Walco Renegade vs Meteor vs Land Pride 3pt Snowblowers - Info Needed

[Farmer495]

Meteor is 5 blade fan, got one of the first 78" models.

The deflector cylinder on the Meteor is a standard 2"x8" implement cylinder. Can get cyl and hoses for about $150 versus the $550 for factory one.

 

[downslope]

...In 2009 I bought my new Kubota M6040 and no longer need a blower. At 10,100# my Kubota will easily clear any berms on my mile long gravel driveway with the rear blade...

What size/model of rear blade are you using for snow? I was thinking a 7 foot blade should do the job. I'm not looking for a fancy plowing job, just good enough to get the cars in and out.

Do you always use the blade in a forward direction or do you push in reverse? Do you angle the blade or run it straight? My rear tires (16.9x30) are set about 83" outside to outside edges. Are you relying much on the FEL as well? Thanks for advice.

 

[oosik]

Well, lets see - - I have a Land Pride RB3596 which is plenty heavy( 565#) for snow removal. However, it just to darn light for summer driveway( mile long, gravel ) work. Particularly when the drive dries out and turns to concrete. So--- I bought an uber heavy one - - Rhino 950 - 96" - 1000#. That does the job in the summer. I leave the heavy Rhino on year round.

I TRY to wait to plow the snow until the driveway is frozen hard but it seldom works that way. I've found that skid shoes/feet/2" pipe on the cutting edge of my heavy rear blade are all a PITA. When the driveway is soft and I feel so moved to plow snow - I simply reverse the blade and drive forward.

I have a heavy duty grapple on the FEL now - so using the bucket is just not an option. Besides when the bucket WAS on the FEL I VERY seldom used it for snow. Too slow and doesn't do the job the way I want to. Remember, I have a mile long driveway, large mailbox area and big yard to clear. It takes 2 to 3 hours with the rear blade.

I offset the blade about 24" and angle it about 40 degrees. With a 96" blade - set the way I just described - it cuts about a 74" path.

My tires are 80" - outside to outside. Looking forward when standing behind the tractor and blade - the blade is offset to the right - the cut path is from the inside edge of the left tire to about 10" outside the right tire. I hope you can picture that situation. The left tire is in unplowed snow and the "cut path" goes to the right to a point approximately 10" beyond the right tire.

Whew - easier to plow than to attempt to describe it. One of these days I will take a picture from directly behind the tractor. Pic worth more than 1K words.

 

[downslope]

...
Whew - easier to plow than to attempt to describe it. One of these days I will take a picture from directly behind the tractor. Pic worth more than 1K words.

Your explanation was good, thank you. With my luck I'd always be worrying about that 10" sticking out on the right side and what I might snag with it.

 

[majorwager]

MK Martin, Meteor did build equipment for Walco, AKA Walco Douglas. They had a falling out when Martin began building their own mowers. Can't speak to their snow blowers but Walco mowers are indestructible. Have used 90 inch finish mower for last 20 years, wonderful investment. That mower, however was built by MK Martin. Not sure who performs fabrication for Walco currently.

 

[airbiscuit]

I have a Meteor Snowblower. I would LOVE to have a Rear PULL snowblower. I see Walco also makes one.

 

[oosik]

My first tractor was a brand new Ford 1710 4WD. I found out the first winter that the tractor and rear blade combo worked great clearing snow from the driveway, mail box area and yard. It WAS NOT heavy enough to clear the frozen berms that formed throughout the winter. I purchased a 3-point snow blower. It worked great clearing the driveway and berms.

The only bad thing - 3 to 4 hours driving in reverse made my neck and shoulders sore for the following couple of days.

Finally had enough of that and got a new, bigger & heavier tractor (post #13). No need for any type of blower with the new unit.