I've got a two-man, commercial snow removal operation that consists of several small parking lots and sidewalks in a business district. I've got the parking lot part of the operation down pat. I use a ToolCat with a Wester Prodigy plow and couldn't be happier. Now I'm interested in upgrading the sidewalk equipment. Seemingly, the logical choice is one of the special built sidewalk machines like the "stand-on" Boss Snowrator or the Ventrac SSV however, I have come to the conclusion that I do not want to be exposed to the elements. Additionally, I'd prefer that a piece of expensive equipment have more than a single purpose. With these thoughts in mind, I've started to consider the Ventrac 4520 tractor with a cab. Before making the $40,000 investment (without attachments) I'd value the thoughts of someone who has made a similar investment for snow removal.
Snow Equipment Buying/Pricing Considering Ventrac tractor for sidewalk snow removal
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stevem5215
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I have the rotating brush on a Steiner. It is by far the best thing I've ever bought and used for a tractor of any kind. That coming from a guy who had a 73" Allied 3ft tall snowblower. That thing was useless to me as it was way too large for my task. The rotating brush allows me to have the clearest driveway in the neighborhood. By 10am it is even dry with just a little sun. No salt needed cause it clears straight down to the pavement.
MossRoad
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How wide are the sidewalks? They make rotating brushes for ToolCats.
Check out Trackless
tracklessvehicles.com
Municipal Sidewalk Tractors and Equipment
Trackless Vehicles has been producing multi-functional municipal tractors for over 50 years, and has become an industry leader.
tracklessvehicles.com
leonz
Super Member
For what it is worth;
Check with your local kubota dealer and ask for a price in a BX2380 with a BX80 premium cab with heat before you make a decision.
The Kubota BX2380 has been around for a few years and there are more than a handful of very low hour machines for sale that will accept multiple attachments in including the front end loader, rear mount snow blower, sweeper, rear mount flail mower rear mount tool caddy to carry shovels, salt, calcium, single stage snow blowers, ice chippers etc.
The front end loader has a quick detach system for the bucket and other tools and it has the quick detach system to remove the loader without tools and help.
The BX 2380 can be equipped with a Curtis all weather cab as well. My fathers next door neighbor loved hers as she could be outside blowing snow in a tee shirt.
I am not sure if the front mount snow blower can be mounted on the tractor with the loader subframe attached though but the kubota dealer would be able to tell you whether a sweeper and snow blower can be mounted with the loader sub frame attached.
In saying that a pronovost rear mount snow blower with all the bells and whistles will cost you less money. than a front mount AND with the rear mount snow blower you sit side saddle and can see in front of it while clearing snow with the high power work lights.
Check with your local kubota dealer and ask for a price in a BX2380 with a BX80 premium cab with heat before you make a decision.
The Kubota BX2380 has been around for a few years and there are more than a handful of very low hour machines for sale that will accept multiple attachments in including the front end loader, rear mount snow blower, sweeper, rear mount flail mower rear mount tool caddy to carry shovels, salt, calcium, single stage snow blowers, ice chippers etc.
The front end loader has a quick detach system for the bucket and other tools and it has the quick detach system to remove the loader without tools and help.
The BX 2380 can be equipped with a Curtis all weather cab as well. My fathers next door neighbor loved hers as she could be outside blowing snow in a tee shirt.
I am not sure if the front mount snow blower can be mounted on the tractor with the loader subframe attached though but the kubota dealer would be able to tell you whether a sweeper and snow blower can be mounted with the loader sub frame attached.
In saying that a pronovost rear mount snow blower with all the bells and whistles will cost you less money. than a front mount AND with the rear mount snow blower you sit side saddle and can see in front of it while clearing snow with the high power work lights.
you might check out this thread (and others) on plow site-
www.plowsite.com
plow site is to commercial clearing as this site is to tractors
Best sidewalk machine?
www.plowsite.com
leonz
Super Member
Being a member of plowsite I can tell you that they all use different methods
for clearing snow and they do not borrow a lot of money to invest in machinery
as they buy the least expensive 2 stage snow blowers and they may have skid
loaders with snow pushers as well.
The issue is always money and what they are willing to spend as plowing and
snow removal is a boom or bust business and they have to pay for machinery
they buy with cash on hand or borrowing for vehicle purchases that they also
use to tow lawn mower trailers as many of them mow lawns for a living as well.
for clearing snow and they do not borrow a lot of money to invest in machinery
as they buy the least expensive 2 stage snow blowers and they may have skid
loaders with snow pushers as well.
The issue is always money and what they are willing to spend as plowing and
snow removal is a boom or bust business and they have to pay for machinery
they buy with cash on hand or borrowing for vehicle purchases that they also
use to tow lawn mower trailers as many of them mow lawns for a living as well.
I actually have a Bobcat rotary broom for the ToolCat and it works well but is a little too big for sidewalks. However, that is not the problem. I'm finding that I need to plow parking lots with the ToolCat simultaneously with another guy doing sidewalks. Therefore, I'm looking for a separate piece of equipment.
I've never heard of Trackless. Impressive!Check out Trackless
Municipal Sidewalk Tractors and Equipment
Trackless Vehicles has been producing multi-functional municipal tractors for over 50 years, and has become an industry leader.
Leonz,
agreed that often the solutions on plowsite are price sensitive, but there are those who use and recommend the better quality machines as well- My point was simply that there are far more threads on sidewalks there because the intent of that site is commercial snow clearing. And, of course the solution always has to make financial sense as these are businesses.
When researching blowers, particularly inverted blowers I found far more info on plow-site than TBN and was actually influenced to buy a commercial grade Pronovost as a result
leonz
Super Member
Hello Fishhead I am coming back to this late but I was wondering if you made
a decision about a new snow mule yet??
I am not sure if the never used Reist single stage commercial side snow thrower
is still for sale on tractor house but it would be worth looking at.
Leon
a decision about a new snow mule yet??
I am not sure if the never used Reist single stage commercial side snow thrower
is still for sale on tractor house but it would be worth looking at.
Leon
That is very good to hear! It appears you use it primarily for your driveway. Presumably, without many obstacles. In my neighborhood, they thought it was a good idea to plug up the sidewalks with large planters, streetlights, mailboxes, fire hydrants, traffic signs, decorative trees, benches etc. Lots of them! Because I've never operated a Ventrac or Steiner, I'm curious as to its maneuverability brooming snow around these obstacles. I did briefly test drive one without an attachment. Seems pretty good.
very good to know - thank you!you might check out this thread (and others) on plow site-
plow site is to commercial clearing as this site is to tractorsBest sidewalk machine?
stevem5215
Platinum Member
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I have used my Steiner 420 with the RS350 (50" brush) on sidewalks around here. Angled the brush is about 6" wider than the sidewalks are and will brush from edge to edge and into the grass a small amount. The other good thing about the brush is that if you turn the brush off it's basically a snowplow then too. One pass with it off if too much to brush and the one pass with it on to clear the rest. Obviously light fluffy snow is easier than heavy wet snow as well.
MossRoad
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Nice! Enjoy the cab. 
dodge man
Super Star Member
Nice looking machine!
MossRoad
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- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
As I think I mentioned before, a local university has several of them. They work great. Gotta be careful you don't run too many RPMs while facing glass windows. They can fling rocks and debris.
Keep track of the length of the bristles VS hours of use and you may be able to figure out how many hours of operation before brush replacement is required, to predict future needs.
Here are some similar links:
