Skidsteer vs Compact tractor

[LD1]

You are right I was not concerned about maneuverability. My L4240 weighs about 7000#. So you prefer a truck over a SS or tractor?

For my area, absolutely I prefer a truck. Fastest way to plow unless you are in a crammed parking lot with lots of tight areas and back-dragging. But drives (country drives, not small city lots), and large parking lots, truck is faster hands down. Until you get a big enough piece of equipment to push a 16' blade. But with My 9'6" blade, I can make about 5 trips across the parking lot compaired to only one with a tractor/SS

 

[yelbike]

For my area, absolutely I prefer a truck. Fastest way to plow unless you are in a crammed parking lot with lots of tight areas and back-dragging. But drives (country drives, not small city lots), and large parking lots, truck is faster hands down. Until you get a big enough piece of equipment to push a 16' blade. But with My 9'6" blade, I can make about 5 trips across the parking lot compaired to only one with a tractor/SS

I have to agree!

10 years ago my dad had one of those cheap BEAR snow plows from walmart. It worked great and fast. For some unknown reason he sold it.

 

[brown40]

Tire size & ground clearance may be things to consider post-storm & later in the year if/when you have banks to consider... the smaller the tires the easier it is to glaze up a nice icy tire rest for them to spin in. If the unit has enough weight & breakout force you may be able to get in & chop your way into the banks & get to real ground, but if not you'll be prying up the back of the unit and/or spinning your tires as the blade pushes against an ice wall it can't penetrate. Depends a lot on what conditions the season gives you! You can't beat a good plow truck for getting the job done...

 

[shooterm]

Couple real negatives I have for skidloaders is limited hours, terrible visibility, and low speed. I cant find find a newer skidloader thats not junk after 2500 hours. They never figured out the rear visibility so you will get real sore after a long snow event rubber necking. Even with 2 speed and over sized tires you max out at 11mph (mind you two speeds go out very frequently). My last two years of snowplowing has been in a skidloader at a large industrial park. If I was a solo guy I wouldn't like its limitations.

 

[94BULLITT]

Couple real negatives I have for skidloaders is limited hours, terrible visibility, and low speed. I cant find find a newer skidloader thats not junk after 2500 hours. They never figured out the rear visibility so you will get real sore after a long snow event rubber necking. Even with 2 speed and over sized tires you max out at 11mph (mind you two speeds go out very frequently). My last two years of snowplowing has been in a skidloader at a large industrial park. If I was a solo guy I wouldn't like its limitations.

Good points.

 

[bm3]

Crazyal is right on , parking lot skid steer , no contest . I have a JD 250 SS weighs about 7,000 with rear weight set . Oh the only problem is sore neck , lol

 

[sdkubota]

LD1 is 100% correct, a pickup with a plow can move a lot of snow fast. Providing it isn't so deep as to prevent windrowing it, a pickup will easily outperform a loader or bobcat. I will also say a front end plow on a pickup can do a lot of damage on the steering, axle, etc. and should never be placed on a 1/2 ton and even a 3/4 ton requires some care. If you dump off the plow as soon as possible so the vehicle doesn't have to carry around that weight on the front axle.

 

[crazyal]

I started with tractors, then I got smart. I never disc or cut fields/grass so I don't need a tractor. Advantages of a skid steer - It's the Victorinox of the tractor family. For snow you have the maneuverability that no tractor can touch. For pushing snow they probably will both do the job, just like a car and a pickup truck will both take you to the grocery store. But with the pickup truck you can use the bed for endless tasks, over the car. The attachments once you get the skid steer are endless. You will find yourself using it for things you never imagined.
Think about the first pass you make tractor vs skid steer. You both push the snow equally then when you get to end of the lot/drive with the skid steer - you spin around and your going the other way. With the tractor you have to do a multi point turn OR do a large circle to go the other way. Advantage skid steer.
It's all about the bonus uses with the skid steer.

With the tractor you could just use the rear brakes to spin the tractor around. In the winter is when it works best because of the ground being slippery. I do it all the time. I even use the tractor brakes when working on sloped ground that wants to pull the tractor into the ditch.

 

[crazyal]

For pushing snow I would also opt for a truck over either a tractor or a SS. But that wasn't one of the two choices.

 

[nybirdman]

I have a L4240 HSTC with a eight ft.FEL mounted snow plow,rear seven ft. blade.My choice.We had a three ft.wet snow fall that couldn't be plowed(tractor or truck),I removed my plow and mounted my bucket to save the day.That type of snow had to be picked up and moved,it was like wet concrete.

