Tractor or Truck for plowing?

[Lt CHEG]

I am only pointing out the fact that the money spent on that could buy enough trucks to out-work it.

But for that matter as well, $200k will buy a lot of shovels that will out work it or the trucks on a dollar basis. At least until you have to pay 20,000 employees hourly for operating those shovels:laughing:

I think that that is the ultimate reason behind using big equipment for large scale snow removal. Let's say that 3 trucks would equal the capabilities of that one tractor. With the tractor, you're only paying one operator instead of 3. If you're mostly doing driveways and smaller parking lots then you need the speed and versatility of having a few pickup truck plows, as you don't need to dedicate such an expensive piece of a equipment to something that doesn't need such an elaborate setup to complete. By the same token, for doing large parking lots, one guy on that tractor and plow can be left alone to do the lot by himself, possibly needing a pickup in spots for certain clean ups. Nowadays, equipment costs are generally cheaper than labor costs.

 

[LD1]

Just for kicks, I crunched some numbers. (must me my love of math or something)

But the 16' pusher on that tractor, with 42" board and 36" wings equates to 6.22 cubic yards of material if you draw a straight line across the wing tips.

It will obviously move more snow due to what is piled up in front, but that is hard to calculate.

Two 7.5' plows, with 1' wing extentions like mine, and only a 26" tall moldboard like the ST or lighter duty plows, angled at 30* (max on mine) will hold a volume of 5.22 yards if a straight line is drawn across the wing tips.

Again, they will obviously move more because the main pile of snow will extend beyond and above this area. A little more so on the taller push box, but the #'s are a little closer than one may think.

And if using 8' plows with 28" moldboards and same 1' wings, that number ups to 6.38 yards.

Either way it is still a lot more snow than a person may think two trucks can push. We have pushed some impressive piles.

The total will untimatally depend on what the plow sizes are of the two locked plows. My particular plow is a 7.5' 26" variety. But I have locked up with a 9'2"vee with wings, a 7' snowway with a short moldboard and no wings, and everything inbetween. But when having to run snow all the way to the end of a long aisle, what would normally take just me 10-12 pushes can be done in about 2 by hooking up. But in this game, it is all about efficency. Next time out, I'll try to get some pictures of us in action.

 

[Piston]

I used my 'new to me' tractor (L4610) the other day in a fairly light but very slippery base snow to plow my driveway as well as some neighbors. I know the first thing I need to do is fill the tires and add some chains because I couldn't get traction for the life of me with a full bucket of snow.

I was just playing around and having fun so no big deal but I was pretty surprised at little snow I could push before I started spinning. This just goes to show how important weight is when plowing.

I think with another 1200lbs or so of Ribguard in the tires and a box blade on the back I'll do a whole lot better.

Also, I think overall a diesel truck vs. gas truck will plow better/more snow in the same conditions simply because of the added weight of the deisel engine. More weight (with all other variables the same) equals better traction.

 

[LD1]

Also, I think overall a diesel truck vs. gas truck will plow better/more snow in the same conditions simply because of the added weight of the deisel engine. More weight (with all other variables the same) equals better traction.

Yes, weight does equal traction, but given the relatively small amount of weight difference in the grand scheme of things, their are other factors that affect it more.

I am not sure what the weight diff is, but it cant be more than 400-500lbs at most. And what about a BB like the V-10's.

But more important than engine weight are bed weight (ballast, salt box, whatever), tire type, and posi/LS rear vs open diff.

If I have 1000lbs in the bed, LS diff, and the diesel has the same ballast, same LS diff, and same tires, then yes probabally. But the traction difference would hardly be noticable.

Now if the diesel has an open diff and no weight, and a small block gasser has ballast, LS, and better tires, then my money is on the gasser.

 

[Duffster]

Diesels arent "required" to plow snow. A 3/4ton diesel can NOT move any more snow than a gasser equiped with the same blade.

Wanna bet?

And it may not need to fit into tight areas on that lot, but most of us plow guys run into tight situations daily that that thing just would not fit into.



O' yea I have a really good Idea.



Assuming you ment 5' high instead of 5", that is still exaggerationg it a bit.

It is a 16' Horst pusher. 5500 series. That is 3.5' tall moldboard (42") and only 3' wings.
HORST WELDING | HLA >> 5500 SERIES

So two trucks locking wings and forming a 16' vee plow with 30" moldboards and outer wings doesnt come close It may not be quite as much as that, but you obviously havent seen it done before. Because it is way more than you give it credit for judging by your response. And the trucks can maintain a faster ground speed as well.

Dont get me wrong. That is an impressive machine. I mean no disrespect to it what so ever. I am only pointing out the fact that the money spent on that could buy enough trucks to out-work it.

But for that matter as well, $200k will buy a lot of shovels that will out work it or the trucks on a dollar basis. At least until you have to pay 20,000 employees hourly for operating those shovels:laughing:

Yes I have seen it done and have done it.

Two trucks will push alot of snow but lets get real. If you tried to push what that tractor is pushing you would just slide of the pile and destroy trucks trying. That tractor will push it all day and ask for more. Dollar for dollar that tractor will do more then the equivalent in trucks.

ps I never said diesels are required but do we want to compare fuel consumption of a few gas trucks to the tractor?

 

[LD1]

Wanna bet?

