Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Who's ready for winter 13/14 ?

[sixdogs]

Oh, that map makes me feel better.

 

[Larro Darro]

Ready for winter??? We haven't had fall yet. But the forecast low for tonight has been lowered twice. From 63 to 61 this afternoon, and now down to 59. But it is still 70 at 1115 at night. So it had better start cooling off if it's going to break into the 50's tonight.

Larro

 

[dragoneggs]

Ready for winter??? We haven't had fall yet. But the forecast low for tonight has been lowered twice. From 63 to 61 this afternoon, and now down to 59. But it is still 70 at 1115 at night. So it had better start cooling off if it's going to break into the 50's tonight.

Larro

Florida... winter? What? ooooh 50s. Our high tomorrow is low 50s and low will be in the 30s! I need to plan a trip to Florida.

 

[Rayster]

I find that map interesting that the Texas / OK region being "Unusually Wet" and just north of that having "Normal Snowfall". This year has been unusually wet . So I'm expecting heavy snowfall.

I'm closer each day to being ready.


My jeep is always ready to pull the dimwits out of the ditches
(I'll pull 'em out for free, but it costs $40 to hook up the tow strap).

 

[dkhntr04]

I pulled the 59" front blower out of the back corner of the shed 3 weeks ago. Less than an hour and I can be blowing. Not planning on mounting it until after the snow has fallen.

 

[Piston]

I am almost thinking that if I could swing an extra $15,000 or so I would buy a tractor of this size without the FEL and then buy a skid steer at the same time. That would give me the best of both worlds.

Are you saying you'd like a second tractor and a skidsteer, or replace the 4.75 with a tractor and skidsteer? I don't see the advantage replacing one big tractor with 2 machines?

PS: I know I owe the forum a more detailed review and some better pictures...

Well, at least your aware of that... :laughing: But hey, somebody has to catch the bad guys!

 

[Lt CHEG]

Are you saying you'd like a second tractor and a skidsteer, or replace the 4.75 with a tractor and skidsteer? I don't see the advantage replacing one big tractor with 2 machines?


Well, at least your aware of that... :laughing: But hey, somebody has to catch the bad guys!

Hypothetically, if I were to trade the 4.75 in, I would probably replace it with another T4.75, T4.95, T4.105 or maybe even a T5.105 and a skid steer. I know that means that I'd have a tractor AND a skid steer to take care of, but I think that for my needs it would allow each machine to do what is needed of it more efficiently and likely do a better job. The tractor would handle mowing, brush hogging, snow blowing and other standard tractor work, while the skid steer would do the loader work, back filling and grading excavations and some of the other specialized things that skid steers do very well. I'm finding that for fine grading there's no substitute for the control afforded by a hydrostatic transmission and at the same time for doing more detailed work I much prefer being closer to my work with the better visibility that a skid steer provides. I'll say this though, the T4.75 seems to be the best overall compromise for my purposes. If I'm only going to have one tractor, I'm never going smaller than what I've got. For that matter with the cost of the higher PTO powered compacts that I would require to run a big snow caster I don't think I'd ever even consider anything smaller, the utility and ag tractors seem to be a much better value. As it is I'm very happy with what I've got and the only thing that I'll likely add to the stable any time soon would be a a ride on lawn mower to maintain the 1/3 acre or so of lawn that I want to keep golf course like immediately around the house once it's built. With this setup that I have currently I can mow the remainder of my property in half the time or less than I was able to with the Boomer 3040. I'm able to mow more often and do a nicer job and the "field" portion of my property is starting to look more and more lawn like.

As far as catching the bad guys, I'm hoping that as things get colder they will start to hibernate soon. I want to have the time to really put my new snow removal setup through its paces this winter!

 

[Piston]

You'd also have the ability to rent some pretty incredible attachments for the skidsteer! It's too bad they don't rent out more heavy duty PTO equipment, seems like all the "fun toys" are only available for skidsteers in the local rental yards. While your at it, I suggest purchasing a mini ex as well. just kidding of course. However, should you decide to really trade that in someday, I happen to know a nice guy from central MA that would likely purchase your 4.75 (wink wink).


Back to getting ready for winter, I'm about to purchase a set of Aqualine MPC chains for the front tires of my Kubota. This thread got me thinking more about them and "reminded" me about the last two winters when I waited too long.

I'm going to order though Ken Jones Tire in Worcester, MA. Anyone using these chains to help with snow clearing?

