Snow Removal Options 5055E

jeremymr06 · Oct 22, 2015

Im looking for your opinions on Snow Removal options. losing a buddy plowing me out for $50 a storm
Be using a JD 5055E, 553 loader with Euro/Global quick
Midcoast Maine, Average 60-90" snow a year

Drive way is 200ft run slightly up hill to parking area next to house. then another 200ft a sideways in front of Storage garage. Then 100ft back to road, were we have a dumpster next to road.
Driveway is gravel with some peastone put down in muddy areas. had to shove some off the lawn after last winter

Local dealer has a Worksaver Manual turn 7.5 plow, SS quick. Have to get an adapter with it, $2800

Order Worksaver 9ft plow with Euro/Global quick. Run hydrualic holes from rear remotes. $4300

Go SnowBlower route, used $3-4000

Buy plow truck, insurance, registration... $4000 year or better,

Snow Pusher, $2800

Already own tractor so truck is my last consideration and most expensive. Would a snow pusher clean up uneven ground? How do people like using plows on your FEL. What is the wear and tare on tractor compared to using a truck? What am i not considering? If it comes to mind let me hear it, Thanks in advance

nybirdman · Oct 22, 2015

A lot depends how much snow you get in an average year and how much each snowfall.Snow belt areas(150"+per year) I always recommend a blower.I get about 100in/yr on average and use my FEL mounted 8ft.plow and a rear blade.
Pushers for the most part are for parking lots; IMHO,blades for drives and roads.
I do like my power angle but manual is better than no plow at all.
I purchased a used truck plow and fabricated the rest;also had the third function installed but I didn't have any rear remotes.

devildog1 · Oct 22, 2015

I use a Front HLA 84" blade and a LP3584 rear blade to do my country driveway if snow is 10"or less. As ny birdman said when snow is greater the 10" on goes my Kubota 2674 3 point snow blower, it's great for the heaviest of snows but not good if there's not enough snow to feed augers and fan, that's where the blades come in. I'm lucky to have a variety, I like to be prepared and want options.
DevilDog

Farmer495 · Oct 22, 2015

What size of bucket does the tractor normally used?

I'd buy the snow blower.

I clear several driveways here in NS, so similar climate as you. All gravel + farm yard (dirt and manure) and use snow blower for all of it. FEL used if I need to break ice up or knock down drifts that would kill a clutch.

RedNeckRacin · Oct 22, 2015

OP, where are you from?

I personally hated the snow plow mounted on the loader and I[ have modified an older 9' meyer plow to be a snow pusher. I'm going to try it out this year and see how it works! ATTACH=CONFIG]444786[/ATTACH]

I did make a subframe mounted snow plow for the L3400 and it worked GREAT! Only problem was with a full blade of snow it didn't like going up hill to much even with the front tires chained, down hill and flat I could push snow till it was spilling over the top of the plow.

vtsnowedin · Oct 22, 2015

This has been working for me . Older Fisher plow adapted to my loader with third function for the power angle. With the soft cab I'm comfortable and looking ahead and can do a half mile with three drives in about an hour.
http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r597/vtsnowedin/011613135632_zps7385ebc2.jpg

lungdoc · Oct 22, 2015

Assume an open station tractor? A bit less ideal for blower as is gear as opposed to hydrostatic. Assume you have enough room for piles if plowing and for blowing? Also does it freeze solid most of the time? Makes it easier with both plow or blower but I think plow especially for not digging in, but blower for not spraying gravel well into lawns etc. Open station with a blower you will wear a lot of snow though ok with snowmobile suit and helmet. Count 30 min or so to brush off machine after unless have heated and drained storage.

Used blower for 3-4K?? Seems very high. I am in middle of selling a like-new 78" Agro-Trend rear blower, heavy duty, for $1800, paid about 3500 new in 2009. Unless you are talking fancy front units with frame or hydraulic power packs etc.

So much of this becomes VERY local - as in room to put snow, wind for drifting (blower wins), need for traction (higher with plow/pusher, ability/need/willingness to clear during storm or wait until over, number of big storms etc.

(note despite my pics I now have a cab Kubota with a front MK Martin hydraulic blower on order).

gladehound · Oct 22, 2015

You could just use your bucket. 200 ft runs are not very long for a tractor that size. My tractor is slightly smaller and a 200ft run with the bucket is usually fairly easy. In the heaviest snows I might have to dump every 100ft. There are also skids you can get for your bucket for running it on gravel that doesn't disturb the gravel much at all. I have 2 of them. I'm going to buy 2 more because in Fall and Spring snows the driveway can get really soft and the bucket needs a little more floatation than two skids to keep it out of the gravel.

I've tried plows mounted on buckets but they push the tractor sideways too much because they tend to stick out far. I've tried frame mounted and have gotten stuck when the frame mount got hung up in the snow. Now I just use a big snow bucket and a rear blade turned backwards so I can push in both directions. I put a pipe on the rear blade to keep it above the gravel. It's simple, inexpensive and works well.

MattLynch · Oct 23, 2015

I am assuming you have similar snowfall in Maine as NS, so I would say your tractor is too small to push the bigger snowfalls in any reasonable amount of time. Blower is the way to go.

oosik · Oct 23, 2015

I have a mile long gravel driveway. I've always used the rear blade to clear the driveway, mailbox area and my yard. When I had the smaller tractor(Ford 1700) I used a 3-point blower to clear the berms that would develop along the driveway. New larger tractor(Kubota M6040) will clear the berms with the rear blade. Been here 30+ years and never had a single snowfall event over 10-12 inches- - so using the rear blade has always done the job.

I did not like using the 3-point blower - it meant 3+ hours going in reverse to get the total job done. It also meant getting a stiff neck & shoulders. Using the rear blade - the total job is finished in an hour.