Snow push vs blower?

[KeithT]

Thank you all for your suggestions and wisdom. Right now I have a salt dog spreader that plugs into the receiver hitch on my Kawasaki mule. I have to load it by hand, and I am OK with that. I have had it for 12 years now and it needs replaced.

I keep my tractor in a garage, I would like to put something on the back that I just load up and use it whenever I need it. It sounds like the vicon is the the best option. Realistically, the only annual maintenance I will do is to hose it off before I store for winter. I do not have to use four-way lime stone chips, it is just what I have used previously. I am OK with a sand and salt mixture. I would just get a load of sand dump it, and throw a tarp over top of it.

I am not familiar with gravel sand, but that sounds like something worth checking into.

 

[LouNY]

I use a conventional sand salt spreader;
like this one;


It works quite well.
I very seldom fill it till just before I load and use it.
I get it started and running to give it a visual once over,
then shutdown and load it.
When it's loaded and sits even just overnight the sand seems to settle and make it harder to get started unloading.
Also even with salt mixed in at times it can freeze into a big lump.

I am in the process of getting a trailer set up for my sander,
with tire chains and a brake controller otherwise with a yard of wet sand being 3300 pounds,
there is too much of a possibility of it trying to push or pass the tractor going down my driveway.
I've been using it on a truck but the cost of keeping insurance on the truck and keeping it in
decent running condition for 50-60 miles a year is ridiculous.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I don't have a tractor yet, but planning on getting something in the 25-35 hp range before this upcoming winter. Bobcat ct2035 or CT2025 are both currently at the top of my list.

I have about 5300 square feet of space to clear, all gravel. The driveway is about 250' of length which is all down hill from the house - nearly half of it is double wide. The rest of the square footage comes from parking areas and a turn around spot half way down the driveway.

On the three point hitch I would like to do a sander - we are in NH and get freeze / thaw type weather and ice storms through early spring, 10 year average on snowfall is about 70". With a very long roof line lining up with the top of the driveway, plus just melt on the driveway, our driveway turns into a downhill skating rink fast. I also plan on using it to keep the hills sanded on the private road we are on. Currently each time we pay the guy to sand the hills andy driveway, is about $50/ pop - so after nearly $1,500 over the last 4 winters I am looking for a more cost effective approach. For those curious, the best quote to have the snow cleared on our driveway by a a third party and his plow is $400/ season.

I have been clearing with an Ariens Platinum 30" which works well just looking to get it done faster and a bit less physical exertion. January - April I work 65-80 hours a week, so an easy quick solution is what I am looking for.

So as I start piecing together what I want in a tractor and implements to buy... 6' (or different size) Snow push or snow blower (size to be determined)? I am leaning towards push for the cost and simplicity of maintenance and I have plenty of places to put the snow, including directly across the street from the end of my driveway. Is there one of these that would work better for the situation as described? What size Snow push if I went with a Bobcat Ct2025 or CT2035 (slightly larger)?

Get a skid steer. You don't have too much to do and you can pick up side jobs to pay for it.

 

[Sberry]

I dont mind backing up if its chores and not all day. Makes it easy to drive forward and only need reverse when applying work. Same as an old farm tractor, put a simple backblade on them in reverse and they really plow. Mine go fast enough backwards to plow