Compact tractors

4wanderingeyes

5 year old buck +
I really am struggling with my best option for clearing my driveway of snow this winter. I just moved to my hunting land in northern Wisconsin, and now that I live there, I will need to get something to clear the driveway. I use to just call someone a few days before I was coming up, and he would have it clean by the time I got here. But now that I live here, I can’t just wait a day or two to get the driveway cleaned. I have about 100 yards to clean, along with a parking area about 20x50.

My options, first would be a 1 ton truck with a snow plow, this would be a decent option, because I need a 1 ton truck anyhow, my half ton truck isn’t made to do most of the things I use it for. So this would fix 2 needs. Figured something in the $20k range with a plow.

Second option, a compact tractor, I have never moved snow with a compact tractor, and don’t know it’s limitations, will it be able to move a foot of snow, a 3 foot drift, will a snow blower attachment be able to have enough power to blow the snow far enough for my needs? A compact tractor and loader would be very useful around here. I could use the loader more then anything to level, and haul dirt around. I could use it for firewood, and moving stumps around. Plus for food plotting, it would make my chores much easier. I am past the 50 mark in age, and those fun food plot chores, are taking longer, and recovering time after is taking longer. I am leaning towards a compact tractor, but don’t know what it’s capabilities are for cleaning snow, which would be its selling point to my wife. I know very little about them, what size, color, year, and attachments I should get, or need to get.

A full size tractor and loader to clean and push snow, I grew up using a a 60hp tractor and loader clearing snow from my grandparents farm. It worked, but it was slow, not easy to maneuver in smaller areas. A full size tractor wouldn’t be very useful in my food plots, I have 4 food plots in the .5-.75 acre range, not really much room for a full size tractor, and really no real need for one either.

A skid loader is my last option, I could use the skid loader for snow, I have used one to clean snow for many years, and a skid loader is really universal, and I could use it for leveling off stuff, digging a pond, trails, firewood, and many other things. But they aren’t much use in a food plot, and I would need a 1 ton truck to haul it. So I would need to convince the wife I need a skid loader and a truck. While if I had a skid loader, I could do some jobs with it for hire, and have it pay for itself, but I am already busier then what I want to be, and don’t need another job that would take up more of my free time.

If anyone has a recommendation on these option, that has used them for snow removal, or has another option that would work, please share.
 
Compact tractor with front assist and a loader bucket. You will use it for many things you haven't even thought of yet.
 
I have a jd1025r. I have done a lot with it. Its small, tippy but fits in our stock trailer fine. Recieved a front snowblower last year for it, works great. I, now having this, would like a little bigger one but, well you know. Lol.
 
Compact tractor with front assist and a loader bucket. You will use it for many things you haven't even thought of yet.

This. Given your plot sizes, add a 5' tiller and you'll have a sweet setup :emoji_sunglasses: :emoji_thumbsup:
 
Something with a heated cab if you're moving snow. You can put a plow on a 1/2 ton but need a 2-3" lift or spacers on the front springs for the weight of the plow--clearance becomes a problem with a plow on 1/2 ton trucks. Just an option.
 
I have used a mfwd compact for a number of yrs. The fel on a tractor is ok but does not roll snow like a blade. I have loaded tires but still would spin tires a bit with the bucket. My current setup is trade the bucket out for an old truck plow on the front (attached to the frame with a custom mount so not sticking way out front of loader arms and torquing them)and a blade off the back. No cab so I'm not rushing out there to plow when weather is ugly but I can get out of my driveway with a 4wd truck with aggressive tires and wait for a little nicer weather.

Personally for that amount of driveway would get a truck with a plow rig since you kinda want to upgrade your truck anyway. Or get a beater plow rig.
 
Biggest issue with moving snow is that it is heavy and getting traction can be difficult....even with a front wheel assist machine. If you are on gravel the snow underneath quickly freezes to ice, if you have concrete or black top, again any moisture quickly freezes. If you get a lot of snow you also have to have a place to put it. If you have a foot of snow on the ground a typical blade isn't going to put the cleared snow up and over it. And you don't really want to take bucket after bucket to dig out 3 feet at a time. In your situation...I would think a snow blower would be the best tool for the job as it allows you to put the snow up and over the existing snow. And should require far less traction on slick surfaces vs pushing the snow. As for a truck...well again the plow has to be able to put the snow somewhere....
 
Before deciding, I think you have to look at drive, building, and non drive area to see where you can put the snow. Do you get areas where drifts are a problem? You can only push snow so far and pile it so high.

I have a rear blade on the back of my tractor and it helps, but I need to use my FEL at times to make snow is moved and doesn't encroach on the drive. You also have to drive over the snow and compact it before moving it.

A plow on your FEL would be worth considering, but you need to able to change blade angle.

I think a tractor with a FEL mounted snow blower & FEL would be the perfect solution if you get a lot of snow.

