Snowplow

[billfires]

Has anyone mounted a snowplow from a pickup truck onto the loader bucket?I was thinking of mounting the receiver plate ( the part that the plow attatches to on the pickup) onto the back inside of the bucket and use the lift chain attatched to the top of the bucket to support the plow. Does this sound like it would work? Any thoughts, comments or ideas welcomed.

Bill C

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Bill,
With a little yankee ingenuity you shouldn't have any problem. I ran a 7' plow on my FEL all winter. It worked great. I hooked my cutting edge just under the plow ears and up against a piece of angle iron that was already there, locked it all in to place with a strong chain and a chain binder.
This was merely a temporary setup to see if it would work. For next winter I will securely it properly. It was only manual angle and will probably stay that way, but I don't mind.
There are several members on this board that have set up plows in a similar fashion as you would like to do. Attached is a photo of a New Fisher plow installed in a Kubota bucket. This is how my local NH dealer sets them up for people and it is the way I will make mine for this next winter. He sells the bolt in bracket for $150 and I will do the instillation myself adding some reinforcing to the back of the bucket.
Two pins, the lift chain and hydrolics if you have them and the plow will install and remove just like would on a truck.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Here is a closer shot of the bracket. I think it is pretty slick and simple.

 

[MikePA]

Does the dealer install new hydraulics for the plow or just use existing ones from the FEL?

 

[billfires]

Mark, thank you, that is exactly what I was thinking about. With the mild winter we have had i am pretty sure I can pick up a used blade for short money. Thanks again.

Bill C

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Mike,
I would think and expect that if necessary, and if the machine owner wanted them,the dealer would install additional hydrolics.
On the machine I saw there last fall (not the one pictured earlier) they ran hoses back to the rear hydrolic fittings. I have attached a picture of that tractor.
It was also a Kubota (a big one w/ full cab) I believe that this one was theres and used to plow there yard. It doesn't show the hoses real well, but I remember them running down the side of the machine and into the rear connections.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Bill,
I would think that your local junk yard must have some old 4x4 with plows still on them.

 

[billfires]

Mark, I have been looking in the "Want Advertiser" and there seems to be a few plow blades only for sale. I need to determine the size plow. I am thinking a 7 1/2 foot Meyers would work and by dropping the BH I could use the rear remote for the power angling. Thanks for the info.

Bill C

 

[Marc]

Mark,

If I may . . .

You're in New Hampshire, so I take it you get a good bit of snow. The JD 950 is 27 (or so) hp, correct?

I'm moving to Vermont in Summer '03 and have a 1500' drive to move snow off of. I've been trying to determine my hp and other needs so I buy enough tractor. My research up till now suggested that your rig would be underpowered, but I may be mistaken.

How much do you plow? How high do your walls of snow get? How fast does your setup handle the job?

I'd love to save the $3-4000 and not buy a snowblower if I don't need one.

Thanks,

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Marc,
I will try to answer your questions as best as possible. Normally New Hampshire gets a great deal of snow, this year has been a very marginal year snow wise.
I am actually the last person you want advice and knowledge from on what size and HP tractor to do ??? jobs.
Although I grew up on a small working farm doing haying, plowing, harrowing, firewood etc. and have been around tractors most all my 40 yrs. This is the first tractor that I have ever owned and I have only owned it for 1 year.
It is also the first year I have EVER plowed snow with ANYTHING !! But, I am pleased to say that my 950 MFWD with 27 HP (per manual) and turf tires has performed flawlesly in keeping my yard clean.
I have attached a picture of my yard taken from my neighbors driveway, unfortunatly there is no place where I can stand to get a picture of the Whole driveway and yard, but the pic will give you an idea of what I plow.
My driveway continues off to my left up to the main road, probably another 300', as you can see my driveway is actually a big tear drop with a good size parking area. I hate snow banks, So where possible I push the snow all the way to the tree line.
With the front blade, it probably takes me 2 hours to plow and clean up the way I like it. 1- I am in no hurry (seat time), 2- I am a fussy SOB. A friend once told me that they could use my yard for Super Bowl overflow parking.
I personally don't see the need of owning a snowblower for what I do. My front blade does an excellant job.
I am positive that there are other members here that are more knowledged and can help you in determining what size tractor would be best suited for your needs, for I am sure that plowing snow is only one of many jobs you will be wanting your tractor to do.
27 horse power with 4wd and proper weight will surprise the heck out of you with what it's capable of doing.
I hope this has helped and not just confused you or put you to sleep.

