Best snow removal tool for this winter

[jcmseven]

Well, it is 40 degrees outside and cloudy. The locals are calling (again) for a bad winter. So far, my wife and I have lived here three winters, and not much snow so far. People keep telling us it will be bad one winter soon, and they tell tales of chest deep snow at times at the higher elevations. Many of us come from snowy areas, and do not think NC gets snow. I suppose that depends are where one lives. Here, we have had some pretty mild winters, but when it snows it does a lot and I am concerned THIS is the year. My question is this: I sold my HPX Gator about four months ago and I used it to plow with (72" blade) and it did a great job. I am looking at a new UTV style vehicle but am not 100% sure I will be able to get one for a while. I have a 3720 and had a 72" boom blade I sold. It was nice, but due to space considerations both with storage and usage I sold it. I have briefly seen the front mount plain blades for my tractor and they seem quite nice but pricey. I have used rear blade in past with fairly good results, but I plow a lot and I am not sure whether it would suffice (it might). I plow 300' of drive and about one mile of side road to get to the main road. I would like opinions on which way I should go here for this winter. I want to make sure we do not get hit and me not have anything to plow with. Money is not a major issue, but of course I would prefer to keep the cost down as much as possible. I have an idea or two, but wanted to know what the group thinks.

John M

 

[JDFANATIC]

jcm,

For 300' plus 1 mile, I wouldn't want to be craning my neck rearward all that time! I would be looking at a front blade or blower. They are not cheap choices (especially the blower) but they do save on trips to the massage parlor!

 

[kennyd]

You had the best tool for snow IMHO, The FEL mounted blade.

 

[jcmseven]

Kenny,

I really liked my boom mounted blade also. The only reason I sold it at all was due to space and storage. Also, it stuck out pretty far in the front, which made the tractor feel a little tippy on some of the steep hills we have. I offset this by putting the box blade on the back for more ballast, then I had a "semi". Fine for long runs but if a neighbor wanted a driveway plowed a little cumbersome. I do agree cost for cost it did quite well. I am probably going to buy another one but wanted to see if the standard and more expensive front blade would be a better choice for me.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

One more quick thing: I would not be against a blower, and in fact would be quite interested in using one. My problem is that I have never used one, and am not sure how much snow one needs to have to justify owning one. We get on average since I have lived here six to seven snows per year, but the locals have noted as many as twenty in years past. The most snow at once we have gotten where I live is eight inches but at the top of our mountain I plowed out neighbors with fourteen during the same snow. I like the blower concept, but I wonder if it would be overkill for my situation, so I also ask the opinion of some snow belters who have had experience with them. I can say the 60" blower seems a better deal than the front blade which is almost as expensive on the JD website.

John M

 

[megotatractor]

My ideal of a snow plow is a twenty series cab tractor - 3320-3720 ?? with a hydraulic front blade, maybe a blower if I lived someplace where I have no room to pile snow.

 

[BloomingtonMike]

John, I knew this thread was coming when you switched back to the 3X20.

I bought John's blade and I absolutely love it. It is my snow removal weapon of choice on a rocky lane like I have.

John, for what you are doing I am thinking a bronco/full size truck with a big blade would not be out of the question. Find some land and park it each year.

Did you ever get the shop built to store the toys?

 

[jcmseven]

Mike, I am glad you like the blade. It is a great piece of equipment. I really liked plowing with my Gator last year. It is a great plowing machine. Since I sold it (again mainly due to lack of space), I am debating about getting a UTV and blade to replace the Gator--again, limited by space-- or going with something else for my tractor. I would go back with another boom blade, but some of the plowing I do is tight and too much movement one way or another is a long fall with a hard painful landing. I essentially am responsible for all of my drive and the road upon which I live which is a little over a mile in length. I also frequently am asked by my five neighbors with whom I share the road to plow their drives. With the boom blade and a rear BB to ballast it, I cannot turn around in or on these areas. Other than that, it would be fine. I could probably rope the neighborhood plow guy into doing the road but he does not like to secondary to concerns of crashing on the steep slopes. I really like doing it though. Few things on a tractor are a fun to me as moving snow and being outside in a pretty winter scene as we can have here. To me, the BEST combination for plowing I have seen is the Gator and plow, but that also takes up a lot of space and costs more. It also makes me feel as though I am not getting the "most" from my tractor. Also, Mike, I have not yet gotten the building going, I am planning to do that in the spring if time allows.

