Best tractor for snow moving in gravel lots

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Ok follow up to my first post same subject different direction.

If I focus on one thing that seems to be the biggest task I do with my tractors its snow relocation. While some of its plowing the bulk of this are two gravel lots in two commercial settings while one of these has a 300 foot long paved two car width driveway I have to clear about an acre of hard packed gravel parking lots in total. And what plow accessory would you recommend I do not think a blower is a solution these are parking lots. And the total weight needs to be under 6500 pounds.

If there was a tractor that fits this scenario it might be the real solution for my tractor hunt. It will need a quick change loader bucket if im not using its loader bucket for this task maybe a larger tractor will do this with a loader bucket and not snow implements im not opposed to updating an older loader and bucket.

Snow when it’s deep is wet heavy snow so not the dry fluffy stuff you guys see in some areas. I dont even touch it when its less than 4 or 5 inches unless mores coming or it is going to stay around.

Plowing with a truck is tough first they gouge up my lots something fierce I can figure a couple grand in new gravel if im plowed out twice. Ive given up on this and just use my L4701 with a rear box scraper and the loader bucket. Trucks with plow blades cant work close around cars and were automotive shops. Many of these cars are inoperable. And after its all been pushed to areas its got to by piled up at some point. Which a truck can only do so much or id just buy a plow blades cant for one of my wreckers.

Any input here is great.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The best R530, R540, R630, R640 and a snow pusher

 

[jimh406]

I like rear blade offset for just pushing snow off the road. I use the bucket to move piles in areas where it has to move. Do consider chains at least for the rear. Snow blowers can be pretty cool to blow the snow way off the road. I make multiple passes with some a foot or so off the ground with my rear blade to push the snow farther off the edge when required.

You should watch some youtubes and decide what you want to try.

 

[mikester]

You can buy used commercial highway plow trucks reasonably cheap and they are equipped with salt/sanders and wing plows

 

[chim]

I had a blower and it was great for driveways but awful in parking lots. Blowing the same snow more than one time compacts it too much for the blower to handle. Many people have fastened pipe or shoes to their blades / plows to work on gravel. The only experience I have with gravel was on our driveway before it was paved. I used a rear blade turned backwards till the gravel froze solid.

 

[Bee-Positive]

Most all of the large shopping centers around here use snow pushers but they have paved lots.
Even on gravel I'd go for a pusher and adjust the skids accordingly.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Pusher on gravel moves gravel. Found this out the hard way on my class II driveway. I have a 6 foot rear blade, turned around, and angled using the top link, to where it’s almost straight up and down. Doesn’t move the gravel. On the wet heavy sticky snow, go over it a few times or use the bucket. Your rear blade at a 45 degree angle should protrude a little on both sides. My 1880 is 4 feet wide. The 6 foot works great for me. Not sure the width of your so buy appropriately if you go this route. Good luck.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ok follow up to my first post same subject different direction.

If I focus on one thing that seems to be the biggest task I do with my tractors its snow relocation. While some of its plowing the bulk of this are two gravel lots in two commercial settings while one of these has a 300 foot long paved two car width driveway I have to clear about an acre of hard packed gravel parking lots in total. And what plow accessory would you recommend I do not think a blower is a solution these are parking lots. And the total weight needs to be under 6500 pounds.

If there was a tractor that fits this scenario it might be the real solution for my tractor hunt. It will need a quick change loader bucket if im not using its loader bucket for this task maybe a larger tractor will do this with a loader bucket and not snow implements im not opposed to updating an older loader and bucket.

Snow when it’s deep is wet heavy snow so not the dry fluffy stuff you guys see in some areas. I dont even touch it when its less than 4 or 5 inches unless mores coming or it is going to stay around.

Plowing with a truck is tough first they gouge up my lots something fierce I can figure a couple grand in new gravel if im plowed out twice. Ive given up on this and just use my L4701 with a rear box scraper and the loader bucket. Trucks with plow blades cant work close around cars and were automotive shops. Many of these cars are inoperable. And after its all been pushed to areas its got to by piled up at some point. Which a truck can only do so much or id just buy a plow blades cant for one of my wreckers.

Any input here is great.

I'm still really confused as to how much snow you get in Hawaii????

 

[chim]

I'm still really confused as to how much snow you get in Hawaii????

Depends on location:

 

[nbryan]

I'm on a back 80 walking trail in this clip, and does quick work of our 700 feet of driveway, and large parking/turnaround lot. Along with a couple miles of trails. It's light and agile for working around heavier bush and forest, and handles well enough for me without ballasted tires and/or chains.
Starting winter I usually have the BH77 on the back. Wetter, heavier, slicker snow then can sometimes leave me spinning helplessly if a wheel hangs up off a shoulder or something. Mr backhoe to the quick rescue out. Otherwise it's blower/boxblade combo as the box scraper is awesome for snow mass moving into blower range/path for final clearance.

Oops, here's the clip...

 

[Bearcatrp]

I'm still really confused as to how much snow you get in Hawaii????

The big island top mountain snows. we did our training just below at pocholol (not sure the spelling). About the only place I know of that snows in Hawaii.

