Snow Equipment Owning/Operating I have too many choices and this is ridiculous

[acs55812]

With a JD 4100 tractor, the FEL is 4 feet wide, I have a 47" front snowblower also.

I have a plow blade (like small pickup type plow blade) that I haven't built any kind of adapter bracket for to use either as putting it "into" the FEL or using it on the quick hitch on the front. A couple days ago I did attach this to the FEL bucket just using chains to see how it would work----it worked "ok" but the blade is only 6 feet wide, which is not a "whole lot" wider than the bucket. This blade is 24" high.

I have a 3 point blade that is 7 feet wide and only 12 inches tall. (This is a "dirt blade" I assume since the curve to the blade is much more than the plow type blade)

What I am contemplating is:

1. What blade to use/keep for snow purposes

2. If it would be worthwhile to build ANY kind of bracket for the 6' plow either to attach to the bucket or the front quick hitch.

3. Or if I want a blade at all on the front build a similar bracket and just use the 7 foot blade and sell the 6 foot.

4. Is it better off to have a blade 1 foot narrower and 1 foot taller for snow or doesn't it make much difference.

5. If I decide to keep a blade for the front, use loader attach or quick hitch.

6. Forget the front blade altogether and put the blower on an leave it and just use the 3 point blade when I feel a blade is needed.

I know this sounds kinda stupid----but it makes since to sell at least one blade and that would most likely be the plow blade---maybe?

 

[pitt_md]

My choice would be front blower, rear blade.

 

[Pipestone Kid]

My choice would be front blower, rear blade.

That is mine, too. I have a 4110 with the blower/ blade combo. For light snows, I windrow the snow and blow it out. For deeper snows, I blow it. IMO it is the perfect combination.

 

[CurlyDave]

You can plow snow with a dirt blade, some loss of efficiency, but it won't hurt the blade.

You can try to push dirt with a snow blade, but it won't work at all and you may end up breaking something.

Personally, I would keep both blades, mainly because the used price they will bring is far less than the cost of a replacement for either.

 

[Thomas]

How much are you willing to spend?

If you get lot of snow also distance to keep clean blower w/cab.

There's many great ideas offer on TBN..Search.

If front plow,plow set at 45 degrees should clear rear least foot.

 

[Gordon Gould]

#6 is the way I would go also. Gives you everything you need. Use the blade for small snows and ground prep if required. Use the blower for bigger snows or just because you have it on. Keeps life simple.

 

[JoeL4330]

The 4ft blower won't like the 7ft rear blade, which will just put snow back in the blown path...ask me how I know: I added an 8ft meyer blade to the front and have a 7ft rear blower...went down the drive lookin' backward, blowing out 19in snow last winter and then turned around to watch the 8ft blade filling in...

if you can use your blower without a rear counter weight and the blade is easy to attach and unattach, then that's the way I would work: keep the blower mounted and mount the rear for lesser am'ts. ..think about shoes or gauge wheels for your rear blade? for modest depths the rear blade will do fine ...if you find it is a little too low, you might add the rubber guard used on snow plows...attach it to top of rear blade ...if you have a gravel drive, you might read the threads on putting piece of slit black plastic pipe over the cutting edge

 

[pat32rf]

Blower seems a little narrow to use by itself, but if you use the back blade to winnow the snow into a row then you can blow it. I'd stick with the widest blade cause once you angle it you loose a lot of width....
This all depends on how much snow you get in Duluth.....and how big a hurry you are to remove it.