Advice Needed

[zeq]

I am looking for advice on a snow removal setup that would meet my needs. First a little background on my circumstance:

I am planning to live at my cottage during some of the winter months. It is located in Central Ontario, where we can have winters that range from very little snow throughout the whole season to seasons where we can get a few feet of snowfall in a single day. I need to be prepared for the worst. The private road and my driveway that lead to my cottage are approximately three quarters of a mile in total distance from the municipal road. The terrain is very steep in some areas and so the equipment must be capable of handling severe traction conditions (wet snow, ice, high drifts). My cottage is located at the lowest point of the elevation change from the municipal road and so I would be going uphill for some segments of the snow clearing. Starting off from my garage would be uphill and very steep for the first three or four hundred yards. The driveway and private road are not paved.

I am considering a compact track loader like the Bobcat T770 with a 72" snow blower attachment. I will also get the snow blade and few other attachments that I will need for work around the property. I am not experienced in clearing such a large amount of snow. and I'm really concerned about the issue of getting stuck given that there are very steep inclines along the driveway and road. I an also looking for a climate controlled setup as the winters can get really cold and the summers very hot/humid. A few questions:

Is the Bobcat T770 a good choice?
Am I correct in assuming that a tracked vehicle would be better than a wheel/chain setup for traction?
Are there better options?

Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[crazyal]

Welcome to TBN

Others may have more experience but I've used my case dozer in the snow and it works great. But once it's on ice or anything hard packed it has too much surface area and slides. I suspect that any thing you use will need some form of spike, whether it be spiked chains (that's what I use) or studs in a track. You may also want to look into options for sanding. With a building at the bottom of a hill I would want plenty of traction as I drove down it. I've never looked but I'm guessing you could get a hydraulic spreader for a SS. Snow blowers take very little force to push so getting stuck usually means driving off of the roadway and into a ditch.

 

[rekees4300]

Appreciate your thoughts.

Suggest contacting the Bobcat folks for recommendations. Sounds like you are going to need a substantial vehicle. You definitely need to consider chains for a wheeled vehicle. Four wheel drive would be essential. I don't know how good the traction of a tracked vehicle would be on ice?

Snow Removal Overview - Bobcat Company

 

[Ed of all trades]

Used a T250 tracked skid loader to clear snow on a hill, it was not the best. I think my sub compact massey would do as well or better. I know it would if it had chains on it.

 

[leonz]

About your snow removal needs;
The budget is the first consideration
and the topography is the second.


You have to examine the snowfall records from Weather Canada
in order to truly make decision about what size tractor you will need
versus the available budget if this is a concern.

If you seriously intend to live there only a few months of the year a small used
snow cat in good condition would be a better option.


Tracks are out of the question unless you
get into the snow cat or D-3 and up dozer
category size in any case because you need
mass and weight for traction.


A snow cat will have spiked tracks but
if this is not in the offing-


You will need a high horsepower four wheel drive tractor.

A higher horsepower row crop tractor will provide you with lots of room
in an all weather cabin and lots of visability for rear mount snow blower.

The row crop tractor will should also have the high end a swivel operators seat
with an air suspension to reduce operator fatigue.


50-75 horsepower range with an automatic transmission for snow blower use

The high end horse power comes in handy for snow removal with a snow caster
and pushing snow back with a front end loader.


front end loader

front and rear high traction snow and ice chains from Pewag (as an example
loaded rear tires for added traction rear mounted snow blower.


You may be money and aggravation ahead purchasing a
used small snow cat in good condition which would allow
you to carry food and supplies as well as shovels and a small
single stage snow thrower to dig out the cars if needed.


and you can leave
the vehicles at the top of the access road.


About snow blowers:

Its no secret around here that I like pronovost and they have a lot of dealers in Ontario.

What you are looking for is a high capacity snow blower that can remove the snow quickly and the

Pronovost models with the rotating impeller housing TR models bypass the chute and spout entirely
eliminating any chance of plugging the snow caster.

