FEL Mounted Plow or Back Blade

[grm61]

So I have a DK45HST Cab with the loader and backhoe, this will be my first winter with the tractor.

Of course I would like to have all the implements, but that's going to have to happen a little at a time.

Should I get a FEL Mounted Plow or Back Blade? I am plumbed on the loader cross member with the third function valve.

The only drawback I can see with the FEL plow is having to switch back to the bucket for scooping/moving piles.

And what about when the plow comes through and leaves a 3 foot deep 8 feet wide mess in front of my driveways that I might not be able to get to the same day, and it freezes, is the FEL plow going to move it or trip the springs? Will I be switching back to the bucket often?

As far as a FEL plow I was looking at these W.R. Long Front Blade Hydraulic Angle For Tractors and Subcompact Tractors up to 50HP I can't spend 3 or four grand on one.

So what do you think, Back blade (cheaper) or FEL Plow?

Thanks

 

[newbury]

I'd go for th FEL plow. And keep the backhoe mounted. Also get chains for the rears at least.

 

[Yandaddy1110]

Go with the FEL mounted plow, you will never look back, Ive plowed snowed in driveways with BBs, 3ph blower, and FEL mounted plows, and the FEL plow wins hands down. Your DK45 with that plow you mentioned would easily removed the bank at the end of the driveway, iced up and crusty, wont matter. Plus with the FEL mounted plow you can keep pushing the snow banks back.

 

[nybirdman]

I have a similar sized tractor(L4240 HSTC Kubota).I have an eight foot FEL mounted plow with power angle and haven't found anything(snow-wise) that I couldn't push.Remember you can raise the plow 8-9 ft.I run a rear mounted 7ft.blade also which is nice to go up to a door and pull the snow away.Mine is a converted truck plow,saved quite a few bucks with that.

 

[IndyIan]

I've been doing my quarter mile driveway with a rear blade, but going forwards with it. Works fine for under a foot of snow. More than that, I need to turn it around and go backwards, but that only happens every couple years it seems. I'm sure a front blade is better, but $350 for a rear blade is hard to beat for just doing my own driveway.

 

[2458n]

Build one your self with the truck plow. You could even hook it to the existing bucket. Check on the build it section here. I have the Boss plow that goes left ,right, and V's both ways on a truck. Slick yes, but the plow on the front loader also pushes snow pretty tall.

 

[DK35vince]

That's What I did.
Found an old truck plow. (a 9' Western truck plow).
Welded on a skid steer QA. Total cost was a little over $500.
Works great and has power angle.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Recycled truck plow is working great for me. Had a local shop weld up a quick attach plate with the push beam from the truck mount welded to it.

 

[vtsnowedin]

 

[grm61]

Around here they don't give the truck plows away, you could by a new tractor plow for what they want for a used truck plow.

 

[Katahdin]

I converted a truck plow too. Here's a video of it. My plow retains its original 12V hydraulic pump and electrical controls so I can swap it back over to the truck if need be. I won't be without the front plow (my preference) but this winter I'll be trying out a rear mounted grader blade too for fun. I found a box blade was useful for pulling snow in at the end of the driveway so I didn't need to back the tractor out into traffic on a hill where the road also curves. The only downside of the box blade was it clogged up easily, I figure the rear blade will be more useful since it deflects snow and I might be able to cut wider paths if I have both blades angled to opposites sides. Here's a good video from EA on rear blade snow removal.

Anywho, funny story re snow piles. I went to Texas last winter for Christmas and left my wife the keys to the GMC with the same Boss plow on the tractor. There was a few big storms in Maine that week and my wife plowed out towards the end of the driveway but didn't push the piles far enough to either side to get a vehicle through. Not knowing what to do then, she got out the snow shovel and dug a path between the two piles just large enough to get her mini cooper out the driveway to pick me up at the airport, LOL! Yup, I had to use the tractor loader that evening to move both piles of snow at the end of the driveway before it froze solid!

