I am trying to pick attachments for my BX 1500 and as snow removal is a major consideration I am trying to decide if I should spend the extra $1,500 for a rear mount snow blower or try my hand using the FEL. The area of Alaska I live in gets a mix of wet snow (but not slushy or necessarily heavy) and dry snow. I have about 1,400 square feet of drive to plow. Thanks for any input.
Snow BX for snow removal: use your FEL or a blower?
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NY_Yankees_Fan
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This topic has been discussed many times do a search and you will find many comments. Here is a recent link web page
My 2 cents is as follows:
Does the snow stay all season long or does it melt between each snow fall? How much snow do you get in each dump? Is it is less then say 6-8 inches?, or is it more?
If it melts and is in the 6-8" range the FEl will be fine, will take longer, more passes. You may want to consider a rear blade to clean what the FEl misses. If the areas to be cleaned are paved or concrete, consider putting a rubber edge on the FEL and rear blade to reduce marking the driveway. Some people have used horse mats and cut them to fit the blade. I use a 2x4 on either side of the FEl to prevent marking the drive.
If you get big dumps, greater then 8-12", and considering you are in Alaska, this maybe the case. With the snowblower you remove the snow one time, and build up along the driveway is not a problem. A front mounted snowblower is nice if you have a lot to do, more $$$2-3K, but easier on your neck. The other down side with a snowblower, front or rear is you really need something to protect you from the blowing snow when snowblowing. A cab wll set you back another $2K. I made a cab using a golf cart cover for about $125, works fine. I have a 3pt Puma 54" snowblower paid $1000 for it in May 02. I use the FEL and snowblower combo, great snow removal machine.
Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
My 2 cents is as follows:
Does the snow stay all season long or does it melt between each snow fall? How much snow do you get in each dump? Is it is less then say 6-8 inches?, or is it more?
If it melts and is in the 6-8" range the FEl will be fine, will take longer, more passes. You may want to consider a rear blade to clean what the FEl misses. If the areas to be cleaned are paved or concrete, consider putting a rubber edge on the FEL and rear blade to reduce marking the driveway. Some people have used horse mats and cut them to fit the blade. I use a 2x4 on either side of the FEl to prevent marking the drive.
If you get big dumps, greater then 8-12", and considering you are in Alaska, this maybe the case. With the snowblower you remove the snow one time, and build up along the driveway is not a problem. A front mounted snowblower is nice if you have a lot to do, more $$$2-3K, but easier on your neck. The other down side with a snowblower, front or rear is you really need something to protect you from the blowing snow when snowblowing. A cab wll set you back another $2K. I made a cab using a golf cart cover for about $125, works fine. I have a 3pt Puma 54" snowblower paid $1000 for it in May 02. I use the FEL and snowblower combo, great snow removal machine.
Hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
boustany
Platinum Member
You really don't want to clear snow, unless its a very small area, with an FEL. It takes a lot of time.
My brother owned a CUT for a few years before I did. He had convinced himself a snow blower has very expensive so did all his snow removal with an FEL and it took him hours. Think of the wear and tear on his tractor.
I actually priced out and bought a blower. I have a 700' driverway, and it takes me about 1/3 the time or less to do it with the blower.
He now owns a blower.
We both have 30HP machines. I suspect it would be even harder to clear with an FEL on a smaller machine as the snow built up.
My brother owned a CUT for a few years before I did. He had convinced himself a snow blower has very expensive so did all his snow removal with an FEL and it took him hours. Think of the wear and tear on his tractor.
I actually priced out and bought a blower. I have a 700' driverway, and it takes me about 1/3 the time or less to do it with the blower.
He now owns a blower.
We both have 30HP machines. I suspect it would be even harder to clear with an FEL on a smaller machine as the snow built up.
rbarker
Platinum Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am trying to decide if I should spend the extra $1,500 for a rear mount snow blower or try my hand using the FEL. )</font>
1400 s.f. isn't a huge area to clear so you could probably get away with the loader. But it's really time that becomes the major factor in the equation. It takes longer to clear using the loader than a blower, probably twice as long from my experiences. If you have no where you need to be when it snows then fine, but if you have to be able to get out a blower might make sense. The beauty of the rear blower is that you can leave the loader on the front and use it for scraping and other pile removal duties.
1400 s.f. isn't a huge area to clear so you could probably get away with the loader. But it's really time that becomes the major factor in the equation. It takes longer to clear using the loader than a blower, probably twice as long from my experiences. If you have no where you need to be when it snows then fine, but if you have to be able to get out a blower might make sense. The beauty of the rear blower is that you can leave the loader on the front and use it for scraping and other pile removal duties.
Jim_Becker
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I use the FEL, but we don't get a huge amount of snow here in the Philadelphia area...usually. Clearing 30" a couple seasons ago in a spring storm was a bit of a chore, but we weren't going anywhere, anyway...took two days before the state highway in front of our house was opened up!