 

[joeyd]

I have no experience with tracked vehicles but I do maintain my road and driveway with my tractor and rear snowblower. I also have a rather steep road to deal with that does get icy at times during the winter. I feel very comfortable with v-bar chains on all four tires and 4wd. My rear tires are loaded with Rimguard for additional weight. Cabs are available on most tractors and depending on your budget and other needs for the tractor there are multiple ranges horsepower wise to look at. I would think a minimum 35-40 hp would give you the weight and power needed for a snow blower for your road.

 

[Don87]

Tracked vehicles are extremely dangerous on ice(unless the tracks have spikes as mentioned in other posts). I prefer 4 wheel drive, rubber tires with air and rimguard and chains.

 

[leonz]

Tracked vehicles are extremely dangerous on ice(unless the tracks have spikes as mentioned in other posts).

I prefer 4 wheel drive, rubber tires with air and rimguard and chains.

Thats the beauty of the snow cats and dozers with a heavy weight and deep cletrac treads.

The snow cats they have spiked treads with a huge surface area for traction and the ability to climb.

 

[flyingcow]

I like Loenz thought on a used snow cat. In the tractor size, as he said at least a 50 to 75 hp unit.

Where are you going to house this unit? Are you planning on showing up mid winter? and walk/snow shoe/ski, etc down to cottage? And retrieve unit?
Breaking trail for 3/4 of a mile, up hill, after a month or two of moderate snowfall, you want a decent sized tractor with blower. Not big deal, but just a thought.

On a personal note, you haven't lived until you slide a dozer sideways down an icy driveway. Didn't have use the bathroom for a day or two after that one.

 

[zeq]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

A used Snow Cat would be the ultimate solution however, I'm afraid even the smallest model would be just too large for storage.

I am now reconsidering my initial selection of a Bobcat T770 in favour of agricultural tractor. Ideally a bidirectional tractor would allow me to do many chores around the property and serve me for all seasons.

As suggested a 4x4 tire version with chains should get me through all conditions I would encounter.

If I could ask for some further advice since I'm very new to this. I notice that in the case of snow blowers, some versions are hydraulically driven and some are PTO. The bidirectional tractor has a PTO whereas the Bobcat has a hydraulically driven blower? Is it correct to assume the PTO driven allows for larger blowers? Better reliability?

 

[leonz]

Hello Zec,

Please reconsider the used snow cat in your situation as they can be left outdoors the year round.


The only thing you have to really worry about with a snow cat is the local beavers borrowing it to go joy riding
with thier girlfriends chasing deer and having a kegger with a 1/2 barrel of iced down Labbatts Blue
on tap on the work deck of the snow cat while they are in the hot tub listening to the local fiddling bar band that
came down from Moncton to play during the kegger.


A used or new bi-derectional row crop tractor with the horsepower you need
will set you back between 85-115,000 Canadian loonies.

A used rebuilt motorised snow blower with used four wheel drive backhoe that has a four ton bucket capacity
to carry the snow caster will still need snow chains and loaded tires and may be close to $100,000 Canadian Loonies

A hydraulic powered snow caster will be underpowered for your use and if
you blow a seal or a hose-well to put it this way (you are are at the end of a helix attached to a vertical shaft).

The Cessna axial piston pumps are not cheap either for these things(bobcat)being a closed loop hydraulic system).


I would still suggest the 4 wheel drive row crop tractor with loaded tires, Pewag high traction snow and ice chainswitha seven foot pronovost snow caster with the rotating impeller drum that bypasses the chute and spout (TR model)as the snow casting will be much faster and more efficient in wet snow(the chute and spout will not plug).

 

[mbradey]

Might I suggest a L39 or L45 with 4 chains and loaded tires and a 72" pto snowblower. It works for me in the muskoka's which might be the same place your cottage is....I have a steep hill out my driveway also and have no problems with it just with front chains.

