Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Am I making the right choice????

[Woody65]

I have decided to set myself up this winter for snow removal on a 1/4 mile long steep mountain gravel driveway. Its a pretty steady incline of 220' over about 1000' of driveway. We use the place for 3 seasons and hunting season which ends in mid December. But would like to use it a few times in the winter months. Hence, the need for snow removal.

The three choices I came up with were:
1. outfit my JD 4300 with a front snow plow blade and chains. This cost was $4,400. Cons- no heat, no radio, no cab...
2. outfit my Mule pro-fxt with all the necessary do dads for a plow set up. Cost $3,000. Cons- no heat no radio, no cab, limited capabilities...
3. outfit my 2000 chevy 3/4 ton extended cab 8' box 4x4 with a 7'6" Fisher minute mount plow (free from FIL). Need to have harness and frame mount put on and tire chains. Cost $2,700. Cons- cant think of any

The chains would be the V-bar heavy duty 2 link variety.

I would place 2 snowmobiles in an enclosed trailer in the field next to the driveway at the bottom and use them to traverse the driveway when I arrive. The plow vehicle would be at the top in a barn.

Any and all comments welcome.

 

[RickB]

I plowed a 1/4 mile driveway in Dutchess County with a cabless tractor with front plow and rear blade or blower for almost 30 years. If the truck is reliable enough, go that route. Put 1000 lbs in the bed. Tractor would be second choice, UTV isn’t a choice.

 

[nybirdman]

1.You should be able to put a front plow on your tractor for way less than $4000,find an old truck plow(many here have done the same)
2.UTV are ok if you are there to keep up with the snowfall,probably not going to bust open a plugged drive.
3.Truck sounds like the least expensive and warmest solution.

 

[Woody65]

I plowed a 1/4 mile driveway in Dutchess County with a cabless tractor with front plow and rear blade or blower for almost 30 years. If the truck is reliable enough, go that route. Put 1000 lbs in the bed. Tractor would be second choice, UTV isn’t a choice.

The truck is a daily driver, so its in good shape. I liked the tractor option but since I don't reside there I could be plowing in nasty weather out of necessity. No control over weather when I arrive. Thanks for the advise

 

[Woody65]

1.You should be able to put a front plow on your tractor for way less than $4000,find an old truck plow(many here have done the same)
2.UTV are ok if you are there to keep up with the snowfall,probably not going to bust open a plugged drive.
3.Truck sounds like the least expensive and warmest solution.

Don't have the welding skills to fabricate the necessary mounts to retrofit a truck snow plow to fit my tractor. I just missed out on a JD front plow on craigslist for 1,000. It was like new and sold in less that 12hrs. Snooze you loose.
I figured the UTV would be useless with the road end of the driveway. Thanks for your comments

 

[RickB]

The truck is a daily driver, so its in good shape. I liked the tractor option but since I don't reside there I could be plowing in nasty weather out of necessity. No control over weather when I arrive. Thanks for the advise

My worst case scenario was plowing snow in the rain at the tail end of a storm so the wife and I could get to work. Extremely unpleasant.

 

[RjCorazza]

I would go with the truck plow. Believe it or not, nice 3/4 ton and up trucks don't get beat up when :
The owner is operating it.
You don't drive around with the plow unnecessarily.
You're not plowing commercially, or a bunch of driveways.

 

[grsthegreat]

I do not know how much snow you get, but here in north idaho if you do not keep up with it throughout snow season.... a plow is not going to move it. I had a neighbor come and beg me to snow blow their drive last year ... they had been in Nevada for months... snowbirds. They hired a local plow guy that got his truck buried in the 4 feet of snow on a 400 ft driveway. No place to push it as they did not keep up with it. The blower did the job, but even that took time. No way a sxs would have touched it.

a pto mount snowblower wouldn稚 cost too much more than plow, and you might not need chains.

