Snow Push vs FEL for snow removal

[JD755]

I used a blade for years. We moved here three years ago. Flat as Kansas it is. This past winter I lost the blade verses loader battle. 30" of snow in a week with three days of 25 MPH winds. The blade just made a snow fence. It got to the point that the snow had to be physically moved with the loader. The loader will be my main defense this year. I am ordering chains and a ballast box.

A rear blade instead of a ballast box gives you the ability to alternate between the loader and the blade.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

A rear blade instead of a ballast box gives you the ability to alternate between the loader and the blade.

That's true but, the rear blade isn't enough ballast to operate the loader if the snow is heavy.

I operate with both but change from blade to ballast box when I am "pileing up and pushing back."

Gosh darn-it.!!...I want a blower.!!!!

 

[Rob-D]

Gosh darn-it.!!...I want a blower.!!!!

There you go, blowers win hands down!

Rob

 

[bp fick]

Had the front hydraulic dozer/snow blade when I bought the tractor and used it through most of last winter. Awesome. We don't have issues of where to push, the least of the neighbors have well over an acre of land. Loved it. You do have to push in increments of 6-8" spurts, but I adore pushing snow. Plowed out the 1/4 mile lane behind us for the neighbors.

Toward the end of the winter, I sold the blade to raise the money for a FEL. The blade sale was for cost-plus, since they were near impossible to locate. The dealers were sold out and way back ordered. Good timing.

Had to do the last snow with a back blade. Ok, I'll just say, it's awful in comparison. So, next year, it will be FEL and back blade. It won't be as good, but I needed the FEL for year round work. If money were no object, I'd always have a hydraulic front blade. Alas.

 

[yooper68]

The answer to the original question is "it depends". I would love to have a snow push bucket to carry about twice the amount of snow as compared to the standard FEL bucket. If you have a long driveway, then front blower & backblade is probably the ideal solution. Our yard is flat, we keep a large area (~1 acre +) open, and we get a lot of wind. If we had a blower, would have to blow the same snow 2 or 3 times (have done it before with walk-behind blower). Now use the front-end loader (float-down mode) slightly tilted up so it doesn't tear up the lawn. Use the back blade at the same time to keep the "mat" down. Moving snow is probably the most enjoyable use of my tractor so far.....

 

[RoyJackson]

Moving snow is probably the most enjoyable use of my tractor so far.....

Yeah, I love plowing snow too!!!
Mowing is fun and can be relaxing (Zen, and the Art of Tractor Mowing), brushcutting is work(!!!)
But moving snow...especially when it's still coming down lightly...now, that is fun! Of course, my wife thinks I'm nuts, but she does like that cleared driveway.

 

[Rob-D]

I can see why you find that appealing Roy, enjoy it myself but for me best fun ,I mean work, is the BH and digging holes. Can't wait to get my new hoe and thumb!

Rob

 

[bstrom]

I am not crazy about a rear blade or the FEL. I use both. The rear blade tends to just windrow the snow to the side. At the end of the line I notice I haven't really moved that much snow.

The FEL is slow going but all the work is out ahead of me. I enjoy the cold and being outside so I am not much bothered by the slow going part. The finished product always looks nice, especially if I use the rear blade turned around....using the backside of the blade to get things all cleaned up and nice and smooth.

I prefer the bucket over the blade for the grunt of the job.

Would like a 60" 3pt. snowblower.

I guess I have a different experience with my rear blade, I think it works pretty good. I angle it to the side of the drive and go at a pretty decent speed and it shoots the snow off to the side pretty well. Then I come back down the other side. Finish what is left with in middle with the bucket. I also turn it around and push in reverse sometimes which everybody says you are not supposed to do but I haven't had a problem. Just don't hit a rock or a tree!

 

[Rob-D]

I guess I have a different experience with my rear blade, I think it works pretty good. I angle it to the side of the drive and go at a pretty decent speed and it shoots the snow off to the side pretty well. Then I come back down the other side. Finish what is left with in middle with the bucket. I also turn it around and push in reverse sometimes which everybody says you are not supposed to do but I haven't had a problem. Just don't hit a rock or a tree!

You can definately do some 3PH damage going in reverse. It's made to pull not to push.

 

[beenthere]

I get caught once in a while with having to use the FEL and bucket for snow. But the blade gets mounted pronto after that. Sometimes the snow comes early and I have wood to move with the forks yet, so don't bother the 15 minutes to change to the snow blade. To me, it doesn't get any better (that includes a snow blower too ).
Here is the 7' Western