Snow storms tractor for emergency travel

[Unclewilley]

Ok, this is probably a naive question, but is it practical to use a tractor for emergency travel on roads during severe snow storms? Living near Buffalo NY, we had the "thrill" of what we call Snovember 2014 with about 7 feet of snow at my place over a 3 day periods. All roads in my area were closed for about 5 days, although it was clear some vehicles did get around (4 wheel drive SUVs, trucks) and snowmobiles. I don't have any of those toys but I am seriously considering upgrading my subcompact tractor (24 hp) to more of a real tractor (42 hp) with 4 wheel drive of course plus much greater ground clearance etc....

As everyone probably understand, I'm in the process of "justifying the upgrade cost". Being able to use a larger tractor during a snow storm to get emergency medical etc. supplies would be a BIG PLUS/Selling Point.:thumbsup:

Comments please and thanks!!

 

[jeff9366]

Second overland trip to the South Pole was made using Ferguson tractors as prime movers.

LINK: http://blog.agcocorp.com/2011/05/to-the-pole-by-tractor/

https://www.google.com/search?q=Fer...-qdaG48YCFcoWHgodGF0GLg#imgrc=GoVzR-DrCTyBFM:

 

[Tomtint]

Last winter we got 10 feet in about 7weeks. There were several days when going anywhere in a car was not possible. I drove both my Shidsteer. And tractor down our roads on numerous occasions. There was also a situation where a ambulance and a LE car ( trying to pull out the ambulance) were stuck in a snow drift that was about 3 feet deep and 70-80 feet long. I cleared the drift with the skid and pushed the ambulance out from behind. The cop was very appreciative and never said a word about being on the road.

 

[newbury]

Ok, this is probably a naive question, but is it practical to use a tractor for emergency travel on roads during severe snow storms?

Depends on the EMERGENCY, SEVERE, and tractor.
I spent about 1/3 of my life in Northern Vermont, I've seen lots of 40 below and several snowstorms dumping 36" and more overnight.
It would probably be safer to plan on staying "in".
If the EMERGENCY is a need for milk, forget it.
A tractor with a cab would be ideal if the SEVERE was winding down. That's what they plow a lot of roads with.
But if YOU have to get someone to the hospital it would be rather tight.

<snip>All roads in my area were closed for about 5 days, although it was clear some vehicles did get around (4 wheel drive SUVs, trucks) and snowmobiles. I don't have any of those toys but I am seriously considering upgrading my subcompact tractor (24 hp) to more of a real tractor (42 hp) with 4 wheel drive of course plus much greater ground clearance etc....

As everyone probably understand, I'm in the process of "justifying the upgrade cost". Being able to use a larger tractor during a snow storm to get emergency medical etc. supplies would be a BIG PLUS/Selling Point.:thumbsup:

Comments please and thanks!!

Get it with a cab and plow or blower. And buy CHAINS!!
If you are trying to justify to anyone other than yourself, good luck.
And the 42 HP you mention is that engine or PTO? My 50HP rated M4700 engine is about 42 at the PTO.

What other uses do you envision? Lifting trees? Rescuing damsels in distress?

If it's only to get around in snow that is what they make snowmobiles for. $10,000 spent on a snowmobile would be a guarantee to "get around".

Living in Mississippi now I've come to realize a "real" tractor is over 100HP and has 4 rear wheels. My M4700 is considered a "toy".

 

[smstonypoint]

Before making such an investment, I would research two issues: my insurance coverage (property/casualty and liability) and any laws that may restrict use of a tractor on a public thoroughfare.

Steve

 

[Unclewilley]

Second overland trip to the South Pole was made using Ferguson tractors as prime movers.

