Snow Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade

   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #51  
I think the key to the choice of blade, scraper or FEL is two fold. How deep is the snow and does it drift. The second part is what you trying to clear, a parking lot, a driveway or area's around building.

In an open meadow or farm field with large drifts it would seem that a snow blower would work the best by physically removing the snow so a canyon created from multiple plowing efforts doesn't create a deep trench over the winter. A blower on front end of the tractor will eliminate the stiff neck from a blower mounted on the 3 point hitch and backing up. A front end blower for my Massey priced out at $12k vs. 8k for a frame mounted plow blade.

For around buildings I would think a FEL would be the best apparatus. It gives the ability to push snow as well as being able physically remove it to some where else. When using the FEL as a plow on a driveway The first single pass works great as snow just peals off to either side of the tractor. But to widen the path requires a series of angled pushes. If you just just go straight the loader fills and deposits snow where you just cleared. That was my experience. I was cautioned by the dealer about quick attached plow blades on FEL arms. I was told that if you hit something solid like a large rock, post or concrete curb that a FEL arm could get bent. I purchased a frame mounted plow.

I live 9700 ft. In Gilpin County, Colorado. I have long (5/8's of mile) single lane drive. Each side of the road has a wide ditch to push the snow into so I went with a frame mounted snow plow blade. I don't get a lot of deep drifts. I have a 1643 MF with a 6 ft. Blade with round disc shoes for a gravel road. This combination works well for me.

The drive way has a maximum pitch of 12% for fire access. This doesn't sound steep but with freeze/ thaw cycles ice easily forms and 4 wheel drive and chains are must for me. I also have a heated cab which takes the chore part of plowing away.

I usually make the first pass driving down hill in the center of the drive way. The second and third passes are on the left side then then the right side. This works well for me. The only trouble I have had is when I had chain on the front right side come loose and snag a hydraulic hose. Fortunately a saw what was happening and stopped before tearing anything up.

I do have 3 point grader and have played with plowing with the grader off set to one and at angle. This increased my total plowing width but watching both ends of tractor was a hassle. This year it think I will leave the grader off.

Thanks Brad

Very informative Brad,
Thanks Bill
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #52  
Very informative thread :)

I do what some of the previous posters have already said. Our driveway is over 500' long, fairly steep and curvey. I used to plow with a pickup & 7' blade but as some have said already there is a problem when I plow down the hill towards the garages. After a few snowfalls the driveway area kind of shrinks. A few yars ago I found a 5' Normand heavy duty, rear mounted blower on Craigs list in 'like new' condition. Best investment in the tractor so far :)

Last year we were rocked with over 40" of snow in one storm - most friggin snowfall I ever saw. Ok so it did take me over an hour to clear my driveway but when I was through all the snow was in the woods. I sure could have used an enclosure on the tractor, lol. Oh, and after I finished a neighbor down the street called & asked if I had any extra diesel for his Massey. It took about 30 minutes to make a path down the street to his house. In this storm a plow would have been worthless for me.
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #53  
I use an 8 foot back blade, and it works extremely well and efficiently. My driveway is about 1000 feet long, plus a circular drive at the top, and the big area in front of my barn. What I like about the back blade is that its a multi function tool that I use all year, so the cost is lower than other units considering its money spent for tools other than snow plowing.

It's heavy enough that I can push or pull snow depending on the need of the specific area I'm at. I don't have to turn around and look backwards all that much, as once you get a feel for the dimensions you know where the edges are for the most part.

I would absolutely not enjoy using a rear-mounted snow blower, just the amount of time I would have to spend turned around facing backwards would kill my neck and back. A front-mounted blower would be nice, but that's way too expensive for my taste.

A front-mounted snow plow would be nice as well, but they seem to be quite a bit more expensive than a rear blade, unless you make your own. I also don't really think that a front mounted blade is all that much better than a rear blade... a little better to be sure, but not substantially enough to justify the inflated cost.

In regards to using a rear blade, I would suggest getting something at least one foot wider overall then your rear track width. It should have enough width that you can angle the blade and still cover your tracks.
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #54  
Nice thread, we live by the river and the wind is pretty fierce at times.
I take care of the road, about 1/2 mile long, curves and hill's, a real treat.
I use a power angle, front blade, my tractor never came with a loader.
I "had" installed a rear push blower on it,
and as a few stated, if your up in age, it does get hard on the neck,
facing backwards all the time.
So this year, I purchased a rear "pull" blower, haven't installed it yet, but can't wait to test er out.
The push one will be going up for sale.
I also added a foot and half to each side on the front blade,
this thing will go through anything, in the summer, I remove the add-on's,
and can use the front blade to grade etc. I also have a rear blade that I
have never used in the winter.
What I have found is a good front blade, ( whether it be attached to your bucket or not)
and a good rear blower, I prefer the pull type, ( I think,lol )
and if needed, a set of chains and your set to go.

