Ok I have to get more prepared for snow. The inlaws are getting up in years and wife is worried about getting to them and them getting out. Will a box blade do ok or would a regular back grader blade be better? I have neither. Just need to clear short drives. Will probably put it on the FWA New Holland loader tractor. You have to understand we live in Southern Indiana so we hardly ever get more than 4 inches, and I was a teacher so I am accustomed to just staying home on snow days!
- Thread starter Ray IN
- Start date
Deere Scotty
Member
I am more partial to the back blade over the box scraper; However they make quicktach front blades for loaders as well. Don't know how much more or less it would though! You might even look at a smaller snow blower. Nice thing about the back blade is some of the good models will allow side tilt, & I think all will have 360 degree rotation with at least a few settings fore, & aft; BUT Cheaper models with a larger blade wont be able to swing around without hitting the tires! Box blade probably no skid plates/shoes, a lot of rear blades will have them available.
Just use the loader. Get used to back dragging snow from in front of garage doors, steps, etc. First pass in deep snow will always be full width of bucket, then only take half bucket width passes.
4 wheel drive will be necessary. Maybe even chains. And any extra weight you can hang on the rear of the tractor will increase traction for more pushing power.
I've used a 30-35 hp Farmall Super H with loader and 80 inch wide blade that weighs over 7500# to push snow for almost 25 years now. Couple snows have been around 1-1/2 feet, drifts 2-3-4 feet deep. Even the winter of 2007/2008 when we got 101 inches of snow was no problem.
Totally forget about clearing snow with box blade or rear blade.
4 wheel drive will be necessary. Maybe even chains. And any extra weight you can hang on the rear of the tractor will increase traction for more pushing power.
I've used a 30-35 hp Farmall Super H with loader and 80 inch wide blade that weighs over 7500# to push snow for almost 25 years now. Couple snows have been around 1-1/2 feet, drifts 2-3-4 feet deep. Even the winter of 2007/2008 when we got 101 inches of snow was no problem.
Totally forget about clearing snow with box blade or rear blade.
grandpa Love
Well-known Member
Box blade worked in Alabama last month.
Stroby
Member
My vote would go to the back blade. I move snow in S Illinois on @ 1 mile of driveway, three locations, not all together. I have a snowshooter, pto operated for the 3pt hitch and that works great for snow @ 6 inches deep and moist....otherwise it acts more like a box blade. I sue the blade @ 90% of the time. As someone else noted, the rear blade will move it to the side better than a box blade. I use FWA with no chains and do pretty well.
I live near Seymour. I have used a John Deere (Frontier) 7' blade with removable end plates for several years.. If we have a light snow I leave the ends on. When I have both ends on I can take a good pile of snow and run out in the field with it. With ends off it looks like a normal rear blade. If we get heavier snow or cleaning out the roads I will remove the right end or maybe both ends.
Loader for most of snow then follow up with rear blade for final cleanout. I had a Ford 4000 with 7'bucket on front and 7' blade on back. Wish I still hade it but now I have to depend on renter with rear blower. Can get thru heavy snow easier but cannot clear things out as well. The box blade you cannot roll a light snow or the cleanout off to the side, it would act only to grag snow to a place you could raise it to empty to go back for a second bite of snow. But it would if snow is type to pack it would just pack in box blade and you would have to dig it out. Southern Indiana can get more snow than you are thinking about.
Why not just use your FEL on your tractor if you don't get that much snow? I have a rear blade that I haven't used in years. I live in Mid Mi. and that's what I use 80 percent of the time on a 300 ft drive along with about 3 of my neighbors drives plus around my buildings and feed lot. I do have a rear blower but don't use it unless we get over 5 inches. I did make up a 6 ft oversized bucket just for snow plowing. Not to mention I haven't had a sore neck from looking back yet this winter, I've used my blower once so far this winter.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
I most times had rather use my Oliver 1365 4WD with an 8ft blade on the back to clear driveways.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
I used a lightweight back blade for many years to clear our driveway. It worked OK, but a few years ago we got very heavy snow and I knew the back blade wasn't going to work. So I mounted my box scraper and used it all winter long. It had the necessary weight to handle the heavy snow. The only problem I had was I kept throwing tire chains from pushing in reverse so much; putting a pair of bungee cords on each chain fixed that.
The next year I bought a heavy-duty Woods blade with offset and that's what I've used ever since. If you already have a box scraper, I wouldn't waste money on a light-duty rear blade. If you buy a rear blade, make sure it's heavy and preferably has an offset adjustment. Mine also has skid shoes. It set me back around $1800.
The next year I bought a heavy-duty Woods blade with offset and that's what I've used ever since. If you already have a box scraper, I wouldn't waste money on a light-duty rear blade. If you buy a rear blade, make sure it's heavy and preferably has an offset adjustment. Mine also has skid shoes. It set me back around $1800.
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
Keep in mind that we're talking about typical snowfalls of <4".
With that little snow, anything would work really. A snowblower would definitely be overkill, but if you used it, you would have no piles anywhere.
In my opinion a back blade would be better because you can angle the blade and just roll the snow off to the side of the driveway.
Thing is, plowing snow is always easier when you're doing it from the front. If your loader has a quick-attach bucket consider getting a quick-attach snowplow for the loader. You will be much happier.
With that little snow, anything would work really. A snowblower would definitely be overkill, but if you used it, you would have no piles anywhere.
In my opinion a back blade would be better because you can angle the blade and just roll the snow off to the side of the driveway.
Thing is, plowing snow is always easier when you're doing it from the front. If your loader has a quick-attach bucket consider getting a quick-attach snowplow for the loader. You will be much happier.
rlp in Co.
Well-known Member
Why not just use the loader? Yes it would be slower. That's what I use. The problem with a loader is sometimes the snow sticks to the bucket. I have heard that you can spray it with cooking oil but I haven't tried that yet. One great advantage with a loader is that you can make huge piles in a parking lot that doesn't have much room.
Aaron Ford
Well-known Member
I own both. I used the box blade for years and while it did work, it took much more effort. An overly full box blade will lay down an ice sheen that would make a Zamboni blush. The back blade with proper sway braces seems to work much better. I can discharge to the right or left. I can run continuous without having to dump the blade. My blade is a Bush Hog 7 footer similar to a 70-07. My box blade is a King Kutter 7 foot. YMMV
Aaron
Aaron
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