Snowblower How to choose: snowblower for 24 hp CUT

flyer · Sep 11, 2007

I've read many threads and have garnered quite a bit of information on a snowblower for my 1989 24 hp John Deere 855.

Here's my situation: 1/4 mile gravel driveway. Garage doors at the end.

First question: will a snowblower significantly damage the the driveway surface and/or displace a lot of gravel? How well do shoes work? Is a specific type better than another for gravel driveways (rear pull, rear push, front mount)?

Second question: do i have enough tractor to do my driveway in a reasonable amount of time? Currently, i can plow it in 30-40 minutes (due to parking areas, garage, etc), but the plow is killing my vehicle and the driveway (and i just re-furbished the driveway this year).

Third question: I'm leaning towards a rear-pull snowblower. Is there a rear cutting edge on these and can i keep it off the surface to minimize the driveway damage?

Forth question: There are so many options (yesterday i thought there would be no options ... i found out how mistaken i was!) ... which one should i choose???

Thanks!

RoyJackson · Sep 11, 2007

flyer said:
I've read many threads and have garnered quite a bit of information on a snowblower for my 1989 24 hp John Deere 855.

Here's my situation: 1/4 mile gravel driveway. Garage doors at the end.

First question: will a snowblower significantly damage the the driveway surface and/or displace a lot of gravel? How well do shoes work? Is a specific type better than another for gravel driveways (rear pull, rear push, front mount)?

Second question: do i have enough tractor to do my driveway in a reasonable amount of time? Currently, i can plow it in 30-40 minutes (due to parking areas, garage, etc), but the plow is killing my vehicle and the driveway (and i just re-furbished the driveway this year).

Third question: I'm leaning towards a rear-pull snowblower. Is there a rear cutting edge on these and can i keep it off the surface to minimize the driveway damage?

Forth question: There are so many options (yesterday i thought there would be no options ... i found out how mistaken i was!) ... which one should i choose???

Thanks!

I think your conncern should be how much damage that gravel drive will do to the snow blower!

The blowers to have skid shoes to raise them above the surface. These shoes are also on some plows and some folks here have added them to rear blades

Your 855 has 24 engine HP and 20 at the PTO. It's enough for that Erskine pull type blower I linked in your other post.

What do you use to plow with now? Your FEL? Front blade...rear blade?

A blower is a expensive piece of equipment that will be used infrequently. That may not be your best option...especially on a gravel drive.

Blk88GT · Sep 11, 2007

Typically with a rear facing snowblower (I'm not a fan of the "pull" style ones) you will drop the blower during the first few storms to drag around as you drive forward. This will level out the snow, and provide a surface that will harden over the next 24 hours. Do that once or twice as the season starts, and you'll have a good base to work on. I too have a gravel driveway and this is how I did it (although with my bucket) but have done it with friends' tractors for them as well.

I see no problem using the blower on the gravel, as long as you know how to operate it. You have enough tractor in my opinion. I plan to get a blower for my 7510 as well.

jimg · Sep 11, 2007

>>First question: will a snowblower significantly damage the the driveway
>>surface and/or displace a lot of gravel? How well do shoes work? Is a
>>specific type better than another for gravel driveways (rear pull, rear
>>push, front mount)?
It depends a lot on how frozen the gravel is. At the beginning of any season I would move some gravel thru my blower. Once the freeze thaw cycle occured a few times most of it was pretty well anchored. In the spring Id rake what little was on the lawn back onto the drive...which didnt amt to very much. I was using a rear mount 3pt blower (push type).

As Roy said you want to set the skid shoes all the way out giving max clearance between drive and blower. In the case of a gravel drive you want some base on it. If you have problems w/ icing/traction put down some wood ash or sand. However the base is there to keep the stones in place.

>>Second question: do i have enough tractor to do my driveway in a
>>reasonable amount of time? Currently, i can plow it in 30-40 minutes
>>(due to parking areas, garage, etc), but the plow is killing my vehicle
>>and the driveway (and i just re-furbished the driveway this year).
Lots more than enough. I ran a TC21 and could move massive amts of snow right quick. That shouldnt be a prob.

>>Third question: I'm leaning towards a rear-pull snowblower. Is there a
>>rear cutting edge on these and can i keep it off the surface to minimize
>> the driveway damage?
Dont know...mine was a 3pt push type and it worked well.

>>Forth question: There are so many options (yesterday i thought there
>>would be no options ... i found out how mistaken i was!) ... which one
>>should i choose???
Certainly you want a blower that will cover your rear wheels. I think mine was 56" and it could have been a bit bigger w/o any prob. Electric or hydraulic chute control is really nice to have but a manual works OK too.

Having a cab will be best b/c you stay warm and dry. If you dont have one dress warmly and in something waterproof b/c youre going to get wet. A blower can shift lots of snow and if the wind catches it your lap will fill up pretty quick.

flyer · Sep 11, 2007

Great stuff.

How is snowblowing such a long driveway with a rear push? Isn't that quite uncomfortable after a while? Maybe it's not that bad since i don't have a cab and i'll be freezing my @#$@# off! Actually, i don't think it'll be too bad (the cold) ... just bundle up ...

Now for the choices ... I've gathered up a bunch of possibilities, just thought i'de list them here to see what people have to say ... recommendations/info/experiences appreciated!

woods
lorenz
erskine
pronovost
Agrotrend
farm king
smyth
meteor

Blk88GT · Sep 12, 2007

My only experience is with Farm King, and on a much bigger tractor. I would buy one in a heartbeat.

jimg · Sep 12, 2007

flyer said:
Great stuff.

How is snowblowing such a long driveway with a rear push? Isn't that quite uncomfortable after a while? Maybe it's not that bad since i don't have a cab and i'll be freezing my @#$@# off! Actually, i don't think it'll be too bad (the cold) ... just bundle up ...

Now for the choices ... I've gathered up a bunch of possibilities, just thought i'de list them here to see what people have to say ... recommendations/info/experiences appreciated!

woods
lorenz
erskine
pronovost
Agrotrend
farm king
smyth
meteor

Going in reverse isnt a big problem unless you have a bad back/stiff joints. I didnt find it to be an issue. I think blowing snow is quicker than plowing so the job isnt going to last that long. My blower was wide enough that I could clear the drive in an up/down pass. Since its going to move some stone occasionally youll want ot be aware of where the chute is pointed. On the good side you wont run out of space as winter progresses...as you would if you were plowing.

Being w/o a cab isnt a show stopper. Just dress warmly and have something water proof on the outside. Also mind the wind...that over 1/2 the battle.

I had a Pronovost Puma and it worked real well. It was simple, easy to operate and bullet proof. Im sure most of the others are good too.