Buying Advice Tractor for Snow removal -> NEWBIE

[homedad]

I'm not advanced enough to link another thread but there was a thread started by klausb on 7/5/2010 titled "tractor to blow lots of snow". He was from Solitude Utah. Very interesting read. It might apply to your conditions.

 

[nybirdman]

Guys,

I have made a copy of all your replies because it is helping me a lot.

I just came from one of biggest tractor dealer in Denver area. They showed me a lot of stuff. The one tractor I saw very attractive was a
Kubota B3350 Cab tractor. It comes with a FEL and they will add a 72 inch front plow blade and a rear mount 64 inch snow blower.
It is new, size is not huge so I may be able to store it in the garage when not in use.
Price is steep and more than I was initially planning to pay but I may not have to much choice ......
Used ones are hard to find. I wanted a cab tractor and most are really big and of course I still have to buy the attachment.

Well this is just the beginning and at least I know what they are offering and what they are talking about thanks to all of your help.

Have a good weekend

-=terry=-

That should be a nice rig, capable for your area.Check you door height!Lot of money but new with a warranty.Lots of other uses after it quits snowing.

 

[kevinwak]

I would say that the money to buy a front blower over a rear mount would be well worth it. I bought a rear blower and am now looking at selling at and purchasing a front mount. If you are using a front mount you can't have the loader on, but if you are only buying for snow clearing then you don't need to buy a loader. You can use the money that you would have spent to buy the loader and upgrade to the front blower over the rear.
To me the ideal for snow clearing would be a front blower, tire chains and a rear blade to use for windowing light snowfalls and then blowing it away in one pass.

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[speedyvelo]

vtsnoweding

How much power does your tractor have?

33 HP (it is not mine yet ;-))

 

[speedyvelo]

Minus the cab, I had to face about the same reality back here.

Phil that picture is impressive
what tractor?
how much power?
how much you pay for the front mounted blower?

 

[speedyvelo]

To me the ideal for snow clearing would be a front blower, tire chains and a rear blade to use for windowing light snowfalls and then blowing it away in one pass.

They never offer me the option of no FEL. I will look more into front mounted snow blowers.
Thxs

 

[vtsnowedin]

vtsnoweding

How much power does your tractor have?

Mine is a 5045E with 45 engine horse power with 37 HP available at the PTO. You can get the same tractor in 45, 55, 65 and 75 Hp versions with just the turbo chargers and injector pumps changed plus the right sized tires to get the varied power to the ground.

 

[kevinwak]

They never offer me the option of no FEL. I will look more into front mounted snow blowers.
Thxs

I actually tried a cab cam back up cam to help easy the back pain of looking over my shoulder. I used it a couple times and returned it and decided to invest in a front mount blower instead.

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[dave1949]

The basic snow removal problem is having one tool that covers 100% of the need, but only needing the maximum ability about 15% of the time. No way around that really unless you get more stuff.

I have a rear blower, but I only clear about 700 feet drive. I really wouldn't want to do a mile long driveway in reverse very often. In deep or heavy snow your speed would be ~ 1 to 1.5 mph? Others can chime in on that, but with a 6' wide blower you need to make two passes, or 2 miles of driving in reverse for 1.5 to 2 hours total time. Ouch!

To use one tractor, I think a quick connect FEL v-plow with hydraulic wing controls coupled with a front-mount blower, and a blade on the back would be as good as it gets. You could use the faster v-plow 85% of the time maybe?, and put on the slow blower when you have to. Not that familiar with your snow patterns. That's going to cost you.

Another alternative would be to get an older single-axle dump truck and mount a plow on it, plus put chains on and sand in the dump bed. If you had that plus a tractor with just a blower, could be rear if it has to be, and blade, that would be a good combination, and you would have a backup weapon in case of failure.

 

[dave1949]

I actually tried a cab cam back up cam to help easy the back pain of looking over my shoulder. I used it a couple times and returned it and decided to invest in a front mount blower instead.

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I can't imagine it would stay clear of blowing snow on the lens.