Selecting equipment. primarily for snow removal

[HEC]

A blower is almost a must for smaller tractors in tight places , front or back , back is much cheaper if your neck can handle it . I get lots of snow in my area and would be lost without a blower . A back blade on a small tractor is very limited in deep snow . A fel and rear blower is a very nice set up , again if you have no trouble turning and looking backwards . I did it that way for over 20 years and it worked well , but over the years turning my neck like that is no longer an option . GOOD LUCK

 

[fishheadbob]

I also must move a lot of snow; we got a 6 foot dumping last November. I use a 7000 pound utility with a 6 foot FEL and a 7 foot back blade which can handle most anything although the 6 foot job was heavy stuff and required loader work as it quickly got too heavy to just push. I like the snowblower suggestions for a smaller tractor; I really think a 48 inch FEL is going to be overly time consuming for anything beyond a dusting (in Buffalo that's anything under a foot).
You may want to consider lightly used in a bigger machine than the Kubota you're considering, but something heavy like mine will do a number on a lawn unless it's dry ground. Definitely not able to do double duty as a lawn mower. Depends on whatever else you need your machine for.

 

[mposter]

I live in central NH & have a B7610. Don't be fooled at what these tractors can do based on size. I use my tractor for everything you mentioned and a lot more. You will want to get attachments for snow removal. My tractor has a 50" bucket but that comes off for the winter. I have a 6 1/2' snow plow on the FEL & a 60" rear blower. Biggest storm I can think of off hand was over 3 feet. I had no problems dealing with it. My driveway is gravel, and just about 1/2 mile long. Matter of fact 6 of my neighbors had me help widen their driveways this winter a they got "tunneled" from the truck plows.

I originally started out like you, FEL & a rear blade but very fast learned I needed the correct tools to deal with winter. Both the FEL snow plow and rear blower I bought used & were in good shape. If you look, you can find some good equipment out there.

Everyone has been quite helpful. I'm convinced the 48" FEL is insufficient for snow removal and that even the 60" on the B2650 might be frustrating. I should reiterate that the physical situation is TIGHT. There's enough room near the house/garage to maneuver and not much more. But there's way too much square footage for a shovel or walk behind blower. I need to be able to keep the entire area clear and do have room to pile as long as I can avoid scraping. Then of course there's the driveway itself. I hope that makes sense.

So, here are the options I'm thinking about now:

B2320 with FEL frame mounted plow. Advantage: lower cost. Disadvantage: less capable for overall use than B2650.

B2650 with FEL and FEL frame mounted plow if FEL is too frustrating. Advantage: I think this will get the job done. Maybe even without the plow considering layout of driveway/parking. Disadvantage: even costlier if I do have to add a plow to the FEL.

So I'd appreciate opinions on the above and also what it's like (effort and time) to swap the bucket for the plow on these FEL setups.

BTW, I appreciate others' comments about "used" and "dealer proximity". I'll offer a bit of history to explain my preferences. I was a motorcycle mechanic long ago, and then a small engine tech. I've had it with wrench turning if it can be avoided. I've also learned that a good relationship with a dealer can be a good thing when the stuff hits the fan. Thanks again for all the help so far.

 

[vtsnowedin]

MY neighbor has a B2700 with loader. Her plow clamps into the bucket of the loader and uses the dump piston lines for power angle. It works OK and would work a whole lot better if she had her rear tires loaded or a ballast box on the three point. Your closest dealer is probably in Brattleboro or Keene but a drive up to Townline equipment in Plainfield NH would be worth your time. They had a whole lot of Orange on the lot last week at their open house. Every shape and size was there. They can certainly fix you up.

 

[skyhook]

Think....quick attach bucket and quick attach plow.
A larger plow can be removed and your bucket re-installed for those tight areas.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Think....quick attach bucket and quick attach plow.
A larger plow can be removed and your bucket re-installed for those tight areas.

Certainly. I can swap from bucket to plow in under ten minutes. One thing to consider is the distance you need to clear. If you have a long drive to do say a quarter mile or more a front plow is much faster and uses less fuel then a blower. You still could have a blower for throwing banks back between storms but you would not want to spend hours on each coverage when it can be done in minutes.

 

[Parkanzky]

He said his drive is only a few hundred feet. With the tight areas and his concerns with where to put snow I would advise a blower all the way. In fact, I have a similar setup with a bit longer drive and went with a front-mounted blower and box scraper. On a tighter budget with a shorter drive, I'd get a rear blower.

 

[PHPaul]

One word: Snowblower.

Yes, a front mount would be nice but they're WAY spendy.

I've been doing my driveway and lanes (several hundred feet total) plus a neighbor and my daughter with my rear mount for 10+ years. I'm 64 and I don't really have issues with looking over my shoulder unless it's a BIG storm and I'm at it for 3-4 hours versus the less than one it usually takes.

A 48" bucket or even a blade sized to fit that tractor would be more of a PITA than I'd be willing to deal with. With the blower, 2 passes, three at the most and I'm done. The snow is blown well out of the way, I don't have to sweat pushing banks back or running out of places to put the snow and it does a much cleaner job than a plow.

I DID wuss out and order a new tractor with a heated cab, blowing snow in my Carhartts was getting a little old...

 

[vtsnowedin]

One word: Snowblower.



I DID wuss out and order a new tractor with a heated cab, blowing snow in my Carhartts was getting a little old...

Don't blame you one bit. :thumbsup:

 

[vtsnowedin]

He said his drive is only a few hundred feet. With the tight areas and his concerns with where to put snow I would advise a blower all the way. In fact, I have a similar setup with a bit longer drive and went with a front-mounted blower and box scraper. On a tighter budget with a shorter drive, I'd get a rear blower.

I'm not arguing that the OP needs a plow. notice I said "consider" and suggested a cut off of a quarter mile.
That is there for other Newbees that might surf this thread but have different circumstances then the OP.