Evaluation of snow removal tools

[blackd]

I've tried nearly all. My exception is a rear mounted blower which I have not used, but I have had/used back blade, front end loader, front mounted snow blower and a snow plow/blade. My experience shows the plow/blade is hands down the best. It is the most flexible as far as snow depth/type is concerned. Blower is a close 2nd, but works best on heavy mostly powdery snow. As would the plow/blade.

Just to clarify my experience. My analysis is based upon both extended and recent experience in Mid-Atlantic area snows. I have plowed professionally with a truck/blade combination, but most is from my private tractor-based volunteer experience.

The other exception is that a blower is the far better tool when faced with heavy snows, as we got in the snow-megadon 2010-2011 years

 

[leonz]

So much depends on a brood herd of factors
cabbed mule or open station
Manual or hydrostatic transmissions
power;
gas or diesel
temperature affecting fuel types
preheating or having heated storage
total weight
drive configuration
liquid ballast/wheel weights or lack there of
tire type; European snow tires/agricultural/R2/R4
chains; 2 link or 4 link standard cross chains,
V bar ice chains, grader, log skidder with
multiple European type of snow chains used
for logging and snow plowing both

The above are just the issues with the mules used

So much of the problems related to snow plowing snow blowing are related to architects and buildling layout that people fail to rule out an architects brilliant building placement with or without out buildings as relates to prevailing winds, the ability to store snow if plows are used, the ability of the machine used to push snow back and avoid getting stuck or falling into a drainage ditch as the shoulders or driveway culverts are never seen until you get that sinking feeling.

As long as you have plenty of power or time a snow caster works very well and eliminates snow berms as long as you have some place to cast it off.

Commercial parking lots are a nightmare from the aspects fo snow removal as the two car wide parking rows are a mess to deal with if you have cars that prevent clearing them.

The reason I say this is that having single rows is better for the use of snow casters as long as they have enough power to work as the snow can be cast forward and then dumped at the very end where it can be cast to the border of the property or carted away somewhere.

BUT as they want as many cars as they can pack in there the mess making from snow and ice melters that are over used only makes it worse when people should be using sand; OH I DONT WANT SAND BEING TRACKED IN MY STORE- well you should have thought more seriously about having a geothermal melting loop installed under your lousy asphalt pours and keeping the ground temperature at a constant 60 degrees to promote melting with out salt or calcium pellets or urea or magnesium chloride to send the snow melt to your shallow storm drain catch basins.


Don't get me started on those highways and the bare road policy or all American season tires and these fools telling you you don't need them.

 

[CADplans]

You did not mention a landscape rake,,,
it works great at removing a few inches of snow,,, without removing the gravel,,, :thumbsup:

(Actually,,, I had the 7 foot landscape rake on the 650 from moving leaves,, and was too lazy to switch to the blade,, :laughing

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just know from experience that as with grass cutting, the more methods you have for doing the job, and I might have a dozen or more tools between the two tasks, the more likelihood there is, you won't have the right tool for the circumstances.

 

[RjCorazza]

Never thought of using a rake, but those gauge wheels look like they worked well keeping out of the gravel. I sold my 7' rake with gauge wheels last year and have regretted it.
Anyway, everyone has their snow implement preferences and I am no exception. I like a rear blade and FEL ssqa bucket or blade. For big snows I put a blower on the rear. After the NE blizzard last year I added hydraulic chute controls and a cutting edge to the blower. I guess I am a little OCD, because I really like the clean look that the snowblower leaves!

 

[Rustyiron]

I've tried nearly all.
The other exception is that a blower is the far better tool when faced with heavy snows, as we got in the snow-megadon 2010-2011 years

In that situation, the best thing is to plow/remove several times during the storm.:thumbsup: That storm cost me a 64'X20' lean to roof!
blackd, are you deciding on a purchase or is this just a general snow tool/removal discussion?

 

[blackd]

CADPlans, did not use the rake, but the first year in the house I did use a 7' King Kutter rear mower deck. Being the only available implement, and having ~13+" of snow, the raked font end of the mower did move enough to get out the drive and subdivision. At the time we were the only residents so we were on our own. Made it out to then get a back blade. ;-)

Are you the CADplans, John M? If so, the next implement I got was a home built Cadplans FEL, built with a MetKit kit. Worked great for 7-8 years until I sold the tractor.

 

[blackd]

Rustiron, just engineered the plow from existing parts so hoping this is my final snow removal tool. I just wanted to pass on this ole man's experience for those still wondering/deciidng.

