BX vx RTV snow plowing

[tlj87]

We moved to our property in November and are now there full-time, so this is my first winter maintaining the driveway on a regular basis. Last fall, we got a BX 2370-1 with loader/forks, mower, and frame-mounted 60" hydraulic plow to replace our old Cub LoBoy and JD 425. Our driveway is about 1/3 mile long with some open spaces in front of the garage, barn and turn-around. It takes four passes on the drive with the blade angled. To plow everything it takes between 1:15 and 2 hrs depending on how deep the snow is. On a nice weekend day this is OK, but not at 6 AM when its still coming down and is 10 degrees out. A truck plow would be the way to go, but is not an option.

We have been thinking about getting one of these Original Tractor Cab enclosures for our RTV1140
http://www.wiedmannbros.com/Soft-Top...40_p_3776.html

And, with this enclosure, I am wondering if I should get a plow for the RTV and sell the BX plow. I like the looks of the BOSS 6' poly straight blade. The enclosure would definitely keep the weather off of me and the RTV can travel faster than the BX, which tops out at 8 MPH. Of course, I'm not going to be plowing at 25 MPH with the RTV, but with an extra foot of blade width and 10-15 MPH in the straight aways, I would think that I could shave some time off of the chore.

Any thoughts?

 

[aczlan]

I would say go for the RTV, but I would see if you can get the V blade. It will be much faster to do those open spaces in "scoop" mode than a straight blade. Also, a cab makes clearing snow nice.

Aaron Z

 

[leonz]

We moved to our property in November and are now there full-time, so this is my first winter maintaining the driveway on a regular basis. Last fall, we got a BX 2370-1 with loader/forks, mower, and frame-mounted 60" hydraulic plow to replace our old Cub LoBoy and JD 425. Our driveway is about 1/3 mile long with some open spaces in front of the garage, barn and turn-around. It takes four passes on the drive with the blade angled. To plow everything it takes between 1:15 and 2 hrs depending on how deep the snow is. On a nice weekend day this is OK, but not at 6 AM when its still coming down and is 10 degrees out. A truck plow would be the way to go, but is not an option.

We have been thinking about getting one of these Original Tractor Cab enclosures for our RTV1140
http://www.wiedmannbros.com/Soft-Top...40_p_3776.html

And, with this enclosure, I am wondering if I should get a plow for the RTV and sell the BX plow. I like the looks of the BOSS 6' poly straight blade. The enclosure would definitely keep the weather off of me and the RTV can travel faster than the BX, which tops out at 8 MPH. Of course, I'm not going to be plowing at 25 MPH with the RTV, but with an extra foot of blade width and 10-15 MPH in the straight aways, I would think that I could shave some time off of the chore.

Any thoughts?

============================================================================





Depends,


A Pronovost P-620 rear mounted snow caster would cost you less than
a front mounted snow caster for your current mule and you can leave the
loader on the mule all the time for scooping piles. left by the town plows.


A bercomac self contained RTV snow caster would fit on your rtv
and the mule(with a little work).

A snow caster would get rid of the snow and there would be no frozen
snow banks to deal with or narrow your driveway.

Saying that you can make your first pass with the snow caster
and then make half passes at a faster speed to clear the driveway.

The Bercomac unit is a bit underpowered but they work and are as expensive as the front mounts.

I am unsure if you can use the plow mounting system for the front mounted snow caster, saying that
all you need for the P-620 is the right length PTO shaft- If you have rear two remotes you can order
the hydraulic chute and spout control option and get a cab for your mule and a heater.




I hope you have good chains and loaded tires for your mule they are a
must on hills.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Can you up size the plow on the BX at all?

 

[aczlan]

A Pronovost P-620 rear mounted snow caster would cost you less than
a front mounted snow caster for your current mule and you can leave the
loader on the mule all the time for scooping piles. left by the town plows.

If he is complaining about the lack of speed going forward with a BX, he will be very unhappy with the speed going backward with a BX.
There are some cases in which the a rear facing 3 point snowblower is not the best tool for the job...

Can you up size the plow on the BX at all?

