Snow Equipment Buying/Pricing Plow on truck or buy a tractor

[judikooper]

We recently looked at adding a Western Plow to the front of 1/2 ton truck for about $5500. We have a long driveway (over 1/2 mile, about 1/4 of it is steep downhill with dropoff on one side and steep incline on the other). I started wondering if we bought a pretty strong little tractor with a snowplow how much longer would it take or would it even be possible to plow that far with a tractor? Advantage would be having something with more than one use and I believe it would be safer on the steep hill. Time is not a huge factor as I'm retired and could do it in stages. This is central/northern Minnesota so lots of snow. Would be curious what longest distance anyone is plowing with a tractor?

 

[lungdoc]

Half-ton trucks aren't ideal for plowing - heavy duty 3/4 tons would be better and truck definitely would need to be 4WD. The steep hill may be a problem for a truck getting back up in some conditions, chains make a huge difference but often not practical on a truck needed for other uses. A tractor can definitely do the work - again a 4WD tractor with chains and preferably a cab, with either a plow or a blower. With a steep drop off probably don't need to worry about the size of the banks which can be a problem with plows (versus blowers).

I'd say it depends a lot on what other needs you have for a tractor - it's an expensive choice if you don't need it otherwise. Another choice to consider is a used heavy duty plow truck that someone else has rigged - can be old and not even road legal if just need it for a driveway; $5500 may get you something more than adequate.

I do about a km to our cottage with the tractor in my picture with a blower, but whne not there have a guy do it with a truck plow. We get enough snow that the blower is very useful to reduce the banks from the truck plowing. Chains a must with our hills.

 

[Hammy]

I would recommend the tractor. Make sure its 4WD and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I chain up all four tires on mine.

My driveway is a 1/3 of a mile and all up or down and we get a fair amount of snow in these parts. A truck would be quicker and warmer but I never have to worry about it being too deep to plow. One time I tried a truck but couldn't make it up my driveway. I'm sure with some more weight in the back and chains it would have made it but with a tractor you can go darn near anywhere. I also think the tractor does a better job then the plow truck did. I do mine with an 8' back blade.

A few years ago we had a really hard winter and I spent a lot of hours plowing. The other benefit of the tractor is you can move the snow if needed and widen your road after it gets too narrow.

And then the obvious benefit is, you will have a tractor. Honestly, there is never a time I get off my tractor without thinking how nice it is to own one.

Good luck and ask away if you have any more questions.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

A tractor is hard to beat for your own personal drive where you can always go in and warm up.

 

[flyingcow]

Have you ever plowed with a pickup? Or tractor?

If you were going to buy a tractor, your driveway seems ideal for a tractor with blower. But, that all adds up into $$$'s

If you go the pickup route, keep in 4-low. especially a 1/2 ton.

 

[Egon]

What does the Budget indicate?

 

[RoyJackson]

If you go the pickup route, keep in 4-low. especially a 1/2 ton.

Weight in the bed and chains available would be a good idea too.

 

[dmay]

We recently looked at adding a Western Plow to the front of 1/2 ton truck for about $5500. We have a long driveway (over 1/2 mile, about 1/4 of it is steep downhill with dropoff on one side and steep incline on the other). I started wondering if we bought a pretty strong little tractor with a snowplow how much longer would it take or would it even be possible to plow that far with a tractor? Advantage would be having something with more than one use and I believe it would be safer on the steep hill. Time is not a huge factor as I'm retired and could do it in stages. This is central/northern Minnesota so lots of snow. Would be curious what longest distance anyone is plowing with a tractor?

If your truck is a 1/2 ton 4wd, then look for a plow that mounts to a 2inch front receiver. Check out a Meyer Home Plow power model at $3100.

 

[JCByrd24]

What does the Budget indicate?

This is the correct question....You're looking at a substantial investment in a tractor to be anywhere close to the plowing ability of even a 1/2 ton truck, and then you are still cold and wet. Certainly there are added benefits of a tractor, but if you're talking $5500 budget on the tractor, you're not even close. My Yanmar was $5500, it' 30 years old, 18hp, has got a bucket and 4wd and with chains would maybe push a 5.5ft plow, definitely a 60" rear blower (neither included for the price I paid). It would certainly get the job done on my 230ft drive but 5 years before I could swing the tractor I put a 7.5' meyer plow on my 1/2 ton Silverado for around $800 (bought used stuff and fabricated to fit my truck). Hands down, I'm not getting rid of the plow off the truck anytime soon. For 1/2 mile drive, unless it has a cab a tractor would not be in consideration.

 

[TroySD]

I have both...from where the county quits plowing to my house is 1.5mi. The truck works awesome for that. BTW its an old tired 1985 Chevy 1/2 Ton, 4WD with a 7ft Western plow, no chains (found on an auction for $275). That works great for most of the snows to keep the yard and the road open. However, it does create a pretty large ridge after enough time...The neighbor comes and helps blow the ridges off with his big Deere and a wildcat blower.

I've used an old 1946 IH M for most of my tractor work. That works nice in the big snows but its old and tired. I bought a NH Boomer 35 this summer and I'm hoping that will be more efficient for this winter. I'm looking for a blower for it just to keep the piles from getting out of control.

Farmers almanac supposedly is calling for 200" of snow this winter...if they are 25% right that still is a lot of snow.

BTW the tractor is also needed for loader work and mowing so it is nice to have for a multi use tool.

Hope that helps:thumbsup: