Snow Equipment Buying/Pricing Loader Mount Snowblower - experience??

[leonz]

This late in the year you should
plan on visiting Art quickly and
purchasing a Grand L with a cab
snow chains, loaded tires,
2 rear remotes, and a 74 inch or
wider rear mount Pronovost type
2 snow caster.

The Hydro Transmission of a Grand L
will allow you to travel in reverse quickly
in the comfort of the cab with rear and
front work lights for night work.

If you can purchase the upgraded
seat that swivels you willnot be uncomfortable
backing while running the snow caster.

You would be money ahead using a rear blade for
a Grand L for the small snow falls as the tractor
has four wheel drive.

I live in the fingerlakes region and we also get our
share of "weather".



_________________________________________________________________
Pronovost or not at all!!!:thumbsup::licking::drool:

 

[PILOON]

I made my own front mount.
48" bervak 2 stage that was too narrow for my tractor so I created ears that duplicated the loader bucket ears and simply pinned the blower in lieu of the bucket.
Then mounted a 16 hp c/w sprockets and chain plus a chain tensioner.
It even had a 12 volt starter so I could start up only when I reached the destination.
Worked like a charm (until I got carried away and found an old starter that completely trashed my blower. Unknown was the fact that previous owner never greased the auger and it was so rusted that it blew the gear box.)

I replaced with a 60" rear conventional blower and fabricated a 60" front plow for smaller events.

 

[SafetyLady]

Thanks for the input from all. Unfortunately it seems that GRSTHEGREAT is the only person who purchased one and has not had an opportunity to use it yet. Would love to hear about your experience when you get to use it.

As a follow up to some of the questions posted for me - this location has been a weekend property for me for 7 years now so unfortunately I have seen the end of my driveway completely plowed in (over 3-4ft generally) by the town plow trucks after any decent snow. It also ends adjacent to a large horse pasture so considerable drifts are a challenge as well.

For cost reasons we are leaning toward a bucket and rear mounted snow blower. We have a plow truck and will likely keep it for another year to see how things go. I would love a skid steer and would prefer it for snow removal but don't have the funds for both a tractor and skid steer.

I am dreading blowing snow for 2000' in reverse and then turning around to dig out the end of the drive but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks again for all of the feedback.

 

[oldnslo]

If you are purchasing the tractor make sure you test out your comfort and or ability to look over your shoulder and operate the tractor and related equipment while backing up. If you do go with front mount blower I would suggest getting front wheel assist since a large portion of the weight is now on the front wheels.

Roy

 

[leonz]

Thanks for the input from all. Unfortunately it seems that GRSTHEGREAT is the only person who purchased one and has not had an opportunity to use it yet. Would love to hear about your experience when you get to use it.

As a follow up to some of the questions posted for me - this location has been a weekend property for me for 7 years now so unfortunately I have seen the end of my driveway completely plowed in (over 3-4ft generally) by the town plow trucks after any decent snow. It also ends adjacent to a large horse pasture so considerable drifts are a challenge as well.

For cost reasons we are leaning toward a bucket and rear mounted snow blower. We have a plow truck and will likely keep it for another year to see how things go. I would love a skid steer and would prefer it for snow removal but don't have the funds for both a tractor and skid steer.

I am dreading blowing snow for 2000' in reverse and then turning around to dig out the end of the drive but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks again for all of the feedback.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


What make you think you have to dig out the driveway entrance?

Speed is not the issue, the power required for the job is what the issue is for you.


A lot of folks have B3030's with front mounted snow casters that operate in deep snow. The front mounts simply cost more to own.



Traveling in reverse at:

One mile per hour you are traveling at 88 feet per minute and covering 2000 feet will require 23 minutes to make one pass in reverse.

Two miles per hour is 176 feet per minute and will require 11 minutes to make one pass with the snow caster.

Three miles per hour is 264 feeet per mimute and will require 8 minutes (rounde higher) to make one pass with the snow caster.

4 miles per hour is 352 feet per minute and will require 6 minutes (rounded higher) to make one pass with the snow caster.


The larger the row crop tractor you have the less time it will take you to use a snow caster.



A hydraulic snow caster on a front mounted loader or for that matter a skid steer loader will requre more time and you loose efficiency due to the hydraulic motor and the pump that feeds the motors for the snow caster
impeller.


You are limited in the amount of snow clearing ability with front mounted hydraulic snow caster due to the smaller square area of the cross auger and the smaller impeller of a hydraulic snow caster.




For the price of a skid steer and an underpowered snow caster you would be better of buying a used row crop tractor with 70 plus horse power and a 6-7 foot rear mounted snow caster from Art White.