Sure I do. There are many other more important factors that determine how much a truck can plow other than the little bit of added weight of the diesel motor. But I do agree that All other things being equal (tires, ballast, rear end) that the diesel will have a SLIGHT advantage. I have out-pushed pleanty of diesels. Because they were un-ballasted and probabally open diff. I have LS diff, good tires, and ~1000lbs in the bed. Now if a diesel were set up like that, they would have the edge.

Again, all I am trying to point out is that there are other more important factors to consider.


Yes I have seen it done and have done it.

Two trucks will push alot of snow but lets get real. If you tried to push what that tractor is pushing you would just slide of the pile and destroy trucks trying. That tractor will push it all day and ask for more. Dollar for dollar that tractor will do more then the equivalent in trucks.

ps I never said diesels are required but do we want to compare fuel consumption of a few gas trucks to the tractor?

Yes, that tractor is pushing a LOT of snow. All I am saying is that the trucks will come darn close. AND they have a faster ground speed. And a lot depends on the snow type. Sure, a wet heavy snow is going to give the trucks problems, but I would also be willing to be a good heavy snow would also give that tractor a few issues too. I have seen a heavy snow give a 4x4 JD 410 backhoe issues with a 12' box that was shorter and smaller sides. And a the 4x4 410 weighs within a few thousand lbs of that mx255. But a lighter snow, we have locked plows and pushed until the snow was ~8' in front of the blades piling up ~ 3.5-4' high and comming back over the plows before and no issues sliding into each other.

And even if you like the diesels, set them up with 9'2" v plows AND wings, and I'd still take 4 of them for the money over that tractor for speed, But depending on how much per HR you can get for the tractor vs the trucks, and what you pay employees, the tractor may be cheaper in the long haul to operate. But too many unknowns and variables to figure the cost.

 

[grsthegreat]

hmmmm. this post just gets me more and more confused what i need for my new tractor......the more i study the more confused i get. I have a new Kioti DK45SE HST CAB tractor and plan on taking care of between 5-10 miles of gravel roads next year. (will start with 5 and see what happens). It all flat and located in north Idaho. we get roughly 110" of snow a year. usually 4-6 inches at a time, but 2 years ago we got 36" over night. its usually semi dry to wet snow. Currently i take care of my 30 acres with my old JD870 and 60" rear snowblower. Ill be getting either a rear push or a rear pull style 84" snowblower for the new tractor (havnt decided yet) and im thinking of getting a front 84" snow blade. Since the tractor tops out at 16 MPH, i don't see the blade throwing the snow very far. But ive watched some youtube videos of front mounted snowblowers in operation, and they seem to be going real slow. so if i were to spend the $$$$$$ for a loader mounted front blower....doing 5-10 miles of roads....it would take a LONG time to blow them, or so it seams. has anyone used a front mount 84" or so snowblower in this forum to tell me how fast you can travel (on average). and can a front blade move snow at a better rate????. Im afraid of what a rear pull snowblower would do in a heavier snow. i wish i had lots of $$$$$,. then i would buy all and use them as necessary. oh....as son as the new tractor arrives (2-3 days) ill post some pics.....so far al i have is one from the lot, with ag tires on it. their switching those for r4 tires.

 

[Diamondpilot]

hmmmm. this post just gets me more and more confused what i need for my new tractor......the more i study the more confused i get. I have a new Kioti DK45SE HST CAB tractor and plan on taking care of between 5-10 miles of gravel roads next year. (will start with 5 and see what happens). It all flat and located in north Idaho. we get roughly 110" of snow a year. usually 4-6 inches at a time, but 2 years ago we got 36" over night. its usually semi dry to wet snow. Currently i take care of my 30 acres with my old JD870 and 60" rear snowblower. Ill be getting either a rear push or a rear pull style 84" snowblower for the new tractor (havnt decided yet) and im thinking of getting a front 84" snow blade. Since the tractor tops out at 16 MPH, i don't see the blade throwing the snow very far. But ive watched some youtube videos of front mounted snowblowers in operation, and they seem to be going real slow. so if i were to spend the $$$$$$ for a loader mounted front blower....doing 5-10 miles of roads....it would take a LONG time to blow them, or so it seams. has anyone used a front mount 84" or so snowblower in this forum to tell me how fast you can travel (on average). and can a front blade move snow at a better rate????. Im afraid of what a rear pull snowblower would do in a heavier snow. i wish i had lots of $$$$$,. then i would buy all and use them as necessary. oh....as son as the new tractor arrives (2-3 days) ill post some pics.....so far al i have is one from the lot, with ag tires on it. their switching those for r4 tires.

I think a tractor is the wrong thing for that much road. You need a dump truck or at the very least a SRW diesel pickup.

I run a 7.5' snow plow on the front of my tractor and its 10 times faster than a blower for snows less than 12". The key is to keep up with it.


Chris

 

[LD1]

I think a tractor is the wrong thing for that much road. You need a dump truck or at the very least a SRW diesel pickup.

I run a 7.5' snow plow on the front of my tractor and its 10 times faster than a blower for snows less than 12". The key is to keep up with it.


Chris

I agree, but it doesnt HAVE to be a diesel. A gasser would do just fine.

 

[grsthegreat]

I think a tractor is the wrong thing for that much road. You need a dump truck or at the very least a SRW diesel pickup.

I run a 7.5' snow plow on the front of my tractor and its 10 times faster than a blower for snows less than 12". The key is to keep up with it.


Chris

im only concerned that id wreck my truck. everyone i know that plows with a truck is repairing the transmission all the time. id hate to wreck my truck. but i understand what your saying. thank you