2305 Snow removel

[absrio]

Looking for some advice. I need to plow snow on about 1/4 acre gravel parking lot and 200 yard gravel lane. I currently have a 2305 with R4's 200cx loader and have been using a 7' rear blade. Up until our 8" snow fall the other day everything went well with this combo. Then after I got the 8" cleared from the drive the wind picked up and blew it 12+ inches deep for 200 yards. A fullsize truck has been able to plow it but I do not want to have to rely on him. By one of the houses it drifts pretty good after the truck plowing and blowing snow it was almost 3ft deep.

We get maybe one 6"+ snow fall a year but we get winds which makes the drifts. I am not thinking of getting a blower to help with the deep drifts. From looking at the JD website I can get a 54" front blade for $1250, 48" Frontier 3pt blower for $2600 and the 47" front mount for $3200. Those are all roughly MSRP off of JD website.

Pros: of Front mount Snowblower is ease of use Cons: Can not use loader
Pros: of Rear mount Snowblower is ability to use loader Cons: have to turn around
Pros: of 54" blade is hopefully able to move the snow easier Cons: lose use of loader

I have thought that if I got the front mount blower I would spend another $650 and get the front blade since I would already have the mount.

Any thoughts would be great.

[mfreund]

I would push the snow off the edges of the drive. Push it 30' to the sides and it will keep the deep stuff off the drive. Next year invest in snow fence and it would help. If you NEED new equipment I would suggest the rear mount snowblower as you could still use the loader to pile it high!

[castiman]

Originally Posted by absrio

Looking for some advice. I need to plow snow on about 1/4 acre gravel parking lot and 200 yard gravel lane. I currently have a 2305 with R4's 200cx loader and have been using a 7' rear blade. Up until our 8" snow fall the other day everything went well with this combo. Then after I got the 8" cleared from the drive the wind picked up and blew it 12+ inches deep for 200 yards. A fullsize truck has been able to plow it but I do not want to have to rely on him. By one of the houses it drifts pretty good after the truck plowing and blowing snow it was almost 3ft deep.

We get maybe one 6"+ snow fall a year but we get winds which makes the drifts. I am not thinking of getting a blower to help with the deep drifts. From looking at the JD website I can get a 54" front blade for $1250, 48" Frontier 3pt blower for $2600 and the 47" front mount for $3200. Those are all roughly MSRP off of JD website.

Pros: of Front mount Snowblower is ease of use Cons: Can not use loader
Pros: of Rear mount Snowblower is ability to use loader Cons: have to turn around
Pros: of 54" blade is hopefully able to move the snow easier Cons: lose use of loader

I have thought that if I got the front mount blower I would spend another $650 and get the front blade since I would already have the mount.

Any thoughts would be great.

I've got a 2305, and live in central ny. in a snow belt area so far this year we've gotten 180'' of snow. I have a front mounted 47'' blower and a 72'' front blade.My driveway is only 200' long and there is no way I could push 12'' or more snow without problems. As far as pushing it to the sides thats ok until you run out of room the blower takes care of all of it.It sounds to me that you don't get alot of snow in that case if you have the room you cold push it to the sides as far as you could. But with 200 yards I would spend the money one time solve the problem and get the blower. You'll have the quick hitch so someday you could get the plow however you still have the loader. so you could also get a plow from curtis to fit your loader frame.

[kennyd]

You can get other rear 3PH blowers for about $2K...And with the drift's I think you do need a blower

[Mayor]

Sounds to me like you might have to start working on this long before the snow hits. How about putting a snow fence in to help with the drifts. Or even this summer put some arbs or evergreens in to help.

I run the FEL and rear box blade on my 2305. With all the ice and junk this year the FEL has been the right tool for moving snow/ice. The blower does the sidewalks but really hates the ice.

[absrio]

So I am bringing my thread back to life. I talked with the dealer today and he quoted me a 54" Frontier rear snowblower for around $2300. I figured this would be about the perfect size for the 2305. However I see the 64" Frontier is only another $100-$150 more. Do you think that would be to big for the back of the 2305. Snow fence is an option for part of the driveway but once it gets around the buildings it just swirls around and dumps it.

Any complaints about the Frontier blowers??

[ensoll]

I have the 2305 with both the loader and blower. I keep the blower mounted during the winter with the loader standing by. If I need to manage built up snow, it only takes about 5 minutes to dismount the blower and slap on the loader. The worst aspect of the changeover is uninstalling the exit chute angle cable (optional accessory). Two wrenches are needed to back the nuts away (gasp!). When I dismount the blower, I remove the front quick hitch but I leave the PTO shaft and PTO shaft angle changing frame on the tractor.

I have also been wanting to add the blade for light snow storms, and will eventually.

[ChuckinNH]

I was looking at rear mounted snowblowers yesterday at a JD dealership. They handle both the "Blizzard", and the Frontier, of course. It looks to me that they are the same blower, made by RAD in Canada. The 64" is only about 20, or so pounds heavier than the 54" so weight wouldn't be a problem, and other than width, the specs are the same. In tough snow conditions I would think that the 54" is a better match for your HP, but I could be wrong. The JD engine is large, and puts out quite a bit of torque for that class tractor.

[saskman49]

I think you would be pushing it to use a 64" and probably wouldn't be overly happy in the long run. Go with a 50 to 54" and it will serve you well. You should also look at the Buhler line of blowers they make some very good gear, it is made in Manitoba. I have an Allied 50" that I bought used this year it is probably 15 years old and will more than likely last another 20 or so years they are that well built and are adjusable for just abt any tractor yo can think of.

[absrio]

Well I have a found a used Buhler Farm King Y500 50" that is used. I figured it would go for between $1000-$1500 and it appears to be in good shape from the pictures. It does included the optional 4 blade fan. This would require about a 4 hour drive one way to pick up if I was to get it. Found a dealer an hour away with the Frontier 54" in stock for about $2300 out the door. From what I could compare it looks like the Frontier is a better blower but not sure if its worth the price differance. Any thoughts??