What is the most efficient snow removal machine?

[Danny C]

No problems with the plow, it works fine, it's just the backblade does such a great job of really scraping down to the gravel without digging in. I pull the snow with the backblade, I don't push with it. The regret is that I can do the same job with my loader bucket and backblade while saving the ~$4K purchase price of the plow.

 

[Danny C]

Did I miss a reference somewhere in this thread about an HLA plow? I ask 'cause I own one and like it a lot, this is second season on it and no problems at all. It's all I use with my Aquiline chains as needed.

I mentioned on the previous page that I somewhat regret buying the plow because I can do as good a job with my loader bucket and my backblade. I pull the backblade which curls the snow forward and off to the side which I andgle it. The loader piles the snow and gets the snow the backblade can't.

Could have saved a bunch of money.

 

[Danny C]

Boxblade will not ride up like your rear blade does.

For sheer cost effectiveness, then the loader and boxblade win hands down from a cost perspective. If I could only have one attachment for my tractor then it would be a box blade. Why because the box blade can be many so many tools in one (in a pinch). Think about it: If you absolutely had to you could even till ground and work up a seedbed to plant a garden with it. There is an interesting thread in the archives somewhere that someone posted about how many things they used their boxblade for and it was very interesting reading. The possibilities were amazing.

Can't angle a box blade like a backblade......

 

[rankrank1]

Can't angle a box blade like a backblade......

That is true. But not all of us have big heavy 4wd tractors either. Put the angled blade behind my lightweight 2wd Kubota compact and it simply pulls me uncontrollably sideways. I have a rear blade and it is a 1-trick or 2-trick pony at best. Sure chains would likely solve this issue, but I do not live as far north as you either so I will pass.

Boxblade works well for me (in conjuction with loader). Bulldoze forward with loader and bulldoze rearward with box blade with control. Y-patterns or herringbone travel patterns are reasonably efficient too as I am almost always moving snow.

My Boxblade is an unlimited trick pony in a pinch compared to the 1 or 2 trick pony rear blade.

 

[rbargeron]

Is the clean / Drag a factory option or did you make it? It's a neat idea and never seen one before. Thanks

It was a home-grown project back in 2006. There's a TBN thread about it here. I did the link geometry in autocad. The blade can float to follow the ground - or it can push down - lifting the blower.

Back then Pronovost offered a very nice drag-away blower ($$) but I didn't find anybody making a drag blade as a separate attachment. About the same time, another TBN member Dylan was making one for his skid steer - see the thread.

 

[CJONE]

Efficient vs cost goes out the window when you get "five feet" on the level;as it happened on the Tug Hill (NY) last week.The only way to move that much snow is with a blower or front end loader equiptment.

Definatly agree with you on the blower OR FEL. I have plowed 34" of snow with a pickup and it was not fun but it CAN be done. A earlier poster said you couldn't clear deep snow with a FEL?? A FEL is what I use to push banks back with after a plow truck can't push anymore so I know a FEL will clear just about any depth of snow. When we get the non stop lake effect we usually are clearing continually through the event. The before mentioned 34" fell in about 5 hours or so between midnight and morning. That was fun to wake up to, it actually put my furnace out by plugging the fresh air intake!! CJ

 

[Boris1]

It was a home-grown project back in 2006. There's a TBN thread about it here. I did the link geometry in autocad. The blade can float to follow the ground - or it can push down - lifting the blower. Back then Pronovost offered a very nice drag-away blower ($$) but I didn't find anybody making a drag blade as a separate attachment. About the same time, another TBN member Dylan was making one for his skid steer - see the thread.

Thanks for the info, good looking project!

 

[NS Gearhead]

I think a loader mounted blade, and a rear mounted snowblower is the hot ticket. Plow is faster for say 10" or less, and you can stack high, and the blower for 10"+ or to push back your banks... but what do I know? I don't even have a tractor.

 

[railbike4]

This is the fastest way for me. But could use a cab.

very impressed . nice machine,

 

[deerseeker001]

tractor with loader and backblade