Is this going to work?

Catfish Man · Feb 6, 2012

I'm new to the forum, new to snow country but not new to tractors.

I grew up on a farm, drove tractors before cars. I currently own half of a Ford 1715 but it is 1000 miles away. I have no experience with hydrostatics, but from reading and talking to people, I think that's the way I want to head.

I recently moved to West Virginia from the deep south. I will need something to move snow with before next winter. This year we had a deal with the gentleman we bought the house from for snow removal, but he has health issues so he will not be able to do it next year. Which is really fine with me, because I had rather be independent anyway.

I understand that this has been a very mild winter, I'm told I need to get prepared to move lots of snow. I'm up in the mountains near ski resorts and such. I have about 1/2 mile of gravel driveway between me and the county road, parts of it are pretty steep.

I'm planning on getting a Kubota B2920, with a front mounted blower, loaded R-4's with chains and I will have a rear blade for days when the snow is not deep enough to blow.

wcampbell47 · Feb 6, 2012

Don't know anything about snow removal. I have a B3200 hydrostatic and think you are definitely on the right track there. Really enjoy the hydro as compared to my gear tractor.

Congrats on a beautiful property.

Never having lived in snow country I was surprised reading other forums about night work lights and removing snow in the wee hours of the morning. Something you may check into or be prepared to do.

Catfish Man · Feb 6, 2012

Yeah I've already thought about the night-time / early morning aspect of it. I'm away from home for work a lot, so my teenage boys will need to be clearing the driveway during the early morning hours so my wife can get out to go to work.

That's one of the reason's I decided to go with the front mount. If it was just me, I would go with a rear mount, and keep the bucket on the front.

Thomas · Feb 6, 2012

You may want to consider cab w/heat,have you notice what others have for tractor setup.

Catfish Man · Feb 6, 2012

I'm considering a cab, but I think it would limit visibility. My boys are not experienced tractor operators, I want to keep the learning curve as low as possible for them. Also I'm an avid hunter, as soon as I get some more property I will be planting food plots in the deep woods, cab is a hindrance for that.

I have been trying to pay attention to what others in the areas are using. But since it's been a mild winter most folks haven't brought out their heavy snow equipment.

Also my driveway is way steeper than any of the neighbors.
I'm trying to purchase some additional property beside me so I can wind the driveway through it, but that may fall through.

The closest neighbor is using a 4 wheel drive 30hp tym, with a loader and blade, I haven't seen him with a blower, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have one tucked away somewhere. This is my first winter here.

Catfish Man · Feb 6, 2012

I know it's hard to tell how steep the driveway is in the pictures, but the second picture is a 2-wheel drive 1/2 ton chevy pickup. It's from the first day the wife went out to the house, that's as far as she could make it up the hill.

I have since upgraded her to an AWD, and one of the boys drives the truck now. He can make it up the hill fine (with several hundred pounds of ballast in the bed) when it's not snowing. But if it's snowing or icy he has to park down by that light pole.

jdtractor · Feb 6, 2012

Hi I would definetly buy the cab , you wont regret it. I live in southwestern pa. and have a few snow plowing contracts, as well as a farm. I never thought anything about cab tractors when i didnt have them. After I upgraded to a cab machine , I wish I had done it alot sooner in my life. The difference is well worth the price. Im not trying to spend your money, just offering an insight as to why a cab tractor might benefit you. The weather protection is 100% better be it cold ,wind, rain ,snow, sun ,heat etc......................You will find the weather , and added comfort are nice. I been there , done that! just my 0.02cts have a good 1!

Catfish Man · Feb 6, 2012

There is no doubt a cab tractor would be nice for snowblowing, and I found a good deal on a B3030 with a cab about 4 hours from me.

But I don't think a cab is gonna work in some of the places I expect a tractor to fit.

thanks for the suggestions,
keep em coming

Jerry/MT · Feb 6, 2012

Catfish Man said:
I'm new to the forum, new to snow country but not new to tractors.

I grew up on a farm, drove tractors before cars. I currently own half of a Ford 1715 but it is 1000 miles away. I have no experience with hydrostatics, but from reading and talking to people, I think that's the way I want to head.

I recently moved to West Virginia from the deep south. I will need something to move snow with before next winter. This year we had a deal with the gentleman we bought the house from for snow removal, but he has health issues so he will not be able to do it next year. Which is really fine with me, because I had rather be independent anyway.

I understand that this has been a very mild winter, I'm told I need to get prepared to move lots of snow. I'm up in the mountains near ski resorts and such. I have about 1/2 mile of gravel driveway between me and the county road, parts of it are pretty steep.

I'm planning on getting a Kubota B2920, with a front mounted blower, loaded R-4's with chains and I will have a rear blade for days when the snow is not deep enough to blow.

That's nice looking country in your pictures.

If you have a 1/2 mile of road and it's about 12 ft wide, you'll need to move roughly 1200 cu yards of snow for every one foot of snow fall to clear that road. Even if you only have to move 2/3's of that to be able to get a car out,that's still ~ 900 cu yards for a one foot snow fall. How big of a blower can you mount on a B2920?

If I were trying to do what you want you want to do, I would be looking at something that could power a 6 foot blower as a minimum and that's probably something with 35-40 hp at the pto, not the 21 hp of a B2920.

We have a 7 foot blower on a Ford 4610 with 46 hp at the 540 rpm pto and have a bit over a quarter mile of lanes with gentle grades on our ranch that I clear. In dry snow we can clear those lanes in about an hour and a half. In wet snow, it takes a bit longer, maybe 2-1/2 hrs. optionally we can hook that lower to our feeding tractor which has 80 hp at the pto. It's set up for feeding with a bale spinner on the back and a bale spear on the FEL and I have to feed everyday so the it's nice to do that with a cab when you're as long in the tooth as I am. So the blower is relegated to the open station, lowered power tractor that clears the lanes in a reasonable ammount of time for an old duffer like me.

Your taking on a tougher task then our situation, (longer lane, steeper grades, and less time because someone needs to get to work at a certain time) and expecting to do it with a smaller tractor. in my opinion, you need to re-think your tractor purchase and, if you have decided on a Kubota, consider getting the L-series for your purposes. I'd really look strongly at a cab tractor. If you've never blown snow before, you're in for a surprise!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.