Best implement for snow removal

[BuzzardA91]

I moved 42" with the 8N with a 6' scraper blade.

I wouldn't even know how to go about doing that. That would be like a foot higher then most blades. How did you do it, just curious?

 

[Leejohn]

Best implement for snow removal ????? Airplane------to Florida. I just had to say that.

 

[JD6430]

I run a 10 foot fisher plow on one tractor and a 8 foot frontier blower on the front of the other tractor. 9 times out of 10 I use the plow. The plow is faster and cheaper and as long as you start the year out by pushing your banks back you shouldn't have much trouble, If banks get out of control put the bucket on. The last thing is with out a cab plan on eating a lot of snow if you use a blower, when Im done with the blower my tractor looks like a snow bank on wheels.

 

[Piston]

I use a rear blade and FEL with good success. I also have rear chains which though very expensive I would not be without even with fluid in my tires. I can go through any snow with them on even when we get some of the dreaded ice underneath it first. The chains are heavy and some work to put on so once I put them on they stay on until about March. A blower would be nice, but limited use and something else to maintain.

That is an AWESOME looking jeep setup you have there :thumbsup: For heavy snow removal, the problem comes down to weight, or lack of weight, with a small vehicle like that. I don't think you'd have a problem with clearance though

 

[NS Gearhead]

That is an AWESOME looking jeep setup you have there :thumbsup: For heavy snow removal, the problem comes down to weight, or lack of weight, with a small vehicle like that. I don't think you'd have a problem with clearance though

Thanks bud. She weighs in at 5,200lbs. I haven't had traction be a problem yet... but I'd put some chains on her if it was an issue. 4-6" of snow is normal here...10" might happen once or twice a year. Everything's a compromise... fat tires tend to float over the snow instead of digging down... but they sure make "ramping up" the snow easy.
Plowing 3 - YouTube

 

[94BULLITT]

I wouldn't even know how to go about doing that. That would be like a foot higher then most blades. How did you do it, just curious?

I picked the blade up and pushed it on a angle towards the edge of the drive way as far as a could. Then I kept dropping the blade down a bit and pushed it more until I was down to the driveway. The worst part is getting a start, you need to get a area so you can move up and back. When I got done I had a very narrow path that was wide enough for a vehicle.

 

[weewilly]

Just my .02Cnd

The Guy who plows my long S driveway uses a farm tractor with chains & cab and has a pickup snow blade on a homemade frame attached to the bucket of the front end loader and a left/right hydraulics to the blade and normal up down on the loader it looks like heck but works very well one main advantage I can see is he can push a bank very high 7-10ft
Weewilly

 

[El Wood]

Any comments what works best to keep your gravel ON the driveway (I know asphalt works the best ). Can you put skid shoes or plates on a front or back blade? Or maybe even on a FEL?

 

[RoyJackson]

Any comments what works best to keep your gravel ON the driveway (I know asphalt works the best ). Can you put skid shoes or plates on a front or back blade? Or maybe even on a FEL?

You can install skid shoes on anything...might take a bit of fabrication or welding. This includes your loader bucket.
When I plow with my bucket, I keep it curled back. That, in most cases, keeps the front lip of the bucket about an inch off the surface.

 

[Dave M7040]

I use a drag type snow blower, often called an inverted blower.
I have no trouble driving thru the snow and then let the blower get rid of it.
Since you are going forward you have many gears to choose from so you can find a speed to match the blower load on the tractor.
I built the drag blade on the back of the blower to pull snow away from shop doors. It is built out of 1/2" plate so I also use it for leveling gravel and ground.
Dave M7040

 

[crazyal]

After several years as my main snow removal tool we got a nasty storm of over 40". It wasn't the depth of the snow but that the first 12" was different than the rest. It set up and the plow would just ride over the top of it on the first pass. After spending the night getting stuck then unstuck and finally having the throw bearing die I switched to a blower. Since doing so we've had a couple more storms like that and it doesn't phase the tractor at all. I still use the truck when time is a factor but most of the time I would rather put the snow 40' into the woods with the blower.



Kind of had to post a picture of the old girl since others were posting pictures. BTW weight is not a problem for me. :laughing:

 

[Piston]

Dave,
Now that's what I'm talkin about! :thumbsup:
What kind of blower is that? At first I thought it was a Normand but now I'm not sure.


Al,
That is quite a nice setup, and I would think unstoppable with those chains on the rears. I bet it comes in handy in the "off season" as well with the dump bed.

It's nice to see everyone's different views and opinions on what works best for them and their locations. Some great pics on here.

