Need a sure thing

[chuck172]

I'll be buying a new Kioti ck35 shuttle soon. I've always thought that I'd get an old truck plow and hook it to the SSQA for snow. Now I'm hearing that's a bad idea, I could twist up the loader arms.
Then I'm thinking hook up the truck snowplow directly to the tractor frame. Now I'm hearing that even with rear ballast, the tractor is too light and will be thrown around.
I know I can always use the front loader and the rear blade, but my driveway is 800' shale.
That leaves me with a snowblower. I'm totally unfamiliar with a snowblower. I guess it would be rear mount. Is a rear mount snowblower on a Kioti ck35 a sure thing?

 

[Looking4new]

The only sure things in life are death and taxes.
That being said, there are arguments for and against rear mount snow blowers. Myself having a bad back and being 67 years old, I use a front mount blower, but they co$t way more than a rear mount ($6,000.oo ), but they are easier on the back.
Do you get lots of snow in a normal winter?
Would a scraper blade do the trick for you?
Do you have places to put lots of snow or do you need to relocate it due to tight areas?

There will be others that come on here and will have other questions as well.

 

[haveissues]

I'm not sure where you are and how much snow you get but I adapted a truck plow to the frame of a kubota b2620 which is a lot smaller than your tractor and it plows snow just fine. I've pushed around over a foot without issue and I think it would do more but I just haven't tried.

 

[chuck172]

N.E Pa.
haveissues, snowplows on tractors are controversial. If I could get away with a plow and ballast on the Kioti, I'd go that route. I'd really like to use the SSQA.

 

[Thomas]

Blower one shot deal....no snow banks to push back,BIG measure might have to use blower twice,plow you you should use twice.

If your gently operator and don't mind the seat time attach plow..plow you can clean close to ground surface.
I plow attach to bucket for many years and no damage.

 

[DK35vince]

N.E Pa.
haveissues, snowplows on tractors are controversial. If I could get away with a plow and ballast on the Kioti, I'd go that route. I'd really like to use the SSQA.

I've been using that setup for years. Works fine

 

[motownbrowne]

As long as the plow trips (has springs and will fold forward if you hit something) and you are cautious, you should be okay with the plow. Honestly, though, a rear blower is a better tool. You don't make snow banks on the side of your drive that catch blowing snow.

I'm saving up for a blower myself. Seems about $1000 can get a used one around here.

 

[nybirdman]

Lots here have FEL mounted plows.

 

[chuck172]

My first choice would be a plow in place of the loader bucket. I have heard horror stories of bent loader arms. What happens after about the 3rd snowfall and the banks are high and frozen? There has to be lots of stress on the loader arms.
I'll try the plow method first, but I'll feel better knowing that a rear mounted blower will absolutely work if need be. I'm opting for a rear hydraulic remote on the Kioti for this reason.

 

[nybirdman]

A lot depends on your average snowfall.70 miles south of me they got 300+inchs.Blower country for sure.We may have got 100in.
With a plow you soon learn to push your banks back.With the SS mount it only takes a few minutes to put the bucket back on if needed.Plows are much faster.

 

[flyingcow]

As someone who has snowblowed a 650ft driveway for 15 yrs, with a rear mount, I'd try the plow on the front. Then save up for a rearmount blower too. Learn the prices of a rearmount and look for a steal. Craigslist or wherever. my plans are to have a FEL mounted blade by next winter. Or, because my tractor is big enough, an inverted blower.

Now, you really want to dream-- Hound Dog Plow Blades

or--- Front Snowblower Mountings


Call and talk to them, they may have some year end deals

 

[KubotainNH]

I've seen many folks say not to put a plow on because of twisting the loader but really don't recall ever seeing it happen. If you have a good plow with a real trip edge like a Fisher then you should be good. I have one of these on my unibody Jeep with no issues and I hit things at a much higher speed than a tractor will. One other thing is you can make sure you build it properly so there is some give to the angle cylinders on the plow, maybe a valve that allows the blade to angle more when hitting something. I know that either angle cylinder on my truck will give if pushed hard enough on that side. It must be built into the hydraulics on Fishers.

