Snow Attachments Plow blade vs. snow pusher questions

[jim_wilson]

I am wondering if anybody out there has any opinions of the usefullness of a snow pusher vs. using a plow blade on a tractor for clearing snow. I have a BX23 and am in the process of building a 150ft or so driveway that I would like to use the tractor on for clearing snow. The problem I have is that I will have limited space on the edges of the driveway for piling snow so I was thinking the best setup ultimately for the tractor would be a rear mount snowblower and a front blade - or snow pusher to get the snow to a place where I can blow it away. I was thinking that I could get a quick attach for the FEL ( ATI makes one) so that I could mount a snow pusher to the FEL in place of the bucket which would still let me swap relatively quickly if I had to. I am pretty good with fabricating so I know I could make a pusher for the tractor - I am thinking about 60" would be a good size for the BX23. Anybody have any opinions on whether a snow pusher is worth it?

 

[Freds]

I'm not sure what a snow pusher is and how it would work any differently than using the FEL to push the snow where you want it, but at any rate, you are only going to be able to push the snow so far before you lose traction.
I would just leave the FEL on so you can carry the snow if needed and go with the snow blower.

 

[jim_wilson]

I have also seen them called box plows - there are some good examples at box plows . From looking at them and also having seen them in action at airports and in parking lots my guess is that a box plow or snow pusher has advantages over a regular plow blade because it doesn't let the snow fall out the sides and you can move a good amount of snow once it is captured in the plow.

 

[kokopelli2]

for the bx23 get the snow blower for the front and ablade in the rear. it is just too light to run a snow pusher.

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Jim,

I've used a plow blade with sides welded on to make it work like one of the box blades you are talking about. It was on a Ford 2000, and with a 4 to 6 inch wet snowfall, it worked fine over short distances, like thirty or forty feet. After that, snow began to pile up to the point where it was stopping the tractor and spilling out the sides to boot. I wouldn't recommend it for a 150 foot driveway unless you have the big yellow front end loader they show in the picture you linked to, or you are only going to plow an inch or two of snow at a time. Go with a blower if you can.

Tom

 

[Bob_Young]

I've used a big pusher to clear airport ramps and taxiways. Traction is the issue. Like the poster with the Ford 2000 mentioned, 30 or 40 ft. in heavy wet snow and all four are spinning. They're not that clean either as they spill past the edge once the blade loads to a certain point. I would think you would do about as well with your FEL. Once you get to the point where it's spilling or you're losing traction, you lift the load up and take it to the dump point.

I've lost traction behind big piles in the middle of the ramp many times. The only way to clear it was back off and then escort parts of the pile to the edge of the ramp across clean pavement. Very inefficient & messy. Wished at the time the pusher was a loader.