North of the notches in NH is a whole other climate. I cannot imagine snow blowing up there regularly in an open station tractor. I'm in central NH and I love snow blowing in my LX4020 cab with 64" front mount blower, but that is likely a lot more than you are looking to spend for a second property tractor. If you could find a used LX2610 or LX3310 with cab, that might be a good fit for you with a front blower or even with a lower cost 3 point rear blower. Add a rear facing camera like I did when I had a rear mount blower on my BX2370 and that minimizes the need to strain your neck looking back.
Future tractor
- Thread starter imarobot
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My homebuilt "aftermarket" removeable cab comes off when winter snow removal duties are over with.
But during our sub zero outdoor temps in the winter....the plumbed in Jegs heater can easily have the inside temp at +80°F no matter how cold it is outside. Large rear facing mirror inside makes driving in reverse a breeze for the 3 pt blower.
The 3 piece cab makes installation, removal, and storage easy.
Attachments
Just take the cab off in the late spring. I had an LX2610 with aftermarket cab. It took about 20 minutes to remove. You don't have to take the whole thing apart. A second person makes it much easier to lift off. The cab I had was as from the Original Tractor Cab company. I also bought the glass front windshield with wiper. It did a great job of keeping the wind and snow off me.
Came across a B2301 with snowblower which would have mostly everything I need except a mower.
But it's only 22HP. Doesn't say how big the snowblower is but I'm guessing 4-5' wide. Is this too much for moving 1-2 feet of snow?
From all your previous recommendations, this may be a bit small for my needs.
But it's only 22HP. Doesn't say how big the snowblower is but I'm guessing 4-5' wide. Is this too much for moving 1-2 feet of snow?
From all your previous recommendations, this may be a bit small for my needs.
Since you have experience with a 6 ft snowblower on a 40 hp tractor you are probably in the best position to judge how well a 4 or 5 ft snowblower on a 22 hp tractor would handle your conditions. It's mostly a question of how fast you want to be able to drive into the snow.
Without trying one I would not know how well it will handle it. I don't know how much PTO torque this machine has. I have no need to plow fast, so speed is not an issue. I'm more concerned about the snowblower limitations of a 22HP tractor taking a 3/4 to full bite of snow at a time.
The snowblower's ability to handle a "full bite" of snow is a function of how fast that snow is fed into it and how dense the snow is. You must already have a feel for this with your much larger existing tractor. If speed is not a concern for you then you can drive as slow as necessary to maintain function of the blower. Possibly very slow with deep heavy wet snow. Traction can also be an issue with deep heavy wet snow and a light tractor may not be able to push into it without losing traction. I can tell you from my own experience with a 23hp BX2370 and a 4 ft rear PTO snowblower compared to a 40 hp LX4020 and a 64" front blower there is a vast difference in speed, traction, and ability to take a full bite. It's up to you to decide how big a drop in performance you can accept compared to the setup you are used to using.
Thanks for this info. I was also concerned about available traction with such a light tractor. This tractor has turf tires which should have better traction than the R4 tires on my L.
Sounds like it could work, but with limitations.
Sounds like it could work, but with limitations.
airbiscuit
Well-known member
Equipment
New Holland T2310, New Holland TC21D, Kubota l3010 GST, Farmall H
My neighbor has a Kubota GR2120 with front snowblower and turf tires (no chains), He blows snow effortlessly.
Cabs are nice, but not required. It's easy enough to dress for the weather.
BAP
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
You will find that the B2301 with 17.5 PTO Hp with a 60” Blower and trying to blow 1-2 feet of snow lacking in power. It will work by going really slow, but I think you will regret it. I have a B2920, 21 PTO HP and a 60” front mounted snowblower. With 1-2 feet of snow, it works the tractor. Tractor handles it, but ground speed slows down a lot. I live in Western New Hampshire, at a higher elevation in the belt that gets more snow during most of the snow storms. The B2301 will work for you if you are willing to take more time, but if you have just driven 2 hours to get there and want to get into your place fast, you might be disappointed.
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Blue2Orange
Active member
Equipment
BX2380 with LA344S & QH05. SB1051. SG0554. BB1248. RB0560, Vassar dirt bucket
Dropped done to the BX from a '01 NH that out weighs LOT (little orange tractor) by almost a ton if you add the loader and bucket. Miss the mass of the NH when it comes to traction in snow. Outside of that the BX is fine for my snow removal needs. So far. Live in the Northwoods region and Lake Effect country. The so far is. Haven't had any big +24" dumps this season. BX was purchased last April. The SB1051 used is a 51" 3pt mounted blower. Couple decades of driving backwards to snowblow without a cab. Use to it. Both no cab and driving backwards. I leave the bucket on for moving snow. Maybe in the future add a quick attach V-snowblade. Already set up with the 3rd part function .
800ft driveway plus a larger area around the garage to clear. BX has basic 2 link ladder twist chains on rear only. Really needs front also. Hindsight should have gone with the Euro diamond pattern or 2 link D chains on the rear. Something to consider. Plus JMHO. You need 2" spacers on the rear for adequate inboard clearance.
IIRC the dry weight of the BX2380 is only a little over 1400 pounds. A 10 x 5 ft minimum sized trailer would allow for trailering between properties if needed or wanting to do.
800ft driveway plus a larger area around the garage to clear. BX has basic 2 link ladder twist chains on rear only. Really needs front also. Hindsight should have gone with the Euro diamond pattern or 2 link D chains on the rear. Something to consider. Plus JMHO. You need 2" spacers on the rear for adequate inboard clearance.
