Buying Advice Tractor Advice -The hunt is on.

[hdmyers]

Thanks for the feedback.

When looking at price points for the given tractor size, a cab is a bit out of my range. Canadian pricing makes things interesting vs what one can afford in the US I have no issue with the weather for doing the snowblowing... I have enough gear..and if in 20 years i change my mind, i'll get a different machine.

I'm ok with the rear blowing, to preserve the front loader. Having the loader available to have a blade or bucket is something I feel would be useful should i find myself stuck. (being able to use the loader hydraulic to help me out).

Not a fan of the chains, so blower seems more in tune. I"ll probably put studs on the tires anyway. I had chains on my old skidsteer... i was inept at keeping them on...perhaps i'd be better now?

Went to look at machines yesterday. The Lseries looks quite a bit bigger/wider than the B series...i was surpised by the size...but think L series sizing or similar in other tractors would be what i'm after.

i will never be in a race, but figure this tractor will outperform any walkbehind blower (yah, i did my drive with a walk behind just before..it was doable lol).

I like the feedback on maintaining my drive. I spend ~1500 a year on plowing now (and plow guys can be unreliable here..hence my moving on from a contractor). I spend average of 1500 a year more on road maintenance (usually at 5 year intervals of major work), so believe can get away with 2 loads of gravel a year to do my own maintenance, and save total of 2500 between plowing/road work.


Let alone doing my own minor landscaping, and the usefulness of a machine to move/pull/clear things as projects come up.


As for tractor options near me: Kubota, New Holland and Mahindra and Kioti are within 75 minute drive... i'm in a tractor dealer deadzone somehow.

Thanks,

 

[PEJ5]

Something to dream about as you shop...
Last year we had a snowstorm that was 20cm (8") of snow and then freezing rain that left a tough crust. I blew the home driveway with the walk behind and had a tough time getting it cleared, especially what the city plow pushed in. Then I went up to the property to clear that driveway with the tractor and blower. On the walk in from the road I mostly stayed on top of the crust...it was that tough. I was thinking, it will be interesting to compare. The 6' blower cut though it and spit it out without blinking. You'd think I was blowing powder. Amazing the difference between 8HP and 50HP or was it 200lbs vs 6000lbs. .

You will love a tractor and blower on your long driveway and any worries about looking backwards will disappear when you look back at the walk behind blower sitting in the garage!

After 2 seasons I am finally adding a Princess Auto 12v worm drive to the deflector so I can easily point it down when I am blowing into the wind. I am a few years away from considering a $2K soft cab. One step at a time.

Enough about snow, be sure to get a quick attach bucket and immediately buy a set of quick attach pallet forks. Forks triple the value of your tractor investment. Everything sits on pallets and I rarely have to lift by hand - work smarter, not harder.

I meant to add, between what you paid for snow clearing and driveway maintenance, the ROI on a tractor will be short.

Good luck shopping.

 

[RalphVa]

Banana belt of Canada. Wife and I used to ride our bikes all winter in Sarnia.

Ralph

 

[airbiscuit]

I wouldn't consider any Sub-Compacts (Kubota BX).

Here would be my choices:

• Kioti CK 2610 HST / CK3510HST
  
• Kubota LX2610HSD / LX3310HSD
  
• Kubota L2501 /L3301
  

Spend some time at the dealership looking them over, trying them out, Imagine yourself on your property and long drive.

What is your typical/largest snowfall? Any drifts?

 

[finn1]

Kioti ck series, preferably a 3510 or 4010, with a front blower and a cab. I wouldn稚 consider any tractor without a front blower or a cab.

 

[airbiscuit]

If your snowfalls/drifts are less that 24", I think you would like a rear pull (inverted) snowblower on that long drive - saves the neck. I love mine.

 

[hdmyers]

Well, we do get some big snowfalls, but most would be less than 12" at a time...with drifting to 24". (i've had to walk down the drive with snow up to my mid thigh... not pleasant, but part of the drill sometimes). I'm quoting the CK2610 and the L2510 at the moment. Leaning towards these larger frame with smaller engines.
At what point (ie: how deep would snow have to be?) will the pull behind snowblower not be useful?

We have had ~40" of snow in one shot before..but that's pretty rare. EIther way, i'm usually cleaning up well after the snow dump..(meaning i get to the property, walk in to get my machine going, and plow out the crap)

Perhaps having the pull behind and using the bucket at times would work ok?

I"m leaning towards the 3pth blower (regular model)...and could change that up in later years depending.

thanks for the feedback,
H

 

[powersrp]

The first time you blow snow and you get completely blasted with snow at single digit and below temps, you will wish your tractor had a cab and heater.

 

[hdmyers]

Could be true about wanting a cab, but I'm more into looking at what I need...vs what I want. I want everything, I need much less. cheers,

 

[fruitcakesa]

Could be true about wanting a cab, but I'm more into looking at what I need...vs what I want. I want everything, I need much less. cheers,

Want vs need? With TO winters, I would be leaning towards "need"!