Tractor or Truck for plowing?

[slowzuki]

Truck for long straight non drifting stuff. Tractor with blower on rear, blade on loader in front (with cab of course). The truck is much faster, until you run out of places to push snow.

Around here that is usually about Feb, then I start getting calls to blow banks back. Also, we tend to get rains in the middle of winter for no good reason, frequently get calls to bust holes in banks.

 

[JDgreen227]

I move snow witha JD 4210 fitted with a FEL and RB, and have a Honda Foreman 450 with a Moose County Plow, plus 3 snowblowers. Don't have to do any snow removal except our driveway and five of my neighbors, although I have a GMC XL 2500 4 wd, the cost to add a front plow is way too high to justify the expense of adding one. But if I had the choice, I would much rather push snow with the truck than my tractor because it has a heated cab...and could move a lot more snow than anything else I have will.

 

[jcmseven]

Neither, utility vehicle. I can plow faster than our neighborhood plow truck (3500 Dodge) with my new 825 I and my buddy with his Kubota RTV is pretty fast too.

John M

 

[LD1]

Neither, utility vehicle. I can plow faster than our neighborhood plow truck (3500 Dodge) with my new 825 I and my buddy with his Kubota RTV is pretty fast too.

John M

Your neighborhood plow truck must be getting paid by the hour and taking his good ole time. Or he is a complete idiot.

No way is an RTV going to be faster than a truck. UNLESS you are talking extremely small and tight driveways. But larger drives, roads, lots, the truck winds hands down.

 

[yankeerider]

Although I've owned full size pickups for the last 33 years, I've never had a plow on any of them. I need the tractor for other jobs, and it's always been more economical to plow with whatever tractor I owned than to spend the money on a plow for the truck. Not to mention I clear areas on my property where the truck is too big to use comfortably.

 

[jcmseven]

Sorry ld, it is so. One qualifying thing is that I live in the mountains here where being maneuverable means everything. My gator will plow at 12-15 mph when smooth which where I live is as fast or faster than a truck mounted plow can. Since the plow is within one foot of the width of the truck plow and I can turn around twice as fast our neighborhood is considering getting two of these as base models to replace two plow trucks. The only place I can see a truck mount here equalling would be in a parking lot or something big,square and flat. And btw our guy is paid by the job so no alternate motive of which I am aware.

John

 

[LD1]

Sorry ld, it is so. One qualifying thing is that I live in the mountains here where being maneuverable means everything. My gator will plow at 12-15 mph when smooth which where I live is as fast or faster than a truck mounted plow can. Since the plow is within one foot of the width of the truck plow and I can turn around twice as fast our neighborhood is considering getting two of these as base models to replace two plow trucks. The only place I can see a truck mount here equalling would be in a parking lot or something big,square and flat. And btw our guy is paid by the job so no alternate motive of which I am aware.

John

I guess I'd have to see it to believe it. But up here, a 7.5' plow with wings is a hard push with a full blade even for a fullsized truck. A RTV/UTV just doesnt have the weight to move that much snow.

Now like I said, if in a lot/drive that requires a lot of manuvering, maybe it will be a little faster. But 95% of the lots and drives I do, there is NO POSSIBLE way a gator or RTV will be able to do it in less time than my truck/plow/wings.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Every tool has its place, best tool??? For a large parking lot 200 plus open spots hard to beat a payloader with 12-16 box. Small lot a bronco or old blazer with plow and wings would be my choice. Around the farm I like the atv with front or tractor and blade depending on the depth of the snow but we rarely get more than a few inches. In last 10yrs maybe 6 large 10 plus inch snows.

 

[tulenutn2o]

I use my 2000 f150 7700 and plow mostly, tractor occasionally.

 

[jcmseven]

LD-I have a unique situation where being smaller and maneuverable helps. Contrary to belief Utvs like mine are not that light. My gator ballasted, with spreader, blade, etc. Weighs 2500 pounds. That is more than enough weight with aggressive tires and true four wheel drive and low gearing to plow well. Not only that but weight I have found does not always have direct impact on plowing success. I have plowed extensively with my previous john Deere 4520 with a 7' boom blade and six foot box blade on back for ballast. Though a fantastic machine it would not hold a candle to my current gator plowing snow. I do see your point. In large areas with open turns and long runs a truck would be faster--by a little bit. On my drive and service road no way, no how.

John M