we had a Super 88, a 1955T and a 1850. a 4-155 anda 2-160 WHITE as well along with a D17 A/C a John Deere A, a Farmall M, a 3010 JD, a 4440 JD a 6340 JD and an 8840 JD
The 4440 JD was one of the best tractors ever made. The M, the Deere A, and the D17 Allis were good ones as well.
A farm I worked on had a D-17. My favorite of the older tractors.
If it had just had better hydraulics and live pto.
We used it, along with a WD-45 and Farmall 300, to pull tank wagons around in
Maple sugar season. It wasn't unusual to be wagon axle deep in mud, deeper in snow,
Or on grades that really weren't safe. All were chained, the whole time. The D-17 never
got stuck, and was the only tractor used on the very worst slopes. It always felt solid,
even on the slopes we were afraid to take the other tractors.
I wouldn't hesitate to bet on that tractor against about modern 4wds in our situation.
It had weight, low stance, and low rpm. Slippery hills don't showcase the strong points
of 4wd, high hp/lower weight, higher rpm engines.