Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Tractor to blow lots of snow

[MarkV]

I agree, it just looks like too much snow for a small tractor. From the looks of the photo the snow looks to be piled 6' or better on the side of the road.

MarkV

 

[LD1]

I agree hat It will probabally require some HP to do that in a timley manner. As mentioned already, a smaller tractor will do it, but how long do you want to spend?? Of course I may be way off base but here in ohio we don't get that light fluffy stuff. Most of our snow is always wet and heavy and a 6-8" storm makes even having a 4wd truck a challenge.


I do have a few questions though.

Who wons the land @ the end of your 1-mile long road??

Would it be possible to build a small lockable garage/shed and still do the snowmobile thing??

Reason why I say that is what happens if you are at work and get a good storm and cannot get to your house? Parking @ then end, walking a mile, clearing the drive, and then walking back down to get the car is shure not how I would want to spend my evening afterwork, especially if you have to work the next day.

If you could atleast build a smallish shed @ the end to house the snowmobile, you'd save some walking.

 

[rmully]

OK ...Looking at that photo where are you going to blow snow to..... it is 7' deep..... you need something powerful or your full time job will be plowing that road.

 

[Wombat125]

Guys, its a MILE long, and if you look at that pic.....OMG?
I live in Northern Wisconsin, and we get 100 inches per year. Those 20-30HP tractors are NOT gonna cut this job.

That's what I thought. My first reaction was one of those New Holland bi-directional units with a big cutter in front of it. Like this...


YouTube - TV 145 tractor with pronovost snowblower

 

[TGF]

I purchased a 3038 for just such a thing among others. The 64 inch snow blower on the 3 point is supposed to be able to tackle stuff up to 4 ft deep. I was steered away from a front mount because they are smaller and don't have as much power as the 3 points.

 

[sweettractors]

New 60 inch FarmKing rear mount snowblower $2195 + shipping. Ken Sweet

 

[rswyan]

New 60 inch FarmKing rear mount snowblower $2195 + shipping. Ken Sweet

Yeah Ken ..... that's the same one I have on the rear of my B2910 ....

With all due respect, this ain't Kentucky we're talkin' about here ......

 

[flyingcow]

I understand the need for 4 wheel, but you might find a 80 or 100hp 2 wheel drive, put ice chains on the tires and put a 7 or 8ft 2 auger blower. I used to have a MF1155(145hp) and later had a MF1135(125hp) with 9ft lucknow. Older tractors but with cab, always ran good. Used synthetic oil, block heater, fresh filters,etc. never had a problem, would start easily at 10 or 20 below. When it hits -40 up here, usually no snow. Rambling a little. BUT i never had more than $10,000 in tractor w/blower. Also, i never had chains on the units. tires were loaded, i'm only 650ft off of the road, slight incline. Also we only get about 100/120 inches of snow a yr. Very seldom had to bump clutch, only in 3 or 4ft deep/wet snow.
Big old tractors have nice big cabs. if the seat won't swivel, buy a seat that does. Sattelite radio would be a plus:thumbsup: A mile long will take a while.

just my thoughts, good luck

 

[JoeL4330]

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

It's quite different if the 500" per annum comes in a small number of very big storms, or a continuous 3-8 inches per day. If the latter it seems manageable with a modest machine and you don't have to worry as much which end of the road you are on and can get to the tractor! Note, however, that if you are clearing daily you are driving (in reverse) 2 miles per day and probably at speeds under a mile per...that is, 2 hours a day!


You should price out the ideal rig and maybe the $6K for someone else to do it begins to look pretty good.

No matter what, the referenced Kubota just won't cut it (IMHO). I think you want a tall chute, which is usually an option on the larger blowers.

Incidentally, while I understand snow packs down, I am having trouble reconciling 41+ feet (feet) of snow with the picture (unless my math is wrong)...

 

[jenkinsph]

New, I would go with a Deere 4520 cab and front mount Frontier SB2176 blower.

Used, Flying Cow has some good suggestions but personally I would hesitate to depend on old iron or needing to make repairs at -20F temperatures.

If you try to do this on the cheap you will definately regret it, I would do it right or if it seems to be too much money then realize thats why you are paying $6000 a year.