You do not have to dread casting snow in reverse, A lot of folks do it every year. The use of a row crop tractor with an hydrostatic transmission allows you to do it as the operators seat swivels in most models and allows you to look at what your doing easily. Some of the folks depend on the mirrors they have mounted on the tractor completely and have no issues as they see the entire work area with the mirrors. Some of the members have back up cameras, I have two of them mounted front and rear and it makes my life that much easier as the cameras provide a wide field of view.


You need a pair of steering knobs to aid you in doing this job and many of us have them mounted on our tractors and it aids considerably in backing and reducing fatigue while operating a rear mounted implement including snow casters.

You could have the best of both worlds by purchasing a utility tractor with a Mid Mount PTO and purchase a rear mounted snow caster with a front mounted three point hitch to run a bigger snow caster up front.



Another option is renting an unused tractor from a neighbor if possible and buying large enough snow caster for the snow blower. Most large row crop tractors have two or three rear remotes that can handle operating the hydraulic chute and spout cylinders on a rear mounted snow caster with no problem.

There are a lot of good used farm tractors for sale nationwide.

 

[Redneck in training]

Here is one for you. Front mounted mid PTO driven. T273 Snow Blower

or rear PTO driven

http://www.fastline.com/v100/listings.aspx?Manufacturer=Erskine

Scroll almost to the bottom of the page. There is one located in Sharon Springs, NY. Tel.: 518-284-2090

 

[dstig1]

Some tractors with mid PTOs cna drive a front mounted snowblower. I know Kubota's Grand L series can. I'm also pretty sure you can add the mid-PTO at the dealer if it didn't come from the factory that way (doesn't require a whole different tranny or anything like that). While they are still more expensive than rear mounts, they are a lot less than front mounts like Grsgreats that require an additional hydraulic pump to run them.

I can't comment on other brands that I don't know about, but I'm sure Kubota can't be the only one that does this.

Here ya go:
http://www.kubota.com/product/L40/pdf/gl40_series_others.pdf

 

[wallace]

Okay...May I put my 2 cents in please...
A loader mounted snowblower......Most all of your compact tractors have plenty of gallons per minute to run a blower off their hydraulic system. The problem lies in the fact that their hydraulic fluid capacity (fluid reservior) does not contain enough fluid for cooling. See a skid steer has aprox 20 gallons on board and a compact tractor aprox 8 gallons. So the fluid has no time to cool. The heat that is created will eventually kill you tractors hydraulic system.
That is why manufactures of blowesr are offering 3 piont hitch mounted tanks. They even have them with electric cooling fans mounted to the side of the tanks.
I know of some people that do use a loader mounted snowblower with out a resevior tanks but they are only doing small areas. I did not sell these and would not sell a set up like that.

Okay so my solution to the OP.
Look into a Bobcat tractor....Right now you can buy any of the Bobcat tractors and get a free front mounted snowblower!!! Yes that's right a FREE SNOWBLOWER! that over $6,500 BUCKS! FREE!
This is a front frame mounted snowblower driven by the mid pto.
So buy a new tractor w/the loader and you can get a free blower. Now you have the best of both worlds!:thumbsup:

 

[Ford850]

You might be better served with a plow on the front and a snow blower mounted on the rear 3 pt. hitch. Purchasing both new would still be way cheaper than a front mount blower. Plus a plow would be faster on smaller storms. Worth checking into.

This is exactly what I suggest too. Buy a good quality quick attach hydraulic front blade for the FEL. I have one and can push piles over 6' easily. You will be able to cruise down the length of the drive and roll snow off to either side. You can also push the snow back from the entrance if needed. Also buy a rear snow blower for the really bad days and for the entrance. I don't have a blower and there are some days that I could use one, but I have yet to have a storm I couldn't handle with my FEL plow and heavy ballast.

 

[art]

We have just relocated from Long Island to Central NY. We have a 2000' long driveway located on a 90 degree curve where snow can pile quite high due to snow drifts and town plow trucks.

We are looking at 45-50hp tractors and have been inquiring about loader mounted snow blowers. The prices of loader mount snow blowers are steep ($9-13K) and the dealers near me don't have alot of experience with them. Can anyone provide first hand experience?

Thanks!

With what you are saying let me input a little from my years in living in a 150 plus inch area. With a blower you don't make banks!!! When a blower clears and it doesn't make banks the snow doesn't build up near the driveways! The snowplows for the road can bechanged by clearing the snow away prior to the driveway. With the open pasture area that to would not bother you as much with a blower as you would not have the banks to blow the snow in as deep as!

With a blade you make taller banks, the snow blows in and will fill to the top of the banks, with a blower you don't have that issue.

My own driveway is quite large, although the entrance is onl about 150 foot long, it then goes six cars wide about three cars deep. With a blower I can do fine all snow season, with most loader about February I have to come in with a larger unit to push it back to make more room!

To say that you need the horsepower you are requesting is saying that you want to stay with a 72" plus blower which might be good for only doing two passes and being done.