B3030 front mount water blower

[AMR]

That is what it would take to remove the stuff that gets on my driveway this year! I was really contemplating a blower in addition to my front blade for my B3030, last November. Virtually every storm that we have had here in CT this year is snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain mix. As I was plowing my driveway this morning I had a blade full of slop, that is all I could call it. By the last pass it was a blade of water. Bizarre. I think I am going to save my blower money and put it into a PTO water pump, it looks like the best tool for removing this winter mess from my driveway.

ALSO, I learned today that my BH needs to come off to plow. I was using the FEL/BH this weekend pulling stumps. I put the blade on this morning while the tractor was warming up and thought I would be lazy and leave the BH on. I got about 30' out of the garage and found the tractor to be completey out of control. Reverse into the garage, back out on the driveway about 6 minutes later with a much better handling tractor.

 

[Ductape]

I might suggest a rotary broom to use in conjunction with your plow. It would remove the slush after you plow and keep the bulk of the ice away.

 

[art]

I like the broom idea for you. You would need to buy the pto kit for the subframe but the brooms are used in this area at schools for snow removal and work well till the snow fall gets over a foot deep.

 

[ficord]

I also live in Ct and see what you mean, I just finished my driveway
in the pouring rain. (glad I have a cab) I was going to buy a front blade (2500.00), but My father in law talked me out of it , he worked in construction all his life as an operator he told me just the use the front loader, he said once you get the hang of it you'll be able to do more with it verses blade. I just have my driveway to plow.
He might be right in this case with the few storms we get in Ct .
I keep the backhoe on with fel as long as you don't lift the front wheels off the ground with the bucket plows just fine. But I have yet to use it in deep snow.
But the plow must be more fun to use and allot less work. I 'll see how it goes this winter.
Does anyone else swear by the bucket for removing snow? and how is it in 12 inches of snow?

 

[amigauser]

I live in Connecticut to. We got about 4 inches over night with probably a 1/4 inch of ice on top. I got it cleaned up before the real rain started (I was done plowing by 5:45 AM) but it definately was heavy and wet. I had to hand shovel a small area and I was glad I had the tractor for the rest. There is nothing like plowing snow in a nice warm cab

I found that my front plow works very well for the little snow we get in Connecticut. Maybe just add a rubber edge/squeegee to it for water? I think the front broom or front blower are both $$$$. I have never even seen a used "B30" series broom for sale, as I have looked, so they must not be very popular.

Norm

 

[AMR]

ahhhh, a cab! I went cabless with my B3030 because I wanted the BH and I use it on some pretty hilly spots, but I will tell you what, all I could think this morning was, wow, a cab would be awesome, I couldn't even see through my glasses.

I love my front blade and would not be without it. Most of our snows here are just a PITA and not big snow events. The front blade does an awesome job. My driveway is about 500', a couple 13% grades and a hair pin. I run one pass down the middle, come back up with the blade angled to one side, down on the other and then I clean up on the last pass. The tractor takes longer to warm up than I am plowing. The blade and subframe are on and off just as easy as any other implement.

 

[bandit67]

I was going to buy a front blade (2500.00), but My father in law talked me out of it , he worked in construction all his life as an operator he told me just the use the front loader, he said once you get the hang of it you'll be able to do more with it verses blade. I just have my driveway to plow.Does anyone else swear by the bucket for removing snow? and how is it in 12 inches of snow?

I've used an FEL to clear snow with an old compact and with a subcompact, but I also had a rear blade on the sub. The compacts and subcompacts are a pain to clear snow with the FEL - they're just too small for anything over 4" because you end up having to empty the bucket too frequently. I think you'll grow tired of that method.

I see guys clearing snow with full size TLB loader buckets all the time, but those things, being so powerful, can push a lot of snow without having to empty the bucket so frequently.

Your least expensive option would be to get a rear blade for $600 or less - my sub could handle up to about a foot of dry snow and 9" of heavy, wet snow. The B3030 might be able to handle another 4-6" of each type of snow.

I'm considering an FEL mounted snow plow - kind of the best of both worlds between FEL bucket and dedicated frame mounted snow plow. The nice advantage is that you can lift the snow plow as high as the FEL loader arms go. Those plows can be had for around $1800-$2000 plus a lightweight QA setup.