Plow or snoblower

[Yzordderrex]

Wife and I are getting ready to move to our hilltop property. Hoping to spend the winter there. Driveway is 1500 feet of gravel. A couple of steep portions and a couple of twisty turns.

I need to decide to put a plow on the front of my 07 Ram 1500 4wd or put a sno-thrower on the front of my Kubota B3200HST. I have no intention of going to work when it snows, so I don't have a time-frame to remove snow. I can spend all day at it.

Your thoughts would be appreciated. This is a large investment for us either way.

regards,
Yzordderrex

 

[Don87]

Will you have room on the sides of your road to pile snow if you happen to get several snowfalls in excess of 2 feet each? If not, a blower may be needed.

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

 

[madmax12]

Tractor plan would allow for neater cleanup. Pickup setup will allow for neater operator. That's assuming a no cab tractor.

 

[xerman]

I live in Western New York between Buffalo and Rochester and we average 100 inches of snow in the winter. I have a B7100 with a 50 inch front mount blower and a RTV 1100 with a 78 inch Boss power angling snow plow. There are advantages and disadvantages with each of them. When you blow the snow it is gone, no snow piles to deal with but with no cab on the B7100 I end up looking like a snow man when I am all done. With the RTV1100 I am warm and dry but end up with large snow piles all over the place. The other concern I have is if we get a 2 to 3 foot snow fall the RTV1100 can not move that much snow moving straight forward. That's when the B7100 comes out to clear the snow. If we get a very wet snow fall the blower chute will plug up constantly and then it is the RTV1100 that will clear the driveway. With the truck and the tractor that you have I think either one will do the job.

 

[RaydaKub]

If we get a very wet snow fall the blower chute will plug up constantly and then it is the RTV1100 that will clear the driveway.

You can always unplug the chute, you can't always push it a little harder & higher.

 

[Stewie1]

How about a third option.....

Snow thrower on the REAR of the B3200 HST?...

This is what I have and I love it. I don't find going backwards with HST a problem as I sit 'side saddle' and use my heel on the rear pedal. The rear setup is considerably cheaper than the front blower and I would think easier to find used if budget were really a concern. With the HST and manoevrability of the smaller tractor I find I can put the snow anywhere I want. Mine is a 64" wide model.

Here is mine in action....








You do need to wrap up well though with no cab....

Stewie

 

[AStanton]

Yz,
I was in a similar situation as you. I've got about a 200ft driveway but it is steep and paved. I plowed with a Toyota P/U then a Silverado P/u. My problem with plowing with a truck is that I needed to put chains on in order to plow. So, when the storm was over, I had to remove both the plow and the chains. I first used a BX25 with a rear blade to plow, then I bought a cabbed B3030. It was too cold for me to use an open station. The winter of 2010 was a blockbuster. I ran out of room to push the snow with the B3030 and back blade. I then bought a rear blower. I like the idea of the bucket for stacking snow and moving firewood, so the rear blower is great for me. I'm also able to keep the tractor chained for the whole season, if I want. It is nice having a dedicated machine for snow removal. Pic attached is of the block-buster winter.

 

[94BULLITT]

With the truck you will have heat but you should really have at least a 3/4 ton truck for a plow. The tractor will be more maneuverable. I am assuming you probably get some deep snow were a blower would be nice. For that long of a driveway I would go with a front mounted blower.

 

[crazyal]

My problem is that after a half season of snow the piles start getting big. If I don't plan ahead the piles will get to the point that I can't put more there. With your fel you can move the snow but you'll want tire chains. The blower will be slower but it will move the snow forever (unless you have problems with drifting). It will cost more. I have a front blower on an open station tractor and only occasionally do I get snow on me. It's just a matter of watching how the wind blows and not trying to throw snow into the wind. A blower will find any rock in your driveway so if you have large stones mixed in with the gravel you could end up replacing lots of shear pins. The best thing going for the blower is when you get that 2' plus dumping of snow the blower will clear your driveway. There was more than one storm that I had to be out in the middle of it plowing because if I didn't I'm not sure if I would have gotten it removed. It's also easier on your tractor than a pickup removing snow.

 

[brokenknee]

I have a blower on the back of my tractor. I also use my bucket for moving fire wood in the winter. With a blower you move it once and your done. I also find I do not put as much gravel in the yard.

