recommendations on tractor for snowplow Business

[JasonMac]

I would use a tractor for what jobs you are describing in a heartbeat. I used a John Deere 4200, with Jodale Perry Cab and Snowblower, and Loader. (I actually just sold it) This type of setup was perfect for doing what you are describing... Granted you don't have to have a Jodale Perry Cab.. A Soft side cab will do the trick for a lot less money, But it was nice to have both the loader and a rear snowblower. They just seemed to work hand in hand when it came to snow.. good thing about the blower is, it could totally eliminate any snow bankings. Good thing about the loader is it could peel any packed snow you will have to deal with. If you go with this type of set up... don't cheap out on not getting a hydraulic snow chute for your snowblower.. Because you won't have to leave your cab at all. Which is very nice... The only downfall with a tractor is (like everybody else mentioned is distance). But this is not the case for your situation.. A 3320 would be awesome, or comparable machine. I am in the same situation as you, lots of driveways close to each other... so I now have a 3720 Factory Cab coming, with 300cx Loader and 74" Rad Blizzard Snowblower with Hydraulic Chute... Now I'm not saying you need this machine, because it costs more than what you want to spend... but basically the same setup... It will work great weather if you go green or orange or blue.. give it some thought...

 

[ruglad03835]

I'll take a tractor over a truck anyday. Back in the mid to late 80's I helped my uncle with his driveways. I used my 1050 Deere with the frame mounted blade. I had a weather brake on the tractor to protect me from the elements. Granted he could get from driveway to driveway quicker but I could plow circles around his truck in the driveway. The customers liked the fact I could clear snow away from their garage doors with the blade better than a truck.

 

[keeney]

Its a little different situation - commercial parking lot vs. residential driveway, but I noticed that all the Home Depot stores around here each have a large John Deere 4WD tractor (I didn't note the model) with large front-mounted snow blade of the non-angling type sitting in their parking lots on standby to clear snow from their parking lots.

Based on HD's extreme cost-control philosophy, I would imagine that its probably the cheapest possible setup to get the job done.

- Rick

 

[TimberXX]

It seems like alot of you commercial guys use rear mounted blowers. If you use it commerically why not front mounted. Do you find the backwards thing to not be that bad? are they more relaible?

 

[daTeacha]

In the situation under consideration, I'd think a rear box blade, coupled with the FEL and having the driveways marked would be just about perfect. You could back the box up to the garage door, drive down to the street, then use the bucket to pile the snow off the road or back the blade into your drag and push it off. The city will appreciate it if you don't just spread the plow wash along the street, or worse, just leave the pile there like some idiots do.

 

[ctc1111]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( but I noticed that all the Home Depot stores around here each have a large John Deere 4WD tractor (I didn't note the model) with large front-mounted snow blade of the non-angling type sitting in their parking lots on standby to clear snow from their parking lots.

Based on HD's extreme cost-control philosophy, I would imagine that its probably the cheapest possible setup to get the job done.

- Rick )</font>


I'm not sure but I think a lot of home depots and lowes and wal marts contract their plowing out and a company will come and leave the machines there. Again not sure but i think thats what happens with a lot of them.

What about a skid steer loader?

 

[PILOON]

I personally do a mere 12 drives with both a 3/4ton 4x4 and 8' fisher and a cut with FEL and 5' blower.
This is a quasi commercial operation as 4 drives are mine and the others are to offset expenses.

However that has me in a very 'snow remouval awareness mode'

In the suburba I have a friend that operates 8 blower tractors in a door to door situation.
All are leased for 1/2 year and shared with farmers in the summer and all have rear forward facing blowers.
He backs up the the garage door, drops the blower and drives out. Done!, Next! With that setup he manages an average of 150 drives per tractor.

I am in a more rural situation where there is a fair amount of travel involved.
I use truck for speed and tractor every 3-4th time for snowbank control.

A buddy who has been doing snow for about 20 years and tried every combination and make of tractor/ truck has ended up with following as the ultimate:
Largest Kubota hydrostatic with cab and FEL with rear HD blower. (sorry, don't know mod#)
The hydrostatic allows absolute control over the blowing speed ,fast when light snow and slow when it tends to bog with FEL for dense snow banks and final garage door back scraping.
The particular model in high, travels at a respectable speed for effiency of displacement.
This combo allows him to do about 60 drives per machine spread over about 4 miles or so with a variety of drives ranging from 200ft to 1500ft.

Another very common rural setup is large (like 80-100hp) with frame mounted 8ft fisher plow and rear 7' blower.
These rigs always have optional creaping gear installed.
For cost reasons the common makes are generally Zettor or Belarus.

Our large parking lots generally have an old 6wheel dumper that has a huge 12' push blade with side wings and cast concrete weight for traction.
These trucks are unliscenced (legal as they operate only on private property) and dedicated to the particular lot.
Naturally by spring time there is one huge pile of snow off to one side.