Snow Attachments Reality Check before I get a snow blower

   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower #21  
It depends....

Where I live in Minnesota, we get 40-60 inches of snow all winter, we get prairie winds, and the snow does not go away until the end of February.

'Here' I need a blower to keep my driveway & farm yard clear. I problably do 2000' of driveway & pathes in the yard.

Before I bought the blower, dad had me do it with a rear blade. That took _forever_. The problem was, it made ridges & piles where I stacked the snow. Anytime anyone sneezed, it makes a strong wind here, and the snow would fill the driveway 2' deep with drifting snow.

I was out there a couple hours every day, whether it snowed or not. This was on a cabless tractor.

I got the 7' 3pt blower, put it on the 85hp tractor with cab, and was in heaven. When I blow the snow away, it goes away. The ridges on the side of the driveway stay 6-12" high, so far less drifting and far less snow to move. Because remember, _here_ when it snows in November, that same snow is still there in mid-February, with lots more added. It does not go away.

Now I put the 7' blower on my NH 1720 (a 27 hp 4wd with bucket, no cab) and blow with that. Much more manuverable, tho the blower is a little big for the tractor. In really bad conditions I'd need to put the big tractor on it again. And I get done quick enough that the cabless part isn't bad.

I do not like front mount snowblowers, as they weigh more, cost more, have more parts to break, and put a lot of weight & stress on the front axle instead of the rear. Now, a small front mount on a compact with 4wd & a front pto is a different story - I can see that, but would not be enough blower for me.

Now, that is _my_ needs. You couldn't give me a plow on a truck, worthless - for my needs.

There in Oregon, I suspect the snow is wet & slushy a lot of times, you don't have the wind drift problems, and the snow will melt away for you from time to time, only need to deal with new snowfalls?

In _those_ conditions I bet a plow on a truck makes a lot more sense. Snowblowers don't like wet slushy snow. They don't like gravel driveways that aren't frozen solid. And they are slow in light snowfall conditions.

--->Paul
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower #22  
I clocked a mile last night on my road. I wouldn't be doing a tractor mounted blower in that distance without a cab. My vote is the truck and plow
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower #23  
Just to throw in my $0.02...everytime I mention a snowblower for the tractor, my wife reminds me that we currently get the drive plowed by the guy down the street for $35 a pop (550' driveway), and he plows 6 - 12 times a season..so at that rate, we can go some years before we approach the cost of a new snowblower...and without lifting a finger. Still, I kind of want the new toy.
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower #24  
<font color="blue"> we can go some years before we approach the cost of a new snowblower </font>

That's just part of the equation though - you also have to take into account relying on someone else to do it (ie: what if he's sick, gets in an accident, etc) and if they are doing it when necessary (do they just come once a day, even if there's alot of snow or drifting later in the day?).

I stuck a plow on my truck because it's so much quicker, easier, and warmer. If I get drifting here and there on the driveway, I just drop the plow and it's gone; no more thinking to myself "should I start up the tractor and get all bundled up to clear it now when it will just drift over again in a few hours".
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower
  • Thread Starter
#25  
Wow! This is such a great thread! So many good responses, and finally some from Minnesota (I can really respect snow-related opinions from there) and Canada. Rambler really had some good points: Yes, the snow here can often be wet and slushy. Often, we get new snow, deal with it, and it all melts. We are okay until the next storm. I have started looking for a plow. The ones I have seen (on glossy flyers) can be mounted on a truck or a tractor. It would just cost more money to put it on the truck.

I gotta thank you all. I now have the bennefit of a lot of knowledge -- which would take a long time to accumulate by myself. Still, a few hours of experience would sure be nice to have.
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower #26  
Hi Colestin,

I too, am new here and from OR and have been following this thread with interest. I don't have a TLB yet but snow blowing is one of my primary tasks that I anticipate needing.

However, after discussing this thread with a backhoe heavyweight where I work, I got a surpise. He has seen my place (with a circle driveway totaling about 200 ft) and he had some very good advice.

He said for that much driveway, and even for a couple of rental properties, just use the loader buc... er, I mean the FEL! (huh? huh? pretty cagey huh?)

Especially since I mentioned that it would be a nice service to offer tenants, cleaning up their driveways once a week or so. He said that the snow blowers don't do nearly as well after the snow has been driven over.

That conversation probably saved me a bunch of $$, although now that I've stubled upon this site, I'd probably either have read this first, or started my own 'reality check' thread.

Good question, but perhaps more importantly, some great insights from some experienced snow movers!

Thanks all,
Bill~
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower #27  
If you are not getting a lot of snow <6" a snowfall. Why not a backblade? Around 230.00 for a light 6 foot, you can plow to either side, run in high range, both ways and push to one side. If it does pile up then you still have the FEL on to move the pile. With a 6 foot you will probably have to make 3 passes, If your tractor will handle it, get a 7'.

I plow forward. Everyone told me I would have to push backward, but the JD850 wouldnt do it uphill, it pulls great, doesnt push real well though. I can roll it to one side and then spin the blade and back the snow away from the edge of the drive.

I have around 260' and FEL and backblade is my choice. If I get more than 12 inches, then I will use the FEL until I get a hole blown through the snow, then back to the blade. Here 6 is pretty common, 8-10 not uncommon, and 12+ not unheard of.
 
   / Reality Check before I get a snow blower
  • Thread Starter
#28  
Yep, Tallguy, seems like the blower is not gonna happen. But since my road is more than a mile long, a plow might still be in order. Rear blade would handle it in a light year, but when we get 3 feet? Maybe not. I would like to make a trip to Dave's Tractors in Red Bluff, CA. Even if it's just to meet Dave.

This is gonna be fun!
 

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