Winter's a-comin'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

[Tonester]

Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

I am putting together a Tractor package this week and the subject of snow removal came up from the CFO. We've been using a truck plow, but our driveways are taking a beating (bluestone) even when we plow carefully and the piles on the house drive have to be moved regularly with the FEL. We get alot of snow here in NH most years. Would it be worth investing in a rear mount blower? Would a good tractor snow blade be any improvement over the truck? Any other suggestions? Or should I just stick with what I'm doing and live with the damage?

Thanks

 

[shady1701]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

while were on the subject with a blade i was wondering what is the best way to setup a straight blade at angle forward or maybe backward's at an angle as to not dig in?

 

[mgrick]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

Sounds like the same problem I had when I first built my home.800ft gravel driveway and TRG around the lower drive in front of my home.I had it plowed the first few years and what a mess in the spring.So I got a 42" FM blower for my Honda 5518.Takes a long time but no more piles of stone on the lawn and snow banks to worry about.So this spring I bought a Kioti DK35 and now that winter is around the corner I'm going to be looking for a 6' RM blower to cut down on my snow removel time.After using a snowblower I would never go back to a plow.So what if you have to sit a little different and look back,half the time when I'm brushhogging I'm going backwards anyway(well maybe not quite half) but it doesn't seem to bother me.The only part that sucks is the snow blowing back in the face. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Rick

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

The best I think the best set up is a 3 pt snowblower and the FEL. Here is my set up, 54 inch Puma, and home made cab from a golf cart cover, works great. You DO NOT want to blow snow without a cab.

Good luck

 

[Slamfire]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

Using a grader blade to plow snow requires you do the opposite of what you do to grade your driveway. Angle the blade forward on the high end, and run that down the middle of the drive. Leaves an awful mess, scrapin' gravel off the driveway. But the snows are not particularly frequent here, and generally melt before the next one, so I ususally get it repaired in time for the next. There is way too much slippin' and slidin' for my taste. Maybe with the duals I'll have less trouble. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

I agree with Tom. I'd definitely go with a snow blower. They don't ruin your roads like scraping does. You don't have to pick nearly the gravel out of your lawn either.

 

[shady1701]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

usualy if i reverse my blade to the lesser angle it doesn't take gravel so i'd assume it wouldn't take it with snow? but if we get snow it's rare mostly ice.. i use to have a ford lawn mower with cat 0 box scraper but ended up sliding into the ditch last time /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[crown]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

How much does the 54 puma cost?

 

[NATTYBUMPO]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

We used to live in NW NJ and had a 1800' gravel driveway which ran thru a swamp(ie nowwhere to push the snow). We occasionally had a noreaster which dumped 18-24" on us. Even a diesel F350 couldn't handle it then. We finally went to a 5' NH RM blower on a K 3010 4WD with FEL. That was the ticket. But pickin' up gravel and having shoot 50' like a machine gun was NOT a good thing. Had to keep adjusting the skid shoes.

We now live in MW MI where we get 200+ inches of snow a year. Same setup and I will say that the RM blower works much better on a paved driveway. No more machine gun effect! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Natty B.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: Winter\'s a-comin\'!! Blade, Blower or truck???

I paid $1000 last May 02, I think they go for about $1200-$1300.