Buying first tractor need some advice

[Hpsinc]

Hi everyone! I've been lurking a couple weeks and glad to finally join the community.

Anyways, I'm buying my first tractor to use in a private community for snow removal. I own a landscape/mowing/plow biz. I have decided the best setup given the layout of the properties we service is a front blower and rear plow.

Where I need some words of advice is I'm between two tractors. Heck maybe 4.

Kioti ck4010h with dealer cab & 66" blower $33,864 with tax
Kioti NX5010h with factory cab & 72" blower $44,565 with tax

Case farmall 35c with factory cab & 63" blower $41,102 with tax
Case farmall 40c with factory cab and 74" blower $47,806 with tax

The kioti Ck4010 is more comparable to the case 35c than the 40c.

The kioti Nx5010 is more comparable to the case 40c, but has around 40pto hp vs 33pto hp. But they are close in size.

The case dealer is selling me on the fact the case tractors are heavier duty than the kioti. The kioti dealer doesn't know I'm going back and forth with the case dealer so nothing on that end from them.

I have relatively "tight" HOA/town home/condominium type properties that I service and in most cases the smaller tractors would be fine, but we have had some big storms that have dropped several feet on us quickly, so with that in mind I'm contemplating a step up in size. Just would like some input from you guys on what would be my money best spent and if the larger sized tractors might be too cumbersome or not much more difficult to zip in and out of driveways with than the smaller tractors.

I posted what one of my other properties looked like last winter, this place is a bit more open than the new accounts I'm putting the tractor. We did this with toro groundmaster type machines with 60" blowers. The tractor could eventually be relocated to properties just like this as I service several communities and am expanding the snow removal end every year. Thanks for taking the time to read this and look forward to your responses.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Can you run chains? If not, you want WEIGHT from my experience. The NXs are very good tractors in general IMO.

Edit: a small articulated loader might be a more nimble option...

 

[Hpsinc]

We cannot run chains. I also want to run a back blade on the 3pt so I'm not sure the loader would work. I do have a Kawasaki 60z loader already, 130hp, but that would only get brought out if we had to push back big piles or the "you know what" just hit the fan.

I went and looked at the ck4010 in person last week but didn't even think to check out the NX tractors so now I need to go back and size them up.

 

[nybirdman]

Look to the North(Canada) and see what they are using in housing developments.50HP+ and pull type blowers.

 

[oosik]

Just as a point of reference - I have a Kubota M6040 and would have no difficulties manuevering around in the areas shown in your photo. I use a rear blade exclusively. A word of caution - a snow blower, whether front mount or 3-point will throw hidden objects a long distance. Your photo shows a LOT of glass.

 

[flusher]

Buffalo, NY, huh? Lake Effect snow, wind, low temps.

I'd pick a tractor from your favorite dealer with enough HP to handle your snow blower and blade. Then add a heated cab and a set of rubber tracks, like these

Rubber Tracks For Tractors - Firestone Commercial Ag Tires

Good luck

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Buffalo, NY, huh? Lake Effect snow, wind, low temps.

I'd pick a tractor from your favorite dealer with enough HP to handle your snow blower and blade. Then add a heated cab and a set of rubber tracks, like these

Rubber Tracks For Tractors - Firestone Commercial Ag Tires

Good luck

How do you stear?! Breaks only?

 

[Hpsinc]

Here is the mess we had to deal with two winters ago. This came down over night.

I've decided to go with the larger tractor, I'm actually thinking the nx5510 or nx6010 with 72" blower. I'm going to the dealer tomorrow. they have a 5510 there. Just debating on going for the 6010 once it comes down to signing on the dotted line. It's another 40/month for 5 hp. It's only money, right?

Watching videos from other companies I see some guys are using monster tractors. Makes the NX models look like a toy, so I don't feel this tractor will exactly be too big anymore but i think it will be just right and I doubt I'll regret the extra power if we get a bad storm.

The only reason I fear getting an inverted is due to storms like this. You need a payloader or a front mount blower when you have 6-10 ft of snow staring you in the face.

 

[airbiscuit]

Look to the North(Canada) and see what they are using in housing developments.50HP+ and pull type blowers.

I second the motion on a pull type snowblower ...
MK Martin Meteor - Pull Type Snowblower - YouTube

Quick Snow-Away RP - Rear Pull Snowblower by Quick Attach - YouTube

Pronovost Inverted snowblower V 1 e - YouTube

After blizzard call to clear driveway - YouTube

Or something like this ....
Pronovost PXPL Snowblowers - YouTube


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts-4QiCDn2U

 

[Gulfmp]

I watched the videos. With the exception of the 4th one with the large New Holland Tractor, all the videos are a small amount of snow where I would have less concern driving thru it and packing down the snow with my tracks.

I am considering buying a SCUT and will definitely need it for snow removal. I would say it would ordinarily have to go through 2' of snow. How does the reduced ground clearance of a SCUT affect these forward facing 3 point hitch snow blowers? I'm thinking because of the ground clearance a front mounted snowblower or a rear facing 3 point hitch blower would work a lot better.

Does anyone have experience with these on a SCUT?

 

[nybirdman]

I watched the videos. With the exception of the 4th one with the large New Holland Tractor, all the videos are a small amount of snow where I would have less concern driving thru it and packing down the snow with my tracks.

I am considering buying a SCUT and will definitely need it for snow removal. I would say it would ordinarily have to go through 2' of snow. How does the reduced ground clearance of a SCUT affect these forward facing 3 point hitch snow blowers? I'm thinking because of the ground clearance a front mounted snowblower or a rear facing 3 point hitch blower would work a lot better.

Does anyone have experience with these on a SCUT?

The pull type are for large(high clearance)tractors.SCUTs/Cuts are better served with the front or traditional rear.

 

[Hpsinc]

Second trip out to farm country to visit the dealer. They won't have an nx6010h in til November.

They have two nx4510h and 1 nx5510h there, ready to go. The 72" blower looks awesome.

My biggest issue now is tire choice. I wanted turf tires. I saw a set going on another customers ck4010h in their shop, nice tires, look like deep tread snow tires. They were a perfect fit for that tractor. But he said the size they would have for the NX would be shorter and wider.

The tires on the 45 were thinner and a hair shorter than the ones on the 55. I'm concerned about lack of traction and can't figure out what tires to go with now. The tires currently on the tractors are industrial.

 

[Hpsinc]

I found these pics from another forum member here, hope he doesn't mind me using them. I'm looking at the same tractor with these tires. How do you all think these will be on pavement for snow removal vs AG tires. These are what I want so I'm hoping they would work well...