Tractor suggestions for primarily snowblowing a long, steep, windy driveway?

[adriand]

It's down to the pavement. How much more do you want it to do? The OP already has a gator that makes it up and down his steep paved drive. Many people are telling him to get a tractor and chains. He has a small budget. Why add a tractor to the mix if he could just add a blower to the gator?

So I have looked into this. My only concern is would a gator+blower combo be better than a tractor+blower combo. The gator has no PTO or anyway to drive the blower. The snowblowers with separate motors like the one shown here cost upwards of $7k. I was investigating if spending that $7k on a tractor with blower would come out on top.

 

[atsah]

7K? I looked at one that was $4500 new, I think it was a Kimpex..

 

[airbiscuit]

My neighbor has a Kubota GR 2120 and it does a pretty nice job of snowblowing.

 

[atsah]

No cab with snow flying in you're face doesn't look like a lot of fun..

I would at least buy a $400 Bercomac cab if I was going to blow snow with a front blower..

 

[MossRoad]

So I have looked into this. My only concern is would a gator+blower combo be better than a tractor+blower combo. The gator has no PTO or anyway to drive the blower. The snowblowers with separate motors like the one shown here cost upwards of $7k. I was investigating if spending that $7k on a tractor with blower would come out on top.

What model gator do you have, and how wide is it?

A tractor with a rear blower on a 2000' steep driveway sounds like hours of stiff neck looking backwards.

If you get pull-type rear blower, where you drive forward, you have to drive over the snow before you get to the snow to be blown.

A front mounted blower would be my preference if you don't have enough room to push the snow off with a plow.

However, an old 4x4 pickup with plow could be had cheaper than anything and do the job faster. Down and back, 10 minutes and done. Cab, heat, radio, seats 3 at least, hauls junk in the bed, no worries about abusing it.

 

[Farmer495]

What's the budget?

My if I could only have one snow removal machine and that is all I bought it for and I had a budget:

I'd go for an old 40-80 horse utility 2wd on loaded R1s with studded forestry style ice chains and a 78" to 86" 3pt blower with hyd chute. Cab optional.

Did I read that you live at the top of the hill? You are blowing downhill and just climbing up empty.

I ran a 78" blower on a 35 PTO HP 2wd utility with loaded R1 for years with NO chains and could blow downhill easily. I could drive uphill forward no issue even deep snow, backing uphill with blower different story.

As far as driving turning backwards....use it or lose it in terms of your personal flexibility. You are doing one driveway, not 12 hours of it.

Keep your gator for light snow fall and fire up the tractor for the big clean ups.

 

[rScotty]

I found a JD 4100 with cab and 47" snowblower for $9k. Do you think that is a good deal and enough to get the job done.

What happened to that one? It sounds perfect.

 

[adriand]

7K? I looked at one that was $4500 new, I think it was a Kimpex..

I forgot to mention, the gator is 60" wide so I need quite a big one. This is where the high cost comes from. The kimpex 66" one is $7k.

 

[atsah]

I forgot to mention, the gator is 60" wide so I need quite a big one. This is where the high cost comes from. The kimpex 66" one is $7k.

Gottcha.. Didn't know a gator was 5ft wide...

 

[Blue14]

Have you looked at Bercomac Snowblowers for UTV's