hickorychickens
New member
Hello, this is my first post. I'm Eric and live in Northeastern, CT. I'm looking for advice on snow removal. I have a 1/2 mile long dirt driveway that I currently clear using my Mahindra Max25 with a front-mounted plow. My issue is that about 75% of the driveway sites in a trench that is about 1-3 feet below grade on both sides. Furthermore, the driveway is about 'wide. There is no option to widen it further. My Mahindra can push the snow to the sides of the driveway fine, but since it doesn't throw the snow up onto the bank, I soon run out of room. This past winter was very nerve racking when trying to come up with places to move the snow to keep my driveway passable.
I was thinking about getting an additional tractor with just a loader to move the snow piles at the sides of the driveway to other parts of my property as needed (I have 30 acres). I was looking at the Ford 8N since it is 1) inexpensive when compared to other tractors in my area, 2) has a shorter wheelbase that I should be able to maneuver in the tighter areas of the driveway, 3) could serve other purposes during the summer months. My concern is will it have the power to accomplish this or, more simply, is there a pitfall to this plan.
Other worthwhile information: I'd like to spend no more than $3,000; although I have a FEL for my Mahindra, swapping it out mid winter with the plow would be a major PITA and I don't have the garage space to make it happen; anything much bigger than the 8N I just don't see maneuvering well for my situation (I think a Ford 815 could work but something like a JD 3010 is far too big ?. I use these as examples just because I've looked at these that are for sale in my area); a tractor-mounted snowblower might be an option but my concern is we occasionally get heavy wet snow in this area and the driveway has many small rocks that destroyed shear pins and impellers on my push snowblower this year (Mahindra only has a front-mounted snowblower for my model and once again trading this out with my plow as needed isn't an option); a pickup with a plow would also be an option and then I would keep the FEL on the Mahindra for the season.
Your thoughts/advice/concerns/ideas are all appreciated.
Thanks.
Eric
I was thinking about getting an additional tractor with just a loader to move the snow piles at the sides of the driveway to other parts of my property as needed (I have 30 acres). I was looking at the Ford 8N since it is 1) inexpensive when compared to other tractors in my area, 2) has a shorter wheelbase that I should be able to maneuver in the tighter areas of the driveway, 3) could serve other purposes during the summer months. My concern is will it have the power to accomplish this or, more simply, is there a pitfall to this plan.
Other worthwhile information: I'd like to spend no more than $3,000; although I have a FEL for my Mahindra, swapping it out mid winter with the plow would be a major PITA and I don't have the garage space to make it happen; anything much bigger than the 8N I just don't see maneuvering well for my situation (I think a Ford 815 could work but something like a JD 3010 is far too big ?. I use these as examples just because I've looked at these that are for sale in my area); a tractor-mounted snowblower might be an option but my concern is we occasionally get heavy wet snow in this area and the driveway has many small rocks that destroyed shear pins and impellers on my push snowblower this year (Mahindra only has a front-mounted snowblower for my model and once again trading this out with my plow as needed isn't an option); a pickup with a plow would also be an option and then I would keep the FEL on the Mahindra for the season.
Your thoughts/advice/concerns/ideas are all appreciated.
Thanks.
Eric
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