Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow clearing with a SCUT.

[Camo]

Well, I'll give it a try, and use the quad to help it up the driveway if needed.

 

[KubotaSam]

I have a B7100 with a FEL. I have a very steep driveway. I will use my tractor with chains on all 4 tires when I don't think my 4 wheel drive truck will plow. I use the tractor many times when I think the truck will get stuck pushing through the huge bank the town truck leaves at the end of my drive. Also if we ge just a few inches of snow with a rain crust on the top I will loose control of the truck going down. The tractor does just fine. It is much slower than the truck. But it is much faster than shoveling out a stuck truck.

 

[jbrumberg]

KubotaSam:

I would be careful using chains on all 4's on pavement and/or hard surfacces. With MFWD there needs to be some "slip" in the front differential for turning, etc. Chains on all 4's on dirt, gravel, and mud is probably ok. Jay

 

[Camo]

He probably gets enough slip with chain on concrete as chains do slip a little as they work.

Maybe......

 

[Egon]

I also use chains on all four wheels on my Kubota B7100. It surely helps in the traction department.

 

[jbrumberg]

I have "spun" my R-1's a couple of times last winter. I've been lucky so far. I admit that I have had to use my FEL and "crab" out of a few situations a couple of times . Jay

 

[sperry]

I have used a Honda to plow the driveway and it works but it's no fun.
I mostly plow using V-Bar chains on my 7610hst for grip but also safety, my driveway has a good steep grade that can be less then safe without the grip of chains. I think if the tractor is used properly chains can make snow plowing easier on the machine rather than not having chains. Having to be more aggressive with your tractor during plowing use is the other side of the coin when you don't have chains.

 

[LBrown59]

I have a BX1500 and a BX23 for snow clearing.
Both tractors have AG tires not loaded and no chains.
L . B .

I'm kicking around clearing my driveway this year with my Kubota B series 5200 4wd with turf tires. I have a 48" bucket on my FEL and a 350lb counter weight that I intend to use on my 250' concrete driveway on a hill that is reasonably steep as a driveway. A friend told me that I might as well forget using it as it won't get hardly and traction, and probably won't come back up the driveway unless I run tire chains.....But he is not the most tractor knowledgable guy at times. I am considering using a 4wd ATV with a plow instead if the tractor is a no-no. He also said that I stand a high risk of not being able to get it stoped if there is slick conditions. How do you think that the two would compare?

 

[jbrumberg]

IMHO you would be better off with v-bar chains on your rears especially if you will have an ice "base" on your driveway. I had chains on my rear R-1's on my old Ford 1100 to help with traction on ice. I would occassionally "skid out" even with chains on the ice base on my gravel driveway. I wish I knew more about those 4WD ATV's. The only thing I know about them is a neighbor who runs his ATV "covertly" on my property . Jay

 

[JDeerekid]

You would probably be better of with at least rear tire chains. But if you are careful and keep the snow cleared often you should not have a problem. If you already have a plow on your 4 wheeler I would use that to plow with first then use the tractor to push the banks back and move the snow at the end of the driveway where the snow banks build up from the snowplow.
If you are really wanting to use the tractor I would reccomend a rear blade also. You can move snow alot faster with the blade then with the loader.
Just my opinion. I am sure you will here many more with the r1 vs. r4 vs. r3's.