Snow Best snow equipment?
- Thread starter Mac25
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leonz
Super Member
It will cost you less money to purchase a rear mounted Allied/Farm King snow blower from Ken Sweet rather than a front mounted snow caster and you can have the front loader for cleaning where you cannot use the snow caster and pile the snow and get rid of the piles with the rear mount snow caster.
The front mounted snow caster also has a reduced ground clearance with the higher price tag as well.
The auger housing is also a bit limited in removing snow banks as the auger will not be fully exposed to chew on the snow banks making it very long low productivity process.
You have to remember the snow you want to get rid of is wieghing in at 21 pounds per cubic foot with a fresh snow fall and it wieghs more per cubic foot when it melts.
The other nice thing about rear mount blowers is that there are no snowbanks and a rear mount blower will chew through anything the road plows leave in your driveway as well as remove the blind spots created by the road plows.
flyingcow
Veteran Member
MAC25- Where are you located? Might make a difference in recommendations.
I've always used rear mount because of the size of my tractors, had good luck with them. I am not trying to start a rear vs front mount argument!!
lord knows there have been a few threads going down that road.:laughing:
I've always used rear mount because of the size of my tractors, had good luck with them. I am not trying to start a rear vs front mount argument!!
lord knows there have been a few threads going down that road.:laughing:
Wolfy
Veteran Member
A loader and rear grader blade works well. I removed the steel edge and bolted on a piece of rubber cut from a truck tire. It sometimes won't scrape the asphalt all the way, but for me, that is secondary to being able to clear grass with no damage. The blade even works well pulling forward, as long as you have plenty of room, and the snow isn't very high.
OP
Mac25
Silver Member
Live in Indiana
Lightnsound
Silver Member
I had a rear blade and FEL until I got a rear mount blower this past winter. The blower/FEL combo is good, but sometimes I miss the rear blade for cleaning up a small snowfall. The front mount blower would allow me to have the rear blade attached, but then I'd miss having the FEL for digging the big stuff. Of course o can always drop the blower and mount the rear blade in just a few minutes. There is no perfect answer, but anything on a tractor is better than a shovel.
PHILIP8N
Veteran Member
whistlepig
Elite Member
Loader or blade anything that is in front of the tractor is a lot easier to use than something to try to watch that is behind you. Depending the depth of the snow a blade can have limitations. A loader will dig through the snow no matter how deep the snow is. Blades are faster but if I could only afford one option it would be the loader.
OP
Mac25
Silver Member
PHILIP8N said:
That would be perfect. What size is it? Where did you purchase? And how much if you dont mind me asking?
longshot47
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2009
- Messages
- 77
I'll throw in with the loader/rear blade advocates. Versatile and effective, once you install a rear light or two, and get comfortable working in reverse. Terrain has a lot to do with it. I've got a power-angle front plow w/skids, which is nice in the right situation, [lesser snowfalls, hard surface, and generous, flat shoulder areas to pile snow] but I seldom have that situation.
savageactor7
Platinum Member
The FEL will handle any amt of snow...while it's effective it looks rather crude.
On a gravel driveway like ours the trick is to angle the cutting edge of the bucket up an inch or 2.
On a gravel driveway like ours the trick is to angle the cutting edge of the bucket up an inch or 2.
oldnslo
Super Member
To many variables for one single implement to do them all.
How much and what type of snow do you get? Wet heavy, or light and fluffy
Do you get lot's of wind and drifting?
Do you have enough room to push or pile snow.
Do you have lot's freeze thaw cycle's? Causes piles and banks to become mounds of ice that are next to impossible to move.
Do you get ice build up on your driveway? Makes pushing snow much more difficult.
All of these factor and more should be taken into consideration when deciding on snow removal equipment.
How much and what type of snow do you get? Wet heavy, or light and fluffy
Do you get lot's of wind and drifting?
Do you have enough room to push or pile snow.
Do you have lot's freeze thaw cycle's? Causes piles and banks to become mounds of ice that are next to impossible to move.
Do you get ice build up on your driveway? Makes pushing snow much more difficult.
All of these factor and more should be taken into consideration when deciding on snow removal equipment.
mccash40
Silver Member
Does anyone have an opinion on the front end snowblower made by sheyennemfg that attaches to your FEL? The video shows the snowblower being raised and lowered by the FEL arms.
devildog1
Veteran Member
I totally agree with lightnsound, and have tried everything above. This is what works for me in our area that receives lots of snow and drifting with the large yellow wing state plows that throw the cement type snow on to end of driveways. 72" FEL , beginning of winter I use a rear back blade,(84" HD Land Pride), If really heavy snow falls with lots of drifting I put on the LA2674 rear snow blower and clean everything out. If you live in snow country you'll need to be flexible and have a combination of attachments to control what ever you receive. I'm someone who likes to be prepared for any and all situations, hope this helps you.
DevilDog
dodge man
Super Star Member
If you already have a FEL, the rear blade is cheapest. A lot of it depends on how much snow you have to move. If you have a really long driveway, and snowblower would be nice. My drive is about 600 feet long and I use the FEL and rear blade. 90% of the time, the rear blade is enough, but if its really deep, the FEL works great, although slow. Heres a couple pics of my BX after a 24" snow this last winter, but this kind of snow is rare in my area.
Attachments
leonz
Super Member
Unless you have a high flow hydraulic system
and lots more money than it would cost to
purchase a Pronovost Snow Caster to buy one
they will not work well.
A Pronoovost rear mount snow caster would be a better
purchase as it wil dig into snow banks and heavy snow
better with more power from the rear P.T.O., of your
tractor.
BXpanded
Silver Member, Approved Advertiser
Admittedly, we might be a little biased, but we still feel this is a really effective solution for many people. Have your blade and bucket too!
BXpanded Snowplow
BXpanded Snowplow
Will_C
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2002
- Messages
- 1,785
- Location
- Upstate N.Y.
- Tractor
- Kubota L3560, Toro 52" and 60" ZTRs, Kubota RTV 900
As others have said, there are a lot of variables. The cheapest solution is a rear blade, a few hundred dollars and you are in business. A FEL with the back blade gives you more versatility, and most of us have a FEL on our tractors. A front blower is comfortable to use, but they are expensive and tractor specific. a rear mount blower is harder to use than a front mount, but you can use one for many years, and keep it when you trade tractors.
What do I use? I plow a 250' driveway and a 600 sq.ft parking area here in upstate NY. I use my FEL and a back blade. I will be building a house in the near furture-that house will have a 500' drive, and a generous approach to a 50' wide pole barn. I'll probably buy a rear blower as soon as I move there.
Will
What do I use? I plow a 250' driveway and a 600 sq.ft parking area here in upstate NY. I use my FEL and a back blade. I will be building a house in the near furture-that house will have a 500' drive, and a generous approach to a 50' wide pole barn. I'll probably buy a rear blower as soon as I move there.
Will
PHILIP8N
Veteran Member
For Grand L series. $3700, included installation, sub-frame/quick-hitch, 7' blade. Philip.
