Upgrading and some questions.

[shooterdon]

I looking at getting a cab tractor with a front mounted snow blower (60-70" width). Tractor size about 3500 lbs and about 40 HP (but not stuck on either parameter). It will be a new machine. The videos I have seen on YouTube are all done on asphalted or cement surfaces....easy/peasy.

I would like some real world comments on just how difficult it is to remove the FEL to add the snow blower and remove the snow blower to put the FEL back on. By "real world" I mean on uneven ground and ground that could have over 12 inches of snow. The only tractors I am interesting in are Deere, Kubota or Mahindra due to dealer support. Any comments and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

My other question is regarding FEL capacity. Ratings at the pin are not too useful to me. I would like to be able to lift a pallet of firewood with 1/3 of a cord (1600 lb) a height of 3 ft. How big a loader do I need.? I have a 500 lb ballast box but can easily increase that. Tires will be loaded as well.

Budget of $ 40k if that matters.

Thanks for you help.

 

[nybirdman]

You will find that removing a FEL or sub-frame is not fun on uneven ground;concrete pad is best of course.
Things "have" to be level to fit.I had a sub-frame snow plow on my first Kubota;nice unit but a tight fit.,same with the FEL.
I think you are looking at a 50 h.p. machine to lift 1600 lbs.safely.

 

[Professor Marvel]

don't they make a SSQA snow blower?

 

[Tractorable]

Simple, Kubota L4760!

 

[shooterdon]

Simple, Kubota L4760!

You sir selected the machine my dealer suggested. But at $48k, it is a bit more than I wish to invest.

BTW, I took my fiancé to look at and she loved it. I think she is a keeper....she is almost as excited as I am at getting a new tractor.

Tomorrow I hit the JD and Mahindra dealers.

 

[tradosaurus]

You sir selected the machine my dealer suggested. But at $48k, it is a bit more than I wish to invest.

BTW, I took my fiancé to look at and she loved it. I think she is a keeper....she is almost as excited as I am at getting a new tractor.

Tomorrow I hit the JD and Mahindra dealers.

Wait until you are married and the honeymoon wears off. :laughing:

 

[Citydude]

I was on the same path, wanting a front blower on an L4060 cab I ordered a week ago. The more I thought about it, we have those snowmageddon type blizzards once every few years. The loader with a rear blower would be invaluable for those events.

Full disclosure. My wife of 21 years insisted on buying this. The honeymoon is alive and well.....

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

When I was tractor shopping, I "built" a unit on both the Deere and the Kubota website, with similar requirements to what you're looking for. I think on the Kubota site, I "built" a Grand L, to get the cab and features I wanted. On the Deere site, I "built" a 4 thousand series. Both came in MUCH higher than your stated budget. I remember the Deere came in at 55K, with FEL, SSQA, mid PTO, front blower and rear 3 pt brush hog. I don't remember if that was also with a box blade. I don't remember exactly how I spec'd the Kubota Grand, but it was about the same spec, and even higher price tag.

Just giving you a heads up, bring your smelling salts so your fiancee can revive you when you see the sticker price.

 

[ericm979]

I think you are looking at a 50 h.p. machine to lift 1600 lbs.safely.

My 37hp Branson handles an IBC tote with 1/3 cord of wet wood easily. It's not close to the limits of the loader or tractor. The new models have a loader with a higher capacity than mine.

I don't know what solutions Branson has for front snow blowers though.

 

[finn1]

I know it痴 not on your list, but I removed the loader and installed the front mounted blower on my Kioti for the first time, by myself, in about a half hour, more or less, this past fall.

The initial installation was done by the dealer, along with the installation of the loader for the summer.

Removing the blower and installing the loader took him less than 15 minutes.

We spent more time bs段ng than the conversion, by an experienced person took.

I keep my blower in the shop lean to for the off season. The loader winters under the snowbank on a gravel pad.

Invest in at least a concrete pad for your blower, preferably covered. You will spend time on your knees installing the subframe pins and the driveshaft, and it痴 a pretty big investment to sit out in the weather for seven months of the year. A solid, level surface will speed installation and minimize frustration.