LINK: To the Pole . . . by Massey Ferguson Tractor!

https://www.google.com/search?q=Fer...-qdaG48YCFcoWHgodGF0GLg#imgrc=GoVzR-DrCTyBFM:

Last winter we got 10 feet in about 7weeks. There were several days when going anywhere in a car was not possible. I drove both my Shidsteer. And tractor down our roads on numerous occasions. There was also a situation where a ambulance and a LE car ( trying to pull out the ambulance) were stuck in a snow drift that was about 3 feet deep and 70-80 feet long. I cleared the drift with the skid and pushed the ambulance out from behind. The cop was very appreciative and never said a word about being on the road.

Well that's good info!!! Now I need to get some info on the add-on treads Currently considering a Massey Ferguson 1742 42 hp 4 wheel drive/hydro, FEL, rear mount 72/74" snow blower. MF dealer sent me a note that MF is offering an addition $ incentive through July. Tractor/FEL $26,300 + $2,400 72" snow blower (manual chute) LESS trade-in app. $9,500 (2005 MF2310, FEL, backhoe, snow blower, mid-mount mower) of course plus tax. (app. $20,800 incl. tax)

 

[Unclewilley]

Depends on the EMERGENCY, SEVERE, and tractor.
I spent about 1/3 of my life in Northern Vermont, I've seen lots of 40 below and several snowstorms dumping 36" and more overnight.
It would probably be safer to plan on staying "in".
If the EMERGENCY is a need for milk, forget it.
A tractor with a cab would be ideal if the SEVERE was winding down. That's what they plow a lot of roads with.
But if YOU have to get someone to the hospital it would be rather tight.


Get it with a cab and plow or blower. And buy CHAINS!!
If you are trying to justify to anyone other than yourself, good luck.
And the 42 HP you mention is that engine or PTO? My 50HP rated M4700 engine is about 42 at the PTO.

What other uses do you envision? Lifting trees? Rescuing damsels in distress?

If it's only to get around in snow that is what they make snowmobiles for. $10,000 spent on a snowmobile would be a guarantee to "get around".

Living in Mississippi now I've come to realize a "real" tractor is over 100HP and has 4 rear wheels. My M4700 is considered a "toy".

Cab would be nice but I think that is a $6,000 upgrade for a rare if ever emergency. Any emergency use would be true emergency not a milk run.

42 hp engine, 32 hp PTO which is a big upgrade from my MF2310 which sometimes has a hard time with my 520 ft driveway. Various other uses on current 4 acre lot. Moving 10-14 yds of mulch plus 10+ yds topsoil takes at least 50 load trips with my 2310, 1742 would cut it by more than half. Also, pull my ZTR out of ditch/mud, maintain/grade long ditch etc............... Hope to be adding at least 6 additional acres of adjacent land in the near future. That will add bush hogging and some grading.

 

[JerryK]

If you are talking big snow, big drifts... better get something with tracks. Or, what we have up here in Michigan.... something called a snowmobile. They sell big tracked enclosed versions, snowcats or something. But you want something that will ride on top of the big snow. Most wheeled stuff gets bottomed out fairly quick, hung up on the frame... usually way out somewhere.... They have track kits for ATV's, too. And you can get some of them enclosed w/heat.... Our well guys ride around in the winter on open ATV's with the track kits.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I dont worry about what the police will say when we get 1 or 2 feet . ( I am near Annapolis and that shuts things down) They drive cars and cant get around to say anything

 

[Unclewilley]

I dont worry about what the police will say when we get 1 or 2 feet . ( I am near Annapolis and that shuts things down) They drive cars and cant get around to say anything

Farm country around here so tractors on the road are fairly common. It's a pain getting caught behind one if there isn't enough space to pass safely

 

[Will_C]

Many years ago, one of father's employees and his wife left their hill to go into the village for groceries during a heavy snow. They couldn't get back home- about 18" on the ground. My dad let them take his Case track loader to drive the 5 miles home

Doug and his wife bundled up in some of dad's coveralls, put their groceries in the bucket, and headed up the road. 45 cold, wet minutes later they were home.

Will

 

[Garandman]

Cab would be nice but I think that is a $6,000 upgrade for a rare if ever emergency. Any emergency use would be true emergency not a milk run.