 

[Looking4new]

I'm still putting the gardens to bed, transplanting and building new beds and stocking them for next year. Around the end of October I will mount the snow blower and put the front tire chains on.
I can back blade the first two or three snowfalls with the bucket IF I have to.

 

[Piston]

Around the end of October I will mount the snow blower and put the front tire chains on.

What kind of chains do you use on the front? How well do they work? I was about to order a set of Aqualine MPC chains but I was talked out of it for my intended uses (winter logging and also plowing pavement.)

My dealer said good ole ladder chains would be my best compromise. The MPC chains supposedly don't do a lot for "off road".

 

[hoffmtim]

Hypothetically, if I were to trade the 4.75 in, I would probably replace it with another T4.75, T4.95, T4.105 or maybe even a T5.105 and a skid steer. I know that means that I'd have a tractor AND a skid steer to take care of, but I think that for my needs it would allow each machine to do what is needed of it more efficiently and likely do a better job. The tractor would handle mowing, brush hogging, snow blowing and other standard tractor work, while the skid steer would do the loader work, back filling and grading excavations and some of the other specialized things that skid steers do very well. I'm finding that for fine grading there's no substitute for the control afforded by a hydrostatic transmission and at the same time for doing more detailed work I much prefer being closer to my work with the better visibility that a skid steer provides. I'll say this though, the T4.75 seems to be the best overall compromise for my purposes. If I'm only going to have one tractor, I'm never going smaller than what I've got. For that matter with the cost of the higher PTO powered compacts that I would require to run a big snow caster I don't think I'd ever even consider anything smaller, the utility and ag tractors seem to be a much better value. As it is I'm very happy with what I've got and the only thing that I'll likely add to the stable any time soon would be a a ride on lawn mower to maintain the 1/3 acre or so of lawn that I want to keep golf course like immediately around the house once it's built. With this setup that I have currently I can mow the remainder of my property in half the time or less than I was able to with the Boomer 3040. I'm able to mow more often and do a nicer job and the "field" portion of my property is starting to look more and more lawn like.

As far as catching the bad guys, I'm hoping that as things get colder they will start to hibernate soon. I want to have the time to really put my new snow removal setup through its paces this winter!

I run the exact setup you're suggesting, only with a Deere instead of NH. There are definitely things my tractor doesnt handle nearly as well as the skid. The only thing I've found, in my situation, is I miss that second tractor for the farming I do. Can't attach 3pt equip to my skid steer, and it doesnt have a hitch to pull things easily. Thought about selling the skid to buy a second tractor, but the wife nixed that. Skid is too handy, she wont part with it!

 

[bellweather]

Nearly ready - Once mowing /leaf season is over, I will remove the mower deck and bagger from my BX22, mount the front loader AND attach my brandy new 60" rear blade I recently purchased from TSC, to which I added a HDPE plastic pipe to the cutting edge (500' gravel driveway). I also have a walk-behind Husky snow thrower, which I am hoping will see less use this year now that I have the rear blade. Then there are the two back-saver style snow shovels for the inevitable detail work and bucket of sand for the icy spots.

 

[Larro Darro]

No sign of winter, but fall got to NW Florida tonight. It is in the 40's for the first time of the year. Tonight's low is forecast for 43*. The highs for Friday and Saturday will be in the 60's. Since bow season starts this weekend, the cooler weather is right on time.

Larro

 

[JJZ 109]

One week until November and I've still got a raspberry bush with fruit on it that apparently doesn't know the difference! Sure would be nice to have one more week of good weather to button up the last few jobs and then shut down business for the winter.
But other than that, the fuel supply is stocked and it only takes a few minutes to grab the snow blower with the skid steer and we're ready to move snow. The lawn had it's final mowing of the season the the decks are cleaned up on the mowers. Now just a few more indoor items like winterizing the motorcycles and we'll be all set.

 

[jb62901]

Think I am Let it snow.

 

[JJZ 109]

Think I am View attachment 342835 View attachment 342836 Let it snow.

Looks like you got it coming and going!

 

[GPintheMitten]

Not ready yet. Heavy frost last night. My wife said there was ice on the horse trough and the hose was frozen.

Yah, I got to get ready.

 

[DeereMann]

Hard freeze up here (24 degrees F) 2 nights ago, and continuing snow flurries. Two more weeks to pick up my new 54" 2-stage snowblower! Bring it on!!

:cool2:

 

[DeereMann]

Think I am View attachment 342835 View attachment 342836 Let it snow.

Cool set up!

 

[ajd187]

My grass had frost on it this morning. Time to drop the mower deck and bust out the snow plow, although we won't have snow here for a month at least and realistically two or more.