 

[Rustyiron]

Rustiron, just engineered the plow from existing parts so hoping this is my final snow removal tool. I just wanted to pass on this ole man's experience for those still wondering/deciidng.

Gotcha. We gotta have a pic of that blackd:thumbsup:

 

[CADplans]

Are you the CADplans, John M? If so, the next implement I got was a home built Cadplans FEL, built with a MetKit kit. Worked great for 7-8 years until I sold the tractor.

Yea,, that is I,,,, :laughing:

:thumbsup:

 

[RNeumann]

I've tried nearly all. My exception is a rear mounted blower which I have not used, but I have had/used back blade, front end loader, front mounted snow blower and a snow plow/blade. My experience shows the plow/blade is hands down the best. It is the most flexible as far as snow depth/type is concerned. Blower is a close 2nd, but works best on heavy mostly powdery snow. As would the plow/blade.

Just to clarify my experience. My analysis is based upon both extended and recent experience in Mid-Atlantic area snows. I have plowed professionally with a truck/blade combination, but most is from my private tractor-based volunteer experience.

The other exception is that a blower is the far better tool when faced with heavy snows, as we got in the snow-megadon 2010-2011 years

Thanks for sharing! This newb to moving snow appreciates the wisdom. I'm also glad my dealer steered me to the front blade!

 

[RNeumann]

You did not mention a landscape rake,,,
it works great at removing a few inches of snow,,, without removing the gravel,,, :thumbsup:

(Actually,,, I had the 7 foot landscape rake on the 650 from moving leaves,, and was too lazy to switch to the blade,, :laughing

I've never used a landscape rake....for anything! Does it break up ice at all? I have one spot on my drive that freezes early and creates some interesting moments!

 

[PILOON]

I doubt a rake would affect ice, shucks a full sized grader has to use a carbide or hardened 'tooth blade'* to have any effect on roadway ice and at that they wait for a mild day.

* eg about 40% gaps

 

[CADplans]

I've never used a landscape rake....for anything! Does it break up ice at all? I have one spot on my drive that freezes early and creates some interesting moments!

It would be better than a blade,,, on the type ice we get.
I am very careful not to create ice before I remove the snow.

If the precipitation comes down as ice,, we set until it melts,,,
that is usually way less than 48 hours in Virginia.

A rear blade will do nothing on ice,,, if we ever get ice,,, I will try the landscape rake.

As a side note,, I hit the driveway again yesterday. it stirred up enough gravel to insure the driveway is passable.

The sun hits the gravel, the snow melts!! :thumbsup:

The second raking of the driveway moved ZERO gravel off the driveway,,, it was only "stirring up" the stones. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[npalen]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/267680-landscape-rake-ice-breaker.html?highlight=

A 2013 thread regarding landscape rake for snow.

 

[Tinstafl]

I used my back blade but will hit the driveway with my rake next. Thanks for the idea.

 

[blackd]

Pics?? LOL, I had a whole build thread. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-built-kubota-based-snow-plow.html?highlight=

I might add that building a plow is relatively easy. Used plow blades are plentiful in various sizes. The only issue is to get the front mount strong and easy enough to mount.

For my own build, I could have modified the existing mount hardware from the plow blade. It would have been cheaper than my own approach.

 

[blackd]

CADplans, have you considered designing a S/CUTS plow blade mounting bracket for a front blade? Most S/CUTS mount the blade on the front frame member without extended frame support. They just drop on the frame and then tighten down with a T-bolt. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...71636399-gc-2310-snow-plow-mfquickchange1-jpg

I would think a CADplans design would be more universal to allow several different plow/blade connections. I certainly would have considered it for my build.

 

[hayden]

My preference ends up being a snow blower, but there are certainly trade-offs.

I think the snow blower does the cleanest job, and gets the snow the furthest out of the way. But it's generally slower than a blade, and doesn't work as well on real wet slop. And having to crane your neck and ride side saddle to operate a rear mount blower is kind of a pain, but you get used to it.

The part that's certain is that whatever you have, you adapt to make it work, witness the landscape rake being used effectively for snow removal.

 

[RalphVa]

The snow plow on my Gravely worked great. Once though, we got 7" of sleet. Couldn't get the plow to "bite" into it. Fitted the (very old) square chute snow blower onto it, and flew the sleet away.

For most cases, here the snow plow would probably work the best. Takes forever to clear a deep snow with the loader. Best to go at it with the back blade and don't allow it to get too deep for it, since I don't have the snow plow.

Ralph