I think I'm going to need snow removal equipment

[ericm979]

The place we bought in Oregon got about 10-12" of snow last week. We were up there and were able to drive up the driveway when there was about 8" but then it snowed more over night. A contractor in a 4wd truck got stuck after we left and then the GC brought a skid steer in to clear it. No one mentioned snow when we were buying but now everyone we talk to who lives there says oh yea this used to be rare but it happens every year now. I don't mind too much.

The driveway to the house is about 800' and the road to the shop is another 450'. I don't think I'm up for shoveling that much. To make things worse, the garage and shop both have driveways and doors on the sides of the building where the snow slides off the roof and makes a pile. The piles in front of the shop doors were nearly waist high.

I don't have much experience with snow and none with removing it. It looks like my options are use the tractor with a bucket, buy a plow for the the tractor, or buy a snow blower for the tractor. I think a walk behind blower would be ok to move the pile in front of the shop or garage but maybe would take a long time to get from the shop to the house, or to clear off the driveway.

Right now most of the roads are gravel. Does that make snow removal harder? Do R4 tires work in snow? On hills?

 

[airbiscuit]

Which tractor do you have in OR? How steep is the slope. Using a bucket works,but it takes longer than you think. A 3pt snowblower sounds like just the ticket for you.

I've had R4s, and they were racing slicks in wet snow. I now have R1s (Ag), and they have way more traction in snow. You may need chains.

 

[shooterdon]

I would talk to the locals.

You will get all sorts of opinions here based on what our needs are.

Be prepared to piss away a bunch of money. If you are lucky, what you buy might actually work most of the time.

 

[EdwardL]

I live in snow country (New England). Before you spend thousands on equipment you will only use once or twice a year, consider it as pole vaulting over a mouse.

there are lot of not so smart opinions out there. R1 tires are generally ok, except in wet snow. Solve that with tire chains.

Generally, ladder type chains work, but not if the snow is wet. For that you would want chains with studs on them. The question you need to resolve is how often do you get 6 inches or more snow? If its once or twice a winter, a tractor snow blower is expensive solution. Its pole vault solution.

And understand that compact tractors are very light. You will need weight added to it for moving snow, front and rear. I've seen times when my little emax 20s could not get up a snow covered grade going forward, but could back up a grade with 300 lb on the rear.

O don't have a long drive but I heat with wood and use the tractor to move it a couple hundred feet down a hill to the house. the 300 lb balances the bucket load and makes the tractor more stable.

Most compact tractors will need wheel spacers added to make clearance for the chains. 2 in spacers on the rear and 1.5 in on the front work.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Any chance you could hire someone local to do your snow clearing for you ?

 

[Bronco82]

I think the best option for a gravel driveway, is to pack a light snowfall for a solid base, and then you can run whatever you choose on it to remove larger snowfalls. Or, if you get one large dumping, lower whatever skid shoes are on your snow removal weapon of choice so there remains a base for packing. That way you're picking minimal rocks out of your lawn come spring.

If you plan on getting a rear mount snowblower, I don't think that chains are necessary on R4 tires, but if you plan on plowing, then I think they would be required for more traction. You can likely get an older rear mount blower for a decent price, and once the blower touches the snow, it's gone. No piles to deal with, or you're not pushing snow for 800', the length of your driveway, or creating multiple piles of snow alongside the driveway.

You can groove your tires also using a tire grooving tool for additional traction. May be overkill for a few snowfalls a year, but may be just the ticket you need.

It all comes down to what you want. Snowblower, snowpusher, snowplow, rear blade, loader bucket itself, there are many options. Budget, personal preference, and availability have a lot to do with the final decision.

 

[OffgridTractor]

If you already have a tractor with a loader, the snow pusher is probably cheapest option.

You get snow only once or twice a year so you probably don't want or need to drop big dollars to fix the problem.

 

[ericm979]

Any chance you could hire someone local to do your snow clearing for you ?

Sorry I wasn't clear- I meant for after I move. Yes you're right I can maybe hire someone local before that. But there's not a lot of plow guys since it doesn't snow that often, so they can be hard to find when it does.

 

[Carl_NH]

Agree with all the posts so far - just want add, start with front chains (less $, easy to install) and a rear blade at least 6' or 7' wide so on an angle it covers the rear tread.

I have used this setup for many years in deep snow with R4 Tires on my B21 - about 3500Lbs with scraper blade. Also offset the blade to the right side so it sticks out 8" beyond the right tire to push banks back.

Got a front plow this year since I installed a QA and it's easier, but for your needs a front bucket and rear blade is fine.

 

[shooterdon]

Your tractor is over 4000 lbs. It should do well.

Carl in the post above gave good advice IMO. I deal with a lot of snow and have more than one "tool"...you do not need to spend a ton of money. I used to use a rear blade on a little JD 855 and it worked but not well enough for my needs. Had 18" in two days once.

When pushing snow, you need to plan where you can pile it up.

When I had the 855, I would go out part way through a major storm to keep things manageable, but I live here and am retired so that was feasible.

Another option, if you have a pickup truck or decent sized SUV is the SnowSport. It can be attached to a tractor as well.

Light Truck Snow Plow | Straight Forward Snowplow | SNOWSPORT LT

SNOWSPORT LT plow is built to give homeowners a tool for clearing snow, this snow plow cuts a seven foot wide path in front of your pickup truck or SUV.

www.buysnowsportplows.com

It does not angle or back blade, but is cheap and simple if you get by with pushing snow.

My buddy has a snow pusher on his tractor and he loves it but he has plenty of places to push the white stuff.