I can tell you what does NOT work best as the "best implement for snow removal", and that is a combination landscape rake/drop down grader blade. It is way too light weight to get under any hardpack snow of course, snow will fall through the tines of the upper portion of the rake.



For this winter, I've upgraded my rear blade to a heavy duty, and wider rear blade with 3 way hydraulics (Landpride RBT 4096) which should make it much easier for me to deal with the snow removal chores. Hopefully I notice a big difference!

Maybe one day I'll have my dream removal setup....

 

[Coyote machine]

I bought a HLA mod#2000 7' front plow with hydraulics last season. It has a central pivot and a single 3" dia. piston and crossover valve, to save from damage to the loader's structure, especially the arms. It has adjustable feet and a reversible cutting edge.It's got large trip springs too. It's designed for the application of front, tractor mounted plow, and has distinct advantages over a truck plow mounted on a FEL. I used rear chains, and loaded tires too, with open station. I like it. It's not a cheap rig, but I bought for the long haul, and it does all I ask it to without a wimper.

Here are the details: (Hover over text details for close-up pics of item sited). HLA Snow

 

[JerryK]

78" blower on the back of a big heavy built tractor ... don't even need chains...

 

[compact]

450 feet is pretty short - use a 6' rear blade and drive forewards for anything under a foot, put a load of snow in the FEL to keep the rear blade from kicking the front end into the bank, use the diff lock on the first pass. Use the spare $$ you save to get a set of trygg studded square pattern ice chains (about $500) for your rears and another $100 for a set of plain JD chains for the fronts. Get a cheap chain tightener from TSC, 4 1/4" clevises, and toss the attachment hardware that comes with the front JD chains they are useless and will come off when you least want them to (dark, cold, snowy night) and make a mess on your front hubs. Good chains = happy tractor operator. You'll want to use the FEL for larger storms but a 450 foot drive is maybe 2 hours for a 2 foot storm. Personally I did exactly that for 20 years on a 1/4 mile drive with a bigger but very slow tractor (think 6 hours for a 2 foot storm...counting bank push back etc.), now have a 6 foot 3 point blower and for $3400 with hydraulic chute on my 3520 I'm in hog heaven.

 

[94BULLITT]

I bought a HLA mod#2000 7' front plow with hydraulics last season. It has a central pivot and a single 3" dia. piston and crossover valve, to save from damage to the loader's structure, especially the arms. It has adjustable feet and a reversible cutting edge.It's got large trip springs too. It's designed for the application of front, tractor mounted plow, and has distinct advantages over a truck plow mounted on a FEL. I used rear chains, and loaded tires too, with open station. I like it. It's not a cheap rig, but I bought for the long haul, and it does all I ask it to without a wimper.

Here are the details: (Hover over text details for close-up pics of item sited). HLA Snow

What are the advantages of it over a truck plow? I want to sell my plow and convert a truck plow for the FEL.

 

[Coyote machine]

What are the advantages of it over a truck plow? I want to sell my plow and convert a truck plow for the FEL.

99bullitt,
Did you read the description and hover over the lines to see a detail pic for each feature? I ask because it shows how the plow works vs. a conventional truck plow. For instance, one large angled piston instead of two horizontal pistons. And a central pivot point to allow for lateral vs. horizontal float. A crossover valve to reduce shock to the FEL frame. Dual trip springs on each side, etc.
The guys built plows for small to giant sized tractors and loaders- check out their vids and bat wing plows for an idea of how into plowmaking they are invested in design and function.
Hope this answers your question.

 

[RoyJackson]

99bullitt,
Did you read the description and hover over the lines to see a detail pic for each feature? I ask because it shows how the plow works vs. a conventional truck plow. For instance, one large angled piston instead of two horizontal pistons. And a central pivot point to allow for lateral vs. horizontal float. A crossover valve to reduce shock to the FEL frame. Dual trip springs on each side, etc.
The guys built plows for small to giant sized tractors and loaders- check out their vids and bat wing plows for an idea of how into plowmaking they are invested in design and function.
Hope this answers your question.

That is a nice plow!!
Above my budget, but I doubt I'm dealing with as much snow or drive as you are.

 

[Coyote machine]

Thanks Roy. Yes it's pricey, but my overarching concern is to not cause any FEL damage from plowing snow. I'm looking at the plow as a long term investment; even if I trade my current tractor the plow will remain the same.

 

[Guesseral]

I find that the best implement for snow removal is the plow on the front of my truck after the heater warms up that is!:thumbsup: I just can't take the cold since the heart attack dang blood thinners, of course I had it before the heart attack I guess I just don't like the cold period! :drink: