Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Clearing Snow

[SeymourBota]

We've only had a couple of 4 inch snowfalls here in Vt so far and I agree that I could have cleared them with the FEL and blade. That will end soon and not having to fight with the snowbanks the blade creates will save alot of time and headaches.
Last year, my neighbor had his rather long driveway plowed. At about this time (we had much more snow last year) he decides he wants to have a path cleared to one of his barns so he can park his Rover in it. Plow guy arrives in his Ford Super Duty and my neighbor asks him to open up the path. He takes one look at the banks he has created and the 2+ feet of snow down to the barn and tells him "no way- you need a 4wd tractor with a snowblower."
I get a phone call. An hour and a half later, there was a 4 lane highway down to that barn. He could have parked 3 dozen cars there!! Snowblowers are da bomb!!!

 

[Buck]

Hi neighbor,

I bet you live in east Webster up by the Lake. You get some big drifts up there—I know ‘cause I used to live there myself. I’ve seen people around here with 4x4 tractors and rear blades really struggle in a big storm. I think you are right—the blower will have big gains with big storms.

Best of luck,

Buck

 

[ByronBob]

I've never heard a lawyer admit he was wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But your not wrong. We've had a winter which is putrid at best. You could say we haven't had one yet.

I don't have a blower and get by using the FEL but if your driveway is long then the blower is the tool of choice. Remember last January when it snowed almost daily for 3 weeks. I spent hours keeping the driveway open where with your blower it'd take no time.

The blade is a nice complement to the blower for little work though. Enjoy the mild winter. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Varmintmist]

3000.00 and no snow?? HA. Got ya beat.

I put the back blade on the NEW Mahindra 3510 (considerably more than 3k /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) and the only thing we have had in any amount is RAIN. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

This last shower dropped 1+ in of rain that could have been SNOW, da dirty double crosser /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I WANNA GO OUT AND PLAY!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[jfdlaw]

Buck and Bob,

I know I'll use the blower.

When I wrote the post I was amazed at the job the rear blade did and how easy it is to clean up the couple inches that have been on the ground. I was also kicking myself a little because I'd read so many posts of people using a rear blade, FEL combination to deal with snow. But I knew better and had to have a mongo snow blower. . . Only to find out their way worked better (at least with the stuff we've had so far this year).

I know the big stuff is coming and I'll appreciate the blower then.

I still say that people contemplating a blower should try a rear blade first and see if the expense of a blower is justified given their situation.

John

 

[Freds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We've had a wierd winter and haven't had more than three inches on the ground )</font>

Yes it has been a weird winter. I'm just 1-1/2 hours west of Buffalo (not sure where Webster is), on the lake, and I've never had my sump pump run this much. Every little bit of snow we get melts off in a few days.
Not that there's anything wrong with that, but part of the reason I got a bigger tractor and blade was to move snow more efficiently...
I guess this means it will be snowing in April /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[TBrown]

I wouldn't put that snowblower out for sale just yet. This year isn't typical of most.

We're having an unusually mild winter in the Tug Hill region as well this year, but I don't regret buying the snowblower one bit. So far I've only had to use it three times, but I'm convinced it was a wise purchase. I've attached a photo of my house from last January, believe it or not things got even worse before they got better. I did a poor job of bank management with my little Bobcat, and had to have someone come in with an 800 series (don't remember the exact model #) to bail me out. I don't see myself having as this kind of trouble with the snowblower. If I'm only moving a a couple inches of fluff, it just sort of dumps it off to the side a few feet, but get 8 inches of heavy snow behind it and that baby launches the stuff! I haven't gone out and measured the distance, but I'd say it's got to be throwing it 30 feet.

Time will tell, but right now I suspect that snowblower was one of the smartest purchases I've ever made.

Here's a link to a photo of my snowblower.
Tractor & blower

 

[Freds]

HOLY CRIPE!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Is that a tool I see by the garage getting some of the snow off the roof?

That's a lotta snow!

 

[TBrown]

Yes, that's a roof rake. It work's pretty well, but the closer I get to the peak, the closer to the eaves I have to stand. I end up pulling it right down on my head. But the garage has a 12/12 pitch on the front, so I can't really stand on it to shovel.

 

[MadReferee]

A snowblower is the only way to go. Unlike a back blade you get no big piles with the blower.

Here is my son taking care of the 5" we got last thrusday. Tractor is a B2710 with 64" Puma snowblower.

 

[ronjhall]

I should correct my post.
<font color="blue"> It's a nice toy. </font> /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Should have read.
It's a nice TOOL. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Currmudgeon]

So far, I've done all my snow removal from 300 ft of driveway with the FEL. The largest storm we have had in the two years I've lived here, has been that two footer. To date, I couldn't have justified the blower, but a coupla more two footers, and I'll be making the call. It would probably arrive at the height of summer. <g>

I have a difficulty in that, for most of the length, I simply cannot throw snow to the side - it all goes to one end or t'other.

 

[8561]

Having cleared snow with both the blade/FEL combo and a snowblower, I would never go back to the blade. It takes me less than 1/3 the time with the blower and no piles.

 

[8561]

Hey Tom - I can do you one better than spending money on the cab - I bought a pair of snowmobiles this year. Talk about depressed there is no snow!

 

[ducati996]

I'm fortunate to have both machines ready to go when (if ever it snows) my Deere has the FEL and RB. The cub has the blower....I enjoy the blower the best, but like having the 4wd of the compact.

Last years shots...

Ducati

 

[ducati996]

another snow removal tool - when there is snow of course /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Freds]

Sure, but how much snow can a Lab really eat?
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Varmintmist]

They dont eat that much, but they move quite a bit on their nose. Mostly right into your thigh when you let them back in the house.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Young]

Blade and FEL for the wet heavy stuff and slush. Also for cleaning up the surface layer left by the blower before it melts & refreezes into ice.

Blower for light dry snow when the temperatures drop and serious winter sets in. Using the blower on slushy slop is a joke at best and an endless series of clogs at worst.

My little one's green and my big one's orange, ducati. Except for the lab, we've got it covered the same way /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
Bob

 

[JDFANATIC]

Bob,

I don't agree. My blower, whether it be because it is sized right or what, gets right down to the pavement and here is a pic of our last storm, which was about as wet a snow as I've ever seen. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Link to big picture.