Kubota compact with FEL mount snow blower
 
I really am struggling with my best option for clearing my driveway of snow this winter. I just moved to my hunting land in northern Wisconsin, and now that I live there, I will need to get something to clear the driveway. I use to just call someone a few days before I was coming up, and he would have it clean by the time I got here. But now that I live here, I can’t just wait a day or two to get the driveway cleaned. I have about 100 yards to clean, along with a parking area about 20x50.

My options, first would be a 1 ton truck with a snow plow, this would be a decent option, because I need a 1 ton truck anyhow, my half ton truck isn’t made to do most of the things I use it for. So this would fix 2 needs. Figured something in the $20k range with a plow.

Second option, a compact tractor, I have never moved snow with a compact tractor, and don’t know it’s limitations, will it be able to move a foot of snow, a 3 foot drift, will a snow blower attachment be able to have enough power to blow the snow far enough for my needs? A compact tractor and loader would be very useful around here. I could use the loader more then anything to level, and haul dirt around. I could use it for firewood, and moving stumps around. Plus for food plotting, it would make my chores much easier. I am past the 50 mark in age, and those fun food plot chores, are taking longer, and recovering time after is taking longer. I am leaning towards a compact tractor, but don’t know what it’s capabilities are for cleaning snow, which would be its selling point to my wife. I know very little about them, what size, color, year, and attachments I should get, or need to get.

A full size tractor and loader to clean and push snow, I grew up using a a 60hp tractor and loader clearing snow from my grandparents farm. It worked, but it was slow, not easy to maneuver in smaller areas. A full size tractor wouldn’t be very useful in my food plots, I have 4 food plots in the .5-.75 acre range, not really much room for a full size tractor, and really no real need for one either.

A skid loader is my last option, I could use the skid loader for snow, I have used one to clean snow for many years, and a skid loader is really universal, and I could use it for leveling off stuff, digging a pond, trails, firewood, and many other things. But they aren’t much use in a food plot, and I would need a 1 ton truck to haul it. So I would need to convince the wife I need a skid loader and a truck. While if I had a skid loader, I could do some jobs with it for hire, and have it pay for itself, but I am already busier then what I want to be, and don’t need another job that would take up more of my free time.

If anyone has a recommendation on these option, that has used them for snow removal, or has another option that would work, please share.


I've got a Kubota b2400 with FEL that I uses to cut the yard and remove snow from my driveway. I'm in 7a. De do get dumped on from time to time with a noreaster, but nothing like your area. I'm in the suburbs and only have about 100 feet of driveway and it is paved. It can take me a couple hours to clear it all with the FEL. With the paved surface, I often have to use chains on it in icy conditions. The driveway is on an incline, so 4x4 is a must. The tractor can become laterally unstable with a heavy load of wet snow lifted high. I actually leave the mower deck on it which stabilizes it well.

I would be loath to do much more than my conditions with it. My DK45 which I have at the farm would make quick work of it. Year's ago, I had a little Nissan 4x4 truck that I put a Meyer's 6' blade on. I lived in central PA at the time so we had quite a bit more snow. I had to put 5 gal buckets of sand in the bed, but it handled a quarter mile of driveway on a mountain side. Of course we didn't get much drifting there.

In general. I find a plow is much faster than a FEL, but when you get dumped on and have to stack up large piles, a FEL wins hands down. Personally, from your description, I probably would at least go with a mid-size tractor if you go that route. Most tractors now have SSQA buckets now. You might consider getting a SSQA plow for every day light operations which would be much faster. When snow get deep you could use the FEL.

I don't have a skid steer so I can't really address that option.

Thanks,

Jack
 
We plow about a quarter mile of driveway not counting our parking areas. I use a dedicated 2500 chevy with a V-plow. We sometimes NeEd to plow every day for long periods. I can’t imagine using anything else. We have used the JD 4500 compact to push snow with the front loader; that makes for a very slow going plow job. Others I know have tractors on the 65 to hundred plus horse and are happy with tractor driven snow blowers.

The way you used to do it(hiring it done) may not be such a bad option depending on how many snows you get in your area.
Do the math and hiring it out could be a fit, hard to swallow for guys like us that like to do everything themselves bit it is worth doing the hard math just in case.
 
My country neighbors with the longer driveways all have plow trucks and gitter done that way. Several also have smaller tractors but never see them used on their driveways. Maybe they use the fel around a building but they all plow their drives super wide like I do to have room to push multiple waves of snow.

Only the rich guy with the $30,000 worth of blacktop driveway, tractor with cab, has a blower for his rig. Using a blower without a cab into the wind or on a gravel driveway, no thanks, rather have a truck

My ole man plowed our snow for over 50 yrs with a truck (he actually had plows for three) and never had or felt he needed a tractor/fel to deal with snow. He plowed many a mile out on the lake for ice fishn or sturgeon spearing too. Course out on the lake it was mostly with his custom made v plow setup.
 
