I currently have a JD 455 with the 47" blower. It's been amazing clearing some enormous lake effect snow falls. I am considering a new machine (something along the lines of the Kubota BX series.) I can't see being in a position to afford a front loader and a blower, so I am thinking it may come to clearing snow with the front loader. I would think it's going to be a little more time consuming and maybe not as clean as the blower but I'm getting to an age where lifting 8 yards of bark mulch and cords of firewood no longer agree with my back. What can you guys share with me regarding snow removal with a front loader? Am I going to miss the blower?
Clearing snow w/ front loader
- Thread starter coachgrd
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George2615
Super Member
I guess it depends on whether you have room to pile snow or not. Without the blower you will have snow piles. With snow piles you need a place to put them and still leave enough room to pile snow from the next storm. The loader bucket will do fine moving snow. You will have to make sure you push the snow back far enough before piling so you have room for the next snow.
Your back will thank you for getting a loader.
Your back will thank you for getting a loader.
RNeumann
Elite Member
Try this-
The Edge Tamer - YouTube
If you go with the loader and those don't work for you- it's beans and rice till you can replace the blower!!
Can you use the blower from your old machine? Maybe 3 point? I don't know much about blowers but I assume it could be modified to work. Old blower on new machine with loader would be a nice setup!!
The Edge Tamer - YouTube
If you go with the loader and those don't work for you- it's beans and rice till you can replace the blower!!
Can you use the blower from your old machine? Maybe 3 point? I don't know much about blowers but I assume it could be modified to work. Old blower on new machine with loader would be a nice setup!!
Wow, is that slick!
Plenty of room to pile snow!
RjCorazza
Elite Member
I wouldn't want a loader as my primary snow removal tool. I also would not be without a loader. Maybe consider a FEL combined with a rear blade or blower, giving you more options.
I plowed for years with a FEL and rear blade / blower, and it was a great setup imho. This year I added an ssqa front blade, and a cab tractor.
I believe Kubota has added ssqa capabilities to some of the bx tractors, so there should be more light weight plow options in the near future.
I plowed for years with a FEL and rear blade / blower, and it was a great setup imho. This year I added an ssqa front blade, and a cab tractor.
I believe Kubota has added ssqa capabilities to some of the bx tractors, so there should be more light weight plow options in the near future.
oldnslo
Super Member
With lake effect snows and a small BX bucket you will be moving snow for days. If you are not opposed to rear mount blower they are significantly less money and can be used on tractor with with the same size three point and PTO.
Thomas
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Your going to miss your blower in BIG way when snow lake storms come a knocking,bucket you'll need to make sure snow banks are keep way back.
FEL for other chores will come in handy your bones and muscle will be thanking your...it's one of those dang if you don't dang if you do,go w/your gut feelings.
FEL for other chores will come in handy your bones and muscle will be thanking your...it's one of those dang if you don't dang if you do,go w/your gut feelings.
pmsmechanic
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I have a 59 snow blower for the front of my 4410. Previous to that I cleared snow with the front end loader. (I still can if I need to.) What took me 4 hours to clean up with the front end loader I can usually do in about an hour with the snow blower.
I don't like the fact that I can't have both the front snow blower and the fel on the tractor at the same time. At this point in time I can't afford a second tractor so I'll live with the situation.. In hind sight what I should have done was set up a 47 snow blower on my F-935. I just didn't think of it at the time.
I don't like the fact that I can't have both the front snow blower and the fel on the tractor at the same time. At this point in time I can't afford a second tractor so I'll live with the situation.. In hind sight what I should have done was set up a 47 snow blower on my F-935. I just didn't think of it at the time.
s219
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Get a rear blade before forcing yourself to use the front loader. That is a tedious and slow way to clear snow. Rear blade is much better. Neither as good as a blower though. If I got as much snow as you I'd get a blower for sure.
This is my fear.
arizona98tj
Gold Member
It will take much longer to move the snow with a front end loader than it would to blow it. I just finished doing my yard and my neighbors yard today, after having gotten about 5 to 6 inches of fresh snow. I spent a fair amount of time making those snow piles. When there is just a couple of inches of new snow, I can run the length of my driveway (100 yds). Today, it took about 5 or 6 stops along the way to empty the bucket, else it would just spill out all over the place.
MossRoad
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I have a power angle plow blade on my FEL arms. It works 2-3X better than my bucket. Nothing like a blower, but way, way better than my bucket.
First, its power angle, so you can push to the side VS a bucket that can't.
Second, you can push snow up and over the top of piles a lot easier with a blade VS the bucket. My little PT425 only lifts about 4'5", but I can stack snow 6' with the blade. Can't do it with the bucket.
Third, it has gauge wheels and the bucket doesn't. This helps tremendously in gravel and grassy areas to prevent moving rocks and grass accidentally.