Mike

 

[zeq]

Hello Leonz,

I'll be damned if I am going to allow any beavers to take my snow cat for a joy ride and drink my fine Canadian brewski.. There will be **** to pay!!!

The only beaver to ride in my HE will be hand picked by yours truly.

On a serious note, a snow cat is just too large for storage in my garage and keeping it outside just does not sit well with me. As much as it is a work of art in my eyes, others will find it an eye sore.

I kind of like the idea of a multi-purpose tractor that I can use for other chores. I have many tonnes of large granite rocks on my property that need to be placed into position for landscaping around the lake and cottage.

I realize that a bi-directional is going to set me back quite a few bucks but hey, you only live once.

Mike,

Thanks for the suggestion on the L series. That looks like quite the set-up. How do you find running the blower off the back? I have quite a long driveway and with the private road I'm thinking I'll need to be facing the blower.

I'm in Haliburton so we are almost neighbours.

 

[leonz]

Hello Leonz,

I'll be damned if I am going to allow any beavers to take my snow cat for a joy ride and drink my fine Canadian brewski.. There will be **** to pay!!!

The only beaver to ride in my HE will be hand picked by yours truly.

On a serious note, a snow cat is just too large for storage in my garage and keeping it outside just does not sit well with me. As much as it is a work of art in my eyes, others will find it an eye sore.

I kind of like the idea of a multi-purpose tractor that I can use for other chores. I have many tonnes of large granite rocks on my property that need to be placed into position for landscaping around the lake and cottage.

I realize that a bi-directional is going to set me back quite a few bucks but hey, you only live once.

Mike,

Thanks for the suggestion on the L series. That looks like quite the set-up. How do you find running the blower off the back? I have quite a long driveway and with the private road I'm thinking I'll need to be facing the blower.

I'm in Haliburton so we are almost neighbours.

Hello Zeq,


The problem with the loader buckets and booms on ag tractors is that they are only
ment for scooping loose materials like fresh dumped sand and stone. The construction
of the loader buckets is such that the scooping buckets have very little steel in them and they
will bend if the bucket is used to pry a boulder into it.



It may be more effective for you to rent a small loader to do the job of moving the boulders or
hiring it done in a day or two.


If your looking at the L series you should look at the grand L as it has all the goodies and I
think you can get a swivel seat for it to save on neck strain-lots of us use mirrors or back up
cameras when running a rear mounted blower- our member "4 shorts" uses a back up camera in
his tractor and he loves it especially for snow blowing.

About my beavers; I keep hoping that Canadian Pacific returns the beaver to the side of thier locomotive fleet
The locomotives look nasty being naked without them and the new CP locomotive logo is just plain YUCK and BARF!!!!


For what its worth they make smaller snow cats that can fit in a garage or at least they used to.


As long as you are still looking the Zaugg Snow beast and snow bear www.zauggusa.com
are tracked snow blowers with big engines but you would need to buy a sulky to ride behind it
when snow casting as the walk is slow but the snow removal they do is is very effective.

 

[leonz]

Hello Zeq,

Either the Zaugg snow beast and snow bear might be a better option.

I have attached a picture of the snow bear and snow beast and you can see videos of them both at www.zauggusa.com

 

[High Compression]

I've pushed snow with rubber tracks and I would not use them ever again. They have too great of footprint to get traction. Also because of the low ground pressure, it could bridge a low spot filled with snow that your vehicle could not. You wouldn't realize it until you were stuck.

 

[High Compression]

Might I suggest a L39 or L45 with 4 chains and loaded tires and a 72" pto snowblower. It works for me in the muskoka's which might be the same place your cottage is....I have a steep hill out my driveway also and have no problems with it just with front chains.

Mike

I would recommend the brother Kubota L5740 with a full cab. Plenty of power, heat, radio, defrost, no snow blowing on you. Need I say more?