What is the most efficient snow removal machine?

[batwing]

we have about a 1/4 mile drive, angle plow on front, snow blower on back would work good for us.

 

[300UGUY]

I appreciate the expertise in evaluating the different technologies involved. However, a plane ticket to Ft Myers is pretty cheap. Just sayin.....

 

[JDgreen227]

Problem I have with snowblowers is that they are really expensive for a single-purpose attachment...I can use the FEL on my tractor year around, and grade dirt with the back blade as well as moving snow with it. A blower can be used for NOTHING but snow removal and only when going in one direction. Yes, a blower is most efficient, BUT if there is little snow they are a very costly device. I could have really needed a blower maybe six or seven days in the 1200 hours I have on my tractor. Perhaps I should have titled my thread "What is the most cost effective snow removal device?"

 

[Tor Arne]

Problem I have with snowblowers is that they are really expensive for a single-purpose attachment...I can use the FEL on my tractor year around, and grade dirt with the back blade as well as moving snow with it. A blower can be used for NOTHING but snow removal and only when going in one direction. Yes, a blower is most efficient, BUT if there is little snow they are a very costly device. I could have really needed a blower maybe six or seven days in the 1200 hours I have on my tractor. Perhaps I should have titled my thread "What is the most cost effective snow removal device?"

Not quite correct've seen one that used the snow blower to move grain inside a building to where the auger was. My father used an old v type snow blower to spread manure

 

[Piston]

Problem I have with snowblowers is that they are really expensive for a single-purpose attachment...I can use the FEL on my tractor year around, and grade dirt with the back blade as well as moving snow with it. A blower can be used for NOTHING but snow removal and only when going in one direction. Yes, a blower is most efficient, BUT if there is little snow they are a very costly device. I could have really needed a blower maybe six or seven days in the 1200 hours I have on my tractor. Perhaps I should have titled my thread "What is the most cost effective snow removal device?"

That changes everything! I feel the most cost effective is exactly what you outlined in your original post, a FEL and nice heavy rear blade.

 

[DeereMann]

Ahhhhhh.......I think it depends on the situation. I have shorter, wider pads with high banks. We have had a number of heavy snows too. I know I couldn't have handled it with an FEL or blade. So then what do I do?

For those with long narrow drive/trails, sure a blade works good - just like on paved roads.

So I don't think there is a "one size fits all" response to the question.

 

[batwing]

Quote Originally Posted by JDgreen227 View Post
Problem I have with snow blowers is that they are really expensive for a single-purpose attachment...

They are expensive but I just realized we have had ours for 20 years and put nothing into it! (I am knocking on wood)

 

[Mike476]

I'm a 7 foot rear blade / 6 foot bucket kind of guy. I plow our property and our subdivision road, we get a fair bit of snow and quite often it's heavy because of our Maritime climate.

 

[dave1949]

Problem I have with snowblowers is that they are really expensive for a single-purpose attachment...I can use the FEL on my tractor year around, and grade dirt with the back blade as well as moving snow with it. A blower can be used for NOTHING but snow removal and only when going in one direction. Yes, a blower is most efficient, BUT if there is little snow they are a very costly device. I could have really needed a blower maybe six or seven days in the 1200 hours I have on my tractor. Perhaps I should have titled my thread "What is the most cost effective snow removal device?"

I've never had a snow season here that could not be cleared with just a FEL, it's a matter of how long do I want to be out in bad weather on an open station tractor I guess. Since my retiree time isn't worth a whole lot :laughing:, sure a FEL is the least expensive solution in dollars.

For the folks in places that get buried in snow, a FEL alone either wouldn't get the job done, or they would still be scooping, shuttling and stacking when the next storm comes maybe.

 

[Danny C]

I appreciate the expertise in evaluating the different technologies involved. However, a plane ticket to Ft Myers is pretty cheap. Just sayin.....

I'm a 7 foot rear blade / 6 foot bucket kind of guy. I plow our property and our subdivision road, we get a fair bit of snow and quite often it's heavy because of our Maritime climate.

