GC1705 - snow removal near Denver

[rossn]

With crazy hot weather currently, it seems like the wrong topic -- but we're only 6-10 weeks off from the early snow season.

Recently purchased my GC1705, and am contemplating snow removal options. I've surfed a lot of threads, but am looking for some insight as to what is best for my situation.

Live NW of Denver CO, and receive about 80-120" snow per year. Typically 3-8 storms/yr of 12-18", many days with less snow, and an occasional day with more. After a big storm, snow might be around for a week or two, but most typically snow is gone in a few days.

My concrete drive is about 225' long, single-lane for about 2/3 of it, and maybe 3 lanes wide for the last 65' near the house, plus 4 parking spots. Mostly flat with a gradual slope up to the street, though a few areas where it is more contoured (not flat). The home is North Facing, and the driveway in front of the garage that isn't going to see winter sun. Just bought the house this year, so haven't lived the winter in this home yet.

The options I've been considering are:

- Snow Blade/Plow (MF 2335 or 2340, or using an old 54" John Deere blade with a custom attachment to the frame (there are some posts and videos on this))
- Front Snow Blower (MF2360 or I understand the Kubotas will work)
- Using the FEL with a protective snow edge (I understand this would be tedious in the bigger storms)
- Rotary Broom (I understand this won't do deep snow well, though it could be handy in the warmer months, as well)

I do want to be reasonable about the money spent, as well as avoiding permanent damage to the drive. I also want to consider what will work best for the area that won't receive direct sunlight. Again, Colorado snow doesn't stick *that long*, though sometimes it could go a few weeks.

Thoughts on what is going to fit my situation best? I'm kind of leaning towards the blade/plow option at the moment.

 

[Snobdds]

A front mount PTO blower is the best.

A front blade is the second best. However will need rear ballast and maybe chains.

A front mount PTO sweeper is good for snow up to about 8 inches. Spring snow will be a challenge. However the sweeper can be used all year to sweep the driveway.

The bucket is the least favorable, but works in a pinch.

 

[coldsteelva]

I have a new GC1720 and will be in the same boat. My plan is to leave the bucket on and pick up a rear-mount snowblower. Blow the snow you can, bucket provides ballast; use the bucket to pick up and toss what cannot be blown, blower provides the ballast.

EDIT- read that wrong; thinking 1710.

Front blade is available from Massey: 2335 (54") or 2340 (60") and mounts to the front frame; definitely should shoot for a blower if you can though

 

[rossn]

Thanks.

The front mount blower may be the best for deep snows; is it overkill (given cost, maintenance, etc) for the amount of snow I've outlined in my post?

How close to the ground can I expect to clear snow with a blade vs the MF blower, provided I want to be careful about not tearing up my concrete?

 

[Snobdds]

The blower works best for snow depths 1" and above. There seems to be a misconception that the blower works best with deep snow. As long as it's deep enough to be above the runners, it works perfectly. In fact you can go pretty fast when there's not much.

I know the blower is expensive, but it's the best at removing snow. Blades work to, but note what I said about them above.

I live just north of you along the Colorado Wyoming Boarder, so I know how the snow acts in this area. The blower works for 90% of the snow falls. The other 10%, the sweeper would be perfect for those light dustings.

With the big spring dumps, the blower is the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[dickfoster]

The blower works best for snow depths 1" and above. There seems to be a misconception that the blower works best with deep snow. As long as it's deep enough to be above the runners, it works perfectly. In fact you can go pretty fast when there's not much.

I know the blower is expensive, but it's the best at removing snow. Blades work to, but note what I said about them above.

I live just north of you along the Colorado Wyoming Boarder, so I know how the snow acts in this area. The blower works for 90% of the snow falls. The other 10%, the sweeper would be perfect for those light dustings.

With the big spring dumps, the blower is the best thing since sliced bread.

When I lived there (Cheyenne and later Denver) the stuff was so dry you could probably have gotten rid of it with a big leaf blower. LOL
If I lived there now I'd have a front mounted blower and tractor with a cab. Here I'll make do with the FEL and a snow edge.

 

[Snobdds]

 

[jlgurr]

Never dawned on me how long that PTO shaft is until I saw this photo. Wow.

 

[rossn]

Thanks for all the thoughts on the topic. I'm just trying to make sure that the blower isn't overkill, since I don't have a 2000' driveway, like some, and given we get moderate, but not heavy snow. It's pretty pricey.

Curious, I know it was mentioned that the blower works best over 1" of snow. In practical terms, for most snow clearing, how close does it get? Mainly concerned that if I'm always leaving down 1/2-1" of snow, then it turns into ice -- especially since the tall garage is north facing.

 

[Snobdds]

The side runners determine how close to the ground the blower rides. You can have the runners all the way up and it leaves very little snow. The one inch threshold is more to keep the velocity of snow coming out of the chute sufficient, or it doesn't have the ability to thow the snow far.

 

[roadhunter]

I find myself using my rear blade to remove snow instead of my front 4 in 1. It's easy to see what you are doing and adding a top and tilt kit makes the blade even more useful.

