Frontier 72" snowplow on a 200cx (2320)

[bxowner]

All the discussion about snowblower vs. snowplow lead me to my dealer. He's now offering me a 72" Frontier quick-attach snowplow assembly to go in place of my bucket. It weighs about 380lbs. The bucket alone weighs just under 200lbs. But, certainly it sticks out further, which must effectively add quite a bit more weight.

My question is (1) has anyone tried this or owned it for a season? (2) If I add enough ballast (I have loaded rear tires already), will the tractor still get pushed around a lot? I ask this because one owner on the site (Mech) has a 790/3005, which weighs about 450 lbs. more than my tractor - he's happy with him set-up, but agrees with me that my tractor might be a little light.

Still, it seems ideal for me. I can push the snow and 'lift' it up snowbanks. I'm not sold on the snowblower, as I sometimes have to plow the private road we live off of, which is 200 yards or so long. I don't have a cab and can imagine how coated I'd get...

One last thought. Maybe I ought to look for an old Meyers or Fischer plow and have a quick-attach bracket welded onto it. Then I could design it so the blade is much closer to the loader arms than the Frontier looks in pictures to keep the weight down. I'd just have to figure out how to do away with the hydraulics and put a manual angle in place.

 

[gunmaker]

I have a 2520, and looked at the fel mounted plow also, but decided agains't it after listening to the advice of a few, and a couple who had racked the fel arms pushing it to far.
I fab'd an adapter for the JD quick-hitch, and welded it up to a Meyers 6ft plow. It has worked well for two years, and many different plowing scenarios. Here's a link if you're interested: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/91997-jd-quick-hitch-adapter-meyers.

 

[sunnyside360]

I have the Frontier FEL snow plow and it works great with loaded rear tires. I've also had a few Myers snow plows over the years and they all worked fine too on previous tractors but the ones I had were definitely heavier than the Frontier. If you have loaded tires you'd be alright in most if not all cases. And worse case, a ballast box or box scraper or some other weight on the rear with Frontier plow on FEL. My 2 cents from my 40+ years experience.

 

[kennyd]

First, 72" is to big for your 2320-period.
I made a 60" blade like your talking about, and had terrible results. I was all I could do to steer the tractor-even with split brakes. Fact is the blade sits to far from the front wheels and there is just to much leverage-especially when the blade starts getting snow in front of it.
Second, when the blade gets full...and the rear wheels keep pushing...the loader will go down and the front will come up taking the front wheels off the ground...it kind of "folds" up if you get my drift...you can try the same thing with your bucket if you have a dirt pile-just try to drive straight in and see what happens.

Our tractors are just to light for these setup...I have and a few others have written about this a lot before if you do some searching.

I found a #380 frame mounted blade and made it fit...It is now FUN to plow snow

 

[kennyd]

I have the Frontier FEL snow plow and it works great with loaded rear tires. I've also had a few Myers snow plows over the years and they all worked fine too on previous tractors but the ones I had were definitely heavier than the Frontier. If you have loaded tires you'd be alright in most if not all cases. And worse case, a ballast box or box scraper or some other weight on the rear with Frontier plow on FEL. My 2 cents from my 40+ years experience.

You have a 3720 correct? The OP has a 2320...A lot smaller/lighter that your machine.

 

[Mech]

Do you have your plow on your 3720? If so can you float your FEL. On my 790 the blade will dig in and the front wheels will eventually come off the ground so I need to just keep adjusting mine.

 

[Gizmo2]

He's now offering me a 72" Frontier quick-attach snowplow assembly to go in place of my bucket. It weighs about 380lbs. The bucket alone weighs just under 200lbs. But, certainly it sticks out further, which must effectively add quite a bit more weight.

Tell the dealer to keep it.

 

[Runner]

Guess that is why the Deere sales literature doesn't list this setup for anything lighter than the 3xxx series. Sure would be nice if it would work, i.e., not having to take the loader off to use a front blade.

 

[cast_and_blast]

I have a 2305 and a 47" blower - works well for me in MN. The issue I have with a blade is that it builds up "banks" that you have to either a) move or b) go over with any additional snow from later snowfalls. Plus, with a 2305 and it's limited weight I would struggle (even with filled ballast box) to move the snow when we get 12"+.

Yep, if it's a lighter weight snow you will get some blowback. Most of the time this can be managed by playing the wind correctly - there are times where it is unavoidable and you wind up looking like a snowman.

I've yet to see a snow here in MN that this blower cannot handle. I plow a sidewalk that is always heaped with snow from the snowplow (think end-of-driveway) and it chews right through.

Could always look for a 3-pt unit too - but they are a pain in the neck - literally.

Good luck!

Scott

 

[JDeerekid]

If you go with any type of blade I would go with a frame mount like I said in your other post. You will be able to move alot of snow with it. The only problem is that you will have snow banks. That is why I recommended a rear snowblower also. If you dont want to go with the blower at least go with a front blade that you can take off in little time so you can put your loader on as push banks back.
The reason I and many others will tell you to not go with the loader blade is that the blade is to far out front and pushing snow that build up in front of blade will make your rear tires and tractor slide from side to side. This can be very dangerous. Also there can be alot of stress and wrenching on the loader frame itself. Your tractor is just to small for the front loader blade escpeciallly 72" wide. Just my opinion.