Are they all equivalent?
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WinterDeere
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Sounds like you're looking at garden tractors, and there's not a whole lot of modern garden tractor talk on this forum. You might do well to talk with a few local dealers, who can probably tell you which brands do better or worse for snow duty in your local conditions, if that's what you're considering.
One thing you will want to consider is that nearly all garden tractors are limited by weight, never by torque or horsepower. You will nearly always lose traction, before you stall the engine. So, wheel weights, ballast weights, and tire chains are your best weapons, when trying to plow snow with a garden tractor.
A snowblower is often a better mate to a garden tractor, due to the weight / traction issue, but will limit your choice more on brands and models. I am not sure if they are as common today, as they were many years ago.
But before calling it done, what sort of area are you trying to clear? How much time do you have for the job, and how frequently? What brought you to the conclusion that a 20 hp tractor is the solution?
Posting your location would help.
One thing you will want to consider is that nearly all garden tractors are limited by weight, never by torque or horsepower. You will nearly always lose traction, before you stall the engine. So, wheel weights, ballast weights, and tire chains are your best weapons, when trying to plow snow with a garden tractor.
A snowblower is often a better mate to a garden tractor, due to the weight / traction issue, but will limit your choice more on brands and models. I am not sure if they are as common today, as they were many years ago.
But before calling it done, what sort of area are you trying to clear? How much time do you have for the job, and how frequently? What brought you to the conclusion that a 20 hp tractor is the solution?
Posting your location would help.
CalG
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There are two wheel drive tractors, (rears only) and there are four wheel drive tractors. (Rear and selectable front drive)
A significant difference , especially on snow covered hills.
A significant difference , especially on snow covered hills.
oldnslo
Super Member
Garden tractors:
Deere X738 is gas engine so cold starts are usually less of a concern than diesel and is all wheel drive and front wheel steering
X739 same as X738 except is also all wheel steering which is probably not needed for blower.
X758 is Diesel with all wheel drive and front wheel steering
Now if talking Sub compact you have far more options like Kubota BX series, Massey GC series, Deere 1000 series, etc. to the best of my knowledge these are all diesel.
Deere X738 is gas engine so cold starts are usually less of a concern than diesel and is all wheel drive and front wheel steering
X739 same as X738 except is also all wheel steering which is probably not needed for blower.
X758 is Diesel with all wheel drive and front wheel steering
Now if talking Sub compact you have far more options like Kubota BX series, Massey GC series, Deere 1000 series, etc. to the best of my knowledge these are all diesel.
After using several gas garden tractors with snowblowers (rwd) in my lifetime, then my Massey GC, the GC is the winner.
I’ve never needed chains or weights with the GC ever with the R4 tires. And no issues with the blower riding up over heavy, wet snow. Can’t say that about the JD x380. Snowblower rides up due to the helper spring. That pisses me off.
I’ve never needed chains or weights with the GC ever with the R4 tires. And no issues with the blower riding up over heavy, wet snow. Can’t say that about the JD x380. Snowblower rides up due to the helper spring. That pisses me off.
WinterDeere
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If we're going to open things up to SCUTs and CUTs, there are a lot more options. Would be good to know what the OP has in mind, but based on their post, I'm guessing garden tractor is where they're at.
Hi WinterDeere, CalG. My question is not about the drivetrain and traction (the warranty is generous on that). It's the snow chute and mechanism (left, right; up, down).
Oldnslo, cold starts are an old problem. Modified the starter and GoPlug 3x more.
Racer4, I wonder if the snow chute freezes in all models.
Oldnslo, cold starts are an old problem. Modified the starter and GoPlug 3x more.
Racer4, I wonder if the snow chute freezes in all models.
oldnslo
Super Member
I suspect the snow chute will freeze on most if not all models if left sitting full of snow after use. I have never had one freeze while in use but certainly plugged them with slush.
BleedingOrange
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For us to be more helpful, you might want to state your use, and your budget.
WinterDeere
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I’ve owned several 2-stage blowers, and you can manage to clog any of them, under the right conditions. Heavy wet snow is usually the worst, as the impeller can’t accelerate wet slush to the velocity required to reliably clear the chute. Driving forward more slowly is the classic solution, or pausing every few feet to let the chute clear, before it can clog.
I believe the newer 3-stage blowers designs were aimed at trying to solve this problem, but I’m not sure how well they worked, or if it was a short-lived gimmick for most manufacturers. My newest blower (Woods SB-64S) was also just 2-stage, so they didn’t appear to subscribe to the 3-stage concept.
As to one brand or model versus another, that’s going to be tough in the 20 hp class, as the widest experience here is with larger machines. On a 20 hp tractor, you’re probably looking at 17 hp to the PTO, and thus a 48” or 52” maximum blower size… maybe smaller.
I believe the newer 3-stage blowers designs were aimed at trying to solve this problem, but I’m not sure how well they worked, or if it was a short-lived gimmick for most manufacturers. My newest blower (Woods SB-64S) was also just 2-stage, so they didn’t appear to subscribe to the 3-stage concept.
As to one brand or model versus another, that’s going to be tough in the 20 hp class, as the widest experience here is with larger machines. On a 20 hp tractor, you’re probably looking at 17 hp to the PTO, and thus a 48” or 52” maximum blower size… maybe smaller.
