Remove snow drifts - blower or plow?

[PandDLong]

In my area, we get dry snow in quantities that are usually handled pretty well with my rear blade. The challenge is that the wind will blow and can leave me drifts that are 3-4 feet deep and 10-15 wide. On top of that the wind packs the snow in fairly solid - not icy just packed dry snow. In the past I've had to chip away at the drift with my FEL and blade which only works so-so and takes a long time - but I'm going to upgrade my tractor (30-35 net hp) and figure now is a good time to get the right equipment for the job.

I'm considering a rear-mount blower or a frame attached snow blade.

What do you recommend for clearing big snow drifts? What are the tips from the experienced pros?

 

[sailfast]

If your back blade works to clear the snow then don't waste your money.

A FEL is ideal for clearing drifts. A bigger bucket on that bigger tractor and you are golden.

Sent from my MB525 using TractorByNet

 

[flyingcow]

If you got the room, i got out in the field beside my driveway and make snow fence. Only go out 3 or 4 times a winter and re-open the lanes. Helps for in between storms when it's windy. I have a rear mount blower and like it. But eventually will have a snow plow on the FEL. Than I can plow down and back on small storms, wind row snow into middle of driveway, than make one pass with the blower.

The frame attached snowblade is a nice option too. i think you'll be impressed with how a 35hp tractor can push the snow.

BTW- i have a 650ft driveway located on a hill with fields. We avg 8 to 10ft of snowfall in a season.

 

[SpringHollow]

A snow plow is a great way to remove drifts if you have any drop off to the side of the driveway or can push to the down wind side so that you are not create large piles that will catch even more snow. Loader mounted plow is great for making huge piles.

Ken

 

[Mathias NY]

A 3-4' tall drift for 10-15' will be a lot of loader work for 35hp tractor. Consider an FEL and a blower on the back. The advantage of the blower is not creating piles of snow, that would in turn make bigger drifts. As a benefit, the blower makes a great counterweight for FEL work when you get in situations where you can't safety blow the snow.

 

[FatTire]

It is surprisingly difficult to get a blower to cut into hard drifted snow. if you get wind like we do, you'll find that not just the blower, but the entire rear end of the tractor will ride up over a hard drift. One solution is to break it up a bit with your loader, turn around, and back into the broken-up chunks with the blower. From what you described of your situation, I'd rather have a loader and blower than a plow. Even if you always plow toward your lee side, plowing creates a bit of a berm on the windward side which worsens your drifting problem. You can usually avoid that with a blower.

 

[dave1949]

It is surprisingly difficult to get a blower to cut into hard drifted snow. if you get wind like we do, you'll find that not just the blower, but the entire rear end of the tractor will ride up over a hard drift. One solution is to break it up a bit with your loader, turn around, and back into the broken-up chunks with the blower. From what you described of your situation, I'd rather have a loader and blower than a plow. Even if you always plow toward your lee side, plowing creates a bit of a berm on the windward side which worsens your drifting problem. You can usually avoid that with a blower.

That makes sense to me. I am surprised by the amount of traction needed to push a rear blower into snow that is only mildly wind-packed and dry by Alberta standards. When cutting through a 3'-4' foot drift, there will always be a trench waiting to drift full again with wind or wind+new snow, unless your driveway runs with the prevailing winds rather than across them. That won't change whether you plow, bucket or blow. All methods will be helped by pushing back snow on the upwind side so the drift that will rebuild takes a while to get to the driveway. Sometimes I think when the upwind pile is high enough, it provides enough lift for the blowing snow to go completely over the driveway instead of building up on it. Every storm is a little different here.

 

[nybirdman]

With your conditions:rear blower and light materials bucket for the front.Light materials bucket will have more volume than a standard bucket.

 

[Marveltone]

With your conditions:rear blower and light materials bucket for the front.Light materials bucket will have more volume than a standard bucket.

I agree. My bucket is huge for my tractor and works great for back dragging snow away from buildings, as well as piling up or breaking up hard snow drifts. Between that, the rear mounted blower, and a set of chains, I feel pretty invincible! ...and this is with a little 22 HP tractor.

Joe

 

[Tig]

We drift very heavy around here. Plowing just makes for more and bigger drifts off the plow banks. I use a blower. Sometime I even throw the snow straight up and let the wind take it away.
Like FatTire described, sometimes the loader has to be used to create an edge for the blower to bite into.

 

[PandDLong]

Thanks for the info. A blower is less $ than a plow and it sounds like keeping the loader/bucket on with a blower is the way to go.

 

[SpringHollow]

I routinely buy used truck plows for $100 or so and weld on attachment plates for tractor FEL use.

Ken

 

[slowzuki]

I do several long driveways next to fields. I can blade once or twice but then the ditches are filled and I have a deep slot that fills with every little snowfall. A blower with a cutting edge works great and will cut drifts no problem. Our old blower had a skid edge that worked well the first couple of early storms with unfrozen ground but was a pain with riding up after that. Bucket is a waste of time on a long drift. Too much time unless you crave tractor time. I was doing 14 driveways, 3 of them in the 1/2 mile long range and it made for early mornings to get it done before people leave for work. When the blower breaks and I have to use the loader it more than doubles the time needed.

 

[Furu]

Thanks for the info. A blower is less $ than a plow and it sounds like keeping the loader/bucket on with a blower is the way to go.

What blower have you found that is less than a plow? I find that blower prices are a lot more expensive.

 

[PandDLong]

Furu - the prices I have, from a Kubota dealer, are a 64" rear snowblower for $2200, frame attached plow for about $3500, and a FEL mounted plow for more than that (admittedly that's because it needs the third hydraulics for the loader which I don't currently have.

 

[PandDLong]

Slowzuki - having never had a snow blower before - what is a cutting edge for a blower? Sounds like a great idea - can I add one if mine is not equipped?

 

[slowzuki]

P and D, My older Lucknow only has one leg of the angle iron frame that slides along the ground. It's been replaced 2 or 3 times in the blowers life due to wearing paper thin. My newer Normand has a replaceable cutting edge just like a box blade would have, its just in behind the auger and scrapes down very well if you lower the skids so it takes weight. On the down side, its poor in soft ground as its peels up dirt like a 2000 lb box blade would.

There is an option for a hydraulic swung skid that swings down for the blower to ride on in gravel.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I remember some guy cutting a pipe or a barrel in half to make a poor mans snow bucket. Cheaper than a Light Materials bucket...

 

[savageactor7]

FEL for sure, sometimes you can get lucky and use a snow fence to make it drift 20 or so yards away from where it usually packs up. Thing is with a snow fence you have to get the advice of an old-timer on the best way to deploy it. It's not as easy as most think...but they do work and are known be be a real labor saver.

PS back when we did blow snow that drifted you always had to make some shovel music to knock down those hardened snow roofs.

 

[snowjoker]

A snow fence placed at least 50-75 feet behind your major drifting areas will be the cheapest defense in helping the drift problems. Another thing is, when the wind blows KEEP UP with the drifting by plowing it , don't let it get ahead of you ! A blower will definitely help at times, but a front mounted blade on your loader will help big time when your plowing. If you lack room to put the snow... Get the blower. If you can push it way off the driveway.. get a plow..