Need input on snowplow

[Duffster]

Even if a tractor would go 5 miles an hour PLOWING which it wouldn't .

Why wouldn't it?

Have you ever used a tractor for plowing?

 

[E/S]

A Friend/ neighbor who passed away 2 years ago plowed with a set-up similar to what I am looking for. He plowed the entire road in less than an hour, then moved on to the driveways.
There has also been a contractor doing the snow removal in the past, a road grader worked best, then a tractor / blade and last the 4x4 dump truck / blade. I can not afford a grader, but can swing a blade for the Bota.
E/S

 

[Mace Canute]

I could really use some input on a your experience with snowplowing.

I find my self in the unexpected position of having to clear 5+ mi. of gravel road this winter. I had originally planed to do my driveway ( 3/4 mi. ) with the bucket, now that doesn't seem to realistic given the added miles.

The snow here is usually less than 2' at a time with a total of as much as 5' a winter. Most contractors use a pick-up mounted plow, I would like to take advantage of the quick couple on the FEL and use a blade.

Any input / experience sharing would be greatly appreciated.

Two feet of snowfall at a time and over five feet per winter and you are going to PLOW that?? Do you have absolutely NO wind there in the winter time? Here in Saskatchewan we get much less snow than that but the drifts are sometimes hard enough to drive on and not leave any marks, plus occasionally the snowbanks get three or four feet high. I've heard people on this site say, as a rule of thumb, use a plow if snowfall is measured in inches and a blower if measured in feet.

 

[E/S]

Two feet of snowfall at a time and over five feet per winter and you are going to PLOW that?? Do you have absolutely NO wind there in the winter time? Here in Saskatchewan we get much less snow than that but the drifts are sometimes hard enough to drive on and not leave any marks, plus occasionally the snowbanks get three or four feet high. I've heard people on this site say, as a rule of thumb, use a plow if snowfall is measured in inches and a blower if measured in feet.

The snow here is usually very dry and cold, the wind will top out at 50 mph.
The snow isn't hard to clear unless you don't keep up with it, especially if it is driven on or worms up during the day, then refreezes and snows that night.
E/S

 

[design]

I have a M5400, (50Hp with a 8' modified fisher plow on the front) Email me for additional photos. I welded two 3 hole brackets to the fork lift frame (the mating pair to the fisher setup) and I pull the forks off in the winter and add the plow. The biggest cost was the hydraulic lines to control the plow. I can plow the snow 10' high at the end of the driveway with this setup. The tractor is just heavy enough at full tilt to no slide with a 8' blade.
i have done 16" wet snowfalls in NH with no issues.

Plow $50
Hydraulics (~$250)
Welding free
Paint ~$25
-Design

 

[design]

Additional photo

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Can we get some pictures of your tractor and FEL.

I'd love to say use the tractor, but a beater 1 ton w dump or a small sander sounds like a more realistic option given the 5 miles....

With an faster speed and 8 or 9 foot plow, work will be done more efficiently...

 

[Duffster]

Can we get some pictures of your tractor and FEL.

I'd love to say use the tractor, but a beater 1 ton w dump or a small sander sounds like a more realistic option given the 5 miles....

With an faster speed and 8 or 9 foot plow, work will be done more efficiently...

Not disagreeing with or arguing with you in particular because this has been mentioned several times.

Realistically you will not plow any faster with a truck than a good sized tractor like the OP has. When you factor in maneuverability and visibility the tractor will have the upper hand.

I myself am switching to all equipment for plowing instead of using trucks.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Not disagreeing with or arguing with you in particular because this has been mentioned several times.

Realistically you will not plow any faster with a truck than a good sized tractor like the OP has. When you factor in maneuverability and visibility the tractor will have the upper hand.

I myself am switching to all equipment for plowing instead of using trucks.

Not knowing his machine , But now that I looked it up and see the size, I agree with you...

 

[ttstraw]

I think he has plenty of tractor for 5 miles of road but to do it and do it without taking all day or night the type of plow he chooses is going to be key. Meaning a run of the mill modified plow truck plow will get pretzeled if he uses the tractor to its full potential. He needs a purpose build snow removal solution built to handle the tractor and what it is capable of doing. Hope that makes sense. There is a youtube vid out there of a Deere over in Europe somewhere with a purpose built plow plowing the roads at full speed, its pretty cool and you can tell the plow is built so it can handle the occasional bump with that much tractor pushing it.

 

[Duffster]

I think he has plenty of tractor for 5 miles of road but to do it and do it without taking all day or night the type of plow he chooses is going to be key. Meaning a run of the mill modified plow truck plow will get pretzeled if he uses the tractor to its full potential. He needs a purpose build snow removal solution built to handle the tractor and what it is capable of doing. Hope that makes sense. There is a youtube vid out there of a Deere over in Europe somewhere with a purpose built plow plowing the roads at full speed, its pretty cool and you can tell the plow is built so it can handle the occasional bump with that much tractor pushing it.

I would agree with the run of the mill part. But I would think that a commercial duty pickup mounted plow could work as long as it wasn't rigged up with down pressure, that will be the real killer, the OP's tractor even well ballasted will only weight about the same as my truck empty.

Something like I posted earlier would still be ideal IMO.

 

[sal64]

pickup truck plows the best i have a jd990 with vbar chains on rear it noway plows as good as my small pickup truck.

 

[ttstraw]

I would agree Mr Duffster.....and add how it is connected to the tractor. A couple slots in some angle iron and a chain won稚 cut it here. Not down playing that solution at all here (for those with this set-up)...but we are talking 5 miles of road not a driveway. I know myself, after a bit the speed would increase and that痴 when things will break. So yeah, good commercial grade plow and a good connection to the tractor.

 

[ttstraw]

But I will say this....

Here in PA where I am at there are a lot of private roads that the property owners are responsible for. For a lot of them a old used road grader is the solution. It will move a lot of snow and can be used in the spring and summer to keep the road in good shape. Maybe a solution is to get all the neighbors together and go in on something like this. This is probably a one pass in each direction solution with maybe some bucket work on the ends and at the driveway entrances.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Even if a tractor would go 5 miles an hour PLOWING which it wouldn't - that more than two hours rounds trip, every snow fall.

I believe that an M8540 tractor is an 85 HP machine and if an 85 horsepower tractor can't do at least 5 mph while pushing snow along a straight away then that tractor has some serious issues. My opinion only.

Somebody please corect me if I am wrong about the HP of the M8540.

 

[E/S]

It is a 85hp tractor.

The option of a grader would be ideal, but have you ever tried to get 15 property owners to agree, much less pay for something together?

Any suggestions on where to look to find a snow blade heavy enough to survive this kind of use over repeated seasons?

 

[Duffster]

HORST WELDING

 

[Harvest Moon]

These guys have come cool videos of some serious snow plows they appear to fit and sell for M series Kubotas:

Kubota of West Michigan

Here's a compilation for a quick link:

http://www.kubotawest.com/kubotawest/videos/Snow Video with night plowing.wmv

Man, that looks like fun.

 

[ttstraw]

Understood on the getting folks to agree part.....

Here is the link to the John Deere.....

YouTube - John Deere 6530 snow ploughing / snow plowing

 

[Duffster]

It is a 85hp tractor.

The option of a grader would be ideal, but have you ever tried to get 15 property owners to agree, much less pay for something together?

Any suggestions on where to look to find a snow blade heavy enough to survive this kind of use over repeated seasons?

Worksaver Snow Blades for Skid Steer and Front Loader