We don't get enough snow to justify a blower here. Sure, I'd like one. But in 15 years of owning the tractor, I only had 1 year where I had to put on the bucket and haul snow to the back yard because I ran out of room to store it. We get lake effect here, too, off of Lake Michigan, but not like the folks on the eastern edge of Lake Erie. I'd definitely get a blower if I lived there.
First, its power angle, so you can push to the side VS a bucket that can't.
Second, you can push snow up and over the top of piles a lot easier with a blade VS the bucket. My little PT425 only lifts about 4'5", but I can stack snow 6' with the blade. Can't do it with the bucket.
Third, it has gauge wheels and the bucket doesn't. This helps tremendously in gravel and grassy areas to prevent moving rocks and grass accidentally.
We don't get enough snow to justify a blower here. Sure, I'd like one. But in 15 years of owning the tractor, I only had 1 year where I had to put on the bucket and haul snow to the back yard because I ran out of room to store it. We get lake effect here, too, off of Lake Michigan, but not like the folks on the eastern edge of Lake Erie. I'd definitely get a blower if I lived there.
cford36
Gold Member
I currently have a JD with a 47" front mount blower. I live in Buffalo. I have used the bucket and the blower. I can say without a doubt you will miss the blower. For a couple of inches it's fine. 6+ it can be done it just takes a lot of time.
I'd say get the tractor and bucket and keep your eye out for a used 3pt blower.
I'd say get the tractor and bucket and keep your eye out for a used 3pt blower.
Garandman
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Another vote for that. Wait until end of season and there are plenty on CL. A rear blower with FEL would be a sweet combo.
Edge tamers make clearing a gravel drive or grassy area quick and easy. The local contractor plows our 700' driveway with a big truck, then we push back all the banks with the FEL.
s219
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One problem with using an FEL, edge tamers or not, is the lack of ability to windrow the snow off to the side or contain it as the tractor pushes or turns. You can basically push straight as it spills out the bucket, and that's it.
I think I cleared snow with the FEL for about 5 minutes before realizing how bad it sucked. I still have to move around some snow with the FEL, but when there's room I will turn my rear blade around and push it backwards -- even that is so much better.
For long distances, the rear blade really shines. For my ~ 700' driveway, I make a pass down and a pass back up, and I'm done. I end up with nice snow banks off to the side. You just can't get it done that quick and clean with an FEL. At the very least, I'd look into the combination of an FEL and rear blade before using only the FEL.
I still think that based on where the OP lives, a blower is the way to go. If I had more snow, it's what I'd use for sure. Most of our storms here are 12" or less, most in the 6-8" range really. That's well within the capability of a rear blade. In rare cases more snow falls, I know to get out there after 8" is on the ground and then come back later for the rest. It's easier to clear in shifts than try to handle it all at once. Another reason a blower is good. Snow isn't too deep until it's over the top of the blower....
I think I cleared snow with the FEL for about 5 minutes before realizing how bad it sucked. I still have to move around some snow with the FEL, but when there's room I will turn my rear blade around and push it backwards -- even that is so much better.
For long distances, the rear blade really shines. For my ~ 700' driveway, I make a pass down and a pass back up, and I'm done. I end up with nice snow banks off to the side. You just can't get it done that quick and clean with an FEL. At the very least, I'd look into the combination of an FEL and rear blade before using only the FEL.
I still think that based on where the OP lives, a blower is the way to go. If I had more snow, it's what I'd use for sure. Most of our storms here are 12" or less, most in the 6-8" range really. That's well within the capability of a rear blade. In rare cases more snow falls, I know to get out there after 8" is on the ground and then come back later for the rest. It's easier to clear in shifts than try to handle it all at once. Another reason a blower is good. Snow isn't too deep until it's over the top of the blower....
RNeumann
Elite Member
OP has a blower now. I assume it's a front mount. I was wondering if OP can keep it and put it on the new machine via the 3 point. I assume it would take some modification. I admit I don't know much about blowers but I would figure someone would weigh in on that aspect.
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rkidd
Silver Member
I live in NE Ohio right in the snow belt. I do all my plowing with my front end loader exclusively. I plow my drive and several neighbors. It works very well. You can push scoop or pile snow to get it out of the way. If for some reason you run out of room all you have to do is push the piles back with your loader. I am the neighbor that goes around and pushes the frozen piles at the ends of other neighbors drives because they are out of room to help them out. No problem.
rekees4300
Elite Member
I've tried various solutions/combos for past 15 years on our 900' gravel lane. Would rank them from best to worse.
1. Snow blower
2. Front blade
3. Rear blade
4. FEL
1. Snow blower
2. Front blade
3. Rear blade
4. FEL