IIRC the dry weight of the BX2380 is only a little over 1400 pounds. A 10 x 5 ft minimum sized trailer would allow for trailering between properties if needed or wanting to do.
Thank you for your inputs. I plowed and snowblowed many decades backwards without a cab and could do it again, but I really don't want to!
What model was your NH, and why did you go to the BX, was it snow removal related?
What did you have for tires on the NH and now with the BX, and what type thread are they, are you plowing, asphalt/gravel?
Weight is not really a concern for the size tractor I would I need. I have a trailer that I have used to cart my L tractor around.
Blue2Orange
Active member
Equipment
BX2380 with LA344S & QH05. SB1051. SG0554. BB1248. RB0560, Vassar dirt bucket
Have already forgotten the model. ??TC or TD or ??? 25D. Closest might be similar to the Kubota above the B series. Only 25hp on a larger frame. Which was one reason why NH stopped manufacturing. Bit underpowered for the mass. I went in to purchase a new taillight. Ended up with the BX instead. Good deal for cash purchase between the dealer and Kubota incentives.
R1 without chains worked ok. 60" 3pt Loftness snowblower (also discontinued). Guessing just the additional mass of the loader and heavy duty bucket helped front wheel traction. R4s on the BX. Front wheel traction is basically poor even with the L344 and bucket on. Rear with chains is ok. Sometimes I need to elevate the snowblower above float to use the mass of the blower for improved traction going uphill on real slippery surface. Or just snow blow going downhill. NH became overkill for my needs. Down to just hauling firewood and driveway maintenance. Some minor trail maintenance.
Maintenance costs were significantly higher than the BX is. Two hydro filters, larger volume of fluids. Adds up. Guessing tire replacement costs if or when needed will be significantly less. Small tires do cost less???
Chains for the rears were inexpensive and shipped UPS vs. truck freight the only time I looked at a set for the NH back pre-recession. Only 8ft tall garage doors. NH had a finger width of clearance. BX with box blade and bucket attached leaves enough room in the "tractor stall" to park the grapple and snowblower inside. NH with blower and bucket attached barely left enough room to walk around. Other reason why I downsized.
If going BX. Consider the BXpanded bottom shield. Not much ground clearance if off road and the cooling fan is a bit exposed. Also, the 2" wheel spacers for a bit more stability and if adding rear chains. More clearance just incase the chain loosen up even a little bit.
Outside of the winter traction issues. Happy I downsized. Just need to realize you need to limit the loads in the bucket, grapple, trailer.... It's a small tractor that handles small loads just fine. Traction issue probably solved with the addition of front chains. Thinking going aggressive. 2-link ladder with those V bars.
R1 without chains worked ok. 60" 3pt Loftness snowblower (also discontinued). Guessing just the additional mass of the loader and heavy duty bucket helped front wheel traction. R4s on the BX. Front wheel traction is basically poor even with the L344 and bucket on. Rear with chains is ok. Sometimes I need to elevate the snowblower above float to use the mass of the blower for improved traction going uphill on real slippery surface. Or just snow blow going downhill. NH became overkill for my needs. Down to just hauling firewood and driveway maintenance. Some minor trail maintenance.
Maintenance costs were significantly higher than the BX is. Two hydro filters, larger volume of fluids. Adds up. Guessing tire replacement costs if or when needed will be significantly less. Small tires do cost less???
Chains for the rears were inexpensive and shipped UPS vs. truck freight the only time I looked at a set for the NH back pre-recession. Only 8ft tall garage doors. NH had a finger width of clearance. BX with box blade and bucket attached leaves enough room in the "tractor stall" to park the grapple and snowblower inside. NH with blower and bucket attached barely left enough room to walk around. Other reason why I downsized.
If going BX. Consider the BXpanded bottom shield. Not much ground clearance if off road and the cooling fan is a bit exposed. Also, the 2" wheel spacers for a bit more stability and if adding rear chains. More clearance just incase the chain loosen up even a little bit.
Outside of the winter traction issues. Happy I downsized. Just need to realize you need to limit the loads in the bucket, grapple, trailer.... It's a small tractor that handles small loads just fine. Traction issue probably solved with the addition of front chains. Thinking going aggressive. 2-link ladder with those V bars.
Blue2Orange
Active member
Equipment
BX2380 with LA344S & QH05. SB1051. SG0554. BB1248. RB0560, Vassar dirt bucket
Dinged up my left knee several days ago. It's healing. Couple days ago I really appreciated the low step up and down of the LOT (little orange tractor). Another plus over Baby Blue, the old NH.
Gravel. What we call Brule Blue Rock. It packs down hard, yet percolates rainwater way better than limestone or any other gravel. No ruts, puddles, washouts. Only way to keep a rut free driveway if you have any sections of steeper pitch on the driveway. Relatively a bit pricey. But beats constant grading and reapplication. Added 80 tons to top coat the driveway this past April/May. First loads since '17 or '18. Locks in tight with underlying gravel. But I still "protect" it by leaving a couple inches of hard packed snow over it to keep the snowblower from becoming a gravel thrower.
Gravel. What we call Brule Blue Rock. It packs down hard, yet percolates rainwater way better than limestone or any other gravel. No ruts, puddles, washouts. Only way to keep a rut free driveway if you have any sections of steeper pitch on the driveway. Relatively a bit pricey. But beats constant grading and reapplication. Added 80 tons to top coat the driveway this past April/May. First loads since '17 or '18. Locks in tight with underlying gravel. But I still "protect" it by leaving a couple inches of hard packed snow over it to keep the snowblower from becoming a gravel thrower.
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