claytoncramer
New member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2
- Tractor
- none yet
I am currently using a two stage walk behind snow thrower to clear a 600 foot driveway. While those of you in Michigan might laugh at what we call a serious snow problem here in Idaho, it's serious enough! We sometimes get a foot or more of snow, and our driveway is pretty steep. We really do need to take it down to bare pavement or close to that, or we have to use chains on the 4WD and AWD vehicles. (The Corvette just goes into storage for the winter.)
I have been looking at various alternative strategies, because the snow thrower is very slow. I am also thinking that if we had a better snow removal device, we might clear the shared private road out to the highway (about 2000 feet).
My first thought was an ATV with a snow plow blade. ATVs are pretty expensive new, and I don't know enough to know whether I am buying a used one in good condition. Someone suggested that one of the compact or garden tractors with a snow plow blade or snow thrower attachment might be a less expensive solution--and because tractors are not geared for high speeds, that would be a better choice anyway.
Here's my question: how small (and therefore cheap) of a tractor do I need to be able to clear as much as a foot of snow? I prefer the use of a snow plow blade, both because it is cheaper than a snow thrower, and because it is mechanically simpler. Before we had our driveway paved, the two stage snow thrower was constantly picking up rocks and jamming. If we want to clear the shared private gravel road to the highway, this will continue to be a problem. My impression is that for very deep snow, the thrower is a better choice than a plow. Please enlighten me!
I have been looking at various alternative strategies, because the snow thrower is very slow. I am also thinking that if we had a better snow removal device, we might clear the shared private road out to the highway (about 2000 feet).
My first thought was an ATV with a snow plow blade. ATVs are pretty expensive new, and I don't know enough to know whether I am buying a used one in good condition. Someone suggested that one of the compact or garden tractors with a snow plow blade or snow thrower attachment might be a less expensive solution--and because tractors are not geared for high speeds, that would be a better choice anyway.
Here's my question: how small (and therefore cheap) of a tractor do I need to be able to clear as much as a foot of snow? I prefer the use of a snow plow blade, both because it is cheaper than a snow thrower, and because it is mechanically simpler. Before we had our driveway paved, the two stage snow thrower was constantly picking up rocks and jamming. If we want to clear the shared private gravel road to the highway, this will continue to be a problem. My impression is that for very deep snow, the thrower is a better choice than a plow. Please enlighten me!