Snowblower vs. Blade

[mattridessleds]

Hello all been lurking here for a while now figured it was time to ask a question. Currently looking for a new tractor to replace my 1958 Case 400b. Pretty much settled on a Kubota L3800HST. I am undecided about whether or not to purchase the 64" snowblower for it or not. I have a 7.5 foot fisher plow setup off my dead 93 k1500 was wondering if it would be worth it to mount it to the front loader somehow rather than pay for the blower. Driveway is roughly 800' and stone. I have seen some companies that make a mount for the plows and I would also have to add the hydraulics to the loader for the angle adjustments. Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't know much about snow equipment but would think alot of this would depend on whether you can do this yourself or would you have to hire it done. If hiring this modification you may be better off buying new out of the box.

If you go with a snowblower do you have the room to blow the snow? I have considered this question and found that in most of my applications a blade is a better choice. Depends on your driveway setup and the snowfall expected in your locale.

 

[Marveltone]

Blower vs. plow seems to be a very personal choice that will garner different opinions from everyone. Plows will be faster, while blowers don't leave huge snow banks to pile up and piles of gravel to rake out of the grass in the spring. My personal experience has been that my tractor was actually a little too small and light for decent plowing. Heavy snow would push it around too much, making it almost impossible to widen out the driveway. The path got increasingly narrower as the winter wore on. That's what prompted me to purchase the snow blower. It enabled me to widen out my drive with very little effort.

The Kubota L3800 is more powerful but about the same weight as my little Ford 1510. Big difference is I was plowing with the rear blade, while you have the possible option for a front mounted plow, which I consider a better option. I believe you have adequate power and with a set of chains (and filled tires), will probably do alright with a plow, but you need lots of room to pile the snow that has been removed from the drive. 800' is a fairly long drive. You'll have to decide whether speed (plow) or ease of snow dispersal (blower) is more important.

There you go; no real practical advice, but observations based on one winter's experience. Maybe the real veterans will chime in.

Joe

 

[JB4310]

It all depends on the snow fall, I have a snow plow and they are very fast for snows up to a foot or so. if you are in an area of heavy frequent snow a blower would be the way to go.

I'm guessing you are talking about a rear blower?

You can attach a snow plow to the loader like many here have done, most use the existing loader hydraulics. Heck you can even attach a snow plow to the 3 pt like I experimented with for a couple years.

I settled on a frame mount front plow, very fast and efficient, but after banking up the snow from several storms I had to put the loader back on to move the piles back further. With a blower that would never happen.

JB.

 

[Don87]

I didn't even need to think about which one to get for my area.

With the amounts of snow we tend to get here, a snowblower is a must have item. I use the FEL for smaller snowfalls, then the blower for larger snows, or to move the piles back more.

On another note, an FEL mounted plow could be a great item to have. It gives a person the ability to keep pushing snow over the top of piles relatively easily.


P.S. Bxpanded makes the FEL mounted plow you are looking for: http://bxpanded.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=58

 

[RoyJackson]

I have a 7.5 foot fisher plow setup off my dead 93 k1500 was wondering if it would be worth it to mount it to the front loader somehow rather than pay for the blower. Driveway is roughly 800' and stone. I have seen some companies that make a mount for the plows and I would also have to add the hydraulics to the loader for the angle adjustments. Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks

How much snow do you get in a typical storm? A plow would likely be a faster method for snows of 8" or less.

 

[mattridessleds]

Ok thanks for the replies guys. I live in upstate NY we typically get storms around the 6-12 inch range occasionally we will get a bigger snow every now and then. I have plenty of room to blow snow and also push snow banks but was trying to keep the stones out of the lawn this year.

 

[toolbox5]

do both i've got a 7'6'' western on my loader and a 64'' blower on the back works awesome

 

[rekees4300]

I live in upstate NY we typically get storms around the 6-12 inch range occasionally we will get a bigger snow every now and then.

That's enough to justify a blower.

 

[Don87]

That's enough to justify a blower.

Sure is.

 

[wny770]

With a snowblower you only move the snow once. I also live in upstate NY, in the snowbelt of lake Erie. When we get whomped with a 3 footer, that blower is mighty nice. I have a three point hitch blower, that way I can use the loader for back dragging around the doors, barn, and haul some firewood.

I have to admit, this snow talk has me missing summer already.......

 

[Don87]

With a snowblower you only move the snow once. I also live in upstate NY, in the snowbelt of lake Erie. When we get whomped with a 3 footer, that blower is mighty nice. I have a three point hitch blower, that way I can use the loader for back dragging around the doors, barn, and haul some firewood.

I have to admit, this snow talk has me missing summer already.......

I had to wear a jacket to clear the garden area off this morning. Then got two ear aches from the cold wind blowing in my ears.

