Snow opinions re: snow removal equipment

[stargazers]

I wanted to find out what everybody uses for snow removal equipment on their tractors. We are trying to figure out what to get for our 955. We live on a 1/3 mile steep twisty driveway that we paved, was all stone. House is at the top and flat is at the bottom /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif Right now we are thinking weights on the rear hitch, or rear tires and chains all around not sure if we should go with the loader or get a snow plow (or possibly a snow blower of some kind). /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I will be doing the plowing so I am the one to figure out what I want for it. I want it stable with a lot of traction. Would front weights be a good idea? It has ag tires on it right now, hubby thinks maybe it should have turf tires on it. He had thought the ag tires with no chains and I said I don't think soooooo, definitely chains.......somewhere. So he quickly changed his mind to maybe turf tires. Questions questions question

Thanks for everyones advice/opinions it helps a great deal on my "journey" through tractor ownership /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[garchib]

I have a large driveway in surface area, it is kind of shaped
like a parking lot (wide but not long) and I use my FEL
with great success..........the thing I like about the FEL is
I can choose where to put the snow

 

[jimg]

If you plow and have a snowy winter you always run the risk of having to move the burms back midwinter. A blower moves it well away.

 

[Dutch445]

IMHO the snowblowers are the way to go. But then again, at almost 200 inches of snow each of the past couple winters I guess winters were on the extreme side up here. My theory is with a bucket or blade, you eventually end up with piles that ice up and become permanent (unless bigger equipment is brought in). Also, as the banks grow, so do the drifts. With a blower, if you have wind blowing across the driveway often, the wind and snowblower put the snow far enough away from the side of the driveway that the banks stay contollable, and the drifts stay lower. But it all depends on your conditions, and layout of the driveway. (and how much snow you usually get) Deere still has new 59 front snowblowers available for your tractor, if you don't want to get a crook in your neck!

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[zuiko]

If price is no object a blower is the way to go. I use a 7 foot rear blade because I don't want to spend the dough on a blower. I have no problems with ags without chains... I never spin a wheel and haven't had to use diff lock. My back tires are filled and I have 4WD.

It's very fast, I have no problem plowing any amount of snow at about 5mph. I have level ground though, with a hill I would probably have to go slower. I would think with turfs you would have worse traction so I'm not sure why you'd want to go that route. The ags bite into the snow very well.

There is no way I would consider doing it with the loader with how cheap rear blades are. They are so much faster.

 

[Boondox]

I'll differ with most of the others in that I don't really think a blower can justify itself unless you have tons of lake effect snow like the folks in the Buffalo area. I live at 1500' in the hills of Northern Vermont. My neighbor is a ski resort. We get plenty of snow. But only twice in the past five years have I wished for a snowblower. For moving less than a foot of snow, I find the rear blade does a fine job, and quickly, with minimal maintenance time, sheer bolt issues, etc. I just plow and park.

As for tires...I have two driveways and half a mile of steep dirt road to plow. Most of the time ags are just fine. My previous tractor had turfs and they were utterly useless in snow unless I was on absolutely flat ground. The reason I use chains (Valby ice chains) is late in the winter when daytime melting results in rivers of ice, there is simply no other way for me to get around.

So if you have hills and conditions like mine, think twice about turfs or industrials with no chains. Plowing a flat parking lot is a lot different than plowing a twisty hillside road.

Pete

 

[beenthere]

Depends on how much snow, but (given you have a paved drive), I would go with the ag tires, no chains (backup only if you let ice/snowpack build up), front blade, rear ballast box. Second choice would be a blower on the front.

Last choice would be a rear blade, rear snowblower, and then the FEL. In fact, I wouldn't even think about a FEL to move snow off that long a drive.

You can pick a different choice if you want. But you asked, so here it is.

 

[keeney]

I think the ideal setup would be a front blade for most light to moderate snows. Put a blower on the 3-pt and keep it there for ballast and to move banks that get too big or when you get a really heavy snow.

- Rick

 

[WCarlson]

Stargazers,
I live on a hill and have about 400 ft of drive plus two turn arounds to plow with over 190 inches of snow last winter. I use a 59" front mounted snow blower, R-4 industrial tires with chains on all four. I can do the job in about 20 minutes regardless of the amount of snow or what "gifts" the county plows have left for me at the intersection of my drive and the road. I love the front mounted blower and feel it is the optimum snow removal device. You cut clean lines in the snow, have no buildup as you do with a plow and can do the job without a stiff neck while steering the discharge hydraulically to where you want it. Down side is expense, they are costly.
Bill

 

[Trev]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think the ideal setup would be a front blade for most light to moderate snows. Put a blower on the 3-pt and keep it there for ballast and to move banks that get too big or when you get a really heavy snow.

- Rick
)</font>

I'd go with that also.. but can't afford the blower so just use a rear weight. The front blade is nice because you can angle it, and because of the spring trip that will let you hit something hidden under the snow without doing any damage..

Having the hydraulic control of the blade really makes life easy.. up, down, left, right..

The only problem I have is adjusting the shoes to the correct height for given conditions. When the ground isn't frozen solid, I sometimes plow up dirt as well as snow. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Bob