Tractor for snow removal?

[finn1]

A front snow plow is quicker and less expensive than a blower.If you average less than 100 ins/yr.:go with a FEL mounted snow plow.
That Kubota is a nice tractor with about the right hours for the year;no pollution crap and it won't last long.
With a quick attach on the FEL you can change back to a bucket if needed.

Plows work well for minor snow events, if you have room to store the piled snow.

A pickup with a plow is faster than a cut and , being heavier, moves snow better than a tractor, in relatively better operator comfort, albeit with poorer visibility.

Front mounted blowers with an enclosed cab handle severe snow events, and are best where storage of the snow is an issue or where the snow has to be moved uphill.

 

[Jchonline]

Hi everyone,

These 2 tractors are for sale near me. We have a big problem with drifting snow on our place. I would like a front mounted PTO snowblower on a tractor some day.

I'm a total noob, never owned a tractor before. Any thoughts on these 2 for my needs?

Generally speaking for a PTO blower would a 50 hp tractor be better than a 35 horse?

Thanks for the help
View attachment 622032View attachment 622033View attachment 622034

The guy selling the LS has probably already bought the Kubota

Seriously though what type of road conditions do you have? Hilly? Gravel? How windy is it where you are in the winter?

 

[nybirdman]

Plows work well for minor snow events, if you have room to store the piled snow.

A pickup with a plow is faster than a cut and , being heavier, moves snow better than a tractor, in relatively better operator comfort, albeit with poorer visibility.

Front mounted blowers with an enclosed cab handle severe snow events, and are best where storage of the snow is an issue or where the snow has to be moved uphill.

My cabbed L4240 with loader rears weighs about 7,000 lbs and can push a lot of snow;I refuse to put a plow on a new four wheel drive pick-up that cost $40,000.I can pile snow 9ft.high with a FEL mounted plow.

 

[nards444]

We get about 150in of snow here and lots of lake effect. Smaller 18-25hp move snow around here all the time pretty easy specially with blowers, issues with smaller tractors would be pushing big banks.

If you go with a front blower you need a mid PTO, on Kubota they are often standard, but have to look on each model The other consideration with a cab is if you get a rear mount can you reach through the window to crank the chute, the other option is with a cab and being a rear mount is you would need at least one remote this would eliminate you have to reach through the window, which if you get a cab to have to keep the window open kind of defeats the purpose. To me if I went rear mount I would probably get drag model instead of a push model, as in you drive straight with the drag model basically auger faces the front not the back, I wouldn't want to be backing up all winter. If possible I think I would buy a tractor with a mid pto anyways, eliminates the want or needing of it later

A lot of ways to do it and everybody's situation is different. Blades are the cheapest, front blowers are the most money. But you can always buy these things used. With that said Im not pushing snow with a blade, it creates big mounds and I don't care how good you are it always takes up lawn which means fixing it every year, also thing blades are harder on pavement or concrete. I also wanted to be in heated cab and didn't want to drive backwards. So I went with the front mount, they aren't cheap, but I did find a used front mount system for about the same price as a new rear mount, so that was a pretty good deal.

 

[RalphVa]

No mention re how long or steepness. Application of the comments depend on this. Don't need a tracked vehicle if on level, and even turf tires work fine. Rear snow blower and FEL are about the right choice for a good bit of snow. If you don't get much, an FEL and rear blade work great. Those are both a lot of tractor; don't need that much unless you have a BIG snowfall every year.

Ralph

 

[PILOON]

Hey, I have years of snow removal my belt.
With a blower it is gone and forget about it.
Minor events like 2-3" your plow is the friend.
More snow and blow it to kingdom come and forget about it.
Front mount? now that's $$'s and very model specific.
Now mostly retired, my CUT is front plow mounted with a 60" rear blower, (CUT is a mere 20HP PTO)
I have operated front blower (for buddy) and hated it.
Just too much front swing making close work very iffy.
For speed nothing beats a plow on a nice 4X4 as long as accumulations don't get the better of you.
LOL, then comes the competition and they undercut your bid by 5-10%.
Welcome to snow removal!