I am in central Illinois. I am already part of a commercial snow removal company. We run a fleet of Deere 644's, backhoes, skid steers, trucks and motor patrol. The amount of snow we get will not matter to me. If we get too much snow for it will be left behind for the day.
What I am looking at doing is buying the tractor for the farm. Mostly food plot farming, mowing roadsides and waterways, general FEL work, etc. It is hard to justify the cost for only that. So I am looking into putting it into the winter fleet so it can help to pay for itself.
I do need to know if it will be able to turn with the pusher, howwide of box I could expect it to push, and if the loader arms will hold up. I would imagine it could handle an 8' box just as well or better than our smallest skid (Bobcat 763) as it will be heavier all weighted down.
Thanks for any help
Well... you've pretty well made up your mind! You're just looking for added support for your decision...
If you've been working heavy equipment for some time and moving snow - you already have a good appreciation for fulcrums, levers, balance points, length of beams and how those factors affect machine operations.
Look at the loader arms on your 763. Look at the loader arms on a 400X (or better yet - 400CX). What are the differences? Dimensions of materials... 3/8" and 1/4" welded plate versus 1/8" and possibly 3/16" stamped metal in some locations? Length of the loader arms and points of attachment?
Quick attach loader is not as strong or as durable as a fixed loader - IMO. Neither the 400X or the 400CX loader will stand up to the same level of abuse or continued use as the loader on the 763.
The length of the loader boom arm on the 4x20 tractor makes it a great "target" for lateral force... especially at the outward edge of a large plow blade or pusher bucket. Catch a curb or a parking barrier or any number of "hidden" objects buried in the snow and be prepared for a real lesson in "length of lever arm" and "fulcrum point" as the kinectic energy rearranges the dimensions of your loader!
(Of course, if you've plowed snow for a few years - you know exactly of where I speak!)
If you're really determined to put the 4x20 to work in the "snow fleet" use a smaller push blade - not the biggest possible. Or go with a high volume, materials bucket and use the tractor more for loading trucks or building berm piles than actual clearing work.
A good rear blade with hydraulic angle, offset and tilt would be a good addition as well. Heavy duty models are stout enough to provide great
ballast for loader work and you can work the snow - forwards as well as in reverse!
AKfish