Snow Attachments Box blade for snow removal driving backwards

[hz293]

Is it possible to use the back of the box blade with the tractor in reverse for snow removal. With the cost of christmas, spending money for a back blade is out of the question. Living about 35 miles north of Portland, OR, we don't get a lot of snow but 3 years ago, when I didn't have a tractor, we couldn't get out of our long gravel driveway for a week. We only get snow that sticks about 3 times a year but with the changes in weather we're receiving, who knows whether that will change.

Harris

 

[BTDT]

I wouldn't think you would have a problem. I use the back of mine to move around sand/dirt with no problem. Snow should be a breeze. If it doesn't work, then you could look for an alternative method.

 

[roxynoodle]

I'd use it, it's better than shoveling! Keep your eye out for a used blade, too, as you're driving along. You might be able to pick one up sometime for $50 or so.

 

[Buckeye_Jim]

I would think your FEL will be more useful if the snow is very deep.

Jim

 

[Thomas]

I try it couple of times and did okay...enough to make couple of main travel lanes,than fel for finally clean up.

Not sure if your driveway somewhat freezes during the winter,just be careful when backing up,for if you dig in its kinda hard on the neck.

 

[kwolfe]

It should work just fine. If you are tight on budget like me, I saw a guy on TBN who put together a front blade made out of a spare 2x12 that was about 6 feet long. He attached it at an angle to his FEL. Preety cheap solution and he said it worked fine.

Be creative.

 

[George2615]

I have a back blade and a snowblower but mostly use the loader for snow plowing. I have the blower mounted in case of a lot of snow but mostly for weight on the back. I also adapted an old 7' plow blade to the loader arms that attaches by pulling four pins and taking the bucket off then attaching the blade with the same four pins. A lot less strain on the neck and back going forward than backing up.

 

[onsight]

Use your box blade going forward - will work great for pulling snow away from a garage door etc. Picking up the box blade slowly to feather out the pile makes it easier to back through, then just stack it with your loader where you want it.

 

[jimg]

I think one of those manure scarpers would do real well in snow. The type I'm thinking of are made out of a 1/2 tire and 3pt frame. However, one could easily be made to fit a FEL. It seems that it would push the snow to the sides, keep the drive in good shape and prevent digging in....and it would be inexpensive to make.

 

[plaindave]

I've done the loader/box blade combo for snow moving for years. With a decent snowfall on my 200' driveway it could take a long time to do a good job.

I've pulled and pushed the snow and I don't know which is worse. Pulling clears it better, but then you have to lift the box and push it off to the side. Or you can push backwards and have the snow fall off both sides of the box. It is frustrating but cheaper than buying a back blade.

 

[greg_g]

You'll evventually figure it out yourself, and adapt accordingly. But you'll soon find - especially in wet snow - that it's often hard to empty a full box that you've accumulated going forward. Except for pulling stuff out of corners - away from garage doors - I pretty much push everything in reverse. Except I don't cut parallel with the drive until finishing up at the end. Before that, I in long diagonals, which leaves the snow piles along the roadside. Then at the end I'll make a couple of long straight passes to tidy up

//greg//

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I've done the loader/box blade combo for snow moving for years. With a decent snowfall on my 200' driveway it could take a long time to do a good job.

I've pulled and pushed the snow and I don't know which is worse. Pulling clears it better, but then you have to lift the box and push it off to the side. Or you can push backwards and have the snow fall off both sides of the box. It is frustrating but cheaper than buying a back blade.

I have found that on our long driveways I just leave the loader bucket down and the box blade down. The loader pushes the snow in front while the box picks up a lot from behind that rolls back in. The entire belly of the tractor works to hold the snow for the box blade so it takes a lot of snow at one time. Then I just lift everything up at the intersection and turn around and push my way back. It doesn't take too long this way.

 

[plaindave]

I have found that on our long driveways I just leave the loader bucket down and the box blade down. The loader pushes the snow in front while the box picks up a lot from behind that rolls back in. The entire belly of the tractor works to hold the snow for the box blade so it takes a lot of snow at one time. Then I just lift everything up at the intersection and turn around and push my way back. It doesn't take too long this way.

Now you tell me this. I just got a rear blade delivered today. Seriously - it was a closeout at the local JD dealer at a price that I couldn't turn down. 72" blade, no tilt for $299 delivered to my house. Not as nice as some I found but it was cheap.

Your technique sounds like it would work well. Wish I knew about that before...

 

[Thomas]

Evening Dave.
If your new rear blade can 45 degree try that,also if your blade slides couple of feet off to one side try that as well...kinda of wing setup on snowplows.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Now you tell me this. I just got a rear blade delivered today. Seriously - it was a closeout at the local JD dealer at a price that I couldn't turn down. 72" blade, no tilt for $299 delivered to my house. Not as nice as some I found but it was cheap.

Your technique sounds like it would work well. Wish I knew about that before...

It is ok, they all work and some work better then others depending on the situation. I have a 3pt snow blower that hardly ever gets used. Used it two years ago when there was a heavy snow but the loader on the front of the 1920 did a good job on that short driveway so I didn't use the blower much unless it was a foot or more. Everything is good for something, just finding the thing that works best for you is the expensive part ;-) Have fun.

 

[OkieG]

Harris,
A boxblade "moves" snow equally well forward or back, but as previously mentioned, forward is easier on your neck. Moving forward, sometimes snow wants to stick in the box. Once the box is full of snow, a trick I've found is to back up a foot or so with the boxblade still on the ground. Often that will break the snow loose so it will fall free when you lift the blade.

If the swath you need to cut is only as wide as your FEL or boxblade, then either is a reasonable choice for clearing a path. One pass and you're done. If you need a wider path (multiple passes), there is a basic problem with a boxblade and FEL...50% of the snow moved falls off each end. So, in a multiple pass situation, 50% of the snow you "remove" is falling back into a previously cleared area.

Don't want to sound like a snob, but IMO a boxblade or FEL is better at "moving" snow than "removing" it, if you get what I'm saying. This is more apparent the heavier the snowfall and the longer and wider the path you need to clear. You end up moving the same snow many times. Even though the cleared path behind the first pass of a boxblade or FEL looks impressive, the only snow really removed is what's in FEL bucket or box... the rest has just spilled off the ends.

The best solution for not addressing the same snow a second time is probably a snow blower. But any kind of angled blade is a close second best. With an angled blade (front or rear) a little snow will spill off to the opposite side, but for the most part you can keep things moving one direction until your path is cleared.

After clearing neighborhood roads for a few years with FEL and boxblade, I got the chance a few weeks ago to give a frontblade a try. Blade angling made the work much more efficient and enjoyable. It gets aggravating moving the same snow over and over in the bitter cold!

For infrequent use, like you have, or small jobs, a boxblade in either direction will likely do just fine, but if you desire better efficiency you might consider an angled blade.

OkieG