John M

 

[pekabu]

My ideal of a snow plow is a twenty series cab tractor - 3320-3720 ??

I'm not a Deere guy, but boy was I drooling over a 3520 with a cab! Nice job. I also saw a 400cx loader with MSL. Very slick! I have used a rear blade, and a rear blower. Big snow storms the blower works best, but I like the rear blade. I am hoping to try out a front snow plow blade (picked one up, need to make a mount) someday.

 

[Nuru]

You had the best tool for snow IMHO, The FEL mounted blade.

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I got a 54" blade and it works wonders without weights. I moved 24 inches of snow out of my 120' driveway at my last house without any issues two years ago. Now thatt I have my tires filled, if will be even easier.

 

[JasonMac]

My favorite setup for lots of snow removal is, Loader in Front, 74" Snow-Blower in the Back, and a nice quiet Cab on top w/ Radio & Heat!

Seriously I do like keeping my loader on for scraping packed down snow, and turning over piles, and I love the the clean paths of the snow-blower. I would say I use both Loader and Blower 50/50... So if I had a front blower on my machine I would surely miss the loader. And if I didn't have the rear blower, I would miss shooting snow at a distance of 40 feet at 210 degree angles....Hydraulic chute is the best option I've done.

 

[neverenough]

Well, I've used them all, so I will throw in my OPINION on all of them.

1) Front mount snowblower. Far and away the best set up for snow removal. IMO, nothing can compete with it. Never a pile to deal with. Your alway's in the ideal operating position as you don't have to keep looking back, steering with one hand (nice when working near obstacles and drop offs).

2) Front blade. Just like plowing with a truck. Your in the ideal operating position (forward), but it can be a little time consuming with larger snowfalls. If you have areas that have little to no place to push the snow, you can run into issues quickly also. Also, plowing is also a higher speed operation. Ideally you want speeds of 15-25+ MPH for plowing.

3) A lower cost alternative to #1, but, IMO, if you can justify the need for a snowblower, it's worth the extra $$ to go front mount.

4) Loader. If you already have a loader, it is a cheap way to remove snow from an equipment investment standpoint. Using a loader is VERY inefficient and after a few years of multiple seasonal snowfalls, the time and extra fuel spent using the loader will have cost more than buying snow removal equipment.

5) Rear blade. Cheap to buy a blade, PITA to use for snow removal. It's ok if it is a smaller snowfall, but if the snowfall is deep, your just slightly better off than waiting for it to melt.

Everybody's situation is a little, or a lot, different, but, IMO, with the situation you have given, going with a front mount blower will be well worth the $$$. A front blade would be a lower cost alternative though.

 

[JasonMac]

My tractor is easy to use the rear snow blower. No pain in the neck at all. I just turn my body sideways, lean against the backrest with my right arm, (which controls the chute control, steer with my left hand, operate Hydrostatics with left foot... instead of right. Just like sitting almost sideways in a chair, you could do it all day long and it shouldn't bother you at all....

Now, yes a front blower would be the best overall.... (If I had two tractors) But I don't have two tractors. I need to get the best of both worlds, I always need my loader in the winter time, and I always need a blower.... so that is why my setup I have works the best for me...

Why I need the loader so bad in the winter is for cleaning up packed down snow in a busy parking lot, so I peel the packed snow, and blow the fresh snow, they work hand in hand for me.

