V-Plow for FEL

[millsan1]

I have a 1200' driveway, so I feel your pain.

I actually went with a snow pusher last year and was much happier. The problem with plows is you eventually build up mounds on either side of the drive and you then have to get rid of them, because you can't push any more snow to the sides. With the pusher, I can get rid of lots of snow and move it off the driveway and away from the edges.

I am backing it up with a PTO Snowblower as well.

For lighter snows, I use my Mule with a plow.

 

[MossRoad]

What's the difference between a snow pusher and a plow?

 

[ruffdog]

I think the snow pusher is a large light duty box blade made for snow. It has runners it rides on and collects snow in the box. I think it would work good for a parking area or area between buildings with limited pile areas.

Snow Pusher

 

[millsan1]

https://cdn.shopjfi.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/1200x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/j/o/joseph_fazzio_snow_pusher_4.jpg

A snow pusher is basically a three sided box. When I am pushing the snow off the driveway, and the box gets full, I just continue to the side and push it off 10' or so, leaving me lots of room for more snow in the future.

I have a 7' pusher on my Mahindra, and you would be surprised how much you can load up in that thing. I am one to fight the snow as it is falling. If I get on it with 3"-6" of snow, I can push the majority of my driveway with 2 or 3 loads.

 

[ruffdog]

Here is a video comparing a bucket and snow pusher....in action. The bucket you have to dump which takes time.
BUCKET VS SNOW PUSHER - YouTube

 

[DarkHelmet]

https://cdn.shopjfi.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/1200x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/j/o/joseph_fazzio_snow_pusher_4.jpg

A snow pusher is basically a three sided box. When I am pushing the snow off the driveway, and the box gets full, I just continue to the side and push it off 10' or so, leaving me lots of room for more snow in the future.

I have a 7' pusher on my Mahindra, and you would be surprised how much you can load up in that thing. I am one to fight the snow as it is falling. If I get on it with 3"-6" of snow, I can push the majority of my driveway with 2 or 3 loads.

I have the same machine as you and a similar length driveway. What pusher do you use?

 

[millsan1]

I have the same machine as you and a similar length driveway. What pusher do you use?

I bought it off a guy who fabbed it. It is 7' wide and when it gets deep, it is a bit much for the machine. So a 6' unit would be easy work, regardless of snow depth. I think an 8' would be too much.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks. I've seen them for years. Didn't know the term.

 

[FatTire]

I could live without a v-plow, or beer. But I wouldn't purposely choose that kind of life.

 

[Pibster]

Nice, did you build that? How wide is each wing?

 

[ray66v]

Tractor FELs are not designed nor built to PUSH heavy loads. Something will buckle if your push regularly.

The forces applied to the FEL arms pushing a snow plow, do not differ from those exerted when driving with the bucket down, and pushing the bucket into a pile of dirt. And, they are most defiantly designed to do that.

Yes, there is a possibility of the plow hitting something and damaging the FEL. Just as there is a possibility or the bucket hitting something, and damaging the FEL, when using that. Or, a frame mounted plow hitting something and damaging everything. Any use of a tractor, carries with it, the possibility that some sort of damage can occur.

If the plow is sprung properly, it will actually trip and completely prevent damage, in a case where the FEL bucket could not do so. This is why I would rather have a plow, than a snow pusher.

With a proper set up, and reasonable care, it is most certainly possible to plow snow with a FEL mounted plow.

 

[SpringHollow]

And with a hydraulic tilt V-Plow, you can also get a snow pusher that has spring protection by reversing the V That is how I use it the most on my own driveway.

Ken

 

[DK35vince]

The forces applied to the FEL arms pushing a snow plow, do not differ from those exerted when driving with the bucket down, and pushing the bucket into a pile of dirt. And, they are most defiantly designed to do that.

Yes, there is a possibility of the plow hitting something and damaging the FEL. Just as there is a possibility or the bucket hitting something, and damaging the FEL, when using that. Or, a frame mounted plow hitting something and damaging everything. Any use of a tractor, carries with it, the possibility that some sort of damage can occur.

If the plow is sprung properly, it will actually trip and completely prevent damage, in a case where the FEL bucket could not do so. This is why I would rather have a plow, than a snow pusher.

With a proper set up, and reasonable care, it is most certainly possible to plow snow with a FEL mounted plow.

Been plowing snow with my tractor and FEL mounted snow plow for many years. (9' power angle truck plow converted to SSQA on my 35 HP tractor with chains on all 4 tires)
No issues

 

[FatTire]

Nice, did you build that? How wide is each wing?

No, that is a commercial unit manufactured by FFC. Each side is 4 ft. It has a sequencing valve so both wings are controlled by a single hydraulic circuit. I agree that it is possible to damage an FEL plowing snow, but I've used this plow in pretty tough conditions (we have lot of rock, pretty much all over the place) and I haven't had an issues, so I think if you're reasonably careful its worth it. I could make my tractor and attachments last nearly forever if I left them parked. :laughing:

 

[FatTire]

And with a hydraulic tilt V-Plow, you can also get a snow pusher that has spring protection by reversing the V That is how I use it the most on my own driveway.

Ken

Agreed, I use "scoop" more of the time than the V- configuration. But when you really want to break into something hard, the V mode is invaluable.

 

[chim]

Here is a video comparing a bucket and snow pusher....in action. The bucket you have to dump which takes time.
BUCKET VS SNOW PUSHER - YouTube

While the pusher is a great tool and I'd love to have one, that guy isn't much of an operator. He seems to exaggerate his messing around. No reason to hoist the bucket as high or drive backwards having it that high and waiting to drop it until it makes him wait to go forward. He's either trying to sell pushers or is inept.

 

[FatTire]

While the pusher is a great tool and I'd love to have one, that guy isn't much of an operator. He seems to exaggerate his messing around. No reason to hoist the bucket as high or drive backwards having it that high and waiting to drop it until it makes him wait to go forward. He's either trying to sell pushers or is inept.

Agreed. I don't get it. And there is a long pause after his first bucket push, he's out of the frame so you can't see what's taking so long. But regardless the snow pusher is nice. If i had a large paved area I would want one.

 

[Big Chief]

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-plow-post4659710.html?highlight=#post4659710

This is what I did. Works good. Average size driveway. I don’t run it hard and no problems

 

[PILOON]

Another consideration is wet snow conditions.
Ever try to dump a bucket load of compacted wet snow?------ you'll have sore arms from shoveling!

 

[chim]

I made side shields for my bucket. Easy on and off with one bolt.