Snow Equipment Buying/Pricing Heavy Snow load removal suggestions

   / Heavy Snow load removal suggestions #11  
I live on the eastern shore (region) of Lake Michigan so I know what you live with, though we don't get quite as much as you. For that much snow, I'd shop for a blower first. I've seen some "tall" blowers with two rows of augers. Assuming you can find something, then shop for a tractor to power it. If you can't find a double row blower, look for the tallest one you can find.

I don't have a blower, but try to keep up with it when I know we're getting hammered. It is interesting, for sure.


Good Mornin Snowman,
I agree with RobS and Wayne, your definetly in blower territory IMO. As you probablly allready know, with that much snow you just cant push it far enough away from your drive ! We get some significant snow storms, sometimes 3 ft and better but nothing like you get on a regular basis. When the snow on the side of the driveway gets so high you have to remove it which becomes a real job, especially when your drive is 800 ft ! :( I like Waynes idea on the front mount blower, although lots of guys have no problem at all with their rear mount, it just seems like it would be easier to me.


Welcome to the Tug Hill Region
Tug Hill Plateau is a remote section of upstate New York located a short drive north of Syracuse, between the east end of Lake Ontario and the Adirondack Mountains.
buck.jpg

Tug Hill 6 Point​
res.jpg

Redfield Reservoir​
Salmon_River_Falls.jpg

Salmon River Falls​
turkeys.jpg

Spring Turkeys​


Comprised of the eastern Oswego, southern Jefferson, western Lewis and northern Oneida counties, this area is popular in the winter for snowmobiling and skiing due to its large snowfalls that come off of Lake Ontario, in the spring and summer for its numerous trout streams and back roads used for hiking and mountain biking, and its abundance of large and small game make hunting in the area enjoyable in the fall. The area contains many large parcels of state land which are open to the public for many recreational uses.​
The region surrounding Tug Hill contains numerous attractions and recreational opportunities nestled in its many small villages and hamlets. You will find antique shops, flea markets, handmade furniture, gifts and crafts, fishing and hunting guide services, miles of snowmobile trails, restaurants, lodging, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds, boating, canoeing, both down hill and cross-country skiing, pure maple syrup products, numerous roadside produce stands and much more.​
To the south is Oneida Lake, famous for its walleye fishing both in the summer and through the ice, is popular for summer water sports.​
To the west, Lake Ontario, from Mexico Bay on the south east corner of the lake to Sackets and Henderson Harbors is renowned for its sport fishing including salmon, trout, bass and walleye along with numerous panfish. A Fort at Sackets Harbor is a famous reminder of the War of 1812. The salmon and steelhead runs in the Salmon River flowing through Pulaski and Altmar are world famous and draw fisherman from around the world. There is abundant lodging and restaurants along the lake as well as state and private campgrounds, boat launches and marinas.​
To the north Watertown leads into the 1000 Island Region of the St.Lawrence River. Heading east to the Black River valley is Carthage and Lowville. This area is very picturesque with its many dairy farms.​
The eastern portion of the region is bounded by the Black River Valley south to Boonville. The River has numerous public launch areas and contains good populations of bass, walleye, northern pike and panfish. Many portions of the river contain slow meandering lazy water and make for enjoyable canoeing. The remnants of the old canal systems still are present when traveling through this area. East of the Valley leads into the foothills of the Adirondacks. South of Boonville lies the City of Rome, an important point before the Erie Canal when the boats were brought up the Mohawk River from the Hudson River and transferred to Wood Creek to allow travel through Oneida Lake to the Great Lakes. Fort Stanwix, which remains today, was located at this spot to protect this important transfer point.​

Bros2m.jpg

Journey back in time on Tug Hill
 
   / Heavy Snow load removal suggestions #12  
We get similar average annual snowfall totals as to your neck of the woods (15 to 30 feet a year). It is a little colder here so the snow has a tendency to stay all winter with no melting from early December to mid March. 95% of our snow is lake effect. I have only seen a 3 to 4 foot event maybe 3 or 4 times in my 32 years here although it is not uncommon to get a couple of feet at a time.

I have a 30 hp Kubota B3030HSDC tractor and front blower and it works just fine. Prior to this I had a 12 hp snowblower and it worked fine 98% of the time. Getting a big hp tractor for snowblowing a driveway would be crazy. Obviously the people who recommended that don't do much snowblowing. Big hp is big expense, low manueverablity, and big storage requirements.

The key to dealing with big snows is not necessarily big hp, but going slow, taking smaller cuts on each pass, and if you are going to have a 4 foot event, to snowblow every foot or so. When you have a 4 foot event, everything is usually closed so there is no rush to get the job done.

Left-front-Kubota-driveway.jpg
 
   / Heavy Snow load removal suggestions #13  
Good Mornin Steve,
I gotta admit thats a nice lookin setup you have there ! Ive never been a big cab person but when its sub zero out and snow is blowing all over I can see some advantages ! ;)
 
   / Heavy Snow load removal suggestions #14  
Good Mornin Steve,
I gotta admit thats a nice lookin setup you have there ! Ive never been a big cab person but when its sub zero out and snow is blowing all over I can see some advantages ! ;)

The air conditioner is also nice in the summer heat, and it keep the biting bugs out, and some of the dust. It nice in the same way a car is nice.
 
   / Heavy Snow load removal suggestions #15  
Hi - I am familar with tug hill area as i used to go snowmobiling there. One of the best places to go since there is always enough snow. My folks live pretty close there too in the snowbelt area in CNY. To clear that much snow, with a kubota, i wouldnt go anything less then L series with a cab. Or you could go with MF 1500 series. My father has MF 1525 with FEL to clear snow in pennelleville area as they get alot of snow too. He also maintains 30 acres with the tractor bushoggin and finish mowing, cutting firewood as well. Good luck with tractor hunting. :D
Are the heaviest snows in that region close to the lake shore or more inland as the elevation rises a little?

Spoke to my niece who recently bought a house in Oswego and she said it had just snowed 12" yesterday (Nov 18) and still some coming down. I don't like driving the area north/northwest of Syracuse as it seems you can go from sunshine to a white-out squall pretty quick.
 
   / Heavy Snow load removal suggestions #16  
While I agree that for just snow blowing 30 - 35 hp would be fine. A cab a must! That B3030 setup is real sweet!

It's all that bush hogging that would have me thinking a bigger tractor in the 45+ hp range so that I could run a bigger mower. It might depend on how open your spaces are, whether a bigger tractor would fit. The front mount snow blowers sure are nice. I wouldn't want to be looking backwards all the time with as much snow as you're talking about.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2012 INTERNATIONAL DURASTAR 4400 4X2 SERVICE TRUCK (A51406)
2012 INTERNATIONAL...
2002 Blue Bird F131612 Bus (A51692)
2002 Blue Bird...
2013 Ford Focus Sedan (A50324)
2013 Ford Focus...
NEW Wolverine Skid Steer Trencher (A53002)
NEW Wolverine Skid...
2020 Kubota RTV-X1100CW-A (A47384)
2020 Kubota...
KJ 23'x22' Double Garage Metal Shed (A50121)
KJ 23'x22' Double...
 
Top