Ok, I am willing to spend whatever is necessary for the best snow removal equipment we can get. We have a truck we can put a plow on, a garden tractor and atv that we could outfit with a blower.
We do not have a tractor yet.
We have a little plow for the atv but it’s really not that great with the amount of snow we sometimes have to move (like last night when we were moving 2 feet of it).
Right now we have 2 regular snowblowers but it is just too time consuming!
What do you use?
Best? Mid size tractor, full heated cab with front attached blower.
Affordable? I’d get a blower for the ATV if possible. But ask a LOT of questions when shopping for one…like what weight/depth of snow it can handle, how it does throwing wet snow, how easily attached/detached it is, how easy it is to change blow direction, etc.
Truck and plow is also great to have…especially if you have a lot of driveway to do. And you can make a few bucks doing other driveways if you feel like it. But the mounted blower is a huge help with walkways, paths, in front of barn doors, in paddocks, etc.
And remember with really deep snow…even a truck plow can only shove it so far and after multiple snowfalls your driveway will get more narrow as you run out of room to shove the snow. Blowers can helps toss snow farther.
have about 1000’ of stone driveways on my property…some of it steep hill. Also need to do some clearing around the barn sometimes too. And front walk, around mailbox…usual spots. I have a small frame tractor (JD 2320) that has an FEL and a plow, a blower with tracks instead of tires (better for steep hills but dangerous on stone driveways, LOL) and use shovels. (my front walk is small) I used to have a mid-frame tractor (NH tc33da) that was a lot better in really deep snow…but my neighbor has that exact same tractor and we swap when needed, which is an enormous bonus. My little tractor fits in spots the big one doesn’t so she’ll borrow that one for around her barn and going through her barn, in the woods, etc. And I’ll borrow hers when the snow is too deep for me to get my smaller one out of the garage, LOL!
I’ve been dying for a blower for my little tractor, but the blower size for that throws hard enough that I’ll get soaked from the tractor seat…if not pummeled with stuff. No cab on my tractor, and if I get a cab the cost is high AND it won’t fit in the garage any more and I hate cleaning snow off of a tractor too. But the blower would mean the snow depth won’t matter. Tractors are made more for pulling than pushing, so I don’t use the plow at all. I use the FEL to move drifts or plowed areas and I also like using the York rake on the back to rake the snow. I angle the rake and can clear with that, and the rake leaves grooves in the packed snow. So when it melts, it runs freely where I want it too and never gets icy from puddles. And it improves traction.
Where are you, though?
If you get a snowblower, get one that you can rotate from the heated cab of the tractor.
Depending on type of tractor tires, and conditions in your area, you might want to put chains on the tractor.
Utility tractor (JD4720), heated cab, front end loader with bobcat style bucket. We have 1,500’ to plow, and this is pretty darn effective, a blower might come in handy at times, but the bucket gets it done quickly, and allows me to make piles in strategic locations. We are in northern Illinois.
We’re still deciding on what we want for a tractor… (it’s been 3 years now) and one concern is starting a diesel tractor in the cold… it needs to work even if it’s -30C. We have been looking/waiting for a suitable used tractor to come available. (A few recently sold before we could get there to look at them 
)
Thank you for reminding me about the limitation of plowing (as far as running out of room). This is a real issue, since snow builds up for 6 months. Blowing it is definitely better.
[QUOTE=airhorse;7856946]
Utility tractor (JD4720), heated cab, front end loader with bobcat style bucket. We have 1,500’ to plow, and this is pretty darn effective, a blower might come in handy at times, but the bucket gets it done quickly, and allows me to make piles in strategic locations. We are in northern Illinois.[/QUOTE]
4720 is too big to be practical for us.
Thanks for the replies. All I know is that we need something ASAP. We got 40 inches of snow this week. It’s not going to melt. It’s only November. I’m going crazy already.
Engine heaters are available for most tractors to insure they will reliably start at low temps. Having some form of shelter in addition to that can help, too. You absolutely want a cab for that kind of cold weather!
While I understand the appeal of waiting for a used tractor to come available, with the very low financing rates on new machines…as low as 0%…they are worth considering for sure.
