a couple snowplowing questions

[mikehaugen]

I have a j.d. 1070 and have an opportunity to get a great deal on an 8' pickup truck plow that I was considering modifying to mount on the tractor. The problem is it is only 2 wheel drive and I am not sure how well it would do. I am planning on having about 800 pounds of ballast on the rear. Also it has 44x18-20 turf tires, would I be better off getting chains for those or getting an extra set of ag tires? Another option would be to cut the plow down to 7 foot. Thanks a lot.

Mike

 

[radioman]

you will definately need to use chains since you dont have 4 wheel drive. turfs or ags, you will still need chains. It makes all the difference in the world.

 

[yankeerider]

you will definately need to use chains since you dont have 4 wheel drive. turfs or ags, you will still need chains. It makes all the difference in the world.

I don't agree, at least not completely. It will depend on how much snow you have to deal with, the surface you are plowing, and whether it's level or inclined. Only occasional snow with paved flat area, the turfs with ballast may do you just fine, provided you can clear to below the snow/ice. If you are going to be plowing unpaved, uphill, heavy snowfalls, you'll want traction help. I suspect chains on turfs would be better than plain ag's, based on my experience with a 9N where I needed chains with ags.

I do agree with radioman that chains are wonderful to have-just not so sure that definitely you'll need them if plowing light and you can call on a diff lock as may be needed from time to time.

 

[Thomas]

Wouldn't cut the plow down until couple good size storm or different combo's...tires w/or w/out chains...getting the feel/short cuts of plowing,tire chains can be heck of a lot cheaper than wrecker couple vist.

 

[George2615]

Plowing with a 2 wheel drive tractor can be done. As Yankeerider said it depends on the terrain, and surface you are plowing. You may get by using turfs with 800 lb of rear ballast and light snowfalls. If not you can add chains. You can adapt a truck blade to the front and if needed (and you will) you can steer with the rear brakes.

I adapted a truck blade to mine (I responded to a few similar posts, pic 1) by installing 4 pull pins on my loader arms so I can easily remove the bucket and attach the blade. I'm also going to modify the blade this summer and make it into a snow pusher similar to pic 2. I also use 800 lb rear ballast but have 4WD too.

 

[zzvyb6]

Even ag tires aren't that great in snow unless they have someting to bite into. And I usually am in 2wd (I do have 4wd on my 1070) My whachamacallit shows my tractor with a truck plow installed. Don't cut it down. When you run at a high blade angle, you want enough blade to clear a path of your driveway or road that's good a full lane using just 1 run in each direction. Why make it a 4 pass operation? I run the truck plow cylinders using very small diameter hose to control the blade lift and angle using my loader hydraulics. I don't use my loader frame because I like to keep the overall length short and also to keep the turning moment low. This avoids a need for a lot of front weight to keep it steered straight. Loader mounted plows usually have undesireable steering control problems because the sideforce from the angled blade must be reacted by front wheel side forces. When the plow generates more side force that the front tires can correct for, you loose that nice straight plowed driveway look and have you hands full steering it. BTW: I run this plow in deep snow at max tractor speed. Snow has a lot of friction which is broken through at high ground speed. Operators who go real slow are the ones who usually need chains and a tow strap. Keep the momentum up and your 2wd will do he job. Get 6 suitcase weights for the front weight bar to keep the front tires happy.