 

[94BULLITT]

How fast are you guys plowing with your truck when you do a driveway or parking lot?

I have a L4240 HSTC with a eight ft.FEL mounted snow plow,rear seven ft. blade.My choice.We had a three ft.wet snow fall that couldn't be plowed(tractor or truck),I removed my plow and mounted my bucket to save the day.That type of snow had to be picked up and moved,it was like wet concrete.

Deep wet snows can be nasty to move. I like your dog, what is it?

 

[yelbike]

How fast are you guys plowing with your truck when you do a driveway or parking lot?



Deep wet snows can be nasty to move. I like your dog, what is it?

I once tried to plow an 8 mile ice road on lake of the woods back in the late '90s. I was doing 30 mph. Worked good till I frozen everything up with the blasting of snow dust. Then I grew up, slowed down 'cause i didn't want to wreck anything. Go slow, but its still faster than a tractor os ss.

 

[crazyal]

I have a L4240 HSTC with a eight ft.FEL mounted snow plow,rear seven ft. blade.My choice.We had a three ft.wet snow fall that couldn't be plowed(tractor or truck),I removed my plow and mounted my bucket to save the day.That type of snow had to be picked up and moved,it was like wet concrete.

You just needed a little more muscle. :laughing:

My problem was that the piles of snow add up around here and by Feb there's no room left. In the past I would have to fire up the dozer to push them deep into the woods. The snow blower is a one shot and your done solution.

 

[LD1]

How fast are you guys plowing with your truck when you do a driveway or parking lot?

Doing drives, depends. How long is the drive?? My drive is 250' long and curvy. So about 10mph. Another I do is about 600 YARDS long and straight. Can do that one ~20mph or better.

Yelbike touched on a very good point there, blowing snow all over the truck is NOT something you and to do when plowing. So...if wind and snow type is in your favor, 30MPH isnt bad. If wind is blowing back on you and the snow is light ad powdery, you have to go slower.

Some parkinglots we do....20mph+ is pretty easy. And then reverse just as fast

 

[94BULLITT]

Doing drives, depends. How long is the drive?? My drive is 250' long and curvy. So about 10mph. Another I do is about 600 YARDS long and straight. Can do that one ~20mph or better.

Yelbike touched on a very good point there, blowing snow all over the truck is NOT something you and to do when plowing. So...if wind and snow type is in your favor, 30MPH isnt bad. If wind is blowing back on you and the snow is light ad powdery, you have to go slower.

Some parkinglots we do....20mph+ is pretty easy. And then reverse just as fast

I don't think a truck would be faster on my driveway because of maneuverability. My tractor will run 8mph in medium so I should be able to make decent time on the main portion.

 

[nybirdman]

How fast are you guys plowing with your truck when you do a driveway or parking lot?



Deep wet snows can be nasty to move. I like your dog, what is it?

He is an Elhew English Pointer ,one of six we own.Used on our uplands preserve.

 

[crazyal]

I don't think a truck would be faster on my driveway because of maneuverability. My tractor will run 8mph in medium so I should be able to make decent time on the main portion.

Is your drive gravel and does it freeze? If not then you'll most likely be going slower no matter what. In the fall I have to be real careful not to dig up the gravel with the plow. I have to constantly be adjusting the height, too high and I'll leave a layer of wet snow that'll pack and turn to ice. The skids on the bottom of the plow help but they only make contact at two points. A tractor or SS will offer control of both speed and plow.

 

[94BULLITT]

Is your drive gravel and does it freeze? If not then you'll most likely be going slower no matter what. In the fall I have to be real careful not to dig up the gravel with the plow. I have to constantly be adjusting the height, too high and I'll leave a layer of wet snow that'll pack and turn to ice. The skids on the bottom of the plow help but they only make contact at two points. A tractor or SS will offer control of both speed and plow.

Mostly gravely, I commercial entrance which is blacktop. The weather around here is crazy, the ground is constantly freezing and thawing. Last year I don't think I even had to plow the driveway, maybe just the entrance. I am currently looking for a plow for the fel now.

 

[SpringHollow]

A snow plow mounted to your loader arms is sweet - you can push snow into really tall piles. As a favor, I help a guy down the street by pushing back the frozen snow piles on the sides of the driveways he commercially plows. Each has its place. Just comes down to your other needs as to which one is best. And trucks do take a beating from plowing.

Ken