any thoughts appreciated.

Going to a wider tire would certainly help. Rims with the right bolt pattern (I'm guessing a 460 is a standard 6-bolt implement rim) are readily available from many sources - and your local tire shop should also be able to get some. I order a lot of my hubs, spindles, and rims form "Specialty Tire and Tube' in Manitoba because they're pried well and I'm also in Canada, but there are many other sources.

If you really want a lot of floatation: The county maintenance folks around here used to have a fleet of industrial 2WD Deere's (I'm guessing they were model 301, but don't know that for sure). A lot of them had duals on the fronts. That's the only time I've seen front duals on a 2WD tractor. But I'm guessing they'd really give much better floatation. I suspect they'd be harder on your spindles and steering gear, however: I'd only want to do it on a tractor wit a robust front-end, and still avoid any dry steering.

 

[New to Blue]

Sure, 4 wd is the best. But I went most of my life without any loader. Used to come up with all kinds of ways to lift and load. Became a world class shovel and pitchfork man. Finally got a loader on the mf165 a few years ago. My life is SO much better. Thankful every time I use it! Maybe someday I'll be able to swing a 4wd but in the meantime I'm quite satisfied. Downside is, if something weighs more than 80 lbs or so I'll fire up the tractor so I think it's probably making me weak...

Or saving your back!!

 

[Texasmark]

I've seen tractors set without selling until seller put a rotary cutter on it. Now buyers ask about fel before hours or if it smokes. From looking at a dealer lot one might think tractors these days are born with loaders.

I have 7 tractors, all vintage to 84 HP including a new 65 HP in 2007 with loader and new 2021 25 HP with loader, both with 4wd. The loaders have the QD Skid Steer implement bracket and I swap implements between tractors as necessity dictates....being careful with hay spike and 4' pallet forks on the 25. Since new, the loaders have never been off the tractors......no reason.....I bought them to load and that's what they do.....besides normal chores.

On the 4wd additive to newer tractors being manufactured, I had a JD 4230 100HP 2wd before I downsized, but kept the implements being easily used on the 65 HP with 4wd and the FEL satisfies the front end weight requirement.......both do make a difference.

 

[rrlund]

Going to a wider tire would certainly help. Rims with the right bolt pattern (I'm guessing a 460 is a standard 6-bolt implement rim) are readily available from many sources - and your local tire shop should also be able to get some. I order a lot of my hubs, spindles, and rims form "Specialty Tire and Tube' in Manitoba because they're pried well and I'm also in Canada, but there are many other sources.

If you really want a lot of floatation: The county maintenance folks around here used to have a fleet of industrial 2WD Deere's (I'm guessing they were model 301, but don't know that for sure). A lot of them had duals on the fronts. That's the only time I've seen front duals on a 2WD tractor. But I'm guessing they'd really give much better floatation. I suspect they'd be harder on your spindles and steering gear, however: I'd only want to do it on a tractor wit a robust front-end, and still avoid any dry steering.

Only trouble is, once you start pushing mud, you're pushing twice as much.