Evaluation of snow removal tools

[RNeumann]

I've tried nearly all. My exception is a rear mounted blower which I have not used, but I have had/used back blade, front end loader, front mounted snow blower and a snow plow/blade. My experience shows the plow/blade is hands down the best. It is the most flexible as far as snow depth/type is concerned. Blower is a close 2nd, but works best on heavy mostly powdery snow. As would the plow/blade.

Just to clarify my experience. My analysis is based upon both extended and recent experience in Mid-Atlantic area snows. I have plowed professionally with a truck/blade combination, but most is from my private tractor-based volunteer experience.

The other exception is that a blower is the far better tool when faced with heavy snows, as we got in the snow-megadon 2010-2011 years

Thanks for sharing! This newb to moving snow appreciates the wisdom. I'm also glad my dealer steered me to the front blade!

 

[RNeumann]

You did not mention a landscape rake,,,
it works great at removing a few inches of snow,,, without removing the gravel,,, :thumbsup:

(Actually,,, I had the 7 foot landscape rake on the 650 from moving leaves,, and was too lazy to switch to the blade,, :laughing

I've never used a landscape rake....for anything! Does it break up ice at all? I have one spot on my drive that freezes early and creates some interesting moments!

 

[PILOON]

I doubt a rake would affect ice, shucks a full sized grader has to use a carbide or hardened 'tooth blade'* to have any effect on roadway ice and at that they wait for a mild day.

* eg about 40% gaps

 

[CADplans]

I've never used a landscape rake....for anything! Does it break up ice at all? I have one spot on my drive that freezes early and creates some interesting moments!

It would be better than a blade,,, on the type ice we get.
I am very careful not to create ice before I remove the snow.

If the precipitation comes down as ice,, we set until it melts,,,
that is usually way less than 48 hours in Virginia.

A rear blade will do nothing on ice,,, if we ever get ice,,, I will try the landscape rake.

As a side note,, I hit the driveway again yesterday. it stirred up enough gravel to insure the driveway is passable.

The sun hits the gravel, the snow melts!! :thumbsup:

The second raking of the driveway moved ZERO gravel off the driveway,,, it was only "stirring up" the stones. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[npalen]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/267680-landscape-rake-ice-breaker.html?highlight=

A 2013 thread regarding landscape rake for snow.

 

[Tinstafl]

I used my back blade but will hit the driveway with my rake next. Thanks for the idea.

 

[blackd]

Pics?? LOL, I had a whole build thread. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-built-kubota-based-snow-plow.html?highlight=

I might add that building a plow is relatively easy. Used plow blades are plentiful in various sizes. The only issue is to get the front mount strong and easy enough to mount.

For my own build, I could have modified the existing mount hardware from the plow blade. It would have been cheaper than my own approach.

 

[blackd]

CADplans, have you considered designing a S/CUTS plow blade mounting bracket for a front blade? Most S/CUTS mount the blade on the front frame member without extended frame support. They just drop on the frame and then tighten down with a T-bolt. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...71636399-gc-2310-snow-plow-mfquickchange1-jpg

I would think a CADplans design would be more universal to allow several different plow/blade connections. I certainly would have considered it for my build.

 

[hayden]

My preference ends up being a snow blower, but there are certainly trade-offs.

I think the snow blower does the cleanest job, and gets the snow the furthest out of the way. But it's generally slower than a blade, and doesn't work as well on real wet slop. And having to crane your neck and ride side saddle to operate a rear mount blower is kind of a pain, but you get used to it.

The part that's certain is that whatever you have, you adapt to make it work, witness the landscape rake being used effectively for snow removal.

 

[RalphVa]

The snow plow on my Gravely worked great. Once though, we got 7" of sleet. Couldn't get the plow to "bite" into it. Fitted the (very old) square chute snow blower onto it, and flew the sleet away.

For most cases, here the snow plow would probably work the best. Takes forever to clear a deep snow with the loader. Best to go at it with the back blade and don't allow it to get too deep for it, since I don't have the snow plow.

Ralph