| Author | Message | ||
     Seanp |
Hey guys, Next year I'll be living in the great white north of New York state, and as I've been seeing this year, it snows a lot. My wife has been living up there since November, and we've already spent about $300 for a guy to plow our driveway ten times, at $30 a pop. We'll be there until 2012 (luckily we'll be out before the world ends in December) so I'm thinking it might be more economical to buy either a lawn tractor with a snow plow, or an ATV with a snow plow. Does anyone have experience with using either of these methods? Do y'all think it will be worth it for three winters? Obviously a lawn tractor can also be used for mowing in the summer, and an ATV can be used for getting myself in trouble in the woods, so it isn't just about plowing snow. I'm just looking for some opinions and experienced advice. Thanks! | ||
| Damnut |
I have a plow on my Craftsman riding mower and it works fine. Have been using it for ~5 years now. The only thing you have to do is remove the mower deck for the added clearance, put the chains/weights on the wheels and hook up the blade. All that takes less than 2 hours. | ||
| Svh |
I have a lawn tractor with a snowblower attachment. I also have the plow but did not like it. Much easier with the blower but also more expensive. The plow was ok as long as the snow was light and less than 3-4". Never tried using an ATV and would like to have one for woods debauchery. | ||
| Larryjohn |
Living with at least 2ft of snow on the ground (in the low spots) right now, and dealing with this crap for the last 10 years, I consider myself a bit of an expert with the snow problem. My opinion is that you are wasting your money unless you are buying a good 2 stage self propelled snow thrower or you have a plow on a truck. If you get any reasonable amount of snow and have a long driveway or sidewalk a small plow can get overwhelmed pretty quickly. I have seen a few people in my area struggle with the blade on a lawn tractor. Imagine only being able to push snow with a shovel while not heaving the snow out of the way. At some point the snow in front of the shovel will be too heavy to push. Another problem is always the hard/heavy pack at the end of the driveway after the plows come through. I would pick up a used snow thrower and save the extra cash for the ATV or some other toy. You should have no problem selling the snow thrower in 3 years, so consider it a wash. | ||
| Indy_bueller |
+1 Larryjohn. | ||
| Bhillberg |
The way Larryjohn put it is my way of thinking. I mean honestly even if you went out and spent 3-4k on a truck that has a plow on it, used it for a few years and sold it for $500 less then you made out. I have an ATV and have a blade but have never fabbed up the mounts. If you get an ATV make sure it is 4x4 with a low gear. | ||
| No_rice |
get yourself one of these and never worry again | ||
| Froggy |
 Ural Plow. Once I figure out how to mount one to the Uly I will be golden | ||
| Buellinator |
I have a John Deere X540 with a 47"snowthrower on it. Never a problem. My neighbour uses an ATV with a blade and swears that next year he's getting a tractor with a thrower on it. | ||
| Billinpa |
I use an old Cub Cadet model 107 with a blade, does a nice job. I often think a quad with a blade would be better, probably not better, just more FUN!!! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
We've been plowing our driveway (350 feet and steep) for the last 5 years with our Suzuki 500 Vinson ATV and 50" Moose plow. 4x4 with lo range. It'll handle about 8-10 inches of fluffy snow, and about 4-6 inches of sloppy snow. If it's sloppy snow you just make sure you go out an plow every 4-6 inces that fell. The first year we lived here it was $80 a pop for the plow truck and he would show up every 6" inches that fell. $$$$$$$$$$ The ATV and moose plow has paid for itself. I also use the ATV for pulling the log splitter, and I have a small trailer that hauls yard supplies and tools when I work around the property. | ||
| Seanp |
Thanks for the input, guys. Ok, so right now the consensus seems to be that a snowblower rather than a snowplow is the answer. And I guess to really justify it, I should get a lawn tractor to hook it up to, then I can tell my wife that I use it all year to mow and plow. Maybe when I build my death house I'll get an honest-to-goodness plow for my truck. Of course, by then we'll have hover cars, so I won't need to plow snow. Either that or global warming will turn even upstate NY into a tropical forest. | ||
| Doon |
hey sean where upstate are you going? | ||
| Seanp |
Newburgh. I personally don't consider it upstate, but most city people do. I think of upstate as being Plattsburgh, but it's all relative. | ||
| Ourdee |
2 stage minimum 5hp with gears and reverse. | ||
| Vortec57 |
I've got a quad with plow, mine's only a 220cc and does pretty good with dry snow, but deeper snow takes a bit more hp. I like an atv with a plow if you want to be able to play. the honda 420 with a 48 inch plow sells like mad out here | ||
| Fast1075 |
What's Snow??? | ||
| Xlcrguy |
A few years ago I popped for an Ariens 2-Stage 6.5 hp - My "Orange Beast" (made in USA!) and have NEVER regretted it! It's Awesome. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Lot of us Buellers in the "upstate" Newburgh region. | ||
| Hammer71 |
Sean, I know where your place is and a small 2 stage snow blower will be just fine, craigslist has em for real cheap and there are a few places around here that you can get used yard equipment for a great price as well. When you get here we will get ya squared away. | ||
| Jerseyguy |
A lot depends on if you have a place to push the snow. My drive is about 150' and half is in a cut. I struggled for many years plowing with garden tractors with chains and weights. A couple of years ago I got a decent walk behind blower and it really works much better for me and does a neater job as well. | ||
| Skiaddict |
+1 on the ATV w/ plow. It's definitely paid for itself in the 5+ years I've had mine. I've got a 03 Honda Rancher 4x4, and like Johnnylunchbox says, you just need to get out and plow every 4-6 inches if it's wet and heavy. And even if you can't keep up with it, it's still more fun than shoveling  . | ||
| Seanp |
Awesome, thanks Hammer. Yeah, the driveway isn't huge, maybe 80 meters or so. I'm just trying to plan ahead, so that I'm not surprised next October/November when I actually need something. And I don't want to pay someone else to do work that I can easily do myself. So a two-stage picks up the snow with a screw and has a separate blower to shoot it out, right? | ||
| Husky |
Here you go, a Wisconsin Snow Blower...  Husky | ||
| Xbjelly9s |
Here ya go!   | ||
| Hammer71 |
Mikexlr and I both have 2 stroke 5 hp things. They are small but throw up to 12 inches of snow with no issues at all ( wet snow up to 6 inches). Got the thing for 100 bucks and love it. Dont sweat the small stuff. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
For some reason, I think this thread should be married to the "Lets get it on" thread.   | ||
| Andyss1w |
the last pic reminds me of a joke. (hope i don't offend) how do you turn a dishwasher into a snow blower? you hand her a shovel!! |