 

[Tughill Tom]

A Pistenbully 400 for the win!

 

[McMXi]

The big island top mountain snows. we did our training just below at pocholol (not sure the spelling). About the only place I know of that snows in Hawaii.

I think you mean Pohakuloa. It snows up at Mauna Loa too, but despite going up there for work many times I never got to see any snow up there.

 

[McMXi]

Ok follow up to my first post same subject different direction.

If I focus on one thing that seems to be the biggest task I do with my tractors its snow relocation. While some of its plowing the bulk of this are two gravel lots in two commercial settings while one of these has a 300 foot long paved two car width driveway I have to clear about an acre of hard packed gravel parking lots in total. And what plow accessory would you recommend I do not think a blower is a solution these are parking lots. And the total weight needs to be under 6500 pounds.

If there was a tractor that fits this scenario it might be the real solution for my tractor hunt. It will need a quick change loader bucket if im not using its loader bucket for this task maybe a larger tractor will do this with a loader bucket and not snow implements im not opposed to updating an older loader and bucket.

Snow when it’s deep is wet heavy snow so not the dry fluffy stuff you guys see in some areas. I dont even touch it when its less than 4 or 5 inches unless mores coming or it is going to stay around.

Plowing with a truck is tough first they gouge up my lots something fierce I can figure a couple grand in new gravel if im plowed out twice. Ive given up on this and just use my L4701 with a rear box scraper and the loader bucket. Trucks with plow blades cant work close around cars and were automotive shops. Many of these cars are inoperable. And after its all been pushed to areas its got to by piled up at some point. Which a truck can only do so much or id just buy a plow blades cant for one of my wreckers.

Any input here is great.

Heck, an L6060 or MX6000 with a blower on the back and a hydraulic angle pusher or blade up front would be about as multi-functional as you'll find. You have a challenging task with the different issues you're facing, and perhaps there isn't a perfect solution, but only a decent one.

There are two changes I'd consider to my setup shown below. One is a pull forward 3-point blower which has the only advantage of not needing to look over one's shoulder but some significant downsides. The other is a hydraulically angled snow pusher rather than a snow blade. I think they offer more capacity so that has some appeal. That said, I've used the setup below for four years and have very little to complain about.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

As the tractor wheels roll round and round my quest continues to spin in many directions. My local dealer has an MX6000 with cab but its there demo for plowing snow this winter I wont get it until April I bet. Not a huge hurdle but id really like my current tractor headed west by mid January.

My quest has left me with a John Deere 5055E with cab its used low hours very clean. It’s on the edge of more weight than I can legally handle if I have the tires filled which are not currently. I like it a lot and the price is decent. Puts me in a gear trans with shuttle shift. Can any of you with experience in this tractor give me and pros or cons not just its green and not orange. Most likely im going to hold out for the MX6000. If winter hits here it’s the wrong time to buy a tractor. If it doesn’t hit hard then maybe something will show up sooner. The math on this tractor is half price of new and quite a bit less than the MX6000

 

[McMXi]

I don't know much of anything about the 5055E but if it meets your needs and you like it then that's all that matters. Some will not like the idea of a gear drive tractor for snow removal, but if you're ok with it and the price makes sense to you then you might have found your next tractor. John Deere makes good products and they have a loyal following for good reason.

I like Kubota products but there are plenty of excellent tractors out there made by other manufacturers. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

Thanks

I need to go run that John Deere around and see if I even like it. Parking lots where im doing a lot of direction changes most likely I will only use one or two gears. So it's not like I will be shifting all the time and from what I understand the shift forward to reverse is actually very smooth and simple at the kind of speeds this will occur. Something else id like to know. Often im moving gravel or dirt long distances and im stuck in medium or low because id have to stop to upshift and on a slope its possible I find I like having a transmission I can upshift or downshift while loaded and in motion.

The bigger tractor in theory should make moving snow much easier for me theres a point in some years when Im flat sick of moving snow. But its business if I dont do it we loose money. I also know theres work for me plowing out other business in my direct areas. Something I may actually enjoy if I have a heated cab.

 

[BAP]

Does the John Deere have a Reverser? If not, shifting forward to reverse on a gear shift lever gets old fast. Is snow plowing the only use for this machine? If so, go lease a payloader for the winter. That’s what a lot of people do around here in the winter for clearing parking lots.

 

[Lowlysubaruguy]

The John Deere im looking at does have a reverser. It’s 200 miles from me or id have already seen it. If it hasnt sold after thanksgiving I plan to go see it and it seems to be real theres so many fake ads and scams on used tractors. But hes ready for me to come see it and I dont have to send him $50 deposit to hold it I was able to see a 40 series the next smaller size with a cab and it gave me tractor warm and fuzzies. Which is funny.

I stopped and looked at the MX6000 yesterday most likely if the John Deere doesn’t work out I’ll put money down on it and wait for it. I have the L4701 here even though id like to get that thing to my Hawaii property by February. That next project can wait.

And I realized this morning my big push to get this in motion is all about creating a place for my boat to live over there. The bull dozers scheduled for the end of December early Jan. I hope to be able to finish the driveway and fencing in February when im there next but it can all wait.