Which is best? Truck w/Plow, FEL Plow, or Rear blade? Help the Noob...

[varmint]

I am looking for a front plow setup, because, at 68, my neck doesn't like twisting around to watch what I am pushing/pulling. That said, my 5' HD rear blade combined with the 4' front bucket (and good chains on my rear turfs) will deal with anything we've been hit with. That incluces 56" of snow in two storms within a week or so. Takes time, but with a gear tractor, everything takes a little longer. I clear about a 1000' of gravel lane, so I know I'd love a heated cab, but it ain't gonna happen.

 

[dragoneggs]

I am looking for a front plow setup, because, at 68, my neck doesn't like twisting around to watch what I am pushing/pulling. That said, my 5' HD rear blade combined with the 4' front bucket (and good chains on my rear turfs) will deal with anything we've been hit with. That incluces 56" of snow in two storms within a week or so. Takes time, but with a gear tractor, everything takes a little longer. I clear about a 1000' of gravel lane, so I know I'd love a heated cab, but it ain't gonna happen.

What about side view mirrors? Sorry if this sounds silly, but just added these (golf cart mirrors) to my little BX for the very reason of not having to constantly be looking backwards while going forwards.

 

[LD1]

I think you are right Fred, but I was suggesting the pusher because a pick up plow costs much more, and puts more wear and tear on your vehicle.

Cheers

A pickup plow cost less if you buy used. And there are far more of them out there to find,

 

[RichZ]

I have about a 1/4 mile driveway in upstate NY where we get a lot of snow. I have a nice heavy duty backblade that I got cheap at an auction and an FEL on my 46 hp Kubota (with a nice heated cab). The nice thing about a backblade is you don't have to find a place to put the snow. You pull it out to the road, pick it up with the FEL and pile it on the shoulder of your road. I've tried the other ways, I think the backblade is the easiest and most efficient, and we sometimes get 2 feet of snow at a time, and I never have any problem clearing the snow.

 

[LD1]

NO question that these little tractors are amazing in the snow. My L3400 amazes me to this day how well it gets around, and the kind of snow I can move with my 7' blade. I just prefer my truck as it is nice and warm, and lots faster. But I plow commercially with it. I use the kubota on days like yesterday. Where forecasts were for near 60 degree high. I pull out some of the piles and spread it around the drive. Alot of snow scattered thin over a large area melts faster than a single large pile. Plus it helps keep gravel where it is supposed to be. Again, just amazing what it can do for being a light machine.

 

[batwing]

This recent unpleasantness with the snow will soon be but a memory. :laughing:

Seriously, if that was a very rare event for your location, I would upgrade to 4x4 pickup and call that a 95% solution. That last 5% isn't worth spending money on for plows and such. For the rare times you need to clear deep snow, the tractor FEL will do it, maybe you need chains.

After reading all the suggestions I believe this is the best one, alone with the Beverage!!
Ron

 

[MossflowerWoods]

After reading all the suggestions I believe this is the best one, alone with the Beverage!!
Ron

Ron,

The cold beer :drink: definately wins the day!

David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Guys & Gals,

I believe the following...

#1 - After thawing the "destrction" to my driveway was exaggerated. It is not great, but way better shape than I thought.
#2 -I'm going to put in some kind of stakes to mark the edges, most of he "damage" is due to capping the crown or the edge.
#3 - I'm going to look into a used 7' or 8' back blade...
#4- When I buy my 4x4 pickup I will search craigslist etc. this spring/summer for cheap truck plow setup.

Thank you all for participating!

#5 - Everything is better with a cold one shared between good friends! rink:

Be well,
David

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Guys & Gals,

I believe the following...

#1 - After thawing the "destrction" to my driveway was exaggerated. It is not great, but way better shape than I thought.
#2 -I'm going to put in some kind of stakes to mark the edges, most of he "damage" is due to capping the crown or the edge.
#3 - I'm going to look into a used 7' or 8' back blade...
#4- When I buy my 4x4 pickup I will search craigslist etc. this spring/summer for cheap truck plow setup.

Thank you all for participating!

#5 - Everything is better with a cold one shared between good friends! rink:

Be well,
David

David, in your search, look for an 8 footer, your tractor will handle an 8 footer. If you can find one similar to one of these or better-heavier, so much the better. Ideally you want something that is 100lbs + per foot of width for a rear blade, but even something that is about 75lbs per foot width will work OK. Once in awhile a really good deal will show up, but you sort of need to figure on spending about $1000 to get something that you actually want and will work well for you.

And of course we are talking used here, new would be 2k or more.
Good luck with everything.

 

[Farmtruck]

Guys & Gals,

So I got about 10" snow with a crust of freezing rain on top last Thursday, followed by 5" snow on Friday, and then rain on Saturday.

I have ~1/4 mile long gravel drive with 90 degree turn and loop down to the house on a steep hill from the gate, and another ~1/4 mile gravel easement (mostly straight, slight curve and minor slope) from the pavement to my gate.

My Front Wheel drive commuter got stuck in the slushy ice, my soon to be Ex has the AWD crossover and in the process of trying to clear enough of the 15" of mess to be able to go get my kids or go to work (I did not get to the pavement except on my tractor from Wed eveing until late Saturday afternoon) backdragging with my FEL bucket destroyed my driveway.

I need to make a change before next winter (hoping I surive the rest of this winter and the rainy season this spring).

Do I just go get a 4x4 pickup with a snow plow? Get an 8' rear Blade for the 3pt? Or invest in a Front Plow Blade for the FEL?

Sometimes in the past I've had more money than brains, and in reality not much of either. But with my impending divorce, and the state of the economy in general, I need to try to be reasonable and thrifty.

But this last few days has almost made me HATE snow for the first time in my alomst 50 years of life.

I'm looking to replace my trusty 2wd F-150 4-door with something better and 4x4 as my backup vehicle, but I really need to find a livable solution to this occasional situation.

I'm all ears...

Thanks in advance,
Be well,
David

I have a Mahindra 4530 4wd with a FEL. I welded an old meyer pickup truck snowplow onto a quick attach plate. I have a box blade on the tractor also. The plow works great but I have to get off the tractor to pivot the blade. The bracket cost $150 and an old plow is usually under $400.