Snow Equipment Buying/Pricing No snow experience

[4shorts]

If there is really no other use for a tractor an old beater truck with a plow may be a solution.

Amen to that :thumbsup:

 

[lostcause]

i plowed my drive at my old house for 10 years with the 5' bucket on my jd770. the very first couple of years i got it done by a truck with a plow, which didn't work well. i used to work nights and i remember getting a call from my father one night after a big storm and power outage. he told me he had good news and bad news. the good news was that my power was back on. the bad was that he had plowed my driveway and slid off the edge of the drive and was stuck against the side of the garage. another time my uncle swung by and plowed me out. i had to pull him back into the drive with my truck too. the drive was quite steep and always got very icy when things melted. a tractor was the best way to do it.

ideally, nothing will beat a tractor with a snowblower. you never have banks to worry about. the driveway won't "shrink" as the year goes on. there won't be any pesky unmelted banks hanging on into may. i moved three years ago and now have a much larger and flatter drive. i also maintain a relative's drive next door. with 10+ years of tractor plowing i believe i am qualified to say that while it is probably the most effective way to move snow, it is far from the most efficient. after a big storm it took me almost 4 hours to plow both drives and then shovel out all the walkways and doors. i was also very cold and wet by the time i was done.

i already owned a 2001 gmc 1 ton dump i had bought used a few years back. it had originally had a plow on it, but it was not included when i bought it. i was unable to find a decent condition used plow for it at a price i considered reasonable (i'm cheap). i ended up buying two plow setups and then a bunch of new and used plow parts and cobbled together the correct plow for my truck. this spring i sold off the remainder of the leftover parts, and i ended up having around $750 in a 9' fisher minute mount hd plow. it took me a lot of hours of cleaning, painting, pounding, and welding, but it's all together now. 45 minutes to plow and shovel out both places now. only problem is i have to open the window in the truck cause it gets too hot inside. if the driveway permits, and you have room to pile the snow, a truck with a plow is so much nicer to work with.

if you are going to have to buy a new plow, even for a 1/2 ton, some of them can cost around $5000. you may be able to get a usable light duty one much cheaper though. i have no clue what is available out there in your area. any wear comes from extended use. plowing your drive a few times a year will probably be less abusive that traveling some back roads. also, all the new plows i have seen are "minute mount" types, meaning that they connect and disconnect very quickly and easily. when done you can drop the entire plow (minus a bracket under the front bumper, and electronics under the hood) in a couple of minutes and head wherever you want without the bulk of a plow in the way.

 

[jbarker855]

Very well said Lostcause.

 

[crazyal]

I am a statistics guy.
If I have to spend time in the truck doing 3 passes a night...and it takes a total of 2 hours, and then it piles up and I have nowhere to push it... is it faster in the long run?

If I have a tractor with a blower and I can stay nice and cozy in the house by the fire until 6 am where I spend an hour or so, would that be the same?

With a blower, there is now snow pile to worry about.

J

Here's a statistic (made up by me but I think it's pretty close). For every large dumping of snow that will require several passes with a truck I get about 10 couple inch dustings that require a quick zip down then back up the driveway in second gear. I'm usually done just as the truck is just getting warmed up.

So my vote is still to get both and never sweat it. Besides having a 1000ft driveway means you have land and tractors are always a nice thing to own when you have land.

 

[BeeferMan]

If I had unlimited barn space and unlimited funds, then I'd have a truck with a plow and a tractor with a cab and a blower. Unfortunately I'm forced to make choices. I can plow my driveway in a lot less time than it would take to blow it. I do make a pass when it gets a foot deep or so that I might not have to make with a blower, but I'd make that pass anyway mainly to keep access open.

With the trip edge on the Fisher plow, I can push up a pretty good banking, but if the bankings get to be too close, which they typically do at least once a year, then I'll go out with the loader and push them back. But I do that in the light of day when th skies are blue and the sun is shining warm! :thumbsup:

I also have barns and hay storage a ways down the road that require some plowing, not a good trip to make in a snowstorm on the tractor. And I plow out my hay partner in trade for some labor in the summer - that requires about a 10 minute drive in the truck, or about 30 minutes full speed on the tractor in good weather - not a trip I'd even consider in a storm.

