Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Backblade vs Landscape Rake For Snow Removal

[Clay1]

Hi All,

Just a note to let you know of my experience that may help some one whose considering buying a grader blade for snow removal vs using their landscape rake.

I live in Montana on the eastern side of the Rocky Mts at about the 3,000ft elevation. I've been using my landscape rake for removing snow from our 1/2 mile drive-way for the last few years. After considering weather or not to make the investment in the purchase of a blade this year I decided to buy a Landpride backblade w/a 2ft off-set. What a big difference!!! It was money well spent and I wish that I had done it years ago. So for those of you that may be considering which way to go maybe this will help in making your decision a little easier. Best to all of you in the New Year.

 

[Grouseman]

Hello, I live in southern Utah, we get some big dumps, and I use a rake with a piece of pvc pipe on it to keep from destroying my road. do you go forward or reverse with either implement. I do have to go up hill then go backwards. If you say it will be easier then I am in.

 

[teg]

PHOTOS!!!! please...

 

[airbiscuit]

Am I missing something here? Doesn't logic dictate that a solid blade would move snow better than a rake with a whole bunch of spaces between the tines.

I have seen where people will put a board on the bottom of their landscape rake and make a more solid blade.

 

[Clay1]

Hello, my Kubota dealer advised me not to push the blade in reverse as it adds additional stress to the 3pt arms and could possibly cause them to bend should I hit a unforeseen obstruction. It sounds like good advise to me. Best, Clay

 

[Clay1]

airbiscuit: You're not missing anything here. While logic may dictate, commonsense says that before going out and buying something you're not all that familiar with that you should try to use what you already have first. There are a lot of posts re using a rake for snow removal. Some with slight modifications. For the price of a good new blade it was worth trying to use the rake first. I just don't have that kind of money to gamble with. Maybe others do. While it was adequate for the light snow we had in the beginning of the season it was woefully inadequate for the heavier huge amounts of snow that we are now experiencing. Best, Clay

 

[airbiscuit]

airbiscuit: You're not missing anything here. While logic may dictate, commonsense says that before going out and buying something you're not all that familiar with that you should try to use what you already have first. There are a lot of posts re using a rake for snow removal. Some with slight modifications. For the price of a good new blade it was worth trying to use the rake first. I just don't have that kind of money to gamble with. Maybe others do. While it was adequate for the light snow we had in the beginning of the season it was woefully inadequate for the heavier huge amounts of snow that we are now experiencing. Best, Clay

Okay, I get it. For those who want to use their landscape rake, why not bolt a 1x8 board on the bottom and see how that works? This pic is a neat example of a metal strip that flips up or down depending on your needs

 

[Clay1]

Landpride offers a bolt-on blade unit similar to this one for their landscape rakes for about $500. I briefly considered that option for my rake. But, for me the $500 went a long way towards the purchase price of a new blade.

 

[CADplans]

Just a plane 'ol landscape rake,, 7 foot,,

 

[dragoneggs]

Great pic CAD... way to tell a story! :thumbsup:

 

[CADplans]

Great pic CAD... way to tell a story! :thumbsup:

I had been raking leaves a couple weeks before,,,
I was too lazy to switch to the blade,,,:laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

I had been raking leaves a couple weeks before,,,
I was too lazy to switch to the blade,,,:laughing:

I get it... I'm always thinking of ways how not to swap out implements.

 

[blackdog2086]

What do you do when the snow being pulled by the rake builds up and reaches your back tires? You can angle a blade and the snow slide off to the side of your road. Because of the spaces between the tines, the snow just hangs up. I have both a rear blade and landscape rake and I've used the rake for snow once just because it was already attached. Never again.

 

[Clay1]

I'm in your camp. After using the blade I would be hard pressed to go back and use my rake again for snow removal.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm in your camp. After using the blade I would be hard pressed to go back and use my rake again for snow removal.

Of course, but you do what you can do. I still love the pic.

 

[jgayman]

Hello, my Kubota dealer advised me not to push the blade in reverse as it adds additional stress to the 3pt arms and could possibly cause them to bend should I hit a unforeseen obstruction. It sounds like good advise to me. Best, Clay

Yes, you do need to be cautious but... rear mounted snow blowers are very common and they can take a lot of force to push through the snow and you can easily hit something with them as well.

 

[jgayman]

I get it... I'm always thinking of ways how not to swap out implements.

Sounds like another candidate for a Quick Hitch.