Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Toolcat Snow Removal

[organicsmaine]

Hi everyone,

I am working on the budget for next snow season already, and I am considering a toolcat for doing driveways.

The driveways that I handle average 3-5k sq. ft. with an average annual snowfall of around 70" with a mix of nice powder to sloppiness.

I have been working on this for a couple of years now and I am curious to know roughly how fast these machines can move while blowing snow? I am hoping for around 2-3 mph, but would love to hear that it is faster. This would be an average speed, I know that if it is heavy and wet it won't be as fast as lite and fluffy.

Thanks for all the help!

 

[radman1]

I have a 5610 and use a 60", 3pt snow blower but a front mounted snow blower would be similar since both run by hydraulic motors. In snow 3' deep, I need to go very slow-just moving. In 6" snow, 2-3 mph. My CUT with 3pt snow blower will out perform the TC because more power to the blower from direct drive pto.
A pusher or plow will move the snow much faster and you don't have to worry where the snow is shooting. I can do a lot with pusher or plow on the front and blower on the back of my TC 5610. Blower for the deep stuff, plow for long driveways and pusher with backblade for confined areas and next to garages. I did have to modify the backblade on my Virnig pusher. I rotated the backblade forward and drilled a few more holes to make it work. The TC could not tip the box forward enough for the backblade to touch to ground. It seems the forward tip of the TC is less than a skid steer. Be aware of that if you get a pusher with backblade.

 

[rbargeron]

Hi everyone,

I am working on the budget for next snow season already, and I am considering a toolcat for doing driveways.

The driveways that I handle average 3-5k sq. ft. with an average annual snowfall of around 70" with a mix of nice powder to sloppiness.

I have been working on this for a couple of years now and I am curious to know roughly how fast these machines can move while blowing snow? I am hoping for around 2-3 mph, but would love to hear that it is faster. This would be an average speed, I know that if it is heavy and wet it won't be as fast as lite and fluffy.

Thanks for all the help!

If memory serves there's a TBN user dylan who liked a high flow Toolcat 5610 with hydraulic snowblower and/or 6' (telescoping to 10') box for pulling snow out of driveways. The right machine and attachments may depend on how many customers you have over how big an area - will you be able to drive to each location or will you be trailering, etc.

 

[organicsmaine]

If I am going to pull it off financially, I will have a minimum of 50 driveways within a 7 mile stretch....that is a maximum of 7 miles from my shop in one direction. I will be driving from place to place. Ideally I would be able to build this route to close to 100. If the machine can handle it, I have calculated roughly 8 hours to get them blown plus driving time...or a total of 10 hrs per 100.

By my calculations, the blower should be quicker than a plow on these driveways. What do you all think about this?

My other option is a Trackless with the snoquipp blower on it, but I perfer the TC because I would have more use for it year round.

 

[8N Boom]

We have a 74" Schulte Snowblower on a 5600 ToolCat. The speed is hard to tell because of conditions but with no gears you can always run it full. Possibly you could use the spare seat for the home owner to show you where he would like things done too. More hydraulic flow would sure help in speed though.

 

[Wayne_H]

I have calculated roughly 8 hours to get them blown plus driving time...or a total of 10 hrs per 100.

By my calculations, the blower should be quicker than a plow on these driveways. What do you all think about this?
.

Me thinks you are quite optimistic.. 10 hours for 100 driveways sounds like 10 drivways per hour and a driveway every six minutes. My driveway is 5000 SF and now way I can do it in six minutes with a six foot blade. More like 15-20 minutes without commute time...

Wayne

 

[rbargeron]

Me thinks you are quite optimistic........More like 15-20 minutes without commute time...

I do 8 rural places within 1/2 mile - takes 1-2 hours. A plow would be faster but my place and 3 others have no place for plowed up piles. The blower takes a little longer but does a nicer job.

 

[dylan]

My toolcat (B series, low flow, 6' blower) would average 15-20 drives per hour. (a mix of single and doubles anywhere from 2 to 6 cars long)

It is not nearly as fast as my New Holland T4040 with pull type blower. It will do 20-30 drives per hour in much deeper snow. Plus, they go 40 kph instead of 30 on the tc.

 

[rbargeron]

Hey Dylan - great to hear you voice! As usual you've left everybody drooling over your snow machines - from new Holland Super Steer to those bad-azz Normands - and what are those drag blades hanging off the back? Did you make them? Hope you post more pics - Very cool :thumbsup: take care, Dick B

 

[dylan]

Thanks Dick. Here are a few more for you.

Those back drag blades are pretty common around here. They allow us to get as close as possible to the garage door when clearing the snow. They can either hang from chains or be controlled with hydraulic cylinders. They come standard with the blowers.