20zs66u.jpg


My newly purchased blower.
x0ohw1.jpg

Skyhook,
I can't think of a more productive snow removal setup! I would go with a rear pull behind blower as well as the best of both worlds sorta speak. I like how you can keep your FEL mounted (well, if you had one:D) and still save your neck. Please post up after getting some use and let us know how you like it. Also, with the rear pull, and the FEL removed, you can get into a lot of tight spaces and back right up to garage doors.

Is that a Pronovost or Normand?
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #55  
Piston:,, It's an "Argo Trend" blower.
Just what the doc ordered, works great and will chew through anything, paid $2500
for it but well worth it for me.
I do have another tractor with hoe and loader, so when the banks get out of hand,
I bring it out.:)
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #56  
Piston:,, It's an "Argo Trend" blower.
Just what the doc ordered, works great and will chew through anything, paid $2500
for it but well worth it for me.
I do have another tractor with hoe and loader, so when the banks get out of hand,
I bring it out.:)

But what if the snow is too deep for the tractor to drive through first?
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #57  
But what if the snow is too deep for the tractor to drive through first?

My tractor will easily drive over snow a foot high.
If it ever got higher than that, then I would use the angle plow in front.
Personally, I love the rear pull, over the the push type, "but" if I had a front pto ( which i don't)
I definitely would have gotten a front blower.
On a side not, The City that does the roads and sidewalk's, etc....near me,,
are prohibited from using rear push type blower's,, for safety reason's,
they are mandated to use front blowers only. Makes sense to me too, you can actually 'see" whats going to be blown, same as the rear "pull" type.
Do a price check and compare the pull type versus the push, and ask yourself why the pull are more expensive.
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #58  
But what if the snow is too deep for the tractor to drive through first?

I think it would have to be pretty deep for that to be the case, probably near 2 feet or more. I know with my little L series Kubota I can drive through 18" without a problem, even though it's more than my bottom clearance, and probably more if I got the chance to try it :). However, if needed, you could just use the FEL bucket to skim a bit off the top.

On anything resembling a hill a set of chains would come in reeeaaallly handy.

If you live in an area that gets a couple feet of snow or more at one time on a regular basis, then a front mount blower would be king I'd imagine, although you lose the FEL to your 3 point hitch if you run a power pack with the FEL.

Of course, you could always go out in the middle of the storm if your at the property when it's snowing.

There is no perfect solution, but I can't think of a better one for the majority of time when it's needed, although there are always exceptions!


Like many things, it would be dependent on the size of tractor as well, I wouldn't want a rear pull on a small tractor with low ground clearance.
 
   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #59  
Here is my set up.

Kubota L3940 w-plow.jpg

I have a 1/3 mile driveway that climbs 120 ft with one sharp corner (at the steepest part). We also have a 6 car parking area up by the house and a 125' driveway up to the barn (where the picture was taken). The tractor is a Kubota L3940. I have a 7 foot front blade and 7ft rear blade. I purchased the front blade this year. If the snow is 4 inches or less I rotate the back blade to the right by 15* and angle it 30* which gives a 15* angle to the right. This puts the rear blade a foot past the outside edge of the rear tire and helps kick the snow further into the ditch. Works slick. I go down from the barn in H but have to use M on the way up until the grade lessens. In deeper snows the 15* angle isn't enough roll the snow off and I get windrows and have to make a third pass. The last time, I didn't kick the blade out to the right and had no windrows but I didn't get the snow as far off the driveway.

The front blade/rear blade combo has cut 10-15 minutes off my plow time mainly because I only need to make 2 passes (one down/one up). It also saves a tremendous amount of time with the parking area. I can back up to the garage and pull the snow away but since the front blade is pushing I don't get windrows (I am only pulling a tractor's length of snow). After I push the snow off the edge of the lot, the HST makes backing and pushing the pulled snow a snap.

So far we haven't gotten any large storms so I'll have to reserve judgment on clearing snow falls over 5 inches. Considering I used only a rear blade last year, I imagine it will be an improvement, regardless.
 
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   / Advantages/Disadvantages of Snow Plow/Blower/Scraper Blade #60  
Nice set-up, Mailbox, just curious on the front blade,
do you "float" the loader or is it set at a certain height when you blade.
Another member here was concerned about the weight of the "loader and blade"
combined when plowing, in that it would "dig" too much on graveled roads.
My front blade has angle and has a float on it, just the weight of the plow and harness
connect with the road, I know this isn't an issue on pavement.
 

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