Snow Blade HLA (HorstWelding) or Curtis Sno-Pro Snow Blade

dcole · Feb 25, 2014

My 15 year old Landpride 2584RB broke so I'm going to upgrade to a FEL Snow Blade. I have a New Holland Boomer 35 (38 hp). Weighs just over 5000 lbs. all loaded up. Thinking I'll put a 6 1/2' blade on using my rear remotes for angling. Any thoughts between HLA 2000 series vs Curtis Sno-Pro 1TBP21F? Thanks for your input.

Deerherd · Feb 25, 2014

I had an HLA 2000 on a Kioti DK35 and liked it so much I bought the 3000 for my new tractor. I have never seen the Curtis Sno-Pro. I tried to compare them from the online spec sheet for Curtis but couldn't find the weight.

The HLA has horizontal float that's great for following the surface contour. It has an angled single cylinder that places the blade closer to the tractor. It's also a true snow plow that will roll the snow off the blade, not sure about the Curtis. It looks a little too straight in the photo, but it's hard to tell. You should probably try and find a video of someone plowing with the Curtis to be sure. Too many snow blades are marketed as plows.

Either plow should be about 18" wider than your track to cover it when the blade is fully angled. I guess the big question is how much more is the HLA?

Good luck in your search!

Here's the 2000 on my Kioti and the 3000 on my LS. (FYI I had the 2000 painted, that's not a standard color.)

dcole · Feb 25, 2014

Thanks for your reply. I had found your pictures a few days ago and that help lead me to HLA. My tractor is 61-62" wide, so the 78" plow will clear it by 2" when fully angled, according to HLA. The HLA runs about $3500 from my dealer. He hasn't gotten me a price yet on the Sno-Pro. Thanks for your incite on the curl of the plow. Do you think a 84" would be too large? I worry about heavy wet snow or frozen piles. Though I do have QA, so I could put the bucket back on.
Thanks.

Deerherd · Feb 25, 2014

I think a 78" would be a good fit for either plow and the price you were quoted is good, I think I paid $3600 for the 2000 two years ago. As long as the Curtis rolls the snow like the HLA you shouldn't have any problems with heavy snow.

My neighbor has a snow blade (not sure of the make) on his Deere that doesn't roll the snow and he has fits when the snow gets heavy and or deep. He ends up being pushed around because the snow piles up in front of the blade and won't clear the windrow of snow already on the driveway. Kind of like plowing with a back blade on the front. He ends up doing a herring bone pattern down the drive.

dcole · Feb 28, 2014

Follow up question if you don't mind? When plowing with your Kioti DK35 and the 84" HLA 2000, did the tractor struggle at all. At full angle did the frontend get pushed around? Also, how did it fair plowing your trails? Still flipping back and forth between 78" and 84". I do agree with you that the HLA 2000 looks like better plow - lateral float, grease fittings, greater angle (35 degrees over 30), angled cylinder for short front protrusion, heavier (stronger) and HLA makes plow especially for tractors, not an afterthought of truck plows companies. Thanks again.

Deerherd · Feb 28, 2014

The Kioti handled it very well and I have no qualms recommending both the tractor and the plow with a few pointers. I had only one or two instances where the front end was pushed around and that was in very deep snow. I never needed to remove the plow and put on the bucket. I didn't need chains but the rear tires were loaded with Rimguard.

Prepping the drive prior to snow season is key. I make sure the drive is in great shape prior to the first freeze. If you have wash boarding or potholes you will be fighting it all season. This year has been great for plowing in that it's pretty much been frozen since November.

Adjust your skids so the blade is just about hitting the ground when level and note where your bucket indicator is. I use this setting when plowing the paved section of my drive and will even tip it a little forward if I want to scrape it clean.

For my 1/4 mile section of gravel drive I just set the plow down, curl it back about half a inch of indicator rod and go to town. Do NOT use the float mode on your FEL, the plow handles that great.

You will need to experiment with the curl to find the optimum setting for your tractor and snow conditions but I really think you will enjoy the plow.

As far as plowing the area around my fields, I only started seriously doing that this year with the bigger tractor. I didn't really prep it like I should have prior to the snow. It can be more of an adventure and a few times when I was "sight-seeing" I would hit the opposite windrow with the leading edge and the tractor would take a sharp detour.

Good luck!

Deerherd · Feb 28, 2014

I went out and snapped a photo of how I have the plow adjusted. I try and have it so the rear of the skid shoe is just touching.

dcole · Feb 28, 2014

That's a great shot. Thanks. I have a new wrinkle. The salesman from Quick Attach just called me and said he'd ship to my door a 72" Quick Push - Snow/Light Material Blade ( 25 degree angle, 66" work width, skid shoes hoses, guide markers, 28" tall, 600 lbs. and shipping included) for $2400. That's about $1200 less than I can get the HLA. In the end I want to get a good plow that will last me 15 years. Any opinions on Quick Attach??? (Model #900340)
Thanks for all your help!

k0ua · Feb 28, 2014

Deerherd said:
I had an HLA 2000 on a Kioti DK35 and liked it so much I bought the 3000 for my new tractor. I have never seen the Curtis Sno-Pro. I tried to compare them from the online spec sheet for Curtis but couldn't find the weight.

The HLA has horizontal float that's great for following the surface contour. It has an angled single cylinder that places the blade closer to the tractor. It's also a true snow plow that will roll the snow off the blade, not sure about the Curtis. It looks a little too straight in the photo, but it's hard to tell. You should probably try and find a video of someone plowing with the Curtis to be sure. Too many snow blades are marketed as plows.

Either plow should be about 18" wider than your track to cover it when the blade is fully angled. I guess the big question is how much more is the HLA?

Good luck in your search!

Here's the 2000 on my Kioti and the 3000 on my LS. (FYI I had the 2000 painted, that's not a standard color.)

View attachment 362538

View attachment 362539

Dave I really like the looks of the plow on the DK35.. is that 78 or 84 inches?.. As you know I have the DK35se, and that would really look good on my machine! I like how close coupled it is to the SSQA plate.

Deerherd · Feb 28, 2014

dcole said:
That's a great shot. Thanks. I have a new wrinkle. The salesman from Quick Attach just called me and said he'd ship to my door a 72" Quick Push - Snow/Light Material Blade ( 25 degree angle, 66" work width, skid shoes hoses, guide markers, 28" tall, 600 lbs. and shipping included) for $2400. That's about $1200 less than I can get the HLA. In the end I want to get a good plow that will last me 15 years. Any opinions on Quick Attach??? (Model #900340)
Thanks for all your help!

Sorry, I don't know anything about Quick Attach other than they are promoting it as a snow pushing blade and I would want a plow.

If you only have a couple hundred feet to do, a pusher is fine. Too many times people buy blades and try and plow with them and have all kinds of problems keeping the front end pointing in the right direction. The snow doesn't roll down the blade and exit going forward and out, it collects in an ever increasing pile in front of the blade.

Plus, you either have to try and float your FEL or work up some sort of chain float system.

For me, the HLA plows roll the snow like they are supposed to, have float built in, and are well designed and built. I guess it's up to each of us to decide if the price is worth it. For me it was, twice!

Good luck!