I agree. I bought a 7ft hydraulic angle plow for my loader and kinda regret it. I find myself using my back blade and loader bucket as much or more pulling the back blade cleans roads down to the gravel much better than the push plow.

 

[Piston]

I agree. I bought a 7ft hydraulic angle plow for my loader and kinda regret it. I find myself using my back blade and loader bucket as much or more pulling the back blade cleans roads down to the gravel much better than the push plow.

Aside from not really liking it on your FEL, how do you like the HLA quality? I have looked at their products online but have never seen them in person, it looks like a good quality company. How much does it weigh?

 

[worksmartnothard]

Aside from not really liking it on your FEL, how do you like the HLA quality? I have looked at their products online but have never seen them in person, it looks like a good quality company. How much does it weigh?

I have a John Deere 3320 with a Curtis cab, I just installed a 7' frontier plow with the hydraulic angle,
by the time I put a rear svu on and ran hydraulics to the front loader the cost was $2800 I'm 52 I think I'll
get my moneys worth out of it and I think it works great, I'm able to stack the snow. The machine spins on
a dime,besides my son is 16 he'll thank me down the road.

 

[Coyote machine]

Aside from not really liking it on your FEL, how do you like the HLA quality? I have looked at their products online but have never seen them in person, it looks like a good quality company. How much does it weigh?

Did I miss a reference somewhere in this thread about an HLA plow? I ask 'cause I own one and like it a lot, this is second season on it and no problems at all. It's all I use with my Aquiline chains as needed.

 

[JDgreen227]

OP here, my apologies for the somewhat misleading thread title, perhaps I should have clarified in the beginning I was asking what others felt was the most COST EFFECTIVE method of snow removal. I stand corrected. And I must state that while I actually use my 6' back blade for most snow removal here, it has two limitations: First, I wish it were not such a PIB plowing in reverse, because at my age (62) I detest twisting to look while in reverse gear. Second, when the snow gets hard enough, the rear blade tends to ride up instead of pushing the snow, I frequently wish my 3-point would permit me to apply down pressure so the blade wouldn't lift.

All the driveways I plow here (5) are asphalt or gravel and I don't use my FEL much for actual snow grading because the bucket edge digs in.

 

[rankrank1]

Boxblade will not ride up like your rear blade does.

For sheer cost effectiveness, then the loader and boxblade win hands down from a cost perspective. If I could only have one attachment for my tractor then it would be a box blade. Why because the box blade can be many so many tools in one (in a pinch). Think about it: If you absolutely had to you could even till ground and work up a seedbed to plant a garden with it. There is an interesting thread in the archives somewhere that someone posted about how many things they used their boxblade for and it was very interesting reading. The possibilities were amazing.

 

[npalen]

How about a box blade with hydraulically retractable wings to serve as the ends in box blade mode or extendable for wide blade mode?

 

[Boris1]

Yes - see pic added above that shows the rear setup. Below are pics of our other blower that's rear-mount - with an added clean-up drag blade.

Is the clean / Drag a factory option or did you make it? It's a neat idea and never seen one before. Thanks

 

[Mike476]

I seldom "push" with my back blade now that I have a loader; with the right adjustment at your upper link and the blade angles off I will clear my subdivision road as quick as anyone with a front mounted plow (need to ensure the blade will dig into instead of ride on top of the snow). Been doing it for close to 15 years.

Still the most cost effective way, as has been mentioned I also used the blade to landscape my property, prepare the site where I built the barn etc etc.

 

[FatTire]

OP here, my apologies for the somewhat misleading thread title, perhaps I should have clarified in the beginning I was asking what others felt was the most COST EFFECTIVE method of snow removal.

Cost? Oh, that's a different issue! :laughing:

 

[nybirdman]

Efficient vs cost goes out the window when you get "five feet" on the level;as it happened on the Tug Hill (NY) last week.The only way to move that much snow is with a blower or front end loader equiptment.