 

[Thomas]

Been pushing w/blade for many years,far as pushing back snow bank all comes down to common sense.

 

[chuck172]

I'll be getting my ck35 next week. I wonder how hard it would be to mount the plow right on the frame. Not as convenient as the ssqa, but has to be safer. KubotainNH, I have an old wrangler yj, that I treat like a princess. I think a plow would kill that jeep.
The plow trip springs won't help with the side stress (twist) on the loader arms. The proportional valve between the two angle cylinders would help, but once they're maxed out, there is the stress is on the loader arms. I imagine that a 6' plow would be about the max. length.
How bout ***-end weight of the tractor when plowing, does it want to fishtail when heaping snow to the side? I suppose chains and about 750# of 3pt. ballast would help that.

 

[KubotainNH]

KubotainNH, I have an old wrangler yj, that I treat like a princess. I think a plow would kill that jeep.
The plow trip springs won't help with the side stress (twist) on the loader arms. The proportional valve between the two angle cylinders would help, but once they're maxed out, there is the stress is on the loader arms. I imagine that a 6' plow would be about the max. length.

Rust is the only thing killing my Jeep. The plow trips pretty easily (although loudly) and has tripped with just the corner hitting something. The angle prop valve having give is also a good thing. My plow is 6.5' and the thing is great for my drive, super tight turning radius. Sounds like you're nervous about adding a plow which is understandable for a new tractor. My Jeep is quickly nearing yard plow only usage. BTW, the plow frame is made for an XJ.

 

[flyingcow]

Don't hesitate to put a plow on. Trip on the blade and the hydraulic bypass on the pistons you'll be all set.

 

[k0ua]

Also don't forget you opted for the shuttle not the hydro.. blowers and hydros go together like peas and carrots. Sometimes you have to go slower into deep snow than you lowest gear wants to go. You have to keep your RPM's up to blow snow, and now your are going too fast to feed the snow.. Hydro shines here because it can go from zero to max speed in the range and anywhere in between, gear cannot. In pushing snow, you typically go fast enough to throw the snow to the side, and your gear machine is not at a disadvantage here. I am not saying you cannot use a blower with the gear machine, people do, but it may not be optimum.

 

[CJONE]

Bent loader arms? I guess if you hit a tree at 10 mph they will bend? But I don't see how just plowing snow or pushing banks back with a 7 or 8' blade. I have been pushing banks back with a 8' snow box for 2 years with no issues. If digging and pushing out trees or using a bucket to dig with does not bend something I have a hard time believing snow/ice would be any harder on a FEL. I know people who could destroy a anvil so with a little common sense you should never have a issue. CJ

 

[k0ua]

Bent loader arms? I guess if you hit a tree at 10 mph they will bend? But I don't see how just plowing snow or pushing banks back with a 7 or 8' blade. I have been pushing banks back with a 8' snow box for 2 years with no issues. If digging and pushing out trees or using a bucket to dig with does not bend something I have a hard time believing snow/ice would be any harder on a FEL. I know people who could destroy a anvil so with a little common sense you should never have a issue. CJ

Yeah, I have done a lot of the things that people say to never do with a loader because it will bend your arms, I haven't bent any yet. But I guess somewhere there is someone that has, but you did say to use "common sense".. I think that is the magic factor. A lot of people don't. If I get a front snow blade it will be SSQA for me.

 

[coobie]

As someone who has snowblowed a 650ft driveway for 15 yrs, with a rear mount, I'd try the plow on the front. Then save up for a rearmount blower too. Learn the prices of a rearmount and look for a steal. Craigslist or wherever. my plans are to have a FEL mounted blade by next winter. Or, because my tractor is big enough, an inverted blower.

Now, you really want to dream-- Hound Dog Plow Blades

or--- Front Snowblower Mountings


Call and talk to them, they may have some year end deals

Picked up my Hound dog snow plow blade this past weekend.I bought the skidsteer type 7ft. Med duty 7 ga. steel model with hyd. angle.This baby is STOUT,come on next winter.