 

[KubotainNH]

Truck plow and you can use the tractor to push back the banks when needed. It's nice to be inside a warm cab. Plowing downhill is is pretty easy unless you have to back up in the slippery stuff, especially if the lip of the plow goes over a solid snow bank. Be prepared for that or leave chains on the truck. The mounting cost seems kinda high for already having the plow. You may want to look at used parts and pay someone for just the labor.

 

[Woody65]

I would go with the truck plow. Believe it or not, nice 3/4 ton and up trucks don't get beat up when :
The owner is operating it.
You don't drive around with the plow unnecessarily.
You're not plowing commercially, or a bunch of driveways.

I would only be plowing, at the most, 5-10 times a year. The plow truck would stay exclusively on the property during the winter. The rest of the year I use it for hauling the occasional trailer or building supplies. Thanks for your comments

 

[Woody65]

I do not know how much snow you get, but here in north idaho if you do not keep up with it throughout snow season.... a plow is not going to move it. I had a neighbor come and beg me to snow blow their drive last year ... they had been in Nevada for months... snowbirds. They hired a local plow guy that got his truck buried in the 4 feet of snow on a 400 ft driveway. No place to push it as they did not keep up with it. The blower did the job, but even that took time. No way a sxs would have touched it.

a pto mount snowblower wouldn稚 cost too much

I have family in the area. I would check with them regarding snow on the ground. Also, my neighbor has a 15 ton TLB that I have enlisted to get through the road snow at the end of the driveway. I also have an excavator and the tractor with FEL to move big snow.

 

[nyone]

Truck plow. Put some nice weight in the bed and with chains even on highway tires it will feel like your moving snow with a dozer.

You really dont need 4 chains on a 4wd truck. Two on the rear will do just fine.

Whats your average snow fall for the year?

 

[nyone]

Nm on the average snow fall. I see your about 2hrs from me.

We just bought a piece of property near Norwich ny on a seasonal rd. If i ever want to go there in the winter il just bring snow shoes. Its about 1500ft and about the same elevation as your stating from the plowed section. Why cant you just use the snowmobiles to shuttle things and leave the snow in place?

 

[Jchonline]

I would go with truck based on your options. A few extra bags of sand or scoops of dirt in the bed for weight will also help.

 

[kmmn]

If the tractor is already at the property, you have to get to it before you can plow. If not, you have to get it there and leave the truck and trailer somewhere until you clear a path. If you have to bring the tractor with you to plow, just get the truck plow, but driving with a plow isn't fun.

I assume the tractor option means removing the FEL to mount a JD Plow... if so, just get a front mounted snow blower... it can tackle anything. If you don't mind running backwards, get a 3 PT Snow Blower and keep the FEL on it. You can get a purpose built Loader Arm mounted snow plow for well under $4,400, even included adding a diverter valve for power angle.

 

[ovrszd]

Going back to the thread title. You haven't made a choice.

 

[RickB]

Taking care of a long driveway with an open tractor is a burden I would only wish on a select few. Using a blower on an open tractor is something I’d reserve for the extra special. I did both for way too long.

 

[ovrszd]

Taking care of a long driveway with an open tractor is a burden I would only wish on a select few. Using a blower on an open tractor is something I’d reserve for the extra special. I did both for way too long.

No offense Rick. I laughed outloud when I read this. Only those that have experienced tbis can fully appreciate the truth and humor.

 

[RickB]

No offense Rick. I laughed outloud when I read this. Only those that have experienced tbis can fully appreciate the truth and humor.

I’m not sure you could offend me Richard. You took it in the spirit it was given!

 

[Woody65]

Nm on the average snow fall. I see your about 2hrs from me.

We just bought a piece of property near Norwich ny on a seasonal rd. If i ever want to go there in the winter il just bring snow shoes. Its about 1500ft and about the same elevation as your stating from the plowed section. Why cant you just use the snowmobiles to shuttle things and leave the snow in place?

That is an option that I never really thought of. But I would still need to clear an area to pull vehicles off the road. Especially if there is a large amount of frozen road snow left over from the town plows.