[QUOTE=saultgirl;7857403]
We’re still deciding on what we want for a tractor… (it’s been 3 years now) and one concern is starting a diesel tractor in the cold… it needs to work even if it’s -30C. [/QUOTE]
Block heater
We have a 42 (?3) Hp tractor with a front end loader and a back blade. DH is dreaming of a tractor in the 30 range with a heated cab for his old age. We actually use the bucket to pack the first few inches into the gravel drive before we begin using the blade. (I say “we” I mean “he”) so we don’t end up with all the gravel in the lawn. We have gravel parking areas where we pile the snow so when the snow pile melts in the spring most of the gravel is right there. DH is also dreaming of a paved house driveway for his old age.
Dear Lord Saultgirl, where are you?
I was going to say my diesel tractor does fine even in really cold temps…but “really cold” is relative I guess LOL! For us really cold isn’t that cold…it’s hovering near zero, above or below. Coldest we ever get is -20F of wind chill temps with some serious wind going on. And that’s rare and never more than 24-48 hours. We’ll stay frozen all winter sometimes, but never that cold.
So yeah, block heater for the tractor. Try a few out, dealers are usually good about letting you toodle around on their stuff. I’d recommend going with a type that has easy attachments like a Quik-Hitch or iMatch hitches. I can basically change anything on my newer smaller tractor in less than 2 minutes and most of it without ever leaving the tractor seat. That option alone was sooooo very worth getting a new tractor. (I do every bit of outside work solo and I’m a smaller than average middle aged half-broken broad LOL) The bigger New Holland was fantastic and despite being “only” 33 hp, she was a serious work horse. I did things with that tractor that you’d never think could be done with a tractor that size. But…too big for my small, steep, heavily wooded property.
Whatever you get, filled tires and a set of Eagle Claw chains for winter. (Eagle Talon? I forget the name) The weight and those chains and my tractor can practically climb trees. Without one or the other the tractor turns into a Zamboni…it slides.
I agree with checking out new and the finance options. Many times it’s a better deal and you KNOW what you’re getting. Some people beat their tractors like rented mules and you end up with a rolling mechanics’ dream. I bought my current John Deere and every attachment I thought I could use and the iMatch hitch system added and out the door it was a tad under $20k. Painful price seemingly, but I’ve done things with it that I’d have had to hire others to do and made improvements with it that have made it pay for itself already. And the payments with 0.5% rates were the cost of going out 3 times per month.
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. We don’t usually get this much snow in November but it’s just nuts since last winter lasted until mid-May.
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=81498
I appreciate all the advice! Now to talk to hubby about new tractors.
Don’t be afraid to check out used tractors - some are just fine pieces of equipment, just too small or too large and may be just perfect for you. Make the rounds of the dealerships and get to know the people in them. Figure out what you want, then what you need and go one size bigger. You must have a cab with heat and A/C, easy entrance and exit (just TRY getting into a tractor in insulated coveralls in deep snow on top of ice). Make sure the tractor is easy to service, and has a block heater - it takes really brutal cold before my tractor won’t start and a wind proof cheap tarp over the engine helps a lot and here, many people have cardboard or something tied over the exposed part of the motor just to retain heat from the block heater and to keep snow out of the motor.
Get a belly mount snow blower, the ones that attach to the 3 pt hitch are terrible because backing up all the time is not fun, it is very hard to see where you are going and very inefficient. You can swap to the FEL when whiteshit season is over.
[QUOTE=saultgirl;7857403]
We’re still deciding on what we want for a tractor… (it’s been 3 years now) and one concern is starting a diesel tractor in the cold… it needs to work even if it’s -30C. We have been looking/waiting for a suitable used tractor to come available. (A few recently sold before we could get there to look at them )
Thank you for reminding me about the limitation of plowing (as far as running out of room). This is a real issue, since snow builds up for 6 months. Blowing it is definitely better.[/QUOTE]
We have the smaller Kubota - 3000 series and it works just fine in -38. We do store it in a garage - it plows our yard just fine with the bucket. We have a 200 ft driveway and large parking area.
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