Anywho, its no big deal if you have quick attack to swap the plow over to the loader bucket. I went back forth pushing snow and moving firewood all winter. Just keep an eye on the weather forcast and make sure the correct attachment is on before the snow flys.

 

[94BULLITT]

A plow setup like vtsnowedin's works the best. It keeps the weight of the loader on the tractor. With the weight of the loader on the tractor 4WD is more effective and there is not as much weight riding of the skid shoes so it will not dig in the gravel as bad.

This is my plow. I want to get rid of it and convert a truck plow and do a similar setup like vtsnowedin's.

 

[tractchores]

I use a back blade. It's great for less than 10", more and it gets slow or i go in reverse. A fel plow would be way better but much more costly.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Around here they don't give the truck plows away, you could by a new tractor plow for what they want for a used truck plow.

Well your not buying anything new for the $600 I paid for mine on CL. Just a matter of how much rust and rebuilding you are comfortable with.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/267886-8-foot-fisher-plow-5045e.html
Here is the thread where I went over building the setup I have.

 

[grm61]

A plow setup like vtsnowedin's works the best. It keeps the weight of the loader on the tractor. With the weight of the loader on the tractor 4WD is more effective and there is not as much weight riding of the skid shoes so it will not dig in the gravel as bad.

This is my plow. I want to get rid of it and convert a truck plow and do a similar setup like vtsnowedin's.

What brand is your plow?
Have you used it with chains on the fronts?
Whatdaya want for it?

 

[grm61]

Well your not buying anything new for the $600 I paid for mine on CL. Just a matter of how much rust and rebuilding you are comfortable with.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/267886-8-foot-fisher-plow-5045e.html
Here is the thread where I went over building the setup I have.

Nothing on CL around here for that kind of money.

 

[94BULLITT]

What brand is your plow?
Have you used it with chains on the fronts?
Whatdaya want for it?

It is a Edge Plow by CE Attachments. I think they are hooked up with Gehl that makes skid steers.

You can put bolts in it to lock out the spring trip and use it as a dozer blade but I never used it like that.

Product Navigation

I never used it with chains on the front or rear.

Let me think about a price. Do you live close to Virginia?

 

[94BULLITT]

Whatdaya want for it?

How about $3200. It has flat faced couplers on it. If your tractor has AG couplers I have a new set that I will switch out.

 

[grm61]

How about $3200. It has flat faced couplers on it. If your tractor has AG couplers I have a new set that I will switch out.

Thankyou Roger, I am in WA state, that is one stout blade, I'm thinking that trying to figure out a way to ship it, and cost of shipping would put it out of my budget.

When I seen how much it weighed, I knew it wasn't a cheap plow, that thing is a beast.
With it being so heavy, I wonder if you took the skid shoes off, and just tried to eyeball the blade height without running the loader in float how things might work? 1300 pounds setting on the ground plus the loader arms is gonna dig stuff up.

I wonder if the first the first time you get 2 or three inches of snow, if you drive around drive around and pack it down to get a base, then maybe that might keep things out of the gravel better?

 

[94BULLITT]

Thankyou Roger, I am in WA state, that is one stout blade, I'm thinking that trying to figure out a way to ship it, and cost of shipping would put it out of my budget.

When I seen how much it weighed, I knew it wasn't a cheap plow, that thing is a beast.
With it being so heavy, I wonder if you took the skid shoes off, and just tried to eyeball the blade height without running the loader in float how things might work? 1300 pounds setting on the ground plus the loader arms is gonna dig stuff up.

I wonder if the first the first time you get 2 or three inches of snow, if you drive around drive around and pack it down to get a base, then maybe that might keep things out of the gravel better?

Yeah it would cost a fair amount to ship it since it is so big. This blade weighs 750lbs, it is the "light duty" one. The ground here is so uneven that you would have to constantly be working the loader up and down or the plow would hit and you would be really digging in. I can manually work it up and down on the more level areas and do fine but I can't go but 3 or 4 MPH doing this. I am worried that packing it will turn it into ice.