Buying Advice Small Tractor For Snow Removal?

[forestcreature1]

One big disadvantage with the rear blower, however, is that you can get a sore neck from looking backward all the time. Check out some of the discussions on TBN, because the solution for many is to get a rearview camera or a mirror.

Many of our nothern cousins are using pull type blowers [youtube for inverted snow blower] for driveway clearing.
Most of those are on full-sized utility tractors because they want the road speed and wider blower width.

 

[check]

I am looking for something that I will be able to park in my garage (84 inch clearance).

Well, the BX25 is 85.4" tall with the ROPS up, so you would have to lower the ROPS to get it in to your garage.

 

[MDOGG]

Well, the BX25 is 85.4" tall with the ROPS up, so you would have to lower the ROPS to get it in to your garage.

Thanks Check. A lot to consider. I feel better that these smaller tractors will be able to move snow. A couple people I have talked to have said oh well you wouldn't want anything smaller than 40hp.

 

[brown40]

The rule 'you can never buy too big' seems to really apply perfectly for snow. The elements can occasionally overwhelm the 'best' set up and leave plow trucks pretty well useless. Last winter snowblowers and massive dedicated FEL's were all that could open folks up once drifts got big. At 84" you leave a pretty small unit with a cab, which you'd want for a dedicated snow remover. You can do a lot with a little or big tractor, but not as fast as a plow truck can.

 

[check]

Best thing would be to rent a BX25 from Home Depot in Barrie for a day and try it out. Kubota made it to be real tough - for example, the Backhoe is frame mounted (unlike the Kioti which you mentioned). In any case, they will all blow the snow, and it is just a matter of the width of the blower. If you want to make fewer passes, you need a wider blower, but then you need a bigger tractor, which costs more money, and so does the wider blower... If you live close to your customers, you can keep ahead of the snow and do most of it with the low, and then use the FEL and blower when the piles get really high at the side of the driveway.

 

[MDOGG]

Very true about the size. What tractor would you recommend.

 

[check]

Very true about the size. What tractor would you recommend.

How much money do you have? We TBNers are VERY good at spending other people's money.:cool2:

 

[MDOGG]

I didn't know you could rent one at Home Depot. Cool. I would also consider the Kubota 3030. I like the Kioti a lot mainly because of the price. They seem well built too.

 

[MDOGG]

I want to spend 25k max. I really need to get out to the dealers this weekend and take a look.

 

[check]

I want to spend 25k max. I really need to get out to the dealers this weekend and take a look.

Good idea. Except that it's going to rain starting Friday afternoon and then a lot of rain on Saturday.

 

[KennyG]

I would wonder if there is any small tractor with a cab that will go through a 7 foot garage door.

 

[MDOGG]

Pretty sure the Kubota b30 will. TractorData.com Kubota B3030 tractor dimensions information

 

[oldpilgrim]

I feel better that these smaller tractors will be able to move snow.

They'll move snow alright, just slower than a larger one.

 

[Garycw]

And for commercial use, it's a much better option... SR

A jeep would be much more maneuverable than a truck.
Even a cheap geo tracker 4x4 with plow.
Any 4x4 scut w/ tire chains & plow would work too

 

[check]

Pretty sure the Kubota b30 will. TractorData.com Kubota B3030 tractor dimensions information

Yup. Looks like it will. However, they do not seem to sell that particular model new anymore.

Another question is, will you have use for a backhoe? If not then you could get a tractor without it, and save a lot of money. The BX25 comes standard with a backhoe, so I don't believe you have the option of eliminating it.

 

[varmint]

Looked at Tractordata, and the height they give is for the backhoe- not a cabbed tractor, so I would double check that. And sometimes, an approach to a garage door is sloped to drain, making the tractor's actual height a bit more when it runs in. I learned that the hard way, but with a barn door, not a nice garage. 84" isn't always 84", in other words.

 

[check]

Looked at Tractordata, and the height they give is for the backhoe- not a cabbed tractor, so I would double check that. And sometimes, an approach to a garage door is sloped to drain, making the tractor's actual height a bit more when it runs in. I learned that the hard way, but with a barn door, not a nice garage. 84" isn't always 84", in other words.

Same problem with, say, a new Kubota B2650HST. With the cab, it's 84 1/2" high, but with just the ROPS it is only 78" high. Also, it lists at $19,265 without the cab, but a whopping $29,332 with the cab! (I don't bother with a cab myself - I just bundle up, and I do my tractoring just South of Algonquin Park.) Maybe you could check out some aftermarket cabs?

Note as well that these prices are without FEL or blower, which would add another $5k or so, for a total of maybe $24k - $25k before tax. However, MSRP is of course not what you will likely have to pay, so go out and negotiate if you want one of them, and remember there is a 0% financing deal on right now as well. And don't forget to check out the cost of a plow, since the B2650 has a nice quick attach mechanism for the FEL.

 

[check]

Same problem with, say, a new Kubota B2650HST. With the cab, it's 84 1/2" high, but with just the ROPS it is only 78" high. Also, it lists at $19,265 without the cab, but a whopping $29,332 with the cab! (I don't bother with a cab myself - I just bundle up, and I do my tractoring just South of Algonquin Park.) Maybe you could check out some aftermarket cabs?

Note as well that these prices are without FEL or blower, which would add another $5k or so, for a total of maybe $24k - $25k before tax. However, MSRP is of course not what you will likely have to pay, so go out and negotiate if you want one of them, and remember there is a 0% financing deal on right now as well. And don't forget to check out the cost of a plow, since the B2650 has a nice quick attach mechanism for the FEL.

just out of curiosity, I called up Church Farm Supplies in Innisfill, and they gave me a price of $23k OTD (including taxes) for the tractor and FEL - nice discount! Then, if you add about $2k for the rear blower (B2789, I believe), you will be very close to your $25k.

 

[Allan_Cen_Ont]

I want to spend 25k max. I really need to get out to the dealers this weekend and take a look.

The dealer for Kubota is Churchs and for NH and Mahindra Richards and Kioti would be Beards on the Horseshoe Valley road and JD either Huron in Stayner or Premier in Alliston. As you will get more snow than I will up by Orillia in the winter as Barrie and surrounding area seems to get more .

 

[Garandman]

So what type of machine would you recommend?

No ATV unfortunately. I will keep what you said about debris and blowers in mind. If I had the FEL maybe I could scrape it down a bit with that although that probably not ideal?

In these parts the contractors would often tow a Bobcat to each job.

200x50, that sounds like larger front-end loader.