New to rural living & snow

[Inland NW]

I just purchased a home on 10 wooded acres. I have a 1000+ Ft gravel driveway. I have been told by several people to buy a used tractor and put a snow blade on it to keep the driveway clear in the Winter. I have also been told to use a snowblower and not a blade. I went to dealer to look at CC/Yanmar SC2400. They had it with FEL, Enclosed Cab, SB, and seven free attachment rentals per year for seven years for about $21,000. Of course they have the 0% for 48 Months too. Is this a good deal or should I consider other makes/models? I am not very mechanical. I already have a Cub Cadet riding lawnmower purchased from previous homeowner for mowing lawn.

 

[ScottW]

I was quoted $17,700 recently for an SC2450, and $2100 for the snowblower. No cab. So your price for a unit without backhoe seems ok but not great.

You didn't say how much snow you get per year. I know for us to do our own snow removal, it would be foolish to count on blading our 700 ft driveway. The snow would pile up and make continued work with a small SCUT blade impossible. Plus, if you blow your snow, you can have a narrower driveway, saving on building and maintenance costs, and disturbing less native vegetation for it. A wider driveway is necessary for plowing to have a place to push the snow (assuming you have vegetation taller than grass next to the driveway).

Relying on a limited number of implement loans may be ok if you have no plans for gardening, mowing, etc. But most tractor owners find lots of jobs to do with their equipment, assuming it's there at hand! I would post again on the Buying forum to get more feedback. I think you should consider two very strong competitors to CC/Yanmar: Massey-Ferguson and Kubota. It largely depends on what dealers are near you, and whether they have good reputations.

 

[Inland NW]

Thanks ScottW. I am in North Spokane, '07/'08 & '08/'09 were record years for snow for Spokane. I arrived her in January and this '09/'10 Winter was very mild by all local accounts. Purchased this home in April. Driveway is wide and has lots of areas for snow to be piled up. Driveway is mildly curvy and hilly.The CC/Yanmar2400 at the dealer had like 24 hours on it and the salesman said it was from driving it from the sales floor to the road, but I don't know. Seems like he is trying to sell a returned tractor. I have zero snow experience so it is hard to judge the good advice from the bad.

 

[oldnslo]

Are your snow falls typically less than 3 -4 " of dry powdery snow or do you get 5+ inches of wet heavy snow?

Dry powdery snow is easy to push or blow. Wet heavy snow doesn't work well with either system.

Will you have a lot of potential for drifting? If yes a snow blower leaves less banks for drifts to form behind and will throw the drifted snow out of your path.

Do you have neighbors that you can talk to and get an idea of what they use or recommend.

Maybe you could also post this question in the regional forum to get more advice from people that live in your area.

Roy

 

[Cougar300]

You could buy an old plow truck for a few thousand dollars.

I have a 900' driveway, only takes a few minutes with my truck.

 

[Travelover]

If you are just goign to use the tractor for snow removal, you might be better off hiring the snow plowing from a local guy. $21K will buy a lot of snow pushing.