If its like the one on our BX2660, these wings are reputed to fit and should add another 10" to each side.

Aaron Z

 

[tlj87]

That is in interesting thought, adding wings to the plow. Can anyone report on whether it is still effective at plowing after adding ~20" of width? I could add an OTC cab and wings to the plow for about $1100. If effective at plowing, that would address all issues except for travel speed, but if clearing a wider path, then that is less important.

The plow that is on the BX now is 60" wide. Model #BX2763A.

 

[DHD]

We moved to our property in November and are now there full-time, so this is my first winter maintaining the driveway on a regular basis. Last fall, we got a BX 2370-1 with loader/forks, mower, and frame-mounted 60" hydraulic plow to replace our old Cub LoBoy and JD 425. Our driveway is about 1/3 mile long with some open spaces in front of the garage, barn and turn-around. It takes four passes on the drive with the blade angled. To plow everything it takes between 1:15 and 2 hrs depending on how deep the snow is. On a nice weekend day this is OK, but not at 6 AM when its still coming down and is 10 degrees out. A truck plow would be the way to go, but is not an option.

We have been thinking about getting one of these Original Tractor Cab enclosures for our RTV1140
http://www.wiedmannbros.com/Soft-Top...40_p_3776.html

And, with this enclosure, I am wondering if I should get a plow for the RTV and sell the BX plow. I like the looks of the BOSS 6' poly straight blade. The enclosure would definitely keep the weather off of me and the RTV can travel faster than the BX, which tops out at 8 MPH. Of course, I'm not going to be plowing at 25 MPH with the RTV, but with an extra foot of blade width and 10-15 MPH in the straight aways, I would think that I could shave some time off of the chore.

Any thoughts?

What part of PA. are you ? How much snow can you expect during the winter season ?
A plow will work ok if you don't get dumped on with snow and your snow banks get too big to move later in the winter.

 

[tlj87]

What part of PA. are you ? How much snow can you expect during the winter season ?
A plow will work ok if you don't get dumped on with snow and your snow banks get too big to move later in the winter.

Southern part of the NW PA snow belt area.

 

[aczlan]

That is in interesting thought, adding wings to the plow. Can anyone report on whether it is still effective at plowing after adding ~20" of width? I could add an OTC cab and wings to the plow for about $1100. If effective at plowing, that would address all issues except for travel speed, but if clearing a wider path, then that is less important.
The plow that is on the BX now is 60" wide. Model #BX2763A.
View attachment 407676

I hope to get those for next winter, Our BX has plenty of power, but needs a little more width when the blade is angled.
I got the idea from a thread here on TBN (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/213300-plow-wings-60-blade.html)
See also: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/158803-snow-wings-extensions-54-blade.html and http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=53191 (install pictures on a truck plow)

Aaron Z

 

[leonz]

About your predicament,


Your mule can travel in reverse up to 6.3 miles per hour if needed.


You could keep the front plow and use a rear mount snow caster for the
last pass to clear it all and eliminate any frozen banks of snow.

Just as an example: Airports plow the snow into long windrows and then
use snow blowers to cast it of the runways.

so if you travel at four miles an hour plowing down and back you have covered
3600 feet and have travel at 352 feet per minute +-.

The last pass with the rear mounted snow caster at 2 miles per hour is 176 feet per
minute and you travel back uphill in ten minutes depending on snow depth.

Any snow in front of you is going to be an impediment period and when it gets heavy mass and or weight
are your friends but many of us use small snow casters for very long driveways so it would be to your
benefit to just read about rear mounts here on the forum before you spend any money.

AND in a snow storm you are )(*&^%^&*( when it comes to deep snow and a smaller mule
without a snow caster unless you have the loader mounted to pick and dump snow and that
becomes very hard to do after a while because you have no room to move period-been there
done that with a three speed 1969 cub lowboy and a five foot plow that was not worth the
trouble plowing down hill with after trying to break open a path on our paved driveway with
snow 5 foot deep.

You may not use a rear mount very often but when you have it to use you will not regret buying it.



A rear mount will also fit on the next mule you buy with no modifications so keep that in mind too.