A plow on the truck would definitely be faster and you would be in the comfort of your truck. I am aware some people put plows on 1/2 ton trucks, but I do not feel they are heavy duty enough to carry a plow all winter. Some plows are fairly easy to put on and off, but the blower stays on my tractor all winter and it is ready to go when I am.

As mentioned earlier you need space to push the snow, some years you need more space than others. If you don't push it back far enough early in the season you may run out of room.

edit: I do not have a problem with my blower clogging. 30 hp tractor 5 foot blower HST.

 

[94BULLITT]

Do you have a FEL? Is the snow blower quick hitch compatible with the loader?

 

[Carl Bert]

A front blower with a heated cab is heaven. No cab, not nearly as enjoyable, but still does a great job. The rear blower with a FEL is a nice combo, but I don't think you would appreciate it with such a long driveway.

If cost is not a concern, I would definitely go with the front blower, and possibly a cab, if that's an option. If cost is somewhat of a concern, then maybe a rear blower would be a better choice.

This was my setup last year

 

[lreops]

The way I see it is like this. Plowed snow is usually impossible to move once plowed. A Blower gets rid of it spread out. Just dress warmer and use a Blower and have fun seat time.

Ron

 

[94BULLITT]

If you go with a blower you may want a softcab.

Kubota B3200 Tractor Cab, Kubota B3200 Cab Enclosure, Kubota B3200 Cab, Kubota B3200 Weather Break, Kubota B3200 Tractor Cabs, Kubota B3200 Cab Enclosures and Kubota B3200 Cabs made with high quality features and materials

 

[Baby Grand]

You said your driveway has steep parts, so I'd budget for a good set of chains.
Tractors and ice at anything near 32 degrees don't play nice.

 

[Kubota 2007]

I live on a private road 1/2 long, up hills both way??? Sometime it's harder getting down the mountain that getting up, usually with ice. I have a L4200 with a front snow plow, works great, much easier plowing snow with a blade that with a bucket, the power angle blade rolls the snow. If we get to much and/or the snow starts gets to high on the side of the road, I have a rear mounted blower manufactured by "Lucknow" it's 96" and nothing stops it. I've cleared piles 8ft high with a few passes. My perfect set up is a blade and rear mounted snowblower.

 

[Yzordderrex]

Ok, thanks for all the info. Just need to ask one more question before decision is made. My wife told me I was going to cut my arm off with a snow blower on the front of my Kubota. Are these things prone to getting stuck? Driveway is brand new with gravel and there are no rocks of any size in the way. I intend to use a smaller width plow.

 

[ptrotter]

I have a B7800 with a quick hitch on the front. I have both a blower and a blade for it. Most of the time I use the blower and it works great. I have about 600 ft of uphill paved driveway and have never had a problem, even blowing over 2 feet of snow. I use the blade to clean up the corners that the blower can't get to. I takes about 5 minutes to switch between blower and blade. I have a salter on my three point hitch and I make a salt pass after I clean up the snow and that makes a big difference. I don't see how you could cut your arm off with the blower as long as you don't go playing around with it with the tractor running. I put a Curtis cab on my B7800 with heat and I can go out in short sleeves and stay toasty warm. I think this is the perfect combination. I can also still put the FEL on with the quick hitch in place if I need to use it.

 

[Mystro]

Snow blower is the way to go. No piles of snow and looks nicer. Many here in North Central Pa. start out plowing only to find by February there is no more room to push the snow and they have 6'x10' aisles of hard packed snow. I have a big walk behind JD blower and I love it's versatility and manuvarability. I can also control it's depth better for stone driveways so I am not throwing stones all over the yards. My personal driveway is a wide 300' paved hill. I can do even the worst snow storms in short time and with heated grips and 8 forward gears and 2 reverse gears, I mow though the largest street plowed piles.

 

[Don87]

Ok, thanks for all the info. Just need to ask one more question before decision is made. My wife told me I was going to cut my arm off with a snow blower on the front of my Kubota. Are these things prone to getting stuck? Driveway is brand new with gravel and there are no rocks of any size in the way. I intend to use a smaller width plow.

You can and will if you don't follow safety procedures. You can find those here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/233681-snowblowing-rules-thumb.html


Edit: If you experience a clog. Shut tractor down, and completely clear the snow/ice using a broomstick. Never, Ever clear the chute or auger with your hands or feet.