4110 winter Plowing and Sanding

BillBee · Dec 19, 2005

Hi Folks,

New guy here as far as postings, but monitor discussions daily, which I find interesting and helpful. Here is my world.

I am in the process of building a second home in the mountains of Vermont, what can go wrong has and recently got shut down by winter conditions. (Unfortunately I always find myself reacting to a situation rather than being proactive.)

I discovered my 2005 4110 with FEL & BH, and equipped with industrial tires will not traverse the steep 1000 plus foot snow covered driveway, due to traction limitation. I prefer to maintain the driveway rather than contracting it out.

First: (In which I feel is in order of priority), I will be purchasing a set of tire chains for the machine to allow the plowing of the drive with the FEL. I am contemplating on the V-BAR tire chains http://www.tirechain.com/DUO-GRIP-V-BAR.htm OR the studded chains from www.valbysales.com What do you think? Ideas, thoughts, suggestions?

Second: I need to have the ability to sand the driveway as necessary. I thought a hopper mounted on the 3-point hitch would provide the sanding solution. (I would prefer a mounted hopper rather than a tow-behind.) I am considering the BEFCO 212-121 http://befco.com/products/hop/hop.html OR the SITREX FS-500 http://www.sitrex.com/fertilizer.HTM The glitch I have not quite figured out yet is how to simply load the mounted hopper with sand. I thought as a last resort, I could disconnect load the hopper and reconnect. Is there a better idea or product I should be looking at? How do I get the sand in the hopper? Tips, suggestions, your experiences?

Third: I need a snow plow, which will be last on my list since the FEL will do the job during the interim. I thought it would be most practical to purchase an angle Dozer Blade, which will allow additional uses. My concern is, most Dozer Blades do not “trip” when hitting an obstacle, but I think that will be okay if operating at slow speeds. Also, should I go with the “Quick-Attach Adaptor” to swap-out the Dozer Blade to the FEL, which I’ll need to get sand in the hopper for winter sanding?

Thanks and I look forward to any tips, thoughts, suggestions, or other ideas you can share with me, so I can get back to what I was doing, building a house.

Spike42 · Dec 19, 2005

Hi BILLBEE, Welcome to TBN. After reading your post I feel your pain, living in north central Indiana I get to deal with lake effect snow(as well as most other snows) on a regular basis so here's my two cents worth. As far as chains I kinda like the Valby ice chains they seam to cover the tread evenly all the way around, I've used a set similar to the V-BAR and with the space between the cross chains I would get a slip-grab-slip-grab effect. By the way are your tires loaded?
With the spreaders I haven't used either one so I can't really say, and I'm not sure how you'd load it, maybe build a elevated hopper with a slide door you could back under?
Now the quick attatch I swear by, it was the best money I spent(next to the tractor itself /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) when I bought my 4110. I can switch loader attatchments in about 60 seconds and if you get the skid loader style there are QT snowplows with trip function available as well as many other skid loader attatchments that would fit. also have you considered a snow blower attatchment? Sorry this was a bit long, I hope it helps, best of luck on your driveway and your house.

Spike42
4110, FEL, 72" QT bucket, QT forks, 6' KK blade

wallace · Dec 19, 2005

Bill, you will have to get a 2 link or the duo chains that will help keep the chains up out of the grooves I don't think I would get the vbar they wear out to fast not that you will be plowing for the state highway,
If you do not have the skidsteer style addaptor on you tractor now you will be looking at a big dollar bill don't forget you will have to put the weld on plate on you bucket.
I was a Thomas dealer and theey have a sander that goes on the quick tach and you just drive in and scoop up the meterial and let the games begin, That would be the ultimate.
I don't know your budget but there are a couple of things you can do with the snowplow.
We buy alot of use truck plow blades. We get the skid quick plate and weld on ears and a hook that is the cheapest and eaisest way to do a snowplow.
If you are looking for power up front to angle the blade you can get that from you rear remotes or put a electronic 3rd function,
Boy I whish you were a couple miles closer, I like setting machine up like that.
I think that Thomas spreader we be awsome on the front of you Mahindra.
Have a Happy Holiday /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

johnsonauto · Dec 20, 2005

1) The duo grips work well we have put them on a few we sold and no complaints. If you want the extra traction look at front chains also.
2) sander: fertilizer spreader do not work well at all for a sander, unless you have perfectly dry sand and has to be very fine sand also. With damp sand store out doors it will freeze up, clump up and plug, you can build a different agitator, but still does not work well. We have tried many modifications but the thing that makes it work the sand has to be dry, powdery.
- There is a 3 pt mount sander, drop type spreader, hyd. driven. has 4 legs, fill with your loader and back up and hook up. Works well grinds chunks pretty well. With power in both directions due to hyd. drive it can be easily unjamed.
- the also make them for 3 pt with hyd. tilt cylider to just back into a pile like a loader bucket, curl and its filled. But this set up is for cat II tractors or front mount skidsteer.
- snow plow: we make them up that pin on inplace of the bucket, availble either manual angle or power angle if you want to plumb the third valve and lines.