You cab buy a rock solid used snowmobile for $3-5,000 all day long.

 

[tcreeley]

A tractor is still going to get stuck once the snow is hitting the bottom of the axles. Put a blower on it and you can make your own road- provided you don't hit something. What you want is a skidder! But they are pricey.

Get a 4x4 pickup with a plow if you want to head out on the highway. Your neighbors will be glad to put you to work! None of the farmers with the really big tractors around here ever leave the door yard with them during the winter. Generally they have a pickup for the snow.

Almost no one uses a tractor for clearing snow in my area of Maine. I do and one guy I know does. Everyone else uses a pickup.

 

[arrow]

Depends on the depth you think you would be traveling in. Most midsize cuts won't move well in 18" of snow even with ags. For traveling in deeper snow, you'd need a tractor with at least a 9.50x24 ag front tire. This puts you in the 50 hp and up range.

 

[Garandman]

Almost no one uses a tractor for clearing snow in my area of Maine. I do and one guy I know does. Everyone else uses a pickup.

My observation is here in MA they are F250's while in N ME you see F450 4WD stake or dump bodies with a couple tons of sand in back.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Ok, this is probably a naive question, but is it practical to use a tractor for emergency travel on roads during severe snow storms? Living near Buffalo NY, we had the "thrill" of what we call Snovember 2014 with about 7 feet of snow at my place over a 3 day periods. All roads in my area were closed for about 5 days, although it was clear some vehicles did get around (4 wheel drive SUVs, trucks) and snowmobiles. I don't have any of those toys but I am seriously considering upgrading my subcompact tractor (24 hp) to more of a real tractor (42 hp) with 4 wheel drive of course plus much greater ground clearance etc....

As everyone probably understand, I'm in the process of "justifying the upgrade cost". Being able to use a larger tractor during a snow storm to get emergency medical etc. supplies would be a BIG PLUS/Selling Point.:thumbsup:

Comments please and thanks!!

Does your tractor have a plow?

 

[Walt jr]

I live near Buffalo and during that storm I drove my cab mahindra 4510 from Hamburg, past the McKinley mall and to my rental units to clear the driveways, I had my son following me in the Hummer and we had some tight fits between abandoned cars.

 

[brown40]

You'd need a plow or snowblower to really stay freed up travelling in a massive snowfall; trucks clear their path as they go so they don't frame out. Momentum and gravity are as important as the plow in keeping the truck unstuck. A plowtruck or snowmobile are better selections for emergencies--the tractor/blower/FEL get called when the drifts get too big to get through and throw snow over. I have a f350 with a v-blade I bought in 2008 after three winters of only having the tractor for clearing. Last winter I got stuck and defeated more than in the past seven years combined. It is still the better tool for the job. After this past winter in Maine I'd have to say there are sometimes when having all the 'right' equipment to do the job still won't overcome what Mother Nature throws your way. I never saw so many large dedicated FEL's at work--tractors couldn't have done it--not the 15' drifts and banks. Everybody got thinking snowblowers, but they have limitations once the snow packs and ices up--especially with all the sign parts, fenders, limbs, etc. that ended up buried.

 

[Garandman]

In the most extreme conditions most LEA seem to resort to snowmobiles. But many modern sleds are designed for trail use. "Utility" or "Mountain" sleds have wider skis, longer and wider tracks and deeper lugs to handle deep, untracked snow.

Examples are the Cat Bearcat Utility » Arctic Cat and Polaris WideTrack 2016 550 WideTrak LX : Overview. The LX is $8,500 brand new.

We are going to trade in a Yamaha Phazer for one of these machines.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Luckily I don't have to contend with more that about 6" at most of snow, but I have spent enough winters up North that I feel your pain.

As for buying a tractor to use for emergency transport during blizzards, well lets just say there are lots of cheaper options. If the OP finds that his current tractor is a bit too small for his needs, that is justification enough to buy what you want.