Is this going to work?

[Catfish Man]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Catfish Man]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[nybirdman]

l Again would vote for a cab..blowing snow is not fun.Invest in pole saw for the woods.Also I would lean towards R1(Ag) tires.

 

[sixdogs]

I like the snow blower idea. Cab would help but if you are young just duct tape your sleeves and pant legs and wear a pullover face mask. You can also get a Curtis weather break thing that is not expensive and works reasonably well.
With a snow blade, I could see a problem with drifting snow and the ability to move it, since the sidea fill up first. With the blower you can blow all the snow downwind.

 

[MasseyWV]

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.

Your driveway looks about like mine. Like you, I quickly discovered that a 4x4 is not optional unless you like walking in the winter. As for snow removal, I've never really bothered with it here but we are in a lower elevation of WV and rarely get enough snow to cause many problems.

 

[Jay4200]

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.

I would suggest something bigger, especially if WV gets substantial snows (like a 6-8" or more). You are going to want to cover half of your drive with a single pass, so think 6' or (better) 7' blower, or you'll be out there all day. A B29xx is a bitty thing - I think you will be much better served with an L-framed machine. You'll need 40-45HP to move a foot of snow at a reasonable speed too. Perhaps an L4400 at least, bigger if you can. You definitely want HST for snow - I have a GST and wish I had a hydro. I have an L4200 w/ 6' blower and it is just about the right size for a 1000' drive - still takes about an hour though - longer if it is deeper than a foot. I'd want bigger if I was doing the 1/2mi. road coming in.

Also, turfs aren't a great idea unless you plan on lots of loader work - you sacrifice traction for stiff sidewalls and puncture resistance. R4s don't carry chains well either. Turfs with chains are better in the snow.

JayC

 

[Catfish Man]

Thanks Jerry/MT that's the kind of thing I was looking for, as I said I have no clue about this snow stuff.

I was wondering if I needed to go bigger, but from reading some other posts, I got the impression that a smaller tractor may handle my needs.

The biggest front mount blower for the B2920 is 61"

 

[mguitas]

I like the snow blower idea. Cab would help but if you are young just duct tape your sleeves and pant legs and wear a pullover face mask. You can also get a Curtis weather break thing that is not expensive and works reasonably well.
With a snow blade, I could see a problem with drifting snow and the ability to move it, since the sidea fill up first. With the blower you can blow all the snow downwind.

Good idea sixdogs, be like putting on a snowmobile suit an mask. Think of all the snow an wind they can take.:thumbsup:

 

[Catfish Man]

Thanks for the good info guys, I'm going to re-evaluate things, looks like I'm shopping for a bigger rig. :thumbsup:

 

[rsewill]

To be contrarian, buy your tractor based on you other needs, i.e., the main things you will be doing because deep snow tends to be an unusual event. So when the snow is deep things done that day will be done at a slower pace and often be delayed. Bigger is always better but for snow it will just mean a smaller tractor will take a bit more time.

From your photos a cab isn't needed because you can always blow with the wind except near your buildings. A snowmobile suit and helmet will do you just fine because you say a cab may be in the way for your other uses.

For those lighter snows (less than 6") get a plow for your pickup, again, based on your photos. Much, much faster and easier.

 

[Catfish Man]

In my area they are saying heavy snow is not a rare event most winters.

If I go with a larger tractor such as the L4240, the cab issue will be decided for me, adding a cab will push it out of my range.

 

[super55]

Catfishman I was just curious whats the average yearly snowfall the part where you live? I live in an area that averages 160" snowfall and can plan on winter from nov thru early april.

I have a 60" rear snowblower on an L2500 and while it has it issues mainly gear drive and no live PTO it's about the perfect size for my issues. Going larger you always sacrifice maneuverability. Personally if it were me I would go with a large B series or 30-ish L series hydrostat with a front mount blower and a poly broadcast spreader on the back. (Can use it for plotting which is a bonus) Just speaking from experience if you have blower you won't ever use the backblade except for when the snow breaks up in the spring and you want to get the slush off or fill in spring run off. The spreader works great for spreading traction materials like salt and kitty litter, Sand usually compacts too much and won't flow through unless it is extremely dry like something you would by from home depot for masonry and make sure you don't leave any in it ever in cold weather or it will freeze.

The other thing is plan on a set of chains. While ags or turfs might give you adequate traction to move they won't give you any traction trying to stop on the incline. Once the tires lock they become skis.

Cabs are great but not a necessity. Usually you can get by with minimal spray back by just angling the chute in the right direction. All I've used is a neck gaiter, Mad Bomber hat and ski goggles for the past ten years and have blown snow in below zero weather and still can't justify the additional 3500 dollars for a cab.

Lastly make sure it's something you can fit inside your garage door. Being able to get the tractor out of the elements after work is done and or a place to work on it in my opinion should always be a major consideration in a purchase.

Go test drive a few tractors keeping in mind on there turning radius and that an implement on the front and back will roughly add 5 feet of length to your tractor. If you have to handle some switchbacks you might find that smaller tractor better suits your needs. Odds are once you have your tractor your driveway will be accessible long before the county roads are. Welcome to a life in snow country my friend.

 

[Catfish Man]

On the web I'm seeing numbers of average annual snowfall from 158" to 200".

The neighbor down the hill from us showed us pictures from 2010 where they had to dig to get out the front door (snow almost to the roof line of the house). I realize that it won't be that bad all the time, but we definitely will be getting a good bit of snow. We are up in the mountains pretty good.

I'm leaning towards having more tractor than I need than not enough.

Here are some pictures I found on the net, looks like most are from 2010. All are from my immediate area from the best I can tell.