 

[rossn]

Curious - what did people spend on the blower or front blade kits, if you purchased them after the fact? Seems so spendy given I spent about $9k on the tractor with the FEL, mower deck, and a plow. Does anyone have a picture of how that 'subframe' attaches to the frame?

 

[ray66v]

For me, the best option, was none of the above.

A loader mounted plow is the way to go.

Economical, if you can fabricate. No snow blowing in your face. Way faster than using the bucket. Faster than a blower. No shear pins. Better than a frame mounted plow, because, you can push the tops off snow piles, if they get too high.

 

[mitchhorne8]

I'm in the same boat. I got a 1710 in April but I also am getting a diesel pickup next week. Front blower is about the same as a big truck plow. Hmmmm

 

[JWR]

I have a new GC1720 and will be in the same boat. My plan is to leave the bucket on and pick up a rear-mount snowblower. Blow the snow you can, bucket provides ballast; use the bucket to pick up and toss what cannot be blown, blower provides the ballast.

I agree with this viewpoint. I use a Kubota in eastern mountains whose snowfall is about what you describe. Big difference is yours is dry powder. A few points to consider:
-- I would not want to give up the FEL. Yes, it is a pain in the neck so to speak to have to turn around all the time and watch either a rear blower or the rear blade.
-- You can get a blade to fit on the bucket. It would have been better had you got a quick disconnect set of skid steer plates on your loader frame if that was available.
-- A large % of the time you can probably get by with just the loader bucket and maybe an attachment blade. With a bit more snow go to the rear blade. With a bigger storm bother to put on the blower.
-- Everything is compromise. A front blower is a much bigger job to put on and take off and more expensive for sure. Yes it is nicer for pure snow work BUT I find that a combo of front bucket and rear blower allows me to "work both directions" wasting less time and clearing things quicker. There will always be "chunks and lumps" you want the FEL to move as well as tight spots for which the blower is not the right tool. My thinking is the same as coldsteeva. And he is exactly right about ballast.

 

[irvingj]

I have a paved driveway, also facing north, about 200 feet OA, with a wider section in front of the garage. When I bought the tractor, I ordered a blower with it and never regretted it.

Initially my driveway was gravel (needed to pack down a good base first), but now that it's paved I have the blower feet all the way up-- they don't come into the picture at all. I'm able to scrape it right down to the pavement, and the first hint of sun clears & dries it off. It is rough on the scraper blade, but they're easy enough to flip to get some more use out of them and then replace when they're worn down too much. Pavement has a few scrapes here & there, but nothing I'm worried about. Not sure about concrete.

For those few times when I'd like to use the FEL, I can drop my blower onto a flat 4-wheeled dolly, raise the front blower mounting shoe (but leave it on) and mount the FEL, all in about 8 minutes or less. Dropping the FEL and re-mounting the blower takes a bit longer, but not much. The front-mount shoe etc. for the blower doesn't come off until spring when I service the blower one last time and then put it up.

If you have a place to put the snow, a blade is going to be the fastest and least expensive. If you don't, and don't want the inevitable ridges on the sides of your driveway from plowed snow, the blower's the better choice, IMO. I'll bet that if you had the blower you'd find that you really wouldn't need the FEL.

As far as those few light dustings of snow, heck yeah-- I've used my backpack leaf blower or even a 36" rubber-edged garage floor squeegee!

 

[check]

Got an ATV? If so, get a plow for it, and then buy a rear blower. The ATV is REALLY fast for up to 8" or so, depending upon how wet the snow is.

I got the rear blower for my Kubota BX25 because it was less than half the cost of the front blower, and yes, I do use the FEL a lot. And, if looking backwards is a problem for you, there are lots of great rearview camera options. (Check out the TBN threads on this.)

Good luck, and enjoy the new tractor and new home!

 

[roadhunter]

Have you considered a UTV?

 

[rossn]

Thanks for the ideas. Not going to be buying an ATV or UTV, since one of the primary reasons of buying the 4WD tractor was to be able to do snow removal. The blower sounds sweet, but a bit hard to swallow at $4000 (that's what the dealer quoted) for a new one, given I only spent $9K on the tractor. I may try to adapt a used John Deere plow to it, if I can get on at a fair price... would run about 1/3 the cost of a new blade with 4 way controls. If not, then I may keep looking until I find a MF plow or blower at a decent price. it seems either would ultimately work for my situation, and if I get one used and it doesn't work well, can probably sell it an upgrade for little loss. The plow mounted in place of the bucket is intriguing, but that seems to mean you can't have the hydraulic angling of the blade. Has anyone (easily) retrofitted the MF GC's for 6-way controls up front? I'm not sure if the 4-way control uses one pump or two.

 

[JWR]

Cabellas sells Woods-made new blowers for 3pt hitch for $2329. That's a 74". Gotta believe you can find new 60" blowers well under $2500. A 60" blower will handle your amount of area well in my opinion. And there are many used ones available back here in the East anyway. Woodmaxx at PTO Snow Blower Attachment | 2 Stage Snow Blower | Skid Steer Snow Blower - WoodMaxx sells a 60" pto driven for $2249 with free shipping.
Being patient you'll find one used too.