Frontier 72" snowplow on a 200cx (2320)

[bxowner]

All the discussion about snowblower vs. snowplow lead me to my dealer. He's now offering me a 72" Frontier quick-attach snowplow assembly to go in place of my bucket. It weighs about 380lbs. The bucket alone weighs just under 200lbs. But, certainly it sticks out further, which must effectively add quite a bit more weight.

My question is (1) has anyone tried this or owned it for a season? (2) If I add enough ballast (I have loaded rear tires already), will the tractor still get pushed around a lot? I ask this because one owner on the site (Mech) has a 790/3005, which weighs about 450 lbs. more than my tractor - he's happy with him set-up, but agrees with me that my tractor might be a little light.

Still, it seems ideal for me. I can push the snow and 'lift' it up snowbanks. I'm not sold on the snowblower, as I sometimes have to plow the private road we live off of, which is 200 yards or so long. I don't have a cab and can imagine how coated I'd get...

One last thought. Maybe I ought to look for an old Meyers or Fischer plow and have a quick-attach bracket welded onto it. Then I could design it so the blade is much closer to the loader arms than the Frontier looks in pictures to keep the weight down. I'd just have to figure out how to do away with the hydraulics and put a manual angle in place.

 

[gunmaker]

I have a 2520, and looked at the fel mounted plow also, but decided agains't it after listening to the advice of a few, and a couple who had racked the fel arms pushing it to far.
I fab'd an adapter for the JD quick-hitch, and welded it up to a Meyers 6ft plow. It has worked well for two years, and many different plowing scenarios. Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/91997-jd-quick-hitch-adapter-meyers.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have the Frontier FEL snow plow and it works great with loaded rear tires. I've also had a few Myers snow plows over the years and they all worked fine too on previous tractors but the ones I had were definitely heavier than the Frontier. If you have loaded tires you'd be alright in most if not all cases. And worse case, a ballast box or box scraper or some other weight on the rear with Frontier plow on FEL. My 2 cents from my 40+ years experience.

 

[kennyd]

First, 72" is to big for your 2320-period.
I made a 60" blade like your talking about, and had terrible results. I was all I could do to steer the tractor-even with split brakes. Fact is the blade sits to far from the front wheels and there is just to much leverage-especially when the blade starts getting snow in front of it.
Second, when the blade gets full...and the rear wheels keep pushing...the loader will go down and the front will come up taking the front wheels off the ground...it kind of "folds" up if you get my drift...you can try the same thing with your bucket if you have a dirt pile-just try to drive straight in and see what happens.

Our tractors are just to light for these setup...I have and a few others have written about this a lot before if you do some searching.

I found a #380 frame mounted blade and made it fit...It is now FUN to plow snow

 

[kennyd]

I have the Frontier FEL snow plow and it works great with loaded rear tires. I've also had a few Myers snow plows over the years and they all worked fine too on previous tractors but the ones I had were definitely heavier than the Frontier. If you have loaded tires you'd be alright in most if not all cases. And worse case, a ballast box or box scraper or some other weight on the rear with Frontier plow on FEL. My 2 cents from my 40+ years experience.

You have a 3720 correct? The OP has a 2320...A lot smaller/lighter that your machine.

 

[Mech]

Do you have your plow on your 3720? If so can you float your FEL. On my 790 the blade will dig in and the front wheels will eventually come off the ground so I need to just keep adjusting mine.

 

[Gizmo2]

He's now offering me a 72" Frontier quick-attach snowplow assembly to go in place of my bucket. It weighs about 380lbs. The bucket alone weighs just under 200lbs. But, certainly it sticks out further, which must effectively add quite a bit more weight.

Tell the dealer to keep it.

 

[Runner]

Guess that is why the Deere sales literature doesn't list this setup for anything lighter than the 3xxx series. Sure would be nice if it would work, i.e., not having to take the loader off to use a front blade.

 

[cast_and_blast]

I have a 2305 and a 47" blower - works well for me in MN. The issue I have with a blade is that it builds up "banks" that you have to either a) move or b) go over with any additional snow from later snowfalls. Plus, with a 2305 and it's limited weight I would struggle (even with filled ballast box) to move the snow when we get 12"+.

Yep, if it's a lighter weight snow you will get some blowback. Most of the time this can be managed by playing the wind correctly - there are times where it is unavoidable and you wind up looking like a snowman.

I've yet to see a snow here in MN that this blower cannot handle. I plow a sidewalk that is always heaped with snow from the snowplow (think end-of-driveway) and it chews right through.

Could always look for a 3-pt unit too - but they are a pain in the neck - literally.

Good luck!

Scott

 

[JDeerekid]

If you go with any type of blade I would go with a frame mount like I said in your other post. You will be able to move alot of snow with it. The only problem is that you will have snow banks. That is why I recommended a rear snowblower also. If you dont want to go with the blower at least go with a front blade that you can take off in little time so you can put your loader on as push banks back.
The reason I and many others will tell you to not go with the loader blade is that the blade is to far out front and pushing snow that build up in front of blade will make your rear tires and tractor slide from side to side. This can be very dangerous. Also there can be alot of stress and wrenching on the loader frame itself. Your tractor is just to small for the front loader blade escpeciallly 72" wide. Just my opinion.

