SNOW REMOVAL

[SKYBOW]

I have a 1000 foot long driveway. Half is road stone, and half is asphalt. I also have a concrete pad about 20X40 in front of the garage. I need some suggestions on what to use for snow removal next winter. I have three choices. (1) Buy a used garden tractor with a 46 inch snow blower-this would be dedicated to only snow removal. (2) Buy a blade to pull behind my 2940. (3) Buy a snow blade and modify it to fit on my loader on the tractor. I used the loader bucket this winter and was not happy with my results. I need to make a bit bigger pathway and to have a cleaner result when done. Suggestions please. Like everyone else I'm trying to hold the cost down. Thanks

 

[Michael Soldan]

The only way to handle snow is to blow it. I would be buried if I tried piling it with the snowfall we get.

 

[2t2@IA]

It depends on the amount of snow you receive and the temperature. Is snow that falls in November still there in March? Does the wind move the snow into drifts? If the answer to these is yes, then I would opt for the snow blower. There are lots of factors to consider.

 

[Dsl]

Loader buckets only make you chase 'windrows' of snow over and over if you are trying for a clean job. They also make the sides of the lane higher, causing it to catch more snow. Diverting the snow off of the lane into (many) piles only makes for deep drifts as the piles divert the wind and cause it to dump it's snow load on either side of the pile. An angle blade is an improvement over a bucket, but still creates a catch basin for snow.


The BEST way is to blow it away; there is then much less to nothing to catch drifting snow and hold it, reducing the number of times you have to repeat the process. Go for the snowblower. You will find it a colder job with the snow vaporizing around you in eddies, but if you dress warm with a water repellant outer shell, and wear a full face helment (or have a cab), you won't be sorry. Take it from a Canuck.

 

[JK-NY]

As mentioned alot depends on your location- annual snowfall, how long and cold of winter in your area , wind etc. If you have alot of snow and fairly hard winters , I would look at a rear snowblower for the 2940, and either a blade for the 2940 or a 4wd plow truck . Nothing beats a 4wd truck for plowing alot of snow the fastest and most operator freindly, and nothing beats a snowblower on a good sized loader tractor for the real big storms, widening out the driveway etc.

 

[Goose]

Another option is to do what I did. I bought an old '78 Chevy 4x4 pickup and put a plow on it. I don't even bother to put plates or insurance on it, just use it off road on the farm. I bought it off my neighbor, without the plow, about 10 years ago for $400. I have no idea how many times over the years I've gotten my $400 worth back out of it.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Skybow I have 4 driveways to clear each 300' long each has a pad of 20x30' all driveways receive approximately 3 to 4 feet of snow and then there is the blowing snow another problem, I have used the bucket a snow scraper and a snowblower the only think that works for me is the snow blower all of this equipment is attached to my Case 430 diesel that only has approximately 40hp and does a terrific job ..Barney

 

[amertrac]

i have a 2200 ft gravel drive. i use a susuki sidekick with a plow ,a garden tractor plow, a small loader, a large loader and a smowblower. we average 160 in of snow per season..pushing the snow back to make room for the next storm is the reason for the loaders. otherwise the loaders would be idle all winter. bob

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't think there is a scenario that is perfect for snow removal, having a blower of appropriate size and a something with a cutting edge to plow, are bare necessities, loader is nice, but all the wear to the cutting edges, chasing windrows on each side etc., mount a front blade onto it, weight down and install chains on the tractor, back blade will give your neck workout, but is effective, lack of cab can be cold at times, but not so bad if it's set up to clear the road in a few passes, you're not out in it long. If plowing during the storm, without a cab, have to dress warm and deal with it.

A snow plow type blade will scrape off the loose stones and gravel, raise up the level of the cutting edge with spacers on the wear shoes to deal with that, then you have a thicker layer of compacted snow that will turn into ice, with the blower you will catch a lot of stones, nice to have a smooth surface to work with, though ice is always a problem.

The blower is a nice clean job on a smooth surface, if paved or the road surface is tightly compacted, it's a good choice, keep up with the fresh snow and around here the sun will melt off the thin layer, and you won't get ice building up, cause you can set the cutting edge to scrape without catching stones.


I've had to use my tractor with a loader and walk behind blower for the last few years, though I have an old chevy K-10 with a plow, using an old fwd plow truck gives you a cab with heat, and unless you let a storm get ahead of you like over 2 feet to push, usually makes easy work on a straight run, use the loader to dress up the banks or piles later.

It's nice to be able to push piles back, we have not had winters with back to back storms in the last few years, but when we did, you can get boxed in quickly, having a loader is very handy to make room for the next one.

 

[Lee in Iowa]

How big is your loader bucket? Maybe a bigger bucket just for snow. We don't get alot of snow, but when we do I clear a lot of driveways my own and others plus cattle yards and areas above them to stop runoff onto the yards. I mainly use a loader with a big 7 foot bucket and a nine foot blade on the back. I have a big 11 foot blade for the loader, but you can't change the angle so its ok for making a single path, but not much good for big areas, also its not good without chains on because you can't push yourself backwards like you can with a bucket. I've thought about a n 8 or 9 foot bucket if we another winter like last year. Lee