Small Tractor reco - Primarily for snowblowing long drive

[bigtiller]

I think a jd 3039R with a front mount snowblower is pretty darn nice machine for moving snow. It's a nice ride while mowing too.

 

[zzvyb6]

Snowblower on a driveway that long is very inefficient (IMHO based on plenty of experience with ALL the snow option dealings). Get a front plow. You'll be done in 15 minutes. Both directions. Occasionally move the plowed snow farther off the driveway if the accumulations build up (as is the usual counter argument).

First priority would be selecting a machine sold & serviced by local dealers. Ones less that a few miles away. If it's a five hour drive each way (as just happened on another thread) that's a poor reason to save a few thousand dollars. Get a feel for a front mower like the JD F-900 series or Ford/New Holland CM series, or Kubota with their own version of these machines. Grooming mowers in 60, 72 & 76" widths, side or rear discharge, plows, rotary brushes, (yes, even snow blowers). Diesel, 2 or 4wd, cabs, fast ground speed, extra hydraulic lines available. Wide tires that won't groove your lawn. I even run a PTO generator off of mine with a pto speed reducer. Easy to work on and adjust, steering wheel for other family members to appreciate, trailer hitches to move the boat around with, and plenty of owner support via FB 'clubs' who worship them.

Around here, a decent machine 10 -15 years old sells for $2000 - $3500 depending on what comes with it. If or when you decide to move up or down, yours will sell for what you paid for it as long as it's green, blue, orange or white.

 

[wyowy]

As an add on to the above post, I used to use an open station tractor with a 3 pt blower. Very cold, wet, and slow.

In 2009, I bought a skidsteer with an enclosed heated cab and a blower. It’s great. That would be my recommendation for snow removal.

I do my driveway and my neighbor’s - very large country driveways.

 

[GeneralEclectic]

Did you consider Ventrac?

 

[pacosperson]

It looks like I will be moving to a farm in December (fingers crossed). The drive to the house is about 500m(canuck measure) or 0.3 miles(freedom units). I want to get a small tractor that will be multipurpose, but #1 job would be to clear the drive in the winter.
What are some good ones to look at?

Cheers!

My experience: For snow under 4 inches you need a power angle plow. Over that you need a front drive snow blower. And four wheel drive AND chains.

 

[TractorTYMe]

For Canada I would not be doing snow removal without a cab? Maybe a tractor with a cab and a pull type snowblower? I have a Canadian MK Martin Meteor SB68 P/T on my 2019 Korean made TYM T474 HST.

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

Did you consider Ventrac?

A Ventrac 4500Y (with 25-hp Kubota Diesel engine) was exactly the path that I took, after receiving a lot of good advice in this forum (especially from Jack W.). I have never regretted it.

I have the HB580 rotary-broom attachment and the KX523 snowblower attachment to deal with snow.

I have the MC600 60-inch rear-discharge mowing-deck attachment to deal with grass.

All of the attachments attach to the front of the tractor. No need to get under the tractor or to crane one's neck with a rear-mounted blower.

A cab is available if one wants protection from the elements.

Below is a picture of me blowing snow on my Ventrac, dating from February 21, 2015, just shy of two months after I acquired the machine. Also below are pictures of my son getting the hang of using the rotary broom. The latter photos date from a few days earlier... February 17, 2015. The Ventrac earned its keep that Winter (and since then)!

 

[beenthere]

It looks like I will be moving to a farm in December (fingers crossed). The drive to the house is about 500m(canuck measure) or 0.3 miles(freedom units). I want to get a small tractor that will be multipurpose, but #1 job would be to clear the drive in the winter.
What are some good ones to look at?

Cheers!

Tractor with a front mounted snowplow blade. Ditch the snowblower idea for that length of drive. 32hp cut would be my suggestion with a 7' blade.

 

[Yander]

For a drive as long as you're talking and up in Canada, cab tractor for sure.

It's one thing if you have a driveway that it's small and you can go out there for 15 minutes and knock it out.

As long as yours is and especially if you go with a blower you're going to be out there a while and you're going to freeze your keister off.

No cab, you will dread when it's going to snow but if you have a cab you will smile when it's going to snow.

Also, as for a plow or a blower, you need to ask yourself does the snow melt during the winter season.
If you have snow that stays on all winter you need a blower otherwise you will have snow that you cannot get rid of and run out
of places to plow it.

Here in Ohio, for the most part, we get snow and then it all melts, more snow and then it all melts again. This is why you see a lot of snow blades here.

Personally if I were asking advice about snow removal I would only ask locals. Those are the people who experience the weather you're about to experience.

 

[John Joseph McVeigh]

A Ventrac 4500Y (with 25-hp Kubota Diesel engine) was exactly the path that I took, after receiving a lot of good advice in this forum (especially from Jack W.). I have never regretted it.

I have the HB580 rotary-broom attachment and the KX523 snowblower attachment to deal with snow.

I have the MC600 60-inch rear-discharge mowing-deck attachment to deal with grass.

All of the attachments attach to the front of the tractor. No need to get under the tractor or to crane one's neck with a rear-mounted blower.

A cab is available if one wants protection from the elements.

Below is a picture of me blowing snow on my Ventrac, dating from February 21, 2015, just shy of two months after I acquired the machine. Also below are pictures of my son getting the hang of using the rotary broom. The latter photos date from a few days earlier... February 17, 2015. The Ventrac earned its keep that Winter (and since then)!

P.S. – My driveway is ~ 500 metres long.