Plow with tracks, or chains with snowblower?

SpudHauler · Jan 27, 2014

I know this is a little off beat, but years ago I put calcium in my 10 hp snow-blower wheels and screwed sheet metal screws into the tires for traction.

Worked great.

My 7 hp Honda snow-blower has tracks and does twice the job the old MTD could do.

And I can climb over the snow bank and tackle it from either side now.

Tracks with a blade...

I would have thought would be good too, but after reading others on this thread, now agree, on icy surfaces trying to push 500 lbs of snow in front of a 6 foot wide blade.

Frustrating!!!

Piston · Jan 27, 2014

My advice for beat of both worlds, is get a set of snow tires for the jeep, add some weight to it, if needed, buy chains. Then buy the Ranger and Camoplast all season tracks. Forget plowing with the UTV if you have the jeep, unless you just want to do it for fun.

Your jeep will plow better than the Ranger with snow tires and weight.

Your Ranger with tracks will be 10 times more fun than the
Jeep.

I'm looking at the XP900 as well as the Pioneer. I'd use it for plowing as well but purely for fun. Any big storms will be plowed with the truck or tractor.

NS Gearhead · Jan 27, 2014

Selling the jeep to finance the Ranger. Between the dump trailer (already sold), the jeep, and the tracker (once done) should be enough to buy the Ranger. The extras I'll finance. Winch and plow for sure... I've further complicated it; instead of tracks or a blower, I could get a full hard cab with heat
and radio...but still tire chains and plow. Tough choices!

NS Gearhead · Jan 27, 2014

...although I planned to build my own cab for alot less... just wouldn't be as nive as factort.

GreatWhitehunter · Jan 28, 2014

Watch this video should answer you question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpiD6CpbXEE

NS Gearhead · Jan 29, 2014

GreatWhitehunter said:
Watch this video should answer you question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpiD6CpbXEE

I realize that's fluffy powder... but **** that's moving alot of snow!

NS Gearhead · Jan 30, 2014

Well I guess this answers my question (read the comments);
Can am Outlander Max 800 on Apache 360's Plowing with Flex Plow - YouTube

If I find they're slipping, I'll add studs.

Piston · Jan 30, 2014

As cool as tracks are, I can't see them working nearly as good as chains on all four tires AND extra weight in the bed of the ranger.

I'm all about tracks, I love the idea, and I'd love to have a setup someday, but for me, I'd choose the cab, heater, limited edition xp with EPS, and put chains on all 4 wheels. Then, save up for a year or two and buy the tracks for fun.

Earlier today I was going up a hill with my tractor, the rear tires would slip on the ice until the chain links bit into the ice. I could not have gotten up that hill without chains on, and I seriously doubt I could have with tracks either.

Interested in what you get though, I'm thinking along very similar lines as you, except I'm looking at purchasing this summer.

batwing · Jan 30, 2014

fluffy powder is not hard to plow.

NS Gearhead · Jan 31, 2014

Piston said:
As cool as tracks are, I can't see them working nearly as good as chains on all four tires AND extra weight in the bed of the ranger.

I'm all about tracks, I love the idea, and I'd love to have a setup someday, but for me, I'd choose the cab, heater, limited edition xp with EPS, and put chains on all 4 wheels. Then, save up for a year or two and buy the tracks for fun.

Earlier today I was going up a hill with my tractor, the rear tires would slip on the ice until the chain links bit into the ice. I could not have gotten up that hill without chains on, and I seriously doubt I could have with tracks either.

Interested in what you get though, I'm thinking along very similar lines as you, except I'm looking at purchasing this summer.

Yup, looking at the 900XP in Sunset Red with EPS... or a Can Am outlander Max 1000xt. Tough choice.