 

[keeney]

Well, I've used them all, so I will throw in my OPINION on all of them.

1) Front mount snowblower. Far and away the best set up for snow removal. IMO, nothing can compete with it. Never a pile to deal with. Your alway's in the ideal operating position as you don't have to keep looking back, steering with one hand (nice when working near obstacles and drop offs).

2) Front blade. Just like plowing with a truck. Your in the ideal operating position (forward), but it can be a little time consuming with larger snowfalls. If you have areas that have little to no place to push the snow, you can run into issues quickly also. Also, plowing is also a higher speed operation. Ideally you want speeds of 15-25+ MPH for plowing.

One issue with snowblowers: you will want a cab or a really good hat and facemask. Murphy's law says the wind will always be blowing in your face no matter which way to try and blow the snow. For smaller snowfalls, a blade is quicker and if you don't have a cab, a blade is a lot warmer to use.

I have both for the front of my JD4100 and they are easy to swap out. I never really use the blower (other than to try it out) and I am thinking of selling it (but am afraid we will get a record year if I do).

- Rick

 

[Lobo56]

I’ve pushed snow with the FEL, front blade, back blade, and now have the 47" blower on my 2210, and never realized how much faster the blower is. The blower is so much easier all the way around to me then the other alternatives. But you have to justify the cost.

 

[Nuru]

My favorite setup for lots of snow removal is, Loader in Front, 74" Snow-Blower in the Back, and a nice quiet Cab on top w/ Radio & Heat!

Seriously I do like keeping my loader on for scraping packed down snow, and turning over piles, and I love the the clean paths of the snow-blower. I would say I use both Loader and Blower 50/50... So if I had a front blower on my machine I would surely miss the loader. And if I didn't have the rear blower, I would miss shooting snow at a distance of 40 feet at 210 degree angles....Hydraulic chute is the best option I've done.

Oh do i envy you!

 

[Nuru]

One issue with snowblowers: you will want a cab or a really good hat and facemask. Murphy's law says the wind will always be blowing in your face no matter which way to try and blow the snow. For smaller snowfalls, a blade is quicker and if you don't have a cab, a blade is a lot warmer to use.

I have both for the front of my JD4100 and they are easy to swap out. I never really use the blower (other than to try it out) and I am thinking of selling it (but am afraid we will get a record year if I do).

- Rick

Definitely agree, blade is very good. I almost bought a FE SB but stayed with the blade - sofar so good. Shed and cab are next on the list - backhoe, if I get some extra $$$$ and can hide if from the Mrs. She told me I did not need to go to a larger tractor too (L&G to CUT!) - well I did it anyway, and got some lumps over it But I gotta tell ya, the tractor works well!

 

[cgraham]

JCMSeven, I think it's time for a deal with those neighbors you plough out. I assume ploughing the road helps them too. But whatever the deal, to be able to help them, you need their help to buy that piece of equipment you deem most suitable. After all, without the right equipment you don't even have time to take care of everyone in case of a heavy fall.

There are all kinds of ways of making a deal like this: e.g., They put up X dollars each and you undertake to clear their driveways for free for Y years (or 1/2 your regular rate, after which you do it at the going rate - whatever you like).

Or tell them the problem, give them time to think about it, then invite them all over, serve something good to drink and nibble on, and let them hash out a solution everyone can live with.

(Oh, and tell them to expect to asssist at a barn raising!)

No cooperate, no ploughing.

Just a thought. Good luck, C

 

[metalmeltr]

What kind of truck do you have? We have a chevy silvarado 4X4 with a Boss 7' 6" standard duty plow that works great may want to consider a similar setup.

 

[castiman]

I'd say the front blower hands down, handle and get rid of the snow one time . I have both 72'' front plow, 47'' front blower, I'ts more fun to plow but takes longer and unless you have a whole lot of room or don't get alot of snow in the season you will envenually run out of places to put it.I've got a heated cab so its easy for me to say snowblow.