 

[Marc]

Mark,

Thanks for your response and the pic.

First, seeing all those gorgeous dark-green conifers in March makes me wish I was heading to Vermont THIS year and not next. (sigh)

It looks like you have a little bit of grade. Mine will be about the same except 1200' longer. If the 950/turf tires/MFWD can push through that, then I'm VERY encouraged.

My other needs will be mowing and firewood, so hopefully 20-something HP will do the trick.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. It's all helpful. I have the advantage of time to be able to process all the info that's coming my way.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Marc,
You will find a Wealth of Knowledge, information and inspiration at the TBN. As a new member we welcome you.
The only reason my tractor has the turf tires on it is because they were on it when I bought it. I am only the the 2nd owner it it's 14 yrs. It was originally owned by a condo development about 5 miles from me, for all there yearly maintenance needs.
I have been impressed with the ability of the turf tires, although when I trade up to my TC35D in a year or so I will probably go with the R4's.
Irrelevent of what you choose for tires, you always have the option of installing chains when necessary to supplement your traction. I plowed all winter with no chains and using my backhoe for weight and seldom ever lost traction.

 

[Youare]

I did that very thing with a Meyers 7 1/2 power angle plow. I did not use the power angle function but I built and installed a mount to accept the plow in the bucket of my Ford 8N.

I liked plowing with the tractor better than with the truck except the tractor did not have a heated cab. The plow could be attached to the truck or tractor, however it was easier to attach it to the tractor.

A fellow up the road from me has a Kubato M-series with a snow plow mounted in the bucket, works great.

Randy

 

[Marc]

Youare:

How deep did the snow get and did you do anything for added traction?

 

[Youare]

I used this set-up for about 12 years durning that time we had several storms that dumped over 2 feet of snow. I did have my Farmi winch on the rear of the tractor which must weight around 350 pounds and one winter I put an additional 125 pounds on.

My driveway and the road I plowed are dirt, so the ice would build up over the winter, I did have a set of non-agressive tire chains to help out. They were old fire truck tire chains that I made fit the tractor tire.

The nice thing about having the plow on the bucket is you can push the snow banks way up. I had some after a big storm that we 8 feet high.

Randy

 

[Thomas]

Also w/a plow attach to the bucket...one doesn't have to get that close to a ditch line fearing of bottoming out.

 

[MajMac392]

Marc, Reference size tractor to plow snow. I live in So. Maine and plow with my 23HP Cub Cadet, (7234) 4WD tractor. When I was researching tractors before I bought this I made up a spread sheet comparing features etc. The Cub was the best price so that is why I got it but it also had a lot of nice features plus it was heavier than a similar JD 770 or Kubota models. It is in the 33-3400 pound range w/FEL attached and it has large 41" rear turf tires. I plow mostly up a hill from where the tractor is garaged. We had little snow this year but last year was a killer. Most of my snowbanks were easily in the 6 -7' range, far higher than the 4WD pickups could push it. I have some wheel spinning but plow with no weight on the rear. I was going to buy chains before my first season because a friend with a JD 770 had weighted tires w/chains. He experienced a lot of traction problems that I really haven't had. When you buy I think the weight, HP, are probably a couple of your most critical components to consider but it is amazing what these compact 4wd tractors will do. If I bought again I would get a HST and just a little more HP to handle any HST power losses. Happy hunting for the color that meets your needs. Don't rule out the Bright Yellow ones!

 

[Marc]

Thanks MAJMAC, Mark, Thomas & Youare. This is definitely a great help to hear form the guys who have done this already.

 

[Rowski]

marc

Where abouts in VT are you moving to?

 

[Marc]

Rowski,

I just looked at your bio. Looks like I'm moving to your neck of the woods - about halfway between Jay & Newport Center.