What's your ideal snow removal tool?

[CDN Farm Boy]

Not to mention a tractor that size pretty much throws "manuverable" out the window... .

Would there ever be a reason you wouldn't want the blower on the front?

You'd be surprised how maneuverable they can be. With split brakes you can lock up the inside rear wheel and pivot around it; it's more effective in reverse than forward but it works very well both ways. With practice, you can drop the blower as you pull into the drive, just before you get to the house step on the inside brake and lift the blower, back up to the door a couple times and drive out. Depending on layout, I'd often leave the blower down for the turn saving a couple of the backups.

As already said, front blower is nice that you can see it but a real pain if you want to do anything else with the tractor, especially use a loader.

The bigger issue is what do you do with an 80 hp tractor for the summer?

 

[Piston]

Not to mention a tractor that size pretty much throws "manuverable" out the window...

A tractor and rear blower is actually a lot more maneuverable than a pickup truck. It's pretty surprising how much you can make a tractor "dance" around in tight spaces. This is where the split brakes will shine.

I don't have experience with a jeep but I'm sure they are very maneuverable as well, however I'd bet not as maneuverable as a tractor.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I would like one of those Italian made tractors that are 4x4 with equil weight on all 4 tires, low to the ground and a reversable drivers station. put a plow on the front and a blower on the back. If the snow is light plow it going forward, if it is heavy flip the drivers station around and blow it again going forward. It takes a total of 5 sec, to flip it around.:cool2:

 

[NS Gearhead]

I don't have experience with a jeep but I'm sure they are very maneuverable as well, however I'd bet not as maneuverable as a tractor.

Not at the moment... but just because I added 2" wheel spacers and I now rub on my rock rails when turning... just need to find the time to trim them. Limited to 2/3 turning... and it sucks. Otherwise, yes it turns pretty sharp being as short as it is.

Ok, so I'm pretty well decided on a home made vehicle with tires and front mounted blower... I do love building things. I think of myself as being kind of a mad scientist in this regards. I drive my wife nuts with all the crazy ideas I come up with. LOL

So here's one question; what would you go with; non-steering axles in an articulating style steering, or dual steering axles? Non steering axles are much cheaper and tire clearances would be much less of a design issue... but the center section and hydraulics would add to the cost and complexity. Perhaps six of one, half dozen of the other.

Here are some pictures to stimulate some conversation/ debate;

Not what I described, but a sweet little setup... perhaps the cab off one of these could be used when they're more available

Made this one a long time ago... would be rear engine, hydraulic plowered

cab over, truck based... ugly as sin. LOL

better cab over configuration... I'd probably go with a flat deck for visibility... some weight on there if it was needed... maybe make it dump capable so it's more useful throughout the year.

Starting to look like a Unimog... maybe that's what I should be looking at? They do come in smaller sizes.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Here we go; home made combine style cab, air ride seats, 7.3 mid engine, flat deck, 4 wheel steer... LOL This is too much fun.

 

[NS Gearhead]

UNIMOG 406-MB4/94 With Snowblower and Plow - Moncton Farming Equipment For Sale - Kijiji Moncton Canada.

Dang that blower sticks out far! That'd be great for taking the banks away from the driveway's edge... but suck for turning around!

 

[KubotainNH]

No matter what you do you have to have a backup. I have a 6.5' fisher on my Cherokee and love it. Turning radius is tight and easy to maneuver. If it's gonna snow I'll put the plow on and head to work so I can plow when I get home. It's warm, comfy, quick and I can listen to tunes. I have a decent sized gravel driveway so not best for a blower. My backup is my B6100 which I have a wooden snow pusher that hangs off the bucket. I use it if the banks need to be pushed back or if I want some seat time. I've seen something similar to this around, looks like it would be great for plow or blower visibility. 2012 ISUZU NPR EFI for sale in Boston, Massachusetts - Commercial Truck Trader

 

[Morning Wood]

Inverted blower and tractor with FEL and snow bucket. There is a dude on plowsite.com that runs tractors and inverted blowers. For banging out driveways this is the most efficient setup hands down. I you are doing 50-60 driveways by yourself you want to have a very efficient backup machine and efficient operation in general. That's alot of drives for one person even with them being close together.

 

[FatTire]

UNIMOG 406-MB4/94 With Snowblower and Plow - Moncton Farming Equipment For Sale - Kijiji Moncton Canada.

Dang that blower sticks out far! That'd be great for taking the banks away from the driveway's edge... but suck for turning around!

That does stick out too far. There are far better mog blower setups than this . If "ideal" includes "cost is no object" then I nominate the current generation U500 unimog. Both my Kubota and my old mog are fun to operate in the snow, and I bet these new ones would be also.

Unimog U500 snow implements - YouTube

 

[NS Gearhead]

Don't know what version this is (406?)... but I like it alot! Cab over, smallish, tractor tires, diesel...

sneeuwruimen met Unimog - YouTube