BX2200 and winter use

[kaz]

Hello,
I am thinking ahead since summer is flying by. I have a 5 foot rear blade that I'm going to use to plow snow. I have a 450 ft. driveway that has a grade upward towards the house. Do you think I need tire chains or weights for the front? If so what do you recommend? I don't want to fill the tires and my dealer did not think it was a wise idea either. Will the rear blade and this tractor handle my job? Will it be better to just drive though the snow and pull the blade or reverse the blade and back into the snow and push? I am curious to hear other owners experiences with the BX2200 and snow conditions.
Thanks!
Mike

 

[rosey]

Mike....Last winter I got quite a bit of use using my rear blade and front loader in the snow. I would suggest that you make your initial pass pulling the snow downgrade away from the house. Then if needed reverse the blade and push backward. Of course the only way that you will learn is by practical experience. Make sure that you are in 4 wheel drive and you should be OK. This off season I got a set of "Bar Tires" and had the rears filled. I have already used them while doing excavation work with my loader and had unbelieveable traction. I personally think that filled rear tires are the way to go but that is just my opinion based on my experiences. Again if you decide that you don't want filled tires, as long as you are in 4wheel low you should be OK. and practice, practice. practice. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[chocolatehauler]

You didn't say where you are located or what kind of snow falls you have where you live, or what type of driveway you have. I do use a back blade on my driveway along with a snow blower. I reverse the blade for early snow falls my driveways are gravel sand ect. Digging in is a problem till they freeze. turning the blade backwards stops the digging in. again not knowing how much snow you get of what type make it hard to advise. There is a limit to how much snow a back blade can move. It will at some point slide the tractor sideways. I have turf tires that are loaded. hope this help good luck

 

[RoyJackson]

"Digging in is a problem till they freeze. turning the blade backwards stops the digging in. "


I've found that running the blade backward (or operating the tractor in reverse) does a better job, especially if it's a wet sticky snow. The blade "sheds" the snow better and is less likely to push the tractor sideways....although that will happen when you have enough snow to push. Then, it's time to make a pile.

 

[Boondox]

Kaz -- I'll echo the sentiment that a LOT depends on your conditions. Someone who gets the occasional dump of wet snow has far different needs than my homestead, which might see rain changing to four feet of snow, and temps from mid-30s to minus 20 in a week. Also, you mentioned a slope but didn't really give an indication of how steep it is.

I started off with a B1750 and unloaded turfs using the rear blade (facing forward or backward as conditions warranted) and FEL. I found it absolutely unable to keep up with the snow load, and the tires had zero traction going up the slightest incline. In fact, it reached the point where it could not even make it back into the garage from the driveway...a vertical rise of about six inches over a twenty foot approach! But we're talking frozen ground and snow packed down into tread-marked ice.

So, like the previous poster, I'd really like more info about your climate and conditions before giving a reasoned response. And, by the way, this is a great search topic as it has been covered in length over the years.

Pete

 

[sandyc]

Kaz:
I use both a front blade and a snowblower to clean off my 350' gravel drive. I plow until the ground freezes and for light snow. The blower is used for heavy snow and for cleaning by the street where the town really likes to see if they can snow me in. The switch from blower to blade is but a couple of minutes as the front mount system is quick attach.
After last winter I added a cab with heater, defroster, lights and wiper.
I have used both bar tires and turfs for snow removal. With the 4x4 system on the 2200 you should find that the bar tires are enough. If you got to chains make sure you have enough clearance and that you use a pretty good spreader to keep from throwing chains. Take it from exerpience!

 

[frank_f15]

u don't mention what amt of snow u get. for a few in. rear blade is fine, but for any amt of snow u need something else. Fel, blower etc. don't think u want to try and move this snow with a rear blade

 

[kaz]

Frank,


With that much snow I think I just go back to bed and call in sick at work! This past winter our area of Ohio got close to 40 inches of snow in a matter of 3 days. The farmer behind my property brought over his John Deere (don't know what model, but it had 6 huge tires) and he plowed me out but with a lot of difficulty.
Mike (KAZ)

 

[kaz]

Hi Pete,

My driveway is all gravel and packed very well. I live on top of a hill so we get high winds most of the winter. I usually get 4-5 foot drifts along 50-75 feet of my driveway, but am hoping snow fence will stop that problem this year. Our snows vary from heavy, wet packed snow to the fluffy kind that blows quickly. I do not have a FEL or snowblower for this tractor, b/c I could not afford it when I purchased last month.
I want to try to keep up with the snow when it starts and want to only have to remove 3-4 inches at a time. I doubt we get the strange 40inch storm like we had this past winter for quite some time. The grade on my driveway is not straight and down, but it's not level either. I guess I'd say it's right in the middle. Thanks for answering my post.
Mike (KAZ)

 

[rambler]

Ah - wind & snow & you want to blade the snow.

Well, the following winter you will have a blower. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A blade tends to make ridges on the side, which blow in with the next wind. So you move the snow, leaving a slightly higher ridge.... Which blows in higher. So you blade, making the ridges higher.......

And, you can only take a small chunk of snow at a time. Back up & get another chunk. And another. By the time it's cleared off, the wind picked up and you get to start all over.....

Yup, used a blade to move snow out of the farm yard here in windy southern Minnesota for 5 years. Hated every minute of it.

I bought a blower 10 years ago, and that's the one purchase I have never ever regretted.

--->Paul