Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow - how deep can you go through?

[bill177]

Unknown model large JD - used to get drifted in during the winter by the corner of the barn - in the 1950s. Just start it and drive out. Would haul the spreader to the corn fields through large drifts - no problem. Nothing stopped that tractor. Tri-gear and very high twin-cylinder. Had an 8N and a Cub that just sat in the winters. No covers or anything. Sometimes the AC or the Moline would get run, but usually it was the JD. It was the largest tractor we had.

We never plowed back then. The county plows did that for us. That was the norm - when you got a little something for your tax dollars. Lottsa good memories!

 

[dillo99]

I'm was wondering if the TBN members had opinions or experience about the ability of a MFWD CUT to make it through 6"-12" of snow......specifically - if I have to drive my tractor through unplowed snow (from the barn; to the gate; across a field; etc....).....how deep is going to get me in trouble - 6" of snow isn't like trying to go through 6" of mud - right?

Or should I look at it like driving a truck and not go any deeper than I would in a 4WD PU?

Thanks

Champy,

I drive from the barn up to the house on a gravel drive through the woods (about 200 feet). I never plow this area - I just plow the driveway once I get to the house. I have never had a problem and at times there has been up to 2 feet of fresh snow with packed snow underneath. This is with a Kubota B7500 (4wd) and at times I am pulling a four wheel wagon loaded with wood.

 

[frank_f15]

Just curious about this.....In a normal fresh snowfall, how deep (6' - 1'?) have you been able to drive your tractor through it before losing traction? Using R1's or R4's?

Thanks

Really depends on the type of snow, i have driven thro over 12" of light snow no problem BUT if it is wet and heavy need to move it and dump it, again i have never been stopped by deep snow, ice or any thing just takes more time, and i have R4's no chains

 

[Toolguy]

Agree with frank f15, All snow is not the same. Light, dry fluffy snow is nothing compared to heavy, wet, or hard & dry drifted snow. Think about walking on snow. If it is easy to walk through it will be easy to drive through. Same thing if it is hard to walk through. It will be hard to drive through. And it depends if there is ice underneath. Lots of variables. Good luck.

 

[MossRoad]

I'm was wondering if the TBN members had opinions or experience about the ability of a MFWD CUT to make it through 6"-12" of snow......specifically - if I have to drive my tractor through unplowed snow (from the barn; to the gate; across a field; etc....).....how deep is going to get me in trouble - 6" of snow isn't like trying to go through 6" of mud - right?

Or should I look at it like driving a truck and not go any deeper than I would in a 4WD PU?

Thanks

I've driven my 6HP lawn tractor with chains on 14" tires through 12" of snow. My PT425 only has 8" of ground clearance and turf tires and it pushes its way through a foot with complete ease. For that matter, I drive it around the yard when it snows to pack down a trail for X-country skiing.

When I get my 4wd pickup truck stuck out in corn fields up to the hood in snow when finding good ice fishing spots, it is a farmer on a tractor pulling me out. I have never had the chance to return the favor!

 

[PBinWA]

I can plow snow uphill on a steep asphalt road with my rear blade BUT I have v-bar chains on the front wheels. Without the chains I have trouble plowing up my not so steep driveway. I don't think I need the chains on flat terrain but if you add hills and a slick paved surfave then the chains become required.

Some people feel you need chains on your rear wheels but if you go slow and take it easy and aren't doing a lot of plowing then you can get by with chains on the front only. My tractor doesn't have the fender clearance for rear chains and the front only chains seems to work fine.

 

[daTeacha]

I have used a 109 Cadet with a 36" blade and rear chains to clear snow on my drive, my neighbors drive, and my other neighbors drive. Snow has been up to 18" plus drifting and/or thawed then refrozen top crust. Sometimes you need to back up and hit it a few times, but eventually it moves.

Similarly, a B7100 Kubota (4 wd, R1 tires, no wheel weights, no chains) with 6' rear blade and FEL can move a lot of deep snow. If it's heavy, the first pass will see the tractor being moved sideways from the thrust of the blade unless you set it at a severe angle. When it piled up too much in one spot, I used the FEL to pick up and move it. I used the same tractor to open my road in '05 after clearing an ice fallen tree that kept the county crews from coming down from the highway. I opened the road and cleared the "plow wash" from the state highway at the end of it, no problems exept people being idiots and not respecting the fact that I was trying to help them out and not just play with my little tractor.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I've been through almost 3 feet of snow with my BX22..... but it worked a lot better when I was still driving on top! I hope no one saw me use the shovel that time! The crust was pretty hard that year. Now, I usually let the FEL go first, and just make a road to where I'm working on brush, etc.

 

[escavader]

The first winter with the bx23 we had a wicked amount of snow,alot of you remember my pics.Iwas showing of my tractors capabilitys to a friend,and after i got through the banking with the front end loader,i put him in the seat.I told him to lift the loader up ,push in the differential lock,and see how far he could go with it.There must have been 2and a half feet of fluffy stuff.The tractor was unstoppable,the snow was coming over the hood!!Couldnt steer it though,would only go straight As said it depends on the type of snow,if it were wet heavy,he wouldnt have got far.
ALAN

 

[HappyCPE]

Last year I had a foot of wet white stuff. My 4320 had no problem in 4wd. Later, we had a storm that dumped two feet, and drifts next to a fence almost 4' high with a nice crust on it. I set the bucket at about 18" high and took a B range run at it - still no problem. Looking forward to snow this year!