Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Tractor to blow lots of snow

[klausb]

First time poster here.. looking to the collective wisdom of the site. First, I know nothing about tractors. A complete newbie. So here is my situation. I live at 8000' feet in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah, at the end of an approximately 1 mile single lane road. I get, on average, 500 inches of snow a year, and am looking into a way to clear my road. I will need to clear up to three foot storms of 6-10% density snow. Not usually real heavy. I'm currently paying about $6000 a year to have the road cleared and figured I could do it myself and save some money, not to mention that it will be cleared when I need it. So, the question is, how big a machine will I need to clear my road? I've searched the forum and done a little research but really don't know how big of a tractor I would need. I've priced some new tractors at the Kubota site and came out in the $15-20K range. Would something in the B2620 series be adequate? I would think so.

I have also found a used B7300 for $7200 with a blower. Too small?

Also, temperatures in the -10 to -20F are not uncommon, and the tractor would be stored outside. Is diesel even an option, or should I look for something that uses gasoline? Can block heaters be used and do they help?

Any and all suggestions/guidelines/help very much appreciated, and thanks in advance.

 

[mmurphy]

Welcome !!! :welcome:I think maybe a different type of transportation in your neck of the woods. 500 inches of snow comes out to 40 feet roughly. I cry and complain at 3 inches on up!:laughing:

 

[beenthere]

:welcome:

klaub

Does your hired snow removal service use a blower? How big a blower?

 

[sweettractors]

Are you looking at front mount that will be more or less dedicated to snowblowing or rear mount that would put you looking backward all the time but easy to take on and off? For sure, a cab tractor that can keep you warm and could be used for other things in the off season. Ken Sweet

 

[klausb]

Thanks for the welcome. I did the snowmobile thing for a year and it is a pain. Another complication is that the cars then have to be left at the head of the road and get broken into, and the ski resort where I have to park is not very understanding about me leaving my cars in their lot, although I may try to work a deal where I pay them to park there. And then there is insurance when you can't get a firetruck to the house.

Yah, it's a lot of snow. If you do the math, with five+ months of snow and 500 inches, that's about 3 inches a day. Piles up quick, it does.

Currently the road is cleared by a Versatile (?), huge articulated thing, overkill actually. Probably a 6 foot blower. I am thinking dedicated front mount blower used solely for clearing the snow. Other folks up here use Bobcats or the like.

Here is the used one I was talking about, but it may be a bit small.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=11286175&cat=&lpid=1&search=snowblower

 

[rekees4300]

How much does a helicopter cost? Seriously that's a lot of snow. Whatever size tractor you get it's going to need tire chains, a cab, and block heater. Suggest a big front mounted blower and I'd guess 50+ horsepower to blow the snow far enough away from your lane so it wont build up along the sides creating a canyon.

 

[sweettractors]

Thanks for the welcome. I did the snowmobile thing for a year and it is a pain. Another complication is that the cars then have to be left at the head of the road and get broken into, and the ski resort where I have to park is not very understanding about me leaving my cars in their lot, although I may try to work a deal where I pay them to park there. And then there is insurance when you can't get a firetruck to the house.

Yah, it's a lot of snow. If you do the math, with five+ months of snow and 500 inches, that's about 3 inches a day. Piles up quick, it does.

Currently the road is cleared by a Versatile (?), huge articulated thing, overkill actually. Probably a 6 foot blower. I am thinking dedicated front mount blower used solely for clearing the snow. Other folks up here use Bobcats or the like.

Here is the used one I was talking about, but it may be a bit small.
ksl.com - Classifieds for Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming

Small or not, $7200 is one heck of a deal. This has to be a auction format and that is the starting bid. Is that correct? Ken Sweet

 

[rswyan]

Yeah .... what rekees said: tire chains, a cab, block heater, 50+ horsepower, and a big front mounted blower .....

Sounds like fun to me ...

 

[klausb]

Although the road is fairly flat, there is a big drop on one side where the snow can be blown. A cab would be nice, but I can add that later, right? And yes, chains are not negotiable as well as 4wd. The snowcut on the side of the road can get to 6 feet late season.

 

[klausb]

Small or not, $7200 is one heck of a deal. This has to be a auction format and that is the starting bid. Is that correct? Ken Sweet

No. He started at $7500 and has come down to $7200 OBO.