So for my needs, the truck and plow is a necessity, maybe when I hit the lottery the blower will show up!

 

[Inland NW]

Thanks all for your input. Spoke to more local people who claim truck with plow is better up here (Spokane) than tractor with blower on gravel driveway. If I had unlimited money, I would have both, but I will have get the truck plow and hope for the best. Thanks agin for all the responses.

 

[flyingcow]

The locals will know

 

[Inland NW]

In case anybody cares---we got a record snowfall for Novemeber (2010) here in Spokane 26.5 inches. I ended up buying a used Chevy 3/4 ton with a plow on it. It works great. My friend's tractor broke down and he borrowed my plow truck during one of our snow dumps. He called me while I was working (rotating 12 hour shifts) and asked to borrow my plow truck. In return he would plow my drive for me. His brother (who lives with him) is very mechanical and fixed a recent hydraulic problem on the plow truck because I had helped them out in their time of need. We have a verbal mutual aid agreement for future snow issues. I love how helpful people are in the "country". Still wish I had money to buy a tractor with blower or a walk behind snow blower, but you always seem to make due with what you have.

 

[beenthere]

Wish you good luck loaning your plow truck out.

And you are right, people in the country are very helpful. Have learned that over the 40+ years living in the country.

 

[Thomas]

"Novemeber (2010) here in Spokane 26.5 inches"

Sure hope Dec. will show mercy on you.

Person word or hand shake can lead to good relationship..pass it on to others.

 

[RadarTech]

Wish you good luck loaning your plow truck out.

And you are right, people in the country are very helpful. Have learned that over the 40+ years living in the country.

Normally true.. But from time to time we all experience those "special" neighbors.... Who you would not wish even on the dastardly evil former "friends"

I have one like that... And many good neighbors...

 

[RadarTech]

Person word or hand shake can lead to good relationship..pass it on to others.

Kinda like that movie "pay it forward"

Most will pass good deeds on.....

 

[Don87]

In case anybody cares---we got a record snowfall for Novemeber (2010) here in Spokane 26.5 inches. I ended up buying a used Chevy 3/4 ton with a plow on it. It works great. My friend's tractor broke down and he borrowed my plow truck during one of our snow dumps. He called me while I was working (rotating 12 hour shifts) and asked to borrow my plow truck. In return he would plow my drive for me. His brother (who lives with him) is very mechanical and fixed a recent hydraulic problem on the plow truck because I had helped them out in their time of need. We have a verbal mutual aid agreement for future snow issues. I love how helpful people are in the "country". Still wish I had money to buy a tractor with blower or a walk behind snow blower, but you always seem to make due with what you have.

Tickles the crap out of me:cool2:

Usually I get 30 inches or more, and the 'lowlanders' say..........."snow, what snow".....or "wow, sucks to be you"

I still don't have enough snow to justify putting the blower on

 

[tburk49760]

I live in the Spokane area and winters here can get crazy. Two years ago, a truck with a plow wouldn't have cut the mustard. Usually, not the case though. I struggled with finding the best solution and settled on a bx24 with front blower and front blade. This setup works fairly well. My road is 1000' gravel as well. In partly treeless area so drifting is a problem. I solved the rock in blower issue by fabricating taller shoes for the blower. The blade will move most of the gravel off the road unless I keep it off the deck til the road freezes. So I end up using the blade til the banks get too high or the road gets too narrow ( the first blade sessions I plow way wide). Then I use the blower. I was disappointed by the slow speeds while using the blower but is is necessary when the snow really gets deep. A cab would be nice but not required for me. I wear a snowsuit and facemask and do alright. Glad you found a solution that works for you. I recommend plowing way wide in case we get a real heavy snow year.

 

[RoyJackson]

We don't care

"We"? You got a mouse in your pocket, lad?