Big enough for the job?

[Jchonline]

I have a home in northern NH (plenty of snow) and the driveway is just under a 1/4 mile long. Would a 2008 Kubota BX2360 23 HP with a front snowblower be adequate to snowblow the driveway? It only has 300 hours on it.

Thanks!

Would you be using the machine for anything else on the property? If so can you give us more specifics about size, tasks, etc.

 

[Egon]

Front snowblower; it should work. The blower may see some wear & tear but that is expected. Worst would debris under the snow that you cannot see.

The cab would be nice but a heated snowmobile suit with visored helmet will also work.

Chains may be a must.

 

[oosik]

When I had the smaller tractor and blower - I always expected "debris" the first snow fall & first trip down the driveway. Big rock, chunk of wood, even a wayward pocket gopher, once.

Being retired is nice. I don't have to be anywhere at any specific time. Sooo... no plowing when conditions are inclement. And I have a full set of Eddie Bauer down - if I choose to go out when it's really cold.

My first tractor - brand new 1982 Ford 1700 4WD. It was more than enough tractor to keep my mile long driveway clear of all snow. Now it's my 2009 Kubota M6040 and Rhino 950 - 8 foot rear blade.

 

[number two]

If buying new it would idea to get the newer front blower.
I think it's the bx5455?
The older BX2750? may not be up to the task long term.
Good Luck!

 

[dpgoalie]

Tractors are made to work - they should run at standard revs 8 hours a day for 5 days a week quite happily. Poor maintenance or abuse is more likely to kill it than using it for what it's designed to do. If you took 3 hours to blow it, and had 10 decent snowfalls a year, that's still only 30 hours a year. You'd put more hours on it mowing the lawns (which also runs wide open throttle).

Having said that, a BX does feel a little small for that job - and a cab would be really nice. All comes down to budget, time and comfort. It'll do it, a B2650 will do it faster and in the warm.

The BX2360 does seem small for the job but the concensus appears to say otherwise.

Your point of it running daily is a good.one that helps put things in perspective.

 

[dpgoalie]

This ^^ Pardon my tipsy and unqualified trolling-in, but a good friend of mine has a similar setup with his similar size/hp Massey. 4-6" of snow/pass would be a walk in the park with what you suggest. MY only experience is with what's in my profile to the left there. ('daily driver' Case/IH, Mid-Michigan snow weapon since owned ) t o g

btw, DP, after all these years as a member, I hope you'll have more time to participate in the forum.

Point taken. However if I participated in every forum I was a member of I'd be at the computer many hours a week and this just isn't possible. But I will make an effort.

 

[dpgoalie]

Would you be using the machine for anything else on the property? If so can you give us more specifics about size, tasks, etc.

I would probably use it for light driveway repairs and loading a bit of sand and some turf work. I would definitely use it within it's means. I believe I could go bigger but I have to stay within budget

 

[dpgoalie]

I just discovered a Kubota B7610 (2005) for sale. Both the BX2360 and the B7610 have heated cabs and front mount blower. The BX2360 has a mower deck, the B7610 doesn't.

BX has 300 hours on it and is $10,500 and the B has 200 hours on it and is $14,000. The B is like new and the BX is in great shape.

From I've read the B is a bit more rugged and the BX has newer features but the smaller tires on the BX could be a bit rough on the axles.

It sounds like the BX will be up for the job but for a 1/4 mile drive way I could go a bit bigger.

Maintenance aside as I will do it, my biggest concern is the toll the long driveway will take on the little BX. Granted the driveway is flat and pretty smooth

Thanks for all the great responses.

 

[ahenthus]

The B7610 is a great tractor. I bought mine in 07 and have about 735 hours on it now. I just purchased a new B2650 with a cab and I really love it after only a week. I got the B2650 because of my health. The pollen and dust kills me when pasture mowing and I've become very intolerant to heat lately. The B7610 is still in great shape and I'm not in a real hurry to sell it but I probably will after a short transition period. There are still a few places that the older tractor can mow more easily. I have an old 33" Snapper that I need to get out and running for the few smaller spaces. It sounds like the BX will work for you but the B is really much more tractor. Don't worry about your lack of posts. I've been here for a while too and use the search function often instead of creating new posts. I'm also on a lot of forums but not as a social outlet. I enjoy reading many of the frequent posters because of their expertise on various subjects.

 

[Boondox]

I don't have much room to push the snow and I also don't want to dig up the driveway with a plow. I know I can raise it a bit like a blower buy I think throwing the snow into the woods is the way to go.

I wasn't sure if the length of the driveway and the amount of snow would take its toll on the little machine.

Thanks for the reply!

You don't mention if your driveway is paved, gravel or dirt. Unless your driveway is flat (a rarity in New England) you'll need chains. And paved driveways don't like chains. My driveway is also 1/4 mile long and being in northern Vermont in a town where the US Olympic cross country skiers train we get a bit of snow. My driveway is gravel with the occasional stone. You mentioned it was a front mounted blower which is good; as someone else mentioned the time it would take to look over your shoulder with a rear mount would send you to a chiropractor after every storm!

I use a rear blade with hydraulic angle, but there is a stretch of a couple hundred yards where trees on one side and a dropoff on the other makes me run out of room to pile the snow. I'd love a blower for that stretch, but they are much slower than simply plowing. IMO the perfect setup would be a front-mount blower with a rear blade on a cabbed tractor. Early in the season I'd use the blade exclusively till I was sure all stones and other debris that could shear the pins was off the traveled path. The blade is also better/faster for dealing with light snowfall AND early or late in the season when the ground isn't frozen you can reverse the blade so it doesn't dig in. Later in the season when I knew the path was clear of debris I'd use the blade in light snow to either push it off to the side or to create a windrow in the middle of the drive that the blower could then send off into the field. For deep snow or to clear places with no room to pile snow the blower can't be beat. That said, blowing snow on an open station tractor can be a miserable undertaking without a cab. You'd look like Yeti in three minutes.