Snow Removal Frustration

[mud23609]

Adding weight will for sure help, but it is not the be all end all. My tn75d tips the scales around 9000 pounds ballasted like it is and I was having trouble today pushing a six foot bucket to clear an area that hadn't been cleared all winter even with both diffs locked and brand new r1's (several feet of snow). Frozen ground and hard pack provides very little traction for any tire. A good set of vbar chains though will bite into it and improve your traction immensely.

 

[rustythe4x4]

Snow blew in, and the FEL wouldnt make a dent. 7' two stage snow blower was grunting behind the 70 horse 4WD White, but it got through.
Fluid filled tires, no chains, about 12,000 lbs for tractor, plus blower.
Here is a pic of my 6 foot son standing beside the end results.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I spilled some ice out of my cooler, on the ground. the tractor seemed to drive over it just fine. It was 80 degrees out and bright sunshine so it didnt last long enough to get pictures. Y'all have fun plowing snow.

 

[coldstream]

Ha, nice one Firemanpat! No snow/ice for you but watch out for those hurricanes! We just can't seem to get winter pushed out of here! 4" to 6" of the white stuff expected here over the weekend - and I already removed my loader and blade! Back out to the barn tonight to get the equipment ready......

 

[JT42]

... 4" to 6" of the white stuff expected here over the weekend - and I already removed my loader and blade! Back out to the barn tonight to get the equipment ready......

At least you're not alone -- Across the state line here in KS I was doing the same thing tonight. I'm a little farther south where they're saying the storm total could be 5" to 13" at last check.

 

[wsc9tt]

Very similar experience in Indiana. Larger than normal snowfalls multiple times in a row. A 1600' gravel driveway with lots of drifts. And last time we had a thaw for a day so the driveway turned to heavy slush that I couldn't clear. Temps dropped the slush turned to an inch of bumpy ice and then we got another 10 inches of snow. Now pushing is near impossible.

It made matters worse I just bought myself a Kubota MX5100 4wd, that I love, but the dealer hasn't had time to load the tires and I don't have anything but the FEL to move snow.
So I have my old Ford 2000 with a front blade, which normally works great but with so much snow on the sides of the drive the snow I push doesn't have any place to go. Last night I worked with a buddy, I pushed piles back from the drive with the FEL while he drove the Ford. Eventually we ended hanging an old tire off the box scraper on the back of the Ford and I pushed the tractor with the Kubota.

Now for advice. Same as everyone else, you need weight. Look at ALL your 3pt attachments and ask which is the heaviest. I put my big old 6' bush hog on the back of the Kubota. It is awkward, but all that weight hanging way back from the tractor makes a HUGE difference. With that the Kubota is able push things again. I just wish the blade I ordered would arrive.

I also debate if I can use the rippers on the box to remove my ice layer. Probably not without messing up the driveway even more.

 

[rekees4300]

so much snow on the sides of the drive the snow I push doesn't have any place to go.

After fighting that problem for 10 years finally wised up and bought a rear PTO snow blower. Use it for the first pass which removes all but a couple inches then second pass use front blade to push the rest to the side.

 

[wsc9tt]

After fighting that problem for 10 years finally wised up and bought a rear PTO snow blower. Use it for the first pass which removes all but a couple inches then second pass use front blade to push the rest to the side.

Yeah, I know. The problem is that we really only get this much snow every 5 years. So my money would be better spent just hiring someone to clear the drive when it gets too bad. Of course I am too stubborn to call anyone so I go battle the snow and ice. I bought a heavy blade with offset LP RB3784 (on order) thinking it will work and will be generally useful all year. I am also debating ordering chains for the new tractor. Right now it does OK and when I get the tires filled it will be another 800# heavier. Again how much do you spend for something that doesn't happen every year?

 

[rekees4300]

Chains make a significant improvement in traction. I use rear chains all Winter and also front chains for snow on top of ice conditions.

 

[Pine Strip]

I'll explain my frustration and listen to your all's expert advice! B2920 with FEL and R4 tires purchased spring 2010. Tires are not loaded and I don't have chains. I've got a 4' king cutter (i think that's the brand) blade on the 3pt, blade turned "backwards" with a 3" ABS pipe installed on the blade to minimize gravel displacement. Gravel driveway, 500' long. I've removed several 2 and 3 inch snows over the time I've owned the tractor without much trouble. I use a combo of running the blade down the drive (set at the middle angle) and then cleaning the piles with the FEL. However, in the last 2 weeks we have had two 10 inch snows about a week apart. Trying to move this much snow took me to near the limit for this tractor. The first snow was pretty dry and I was able to move it OK but my blade isn't heavy enough so I never got clear down to the bottom of the snow, even without the ABS pipe installed. Would adding weight to the blade help with this? Of course if I add weight I'll dig more snow and come up against the most significant problem which is lack of traction. The second snow was so wet that the blade would just pull a few feet of snow before I broke traction. So I tried using the bucket to "skim" the snow and I also quickly lost traction after traveling just a few feet. I am open to loading the tires and/or adding chains but I wanted input from you all as to how much these will really help me. And yes, I know some will say "buy a bigger tractor" but that is not an option due to 1: finances, and 2: these big snows have been relatively rare recently so I'd like to adapt the equipment that I have as much as possible. Well, enough rambling for now, lay it on me!

This counter weight has served me well.