School me on snowblowers

[Ausfahrt]

Well you guys given me a lot to think about! First of all, I have a guy that's taking care of the property right now and he has a truck with a plow. Our plan is to vacation in Vermont for the next few summers until we move there in the next 3-5 years.

A small 4x4 tractor was in the plans anyway so that is probably the route I will go. Indylan has a great setup.

Can a front end loader handle the snow effectively or is a dedicated snow plow the way to go?

Thanks for all the replies and happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[Papa Bear]

What you need, bigdreama, is a retired Canadian to come live with you for the winter in FL then travel with you up to VT in the spring to help dig you out ......

Let me ponder that for a bit, I may know just the guy. I could loan you my shovel.

 

[Bandito440]

I've found plowing with a loader is very awkward. A dedicated plow, or better yet a front snowblower attachment is the way to go.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I've found plowing with a loader is very awkward. A dedicated plow, or better yet a front snowblower attachment is the way to go.

+1 The loader bucket is too small to be effective for a large area. I only use it to clear the bank at the end of the driveway, and back drag away from buildings and cars and stuff. The only thing I'd change with my rear blade is to get one that rotates 360 without hitting my tires. Right now I have to take it off to reverse it, but I only need to plow backwards to move back the banks if we have a big snow year. I also use the rear blade to crown the driveway or spread gravel, and also do a bit of ditching, and its a good implement to put a chain onto to pull a car out of the snow bank.
A front end loader plow would be nice, but they cost more than a rear mounted blower... If I was doing several of my neighbors driveways in addition to my own I might spring for a forward pull rear mounted blower as a front blower means you have no FEL for the winter, but just for myself, the rear blade is fine.
Tractorbynet is a good forum to figure out your tractor strategy when the time comes and there is whole section for moving snow which can be done a dozen different ways with a tractor.

 

[rob6773]

Whatever you use get a bunch of stick in the ground (lollipop)type reflectors. Walkways and driveways disappear in the snow.

 

[1 FMF]

you need the v8 snowblower

 

[clatterpillar]

i have a 7ft truck snowplow mounted on the arms of my front end loader on my 44hp kubota. works just fine, though the weight of the loader arms tends to push down on the plow, and it "digs" when it catches something.

i also have a 7ft rear snowblower for it. it works great, but you drive backwards, and are constantly turning your neck. my tractor is a open station, so it gets very cold and blowy.

everyone suggesting front-mount snowblowers needs to remember one thing: 99% of small tractors do not have nearly the hydraulic flow capacity to spin a snowblower the way you see them run by a skid steer. the (newer, $$$$$) compact tractors geared towards homeowners that can run a front blower are shaft driven, which means the loader has to come off to use the blower. i bet you wont find any older tractors capable of running a front mount blower.

if i were the OP, i would just buy an older f250 and use it for pickup truck type errands, then put the plow on in the winter time and plow the driveway. plow trucks dont have to be beat-to-death rust buckets

 

[Donald]

I have a 28" older snow blower you can have for $125. It will do your drive. Use it for a year or two and see where you want to go from there. I am not that far from VT.

 

[IndyIan]

I almost ended up with an old kubota L2950 that had a front mount blower. There are a few older compacts that were designed for a midmount mower so they have a mid PTO. On my tractor a mid pto is an option to run a front mount blower but I think the whole setup is quite expensive. Good for commercial use but overkill for one driveway IMO. I'd rather have a backhoe.

 

[JTK]

Heck with the snowblower.. What a beautiful piece of property BD!!

You're on the right track with a compact or sub-compact utility tractor in your not so distant future. Get a nice rear PTO thrower for it and be good to go. I agree that snow removal with a front bucket can be cumbersome with a lot of snow. Basically like pushing/scooping snow with a big pail.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: Donald
I have a 28" older snow blower you can have for $125. It will do your drive. Use it for a year or two and see where you want to go from there. I am not that far from VT.


That is a very generous offer Donald. Unfortunately, I will have the Civic when I'm up there so I will not have a way to transport it.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Heck with the snowblower.. What a beautiful piece of property BD!!


Thanks Joel, we are really excited about it!

-Steve

 

[Rand]

almost any JD garden tractor will support a front blower
but people are proud of the attachments.

400$ for a rustbucket blower around here that fits a 300 series.

depending on how much you need to mow and blow.. maybe snag a JD318 with a blower. about 2k.

dont know what your budget is .. 1k 5k 10k? different options.

 

[Donald]

I have more of a wooded property than a real farm. I find a skidsteer better than a compact tractor around my property. There are many many attachments available (although not cheap). And much more fun to drive.

My old tractor was a Kubota L225 and I had a mower, york rake and brush hog. The Bobcat is an 843.

 

[bubbatime]

I will graciously offer to live at and maintain your property when you are not there... looks beautiful. I love that part of the country.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Originally Posted By: bubbatime
I will graciously offer to live at and maintain your property when you are not there... looks beautiful. I love that part of the country.


Be careful of what you offer as I am liable to take you up on it!!

You all have convinced me that a utility tractor with a plow or blower attachment seems to be the way to go. I had planned on spending about 10k on a tractor so I probably need to add 4-5k to that for attachments.

Thanks for all of the replies and I will definitely plant a few reflectors to line the driveway. Here are a few more pics since you guys seem to like it nearly as much as we do.

side view...

kitchen...

mancave...

 

[jeepman3071]

That's my dream house right there!

That place is awesome.