Snow Equipment Owning/Operating moving snow for a newbie

[mustelid]

i'm still in the info gathering phase of compact tractors and had a question about moving snow with a FEL.

Because you can't angle the bucket do you push the snow forward, or scoop it all up bit by bit? The Branson I'm considering doesn't have a very big bucket on it (although the lift capacity is great).

I live in SE michigan and we only get 12"+ a couple times a year. But it would be pretty sad to buy something that couldn't clear a long driveway. I also didn't think it would be cost effective to buy a snowblower attachment (front/rear) for just the couple times i'd need it per year.

thanks!

 

[MikePA]

I use the bucket (60" wide) to push the snow into a pile. If the pile ends up being in a place that's in the way, I then use the FEL to transport it where it's not. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Once the bucket is full, it acts like a blade and, essentially, that's how I use it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I have a rear blade as well, but I've yet had a need to use it.

Last year we had one storm that dumped a couple feet. I couldn't push too much of that before I ran out of traction, even in 4wd. In that case, I pushed until I ran out of traction, then turned and dumped the bucket off to the side of the driveway. Once I had a bucket-wide path plowed, I took half bucket bites.

For a long driveway, you could use this technique or use a rear blade, angled to one side. The 'problem' with this, or any blade really, is you can run out of room to push the snow. That's what's nice about having a bucket. If you run out of space, you can always relocate the piles of snow. A snow blower can do the same thing, but at a higher price.

 

[RoyJackson]

Moving snow with the loader is too slow.

I think you'll find most of us push snow with a back blade (I drive in reverse) and only use the loader for making and moving piles. I do use the loader bucket to pull snow away from the house, garage doors and vehicles by curling down and dragging it back.

But pushing snow with a back blade will eventually result in losing traction (without chains) once enough snow has acculmulated in the direction you're pushing it. That's when you use the loader to move it out of the way.

Mike must have been replying at the same time I was. The snow he's talking about is shown in the attached picture. We had about 36"-40" with drifts higher yet. Mike lives north of me, I believe, and this blizzard came in from the southwest.
I really enjoyed myself...and this snow made my wife a believer in tractors, but not enough of a believer to learn to operate it (more hours for me!)

 

[TimSullivan]

I have a 4300 Deere and have the 72 inch bucket and rear blade that I use to clear my 800 foot driveway. We live in Upstate New York and get lake effect snow from Erie and Ontario.

I drive forward and plow the snow to the side of the driveway. If the banks are getting to high I turn the back blade around and push them farther off the driveway. If that becomes to much for the tractor I use the bucket to lift and drop the snow out of the way. I also own a F250 4X4 with a plow and never put the plow on last year. I do not mind plowing in the open and I can see better and be more careful with the tractor.

If you are going to use a back blade you should have one with skid plates. They will help to minimize the damage to the driveway surface.

 

[pruntyc]

You mean it's snowing up north already???? Still hot down here in the south. Mid 90's, the snow sounds good right now though.

 

[thcri]

I plow with a 60" bucket. We typically get lots of snow here in Minnesota. (Not so much last year).

I think it depends a lot on how long your drive way is. I personnaly would never use a back blade because you have to turn around so much. A car accident when younger prevents me from doing that. My driveway is not that long so I push the snow out and across the road. Yes I have to come back once to clean up the side spill. I did have a front blade once but found that after a while especially when you have a wide driveway like mine that the snow on the side ends up getting pretty packed and the blade usually can't move it anymore and your tractor just slides to the side so your driveway ends up getting narrower. I had snow piled up about 5 feet two years ago and the blade just wouldn't cut into it anymore. But for long driveways most people like the blade.

murph

 

[Bob999]

Depending on the size of the tractor you end up with you might want to consider a quick attach front blade. This is an option if you get a quick attach for the loader/bucket. With this arrangement you can easily mount a quick attach blade. To make it most convienient you also need an extra hydraulic circuit for the angle function on the blade. Alternatively you can attach the angle to one of the loader functions--with or without an hydraulic valve that allows alternating between two functions.

 

[gerard]

This thread should have been prohibited prior to Nov!!! Pushing snow's the last thing I want to thinking about in August. Our summers are too short in upstate NY already............ sheesh.................. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[lamarbur]

We avg over 100" snow each season and our driveway is 1600 ft long, and I do it with a 72" bucket. Doesn't take me any longer than using the old Jeep with plow. In fact in winter I use a JD 710 and do three schools, several small business' and several banks. Around here the bucket is quicker because I push, then can dump over fences and such where the pick-up plows can only push to a certain spot.

 

[gmol]

I used to use my fel to push and pile. Last year I got fed up with it and bought qa 71/2 ' Curtis hydraulic blade. No comparison. When I used the fel loader I always worked diagonally across the drive and then the opposite from the other side so you are clearing snow to the sides of the road and taking smaller bites each pass. My neck would not last 3 minutes using a back blade in a New England snow year.