Snow removal options - plow, pusher, blower, loader

Chris Olson · Dec 22, 2019

I have a 1985 Kubota L2250 with a front bucket. Anyone have advice for using it for snow removal? I live in Vermont. 200 feet of gravel driveway, slightly uphill to the garage. I have back dragged with the bucket in "float" position. And I have pushed snow with the bucket, but when we get any more than a couple inches it is too much. Is there a decent blade attachment that will attach to the blade? Is there an angled blade that attaches to the bucket? Kubota make something that works? Other manufacturer? Ideas?

RjCorazza · Dec 23, 2019

Chris Olson said:
I have a 1985 Kubota L2250 with a front bucket. Anyone have advice for using it for snow removal? I live in Vermont. 200 feet of gravel driveway, slightly uphill to the garage. I have back dragged with the bucket in "float" position. And I have pushed snow with the bucket, but when we get any more than a couple inches it is too much. Is there a decent blade attachment that will attach to the blade? Is there an angled blade that attaches to the bucket? Kubota make something that works? Other manufacturer? Ideas?

A bucket will clear practically any amount of snow, but may take a lot of time to do it. Before I got my blower I cleared a 30" blizzard off my 500' driveway using a herring bone pattern, but it took like 3 hours.
A rear blade is an inexpensive snow removal option that you may want to consider.

Diggin It · Dec 23, 2019

I took the same 'Option 5' noted previously ... moved south. I hate snow. I now get just a few inches a year, though we have had rare snowfalls of 10" or more a few times. I no longer work and don't have to go out daily, so I can sit inside and watch it melt when we get back into the 40s a day or two later.

On to the topic at hand. Consider your total potential seasonal snowfall and extended periods of cold weather. I've read a number of accounts on boards like this of piles/berms of plowed or blown snow topping 6-8 feet high and paths initially cut 20 feet wide in December narrowing to less than 10 feet by March. If you're in a climate area with that potential, you don't want to just push it off the driveway. You want to get it as far away from the driveway as you can. You'll need to decide if a blower or blade is best for doing that.

Also, I didn't notice if you say your driveway was paved or not. Mine is blacktop and it's amazing how much snow will melt on a 20 degree day if the Sun can get to that blacktop. Before I had the tractor/loader, if I could just get a few shovel paths cleared to expose the blacktop so the Sun could take over, it made a world of difference. Last Winter was my first with the tractor/loader and we didn't have enough snow to sneeze at, so I never got a chance to try it.

Chris Olson · Nov 23, 2021

KennyG said:
I've done the loader option, the 3 point blower option and now have a front blade. The blade is the clear winner.

How does the blade get mounted? Is the blade homemade? Or do you have a brand name?

KennyG · Nov 24, 2021

Chris Olson said:
How does the blade get mounted? Is the blade homemade? Or do you have a brand name?

On my JD 2320, there is a front bracket for the mid mount mower that is also used for the optional front blade. I found a used Exmark snowplow (don't know if it was made for a zero turn or a four wheeler) and adapted it to JD frame mount bracket. I did a thread on the build a few years ago. Here are some pictures of the adapter I fabricated and the installation.

bdhsfz6 · Nov 24, 2021

I started out using a FEL mounted power angle plow on the front with the blower on the back. Since the FEL plow can pile snow 12' high if necessary, I found I rarely needed the blower. In fact, I haven't used it in 5 seasons. I now keep a cinder spreader on the back mostly as a counterweight but it does come in handy during an ice storm.

I store the FEL plow blade face down on a dolly and it takes up about the same amount of floor space as the blower.

RoyJackson · Nov 24, 2021

I use the 3PH snow blower mostly...since we can get frequent snow in Vermont, I don't have to worry about berms with the snow blower.
There is a manual blade mounted on the loader. That is used occasionally for very light snows...6" or less.
Since my drive is more or less a loop, it's pretty slow going no matter what I use

PILOON · Nov 24, 2021

RoyJackson said:
I use the 3PH snow blower mostly...since we can get frequent snow in Vermont, I don't have to worry about berms with the snow blower.
There is a manual blade mounted on the loader. That is used occasionally for very light snows...6" or less.
Since my drive is more or less a loop, it's pretty slow going no matter what I use

Same techniques used here.
I'm in a snow belt area so usually have 20-25 events.

Front blade, rear blower on my cabbed heated CUT.
I did add a wing to one side of my blade so as to minimize spill overs.

My worst ever event was 30+ inches when my (then) plow truck blade was only 24 inches high.