Snow Your NEXT Snow Removal Setup

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

Storms like this one are a good test of equipment and skill. Today I found both to be lacking. We got about a foot overnight and my little tractor barely made it down the driveway today. I have a Kubota B2710 with R4s that have been grooved. I plow with an ETA 6 way blade with the rubber horse stall mat mod. Normally, its completely adequate for the job. I plow my 3 car pad and about 1/4 mile of mixed aggregate drive (mostly limestone with some furnace slag).

I’ve been operating this machine long enough to know its not my last and the next one will be one class size up (Kubota L or equivalent). I have starting to think about how I’d like to move snow with it. There’s such a spectrum of snow removal options I thought I’d start a conversation about what you’d use if the CFO wasn’t involved in the purchase. What would you prefer for snow removal?

• Tractor or truck (or something else)?
• Tire selection with or without chains?
• Back blade, front blade, blower?
• With or without cab?

 

[LittleBill21]

After using a d3 dozer to move 9 foot piles in 17', I pretty much decided that 4x4 chain front blowers, although slow, will never be stopped. that's pretty much the best in terms of severe snow.

 

[Thomas]

One also should consider there heath what region they live in etc...

I like tractor with front blade and rear scraper blade,rear tires loaded with tire chains,tractor with HST...but that's me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

To me, the choice is often what does the least damage, that you have to repair come spring.

 

[Jstpssng]

You didn't mention tire chains. My tractor weighs about twice what yours does and I can't imagine trying to move heavy snow with ice underneath... like what we have here now.
I've been toying with the idea of getting something the size of what you have now, with a cab and front blower. Of course I'd have to win the lottery first... and I don't play.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

You didn't mention tire chains. My tractor weighs about twice what yours does and I can't imagine trying to move heavy snow with ice underneath... like what we have here now.
I've been toying with the idea of getting something the size of what you have now, with a cab and front blower. Of course I'd have to win the lottery first... and I don't play.

No chains right now. I added grooves with a siping iron which made a world of difference. The ground is fairly flat here so if I had a blower I doubt chains would be necessary but with a front mounted blade they’d be very helpful. Today the rear blade was pulling me into the berm quite a bit and I’d eventually have to buck that snow out with the loader to get moving again.

 

[MoKelly]

To me, the choice is often what does the least damage, that you have to repair come spring.

Bingo for me. Very smart.

That’s why I only have a 4 wheeler with a blade. It takes longer and can be cold, but it’s simple and I always know where I am.

Plus, my plowing needs are not great (not much snowfall and manageable inches) and the distances are not extreme (roughly 1/4 mile).

MoKelly

 

[Reb954]

The only thing I can think of to change would be to add at least 6 inches more width to the blower.

Current setup is,
65 hp with FEL & bucket
Heated cab with radio
Shuttle shift
4 WD
No chains
No loaded tires
78" snow blower

 

[nybirdman]

Front FEL mounted and rear blade;cabbed 7K lbs.R1 tires and no chains.We average 100in/year.any more than that I would consider a blower.

 

[FreedomFamilyFarms]

Front FEL mounted and rear blade;cabbed 7K lbs.R1 tires and no chains.We average 100in/year.any more than that I would consider a blower.

Quite a statement. Far more snow than I’d ever get here. Weight matters.