Snow Equipment Buying/Pricing Ideas for long steep gravel driveway at winter camp?

[aczlan]

I would see if you could fing a snowblower on craigslist that could be made to work (like this one: 60" Front Mount snowblower for most compact tractor) or see if you can find one of those 45-50" self powered snowblowers to put in the bucket. If that isnt possible, I would get a 3point blower.

Where I come from:
I am near Rochester, NY and I clear snow at my inlaws with a BX2660 (60" power angle blade) or a B7500 (48" bucket). I also clear snow at a hotel with a snowblower (walk behind 30" for the past few years, 45" front mount one now).
For clearing deep snow with that size machine or for clearing deep packed snow, NOTING beats a snowblower
I would snowblow 3 passes wide and then clean up with the loader as needed.
I would also mount 2-4 bright lights on the ROPS so that you can always see.
If you want to get fancy, buy/make a frame and throw a golf cart rain cover on it.

Aaron Z

 

[toddbiss]

I had a B7200 HST with a rear snowblower and it worked great. I have about a 500 ft driveway that is steep and curvy and in the past few years we have had a few storms with over 30 inches of snow.

 

[Coyote machine]

If you're going to do the tractor down the driveway approach and you want to be able to count on the tractor starting I would either install a block heater, or use a Battery Tender brand charger to keep the battery in exactly the state you need it to start your tractor whenever you need to. On second thought, I'd do both so the engine is somewhat warm when you go to crank it.

And to Izuzu dude, mine was an '87, bought new with 4x4 and extended cab, AC, etc. The body and brake lines were in rough shape due to salt on VT roads. Engine and trans were strong and it was the perfect down the drive snow plow truck. It had the summers off when I retired its road duties.

 

[crazyal]

My driveway is pretty steep in places with plenty of twists and bends. Forget about clearing it from the bottom up unless you have a snow blower. This is coming from a guy with a serious 4x4 plow truck.

Do you leave your tractor up there year round or would you bring it up as needed? I might think about just getting some really good tire chains for your tractor and just drive through the snow. If you have a fel you could use it to keep the snow to under 12".

Buying a plow truck will most likely mean you're going to get something old that will need plenty of work. Buying a rear snow blower would be a pretty big investment and if your road has lots of loose fist sized rocks it could cost you lots of time replacing sheer pins or worse doing real damage to your snow blower or tractor.

 

[varmint]

I stumbled across this thread, and read it with some interest, as we have a 750' gravel drive, uphill all the way, and with brush/banks on both sides that make pushing the snow off to the side a problem when there's more than 8-10" of it. I have posted about clearing snow using our B8200 4WD gear tractor, the 4' front bucket and 5' rear blade. My thoughts are pretty much echoing what some others have written: namely, a block heater and chains are REAL helpful. Plus, I find that using synthetic oil helps a lot when the temperature falls below freezing. I would think a snow blower, driven by a 16hp (?) PTO, wouldn't be able to do that much. I have been able to clear 3'+ snows, albeit slowly, using the bucket and blade. Pushing snow downhill is a great way to move it without getting stuck, since the weight of the tractor is helping you. I did like the idea of having a local take care of it when they have time... plus it'd make you better loved in the area.

 

[leonz]

His biggest problem is he lives off the grid
and uses solar power with a battery bank.

Thats why I suggested he sneak across the border to
Labrador Province and snag a new 32 inch Yamaha before
the dealer runs out of them by prepaying for it before it
jumps out of the shipping container and on the showroom floor.

I suggested the Yamaha simply because the initial purchase
will cost less than a 13 Horse Power BCS Two Wheel Tractor
with the 32 inch two stage snow caster.


Adding an insulated garage at the bottom may be an option but the problem is needing a generator to fire up a salamander, lights, battery charger, etc., That may be the lesser of two evils as he uses automobiles.

We can armchair quarter back until my cows come home, but he will have to decide what amount of aggravation he is will to deal with as a heavy snow caster like the Yamaha 32 inch snow blower will be a forever machine in his case.

His continued ownership of his "oasis in the storm" could justify the purchase of a Yamaha snow blower and a small trailer to tow it with for sure as the cost of ownership will be very low over time as many of the old Yamahas are still in use after 20 years.

The other side of the coin is The BCS Two Wheel Tractor or Grillo Two Wheel Tractor with the Gear Driven Berta Snow Casters as it does not have tracks which is a poor selling point in snow removal only but it does have traction with the low gearing and simplicity in design as the gearing and the all gear drive for the snow blower are plusses in its case.

You could add a riding sulky to the BCS and Grillo Two wheel tractors as standard equipment to bypass the issue of walking behind these snow blowers. The new Yamahas would require a bit of work to use a riding sulky but it would work well as the Yamaha will work quickly due to its ripping cross auger design and high speed impeller.



_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[Egon]

Thats why I suggested he sneak across the border to
Labrador Province /QUOTE]

That may be a long sneak!

 

[leonz]

Thats why I suggested he sneak across the border to
Labrador Province /QUOTE]

That may be a long sneak!

True very true Egon, but it would solve his
snow issues for many years and parts are an
overnight UPS journey for the non engine parts.

I am very sure they tested these beasts in the
Hokkaido Prefecture before they decided they
were ready for the market

_________________________________________________________________
Once you go flail you never go back:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[North Country]

I have a 2000 ft gravel drive in VT that's steep in parts, and there's no way a plow could take care of it after a few storms if you let it the snow set up. Some fluffy storms, sure - but get a 30" dump, let it sit 2 weeks, and anything that's not actively chewing the snow isn't going to move two feet, up or downhill.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I seem to recall a similar setup at a cabin in the Adirondacks we frequented when I was growing up.
Only cleared enough at the bottom of the hill to get the trucks off the road. Used snowmobiles to transport stuff and people up and down the hill.