2520 Snowplow size?

[Deadman]

I'm considering putting a snow plow on my JD 2520. I'm not sure how large of a plow to put on it, but I really don't like the idea of JD's 54 inch plow, that seems ridiculously small. I have a 60 inch plow on my ATV....geesh.

So, how big of a plow will it handle in Northern Wisconsin? :licking: We don't get alot of snow, but what we do get never melts until April, so I need to move it far enough to keep driveway open, and leave room for drifting snows. A large storm for us is normally around 12 inches of heavy wet snow, but then drifting too. I think we get like 80ish inches of snow a year normally.

I'd be running it with Ballast box with roughly 1,000lbs of lead in it, and V-Bar double crossbar chains (rear) if it gets icy. It has R4 tires that HATE the snow, so I am kinda confused as to how large of a plow to put on it. I'm hoping to buy some sort of plow from a small truck and have my local welder guy fab it all up for me. OR, am I going at this wrong, and should I be buying JD's big front snowblower?

My driveway it 900 feet long, and is across a open field, so drifting will be bad, and the road is nothing more than Sod right now, but eventually will be gravel.

What are your opinions here, or some pics of your plow setups? I'd love to be able to angle and lift it from the loader controls.

Thanks in advance for the ideas, and opinions. :thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

I have a 7' Western on my JD 4300 at 31+ HP. Handles it quite well. Could go bigger, but don't need to. I agree that 54" is too small and think you could handle 72" no problem.

But then, there will be snow that will challenge the tractor at times, but just means taking a smaller bite when into the big drift or the really deep snow.

I built my plow to come off quick in case I needed to put the FEL on. But in 10 years now, have had no need to do that. The plow will push snow up as high as I want to push it (grandkids like the 12' pile of snow to slide down on ). The front wheels pack the snow and ride up on it very well.

The angle cyl's are on the curl connections, and the single cyl lift ram is on the FEL lift connection. Works great.

Here's a pic from year before last.
Since this pic, I built a wing plow to attach to either side for winging the snow back. Now can push snow off into the ditch where I cannot drive.

 

[kennyd]

6' is a good number...Check out Gunmakers, I am doing this same thing for a friends 2320.

 

[JCB]

Deadman,

If you can afford it, you'll never regret having the front blower. With the front plow quick hitch you're already investing a good portion of the snow blower cost. About a week ago I saw one of the bigger dealers in your neck of the woods had a used unit available.

That said, don't go too big on the blade. Chains and ballast are awesome, but I'd be concerned about your drifts on a 900' drive. Moving a big snow is one thing. Getting stuck halfway down your drive dealing with drifts makes it a chore.

WDNR website has a living snowfence brochure and recommended tree's for the area, or if you can round up some snow fencing, getting it set before the snow comes would be time well spent.

 

[Deadman]

What dealer had the used unit?

I'm just afraid the snowblower will be really slow. Maybe I am wrong tho?

 

[Deadman]

Anyone know what JD's front quick hitch and stuff costs? I'm sure its scary.

 

[beenthere]

I built my own design that I had fabricated by local welder. Under $300.

 

[Rob-D]

I'm just afraid the snowblower will be really slow. Maybe I am wrong tho?

I ran the 47" front blower on my 2320 and 2720 for years. It's the cat's meow! I did my 650+ driveway in about 20 minutes and that's with a clearing for turning around. Hardto beat a front blower, now you can get the 54" but they're not cheap.
Rob

 

[Deadman]

Maybe the 54 inch blower is really the answer then.....
I'm really afraid the R4's won't do much of anything with a plow. I hate to run the chains, because eventually I will have a bunch of concrete around the house I'll be building here. Right now, its just my Garage, but I still need to open it up. I'm thinking the blower is more practical.

I really thought the blower would be SLOW, but you guys make it sound fairly fast. :thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

Maybe the 54 inch blower is really the answer then.....
I'm really afraid the R4's won't do much of anything with a plow. I hate to run the chains, because eventually I will have a bunch of concrete around the house I'll be building here. Right now, its just my Garage, but I still need to open it up. I'm thinking the blower is more practical.

I really thought the blower would be SLOW, but you guys make it sound fairly fast. :thumbsup:

Believe me, it is not fast compared to having that 5-6" snow and jumping on the tractor with plow and in medium (sometimes high) gear and making a wide path (wider than the snowblower) at more than a walking pace down and back. No snow blowing back in your face (unless you have a cab) and done and parked back in the shed. Also, a big point to me for a blade, is one quick drop and the excess snow falls off before parking. A snowblower takes a while to clean all the latent snow off or let it freeze or melt on the shed floor. Can't risk freezing on, or it won't work well the next time out.

I run R-4's and only on rare occasions do I need the chains. and you will need chains on for the snowblower at these times too. They are when the conditions are right for ice which is sometimes unavoidable (wet snow and temps drop, or when freezing rain leaves a layer on the drive). Most winters the chains don't get put on and the R-4's work just fine. Last winter we had the 15" snow that was very wet. It was work to move with the blade, but still worked better than the neighbor with a 54" snow blower (too wet for him to handle so I was asked to help him out with the blade - - after I put the chains on the R-4's ).

But it is a tough decision at the point you are now. Best of luck to you making it. And either way is fine with me.