Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow Removal Setup /Comments?

[MesaPlower]

I've posted a few times about big snow removal problems at 9200' with large drifts, 2000' ft driveway etc.

After reading through posts I'm going with a 5270 [becaue of turbo/altitude] with loader and 74" rear blower, all Kubota for ability to finance.

I'll put H chains on back and front [maybe vbar]. Possibly add a Curtis plow that can quick mount to front for less drastic snow situations if the loader is too slow.

Should I be loading the rears with Rim Guard, or is the blower enough ballast? W have some pretty steep grades.

Anything else I am forgetting?

Thanks for the help.

 

[MesaPlower]

That would be 5740...

 

[Dmace]

I would load the tires, you will gain more weight and traction. A loader that can lift over 2000lbs will most likely require more ballast then a blower. You can never have too much weight... .

..until you drive across a lawn or trailer it that is.

 

[canoetrpr]

Load the tires! You are getting a FEL right?

You might find that just the loader/bucket combo with a snowblower at the back works well enough. I admit that a curtis plow with a blower at the back would make an ultimate snow removal machine.

 

[MesaPlower]

I assume that the loaded tires aren't necessary for the snow possibly, but for other loading situations. Also, blower will be off in the Spring for a Woods brush hog or some such.

 

[Outlander]

4 link ladder chains with cleats should be quite sufficient. My tires are thankfully not loaded and the Lake Erie snow belt has yet to stop me. My drive is small, just over a tenth of a mile and I can push through 24" without pause. Just a little 7205 Cub but it's like a tank with the ladder chains. I used to think weight was a big factor but any more I'm not so sure. My old Allis weighs 4000+, has conventional chains and does not do as well as the Cub. Those cleats and close spaced cross chains just plain bite in and go......Should I ever encounter a situation where I need additional traction I would just throw the front chains on and push on through. I've been around loaded tires since I was a boy on the farm and over the long term I have found them to be more trouble than they are worth.

 

[Dmace]

Outlander, It sounds like you don't work in hilly areas. I have used tractors of the same size/weight with and without loaded tires and mine with the loaded tires felt much more stable.

 

[RFB]

Mesa,

I plow miles of big snow at 3300+ EL. In the last seven days I have plowed 50 hours.

Trial and error on my L5030/Curtis 7.5 snowplow/Loftness 841S Blower has provided the following setup:

Tires/Wheels reversed to the widest possible position

Chains (H on back, V bar on front) on R1 tires

Rim Guard in the rears.

Weight and chains equal traction which is important since snow is heavy, and the surface is inherently slippery.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4881/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

 

[MesaPlower]

RFB:

I have been the beneficiary of many of your comments and I believe that we live in similar terrain. I have between 4 and 5 feet of new drift each morning here on bad days, and have pulled my seasonal neighbors out of really troubling deals every year.

The way I think is that predicted once a decade events happen about twice a year. Where I live that's not a good deal.

Thanks for the input - I only have a couple of neighbors within 5 miles and they pay to not have their work not done.

JPC

 

[MesaPlower]

Thanks all for commentary.

 

[SpringHollow]

The curtis plows are great - had a new one on my old tractor. For my current tractor, I have modified an old snow plow from a truck ($100) by welding a quick attach plate. I would not use a bucket unless i had to carry snow from one place to another. A plow is so much faster than a blower or bucket for most situations. Having a quick attach plow on the front and a blower on the back seems ideal. Where there is less snow, use the plow.

Ken

 

[Kendrick]

my friend your blower is to small!!!! if I got the correct tractor width, 82" tractor?! blower is always better the next size bigger. I am wishig I had an 82 my tractor is 72 wide. yes to the snow plow! big neccessity. i have 1500' and will be building one for my fel for next year. i hope to make it reversable though so i can push and pull.

 

[RFB]

Mesa,

I think that Kendrick has given good advice regarding blower width. You do want to completely envelop your widest possible tire width (and remember to have your dealer set them to their widest possible).

I would also encourage you to look at the Loftness brand of snowblower.

Loftness > Snow Blowers > Tractor Mounted > S Series Small

The 841S would work for you.

They make some very stout equipment, and your dealer can include that in the financing scheme; they just juggle the numbers.

 

[MesaPlower]

I see the width on the spec sheet for the L5740 as 67.3" (min tread). I'll be using R1 tires. My thinking is go for the 74" since it won't be underpowered. I like the Loftness blowers.

http://www.kubota.com/f/products/grandl40/pdf/l4240-l5740.pdf

 

[jpm]

i'd make sure to have weather protection because it's no fun with the wind blowing the snow right back on you . i also would think about a 4n1 bucket for sanding and moving back snow.

 

[R_Walter]

I see the width on the spec sheet for the L5740 as 67.3" (min tread). I'll be using R1 tires. My thinking is go for the 74" since it won't be underpowered. I like the Loftness blowers.

http://www.kubota.com/f/products/grandl40/pdf/l4240-l5740.pdf

When you order your tractor, be sure and have the dealer set the rear wheels at the widest. Makes for easier chain installs and removals and helps if you are on unlevel terrain. I do not load my tires with anything; proper balast on the rear suffices for me. Loaded tires are a real mess when you have a flat.

And, just where are you located?

 

[wh22366]

I bought a new Massey this summer equipped with rim guard loaded R4's and have been pleasantly surprised with its snow moving ability. It replaced a Ford 1710 with turfs & chains and so far, the Massey it has outpushed the old machine. Course this winter has seen mostly 6" to 12" storms (80" to date) and I haven't had a lot of ice to deal with. I plan to build a close coupled 7' plow this summer for the quick attach to be ready for next winter.

 

[RFB]

Mesa,

That measurement for your tires (67.3") is quoted as a minimum. If you move the rims to the extreme outboard position, you will gain almost, or maybe even more than an additional 12 inches in width. The sidehill and overall stability from this change is much more dramatic and positive than one would think, I suggest that you consider this modification. (And its free.)

Based upon that premise, the 84 inch blower would be required for wheel-to-wheel coverage (That is my setup).

The 5740 would not be underpowered on an 84", and if you get the HST transmission (that is the optimum setup for a blower) you can run full blower PTO rpm, and go as fast or as slow as the snow dictates.