I have a 4120 jd compact tractor that we plow a ton of snow with. I also plow commercial at work. I love the set up on our tractor. We have a fel and on the back a 6 ft scraper blade that angles. 80 percent of the time I just use the scraper blade. Trust me you wouldn't think it works but I drive with the gel in the air and the scraper blade on the back down. It has enough down pressure it scrapes it down to the asphalt or gravel. Way faster than pushing 10 ft having a full bucket of snow and lifting and dumping Every time. I only really use the bucket if there is a foot or more and to push back piles once in a while. I also push piles in reverse with the back blade. Superfast and does way nicer job than the bucket.
 

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I have a 4120 jd compact tractor that we plow a ton of snow with. I also plow commercial at work. I love the set up on our tractor. We have a fel and on the back a 6 ft scraper blade that angles. 80 percent of the time I just use the scraper blade. Trust me you wouldn't think it works but I drive with the gel in the air and the scraper blade on the back down. It has enough down pressure it scrapes it down to the asphalt or gravel. Way faster than pushing 10 ft having a full bucket of snow and lifting and dumping Every time. I only really use the bucket if there is a foot or more and to push back piles once in a while. I also push piles in reverse with the back blade. Superfast and does way nicer job than the bucket.

I do the same with my scrapper blade ... it gets the job done and the FEL lets you move heavy piles.
 
Nothing is perfect for everything... thats the problem,

I have a New Holland L220 skid steer with a standard bucket - the enclosed heated cab is nice for winter snow removal but the bucket "works" but because I can not change the angle like a plow it in a way kind of sucks - that is,.... till I have to pile snow or get stuck, having a bucket over a blade pays then.

Im on wheels which is fast but also crappy on ice and my driveway slopes. But I do use the skid steer almost every day it seems. Its nearly worthless for plots, to heavy, but is still something now that I have one I cant live without... I did think about getting a big snow bucket but I get by now and would rather spend the money else where.

I think if you have the room to push out and plow wide its hard to beat an old plow and truck (something specifically for plowing), a "front" mounted snow blower is nice but would be worthless to me unless I put chains on the skid steer - even then I would fear the hassle of getting stuck. Having a beater plow truck to bomb around the farm for me would be the best option. Im in the market for a 60plus horse tractor - want front wheel assist but I think I will fore go the bucket (already having the skid steer)- not sure about the cab yet, and doubt I would look at a blower for it, I would never ever again use a rear mounted snow blower on a tractor -- biggest pain ever, - I will be parking the tractor for the winter. I will continue to use the skid steer for snow removal - if I do anything else it will be keeping my current rust bucket truck and mounting a plow on it.

What in turn sucks is everything is so expensive now, 20 years ago you could scrounge up an workable old truck and slap a plow on it and it would suit your needs. Now who knows whats around and for what price.
 
As hot as it was here yesterday ................. 44.8755° N, 91.9193° W , I was dreaming of snow
 
I have a driveway and parking area in MN similar to the size you mentioned and I get along fine with a plow on an ATV and a walk behind snow blower. I don't use the snow blower most years, but if we get blowing snow from an odd direction I use it to take out large drifts. Most years the plow and ATV works fine, but you need to start the winter plowing the snow as far off the driveway as possible so you have a place to push new snow as the winter progresses.

An old neighbor had a nearly mile long private driveway and he needed a 40 hp tractor with a snow blower attachment to get through a winter because his driveway would get massive drifts.
 
In Indiana a Polaris Ranger with a blade typically suffices. For heavier snow I used to have a IH674 with a FEL and rear blade, lack of front end drive was a serious drawback. I don't have much slope but if stuff got slick or icy at all it got really hard to control what direction the front end of the tractor went. A couple times I had to have a neighbor with a truck come in and do stuff my big tractor couldn't handle.

When I got my hunting property I traded in the 674 on a JD 4052M, what a world of difference. Far under half the weight but with front wheel drive there is nothing I can't do. And my F150 can trailer it to the hunting property. I have not used the rear blade on it, I expect a deficit there as it doesn't have the weight or filler read wheels to anchor it trying to move wet snow. But the FEL would do fine to clear the heavy stuff then I clean up with the Polaris and blade.
 
I just found a decent deal on a sub compact. Anyone use them before?
It is a 3038, 38hp sub compact with loader, and rear blade, it’s a 2020 with front wheel assist, 60 hours on it. The rear tires are filled already.
While I think it would work great for the food plots, but even more concerned with snow.
 
I just found a decent deal on a sub compact. Anyone use them before?
It is a 3038, 38hp sub compact with loader, and rear blade, it’s a 2020 with front wheel assist, 60 hours on it. The rear tires are filled already.
While I think it would work great for the food plots, but even more concerned with snow.
38 hp is a lot for a sub-compact. If you are talking about a JD, I thing the 3038 is a compact, not a sub-compact.
 
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