I'm scr*wed when winter gets here............and it ain't even Fall yet:smiley_aafz::smiley_aafz:

 

[roman]

Yeah, I am toying with the notion of replacing my loader arm snow plow with a 3 pth blower. I get a bit of snow here and have no problem pushing back snow with the plow. It's amazing how well you can move snow with a FEL plow.
But to make just a few passes and have minimal snow banks would be nice. The other thing to consider is the fact you would need to blow with tractor in reverse and the blowing snow if its windy like a blizzard. I bet that could be a pain in the neck, a cold wet pain!
I have a full cab so the wind blown snow wouldn't be a factor however I would need to add some type of heater/defroster to melt my windows clean.
I haven't need heat yet with the snow plow as the tempuerature usually isn't very cold when it snows.

 

[Stonehaller]

but was trying to keep the stones out of the lawn this year.

You can get gravel on the lawn with a blower as well. You need skids on either a blower or blade to minimize the gravel you move. 800 feet will take a lot longer with a blower than plow.

 

[Don87]

You can get gravel on the lawn with a blower as well. You need skids on either a blower or blade to minimize the gravel you move. 800 feet will take a lot longer with a blower than plow.

That depends on the amount of snow. I live in the snowbelt, and 15 to 36 inch snowfalls are common.

If a person is on top of it with a plow consistently, they can keep up. But to start into that amount of snow, after the storm is over, a blower will be a lot faster than the plow.

 

[RoyJackson]

I had to wear a jacket to clear the garden area off this morning. Then got two ear aches from the cold wind blowing in my ears.

Then you need the proper head gear!!
Try these, from www.filson.com (see attached)
The Makinaw hat is warmer...especially with stout crosswinds but both do a great job!

If a person is on top of it with a plow consistently, they can keep up. But to start into that amount of snow, after the storm is over, a blower will be a lot faster than the plow.

That is the key!

 

[JB4310]

That's enough to justify a blower.

Sure is.

For me a plow is fine for up to a foot, even 1.5" on occasion. It wasn't til last year's record snow of a foot every 2-3 days that got me seriously considering a blower for the first time in 30 years.
I always start by pushing the piles back 20+ feet, but this year it caught up with me and I ran out of room.

With a snowblower you only move the snow once. I also live in upstate NY, in the snowbelt of lake Erie. When we get whomped with a 3 footer, that blower is mighty nice. I have a three point hitch blower, that way I can use the loader for back dragging around the doors, barn, and haul some firewood.

I have to admit, this snow talk has me missing summer already.......

I agree, blower equals least amount of time handling snow. Less stress on equipment and operator.

I was avoiding the snow threads cause I had enough of it last winter myself.
But now the leaves are changing and the cold is in the air.
Time to face reality

Then you need the proper head gear!!
Try these, from www.filson.com (see attached)
The Makinaw hat is warmer...especially with stout crosswinds but both do a great job!
That is the key!

I should show you all my hats with the ear flaps, my closet looks like an Elmer Fudd museum :laughing:

I have no shame when it comes to covering my head and ears.

JB

 

[48prerunner]

I use the plow for small snow falls or when the snow is really wet. Then move the banks back with the blower. Looking to get a 3 pt hitch blower this year to cut down on the time I'm out there. Had a few storms last year where drifts were over my head blower cut through it but took some time.

 

[JB4310]

I use the plow for small snow falls or when the snow is really wet. Then move the banks back with the blower. Looking to get a 3 pt hitch blower this year to cut down on the time I'm out there. Had a few storms last year where drifts were over my head blower cut through it but took some time.

Welcome to TBN!

All this talk about blowers had me thinking about how I wanted a used one last winter but couldn't find any local and the out of state ones were to expensive IMO.

Quick search today on Craigslist I find an ad from august for a woods 60 inch just a few miles away for $1,200. I would of almost bought without anything but the picture in the ad, it looked so good.
Of course when I call the guy he says he sold it, said it was on for awhile but finally sold it. so I missed out on what looked like a great deal

Here's the ad, anyone have experiance with Woods blower? Any good?

60" Snow Blower for 3-Pt. Hitch

Oh man, the more I look at it the dumber I feel for missing it!!!
Should of been looking in the summer, but I just wanted to put last winter behind me and not think about snow.

JB

 

[RoyJackson]

Here's the ad, anyone have experiance with Woods blower? Any good?

60" Snow Blower for 3-Pt. Hitch

Oh man, the more I look at it the dumber I feel for missing it!!!
Should of been looking in the summer, but I just wanted to put last winter behind me and not think about snow.

JB

Brother, we all miss great deals!! Don't sweat it to much!

It pays to do searches on CL now and then. When I was looking for a PTO driven chipper, I searched a couple times a week before I found a nice one...then you cannot hesitate to go look at it (preferably with the cash in your pocket).
As far as Woods quality...well, I have a Woods chipper (made by Bearcat though) and a Frontier RFM (made by Woods). Both are great implements and I wholeheartedly recommend Woods for residential/small farm use.
I add that "residential/small farm use" caveat as Farmwithjunk (who does some commercial mowing, I believe) had Woods rotary cutters which didn't hold up in commercial use.