 

[JasonL]

I guess my experience with FEL snowplows is different. I built one and have used it for 3 seasons. I have had none of the problems mentioned. Granted, I have not had any snowfalls over 10", but my tractor seems to handle that fine! My blade is 60", and I designed a way to allow the blade to float or to apply down pressure. I agree with everyone who says the plow is too far forward- that is the only thing I would change if I built mine again. I like the ability I have to "lift" the snow. Just my opinion, but I don't want a frame mounted blade as long as my setup works well.
Here is the link to my plow with pictures:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/69523-fel-snowplow.html

 

[jcmseven]

I had one of these plows and though it moved the front end of my 3720 around. This plow is much too heavy for any of the 2000 series machines. It is made of lead and would stress the frame, loader arms and drivetrain to use it. You might be able to get away with it but it is just not worth the potential damage to the machine. I have found these wide blades just do not do that great a job in snow. One does not need a heavy blade for snow. My Gator, with a 72" snow blade that weighes only 90## is superior to any tractor mounted blade I have tried. I found my old 595 with a 54" front blade to be 90% as fast as my 3720 with a 72" blade secondary to its manuverability.

John M

 

[Mech]

My experience has been different. Since I plow dirt roads I wouldn't want anything lighter. I plow in 6th or 7th gear with my 790 and have recently put on wings to widen the blade. I will see how that works this winter. I've never had my front end pushed around very much but have lifted the front wheels off the ground if I try to float the blade on uneven ground. I do have filled R1 tires and am always in 4WD in the snow. I've only had it for a year so haven't really done snows over about 18". It is also harder to turn on the narrow roads since it does make my tractor a lot longer. At this point I am very happy with the frontier blade.

 

[PBinWA]

What's the ballpark price on the Frontier 72" snowplow?

 

[tomd999]

Hi All,

I don't have a 72" Deere blade for my 2520 but I would love to try one. I have a 60" Curtis loader plow that I use for a 450 foot paved driveway that has 4 turns and is sloped. (I'm on the side of a mountain, it's not a gentle slope) I also use it to clear the front lawn to park the cars while I plow the driveway, the road around back and paths from the house to the woodshed. I have used it for the snowiest on record in NH, in anything from a dusting to 1" of slush to 2+ feet of heavy wind blown snow with 3 and 4 foot drifts.

My Curtis weighs far more, hangs out farther and sits higher than the Deere setup. I can take full passes with it, I can bank the snow, I can push the banks back. In short, it works. Is it perfectly matched to the 2520 and 200cx? No, not at all. Is it better that a walk behind Ariens? Yep, by a couple miles.

Pros:
Fast, I can plow in high in snow less than a foot deep
Rugged, it's built like a tank
Easy to swap out with a bucket
One tool for both plowing and banking

Cons:
It's heavy
It has leverage over the loader
It leaves little rust lines from the shoes
It's easy to roll up unfrozen grass and to wack the house/barn when turning. (don't ask how I know these things)
It's not green

One of the issues stated here is that too big of a blade will push your tractor around and yu'll loose steering, yep, if you try to go uphill making a full cut, you will get that every time if you float the loader. Simple solution, pick up the blade about 1/2 inch, 700 Lbs hanging off the loader arms puts a lot of weight on those front wheels. Another way is to leave the cement filled ballast box off the tractor if you have loaded tires, no weight off the back picking up the front. Another complaint is that you loose steering and have to use steering brakes, isn't that what they are there for? That's how I was shown how to use them.

Is it better than a front blower? for me, yes. For you? only you can answer that. Would I buy the 60" Curtis again? No, I would go with a wider blade, maybe 66 or 72. The 60 is just a wee bit small when angled and going around corners. Would I trade for a 72" Deere setup? In a heartbeat. In my poor slobs opinion, it's better to have a little too wide than a bit too narrow.

Last year I plowed with no chains, empty tires and a cement ballast box and had no issues. Did it slip a little? yep, when it got cold and ice formed on the driveway, other than that, not an issue with 4wd. This year I have 4 link chains, loaded tires and a 60" Meteor blower for the back, I have become the snow destroyer...

a bit long but still only 2 cents,

Tom

 

[Mech]

What's the ballpark price on the Frontier 72" snowplow?

I think mine was about $1500. The angle hydraulics was another $300 + hoses + valve + Quick Disconnects + Power Beyond. Here is a link to the JD website on the blade.

John Deere: Features for Boom Mounted Front Blade

My driveway is a shelf road where I can push all the snow off one side so a blade is a very good solution for me.

 

[Gizmo2]

For plowing snow I use a rear ballast of about 200 lbs with chains on the rear, rear tires are not loaded.
Too many people get carried away with the rear ballast weight. More weight is not always better. As stated above, effectiveness of the 4WD is diminished quite a bit with too much weight on the rear and not enough on the front. Amazing what lifting the font blade just off the ground will do for front traction.

 

[Nuru]

For plowing snow I use a rear ballast of about 200 lbs with chains on the rear, rear tires are not loaded.
Too many people get carried away with the rear ballast weight. More weight is not always better. As stated above, effectiveness of the 4WD is diminished quite a bit with too much weight on the rear and not enough on the front. Amazing what lifting the font blade just off the ground will do for front traction.

I have had:

• A frame mounted blade on my 4100
• a boom mounted blade on my 4310
• a frame mounted blade on my current 3520

Sofar, i must say the frame mounted blade worked better for me. I have yet to try it out on my 3520, but based on past experience the frame mounted blade worked better for me.

 

[Gizmo2]

Went the boom mount, used once. I'll stay with the frame mount thank you very much.

 

[jcmseven]

I don't think there is any doubt the frame mount is better, but the boom mount is much easier and quicker to mount. I had no complaints about the boom mount blade, but specifically for snow, it and my tractor were not as good as my Gator, nor as fast. If I were doing some dirt or gravel, yes. I also found the cumbersome blade difficult to store when not in use and really too heavy to easily stand up, although it could be done. The blade did cause a great deal of moving in the front end unless the snow was most powdery or the blade was just perfectly leveled, or I took smaller "bites." But then, one loses the benefit of a wider blade.

John M