plow or loader bucket for moving snow

[Chestnut 315]

Anyone who's had a belt break on the snowblower during a 2 foot storm knows the need for a backup plan. The shovel just doesn't seem good enough any more. Or is it that the body doesn't operate a shovel as well any more! Anyway, I have the Kwik Way loader on a second tractor, but I've been wondering about a regular plow blade. My father in law hauled two out into the woods years ago. One is 48" and the other is 54" Has anyone thought about building a frame to mount a plow blade using the four pins that mount the loader? Anyone have thoughts on the pros and cons of moving or removing snow with the bucket or plow blade?

 

[Ed Kennell 38,420]

I vote for the angled snow  blade over a straight bucket.         The inability to float would also be a problem with a FEL.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

I prefer the plow over the bucket and that is on a 4x4 CUT... 

[WHX?? 48,934]

Personally 'nut i like to use a blower ... I wanna see it leave! That said if a blower wasn't available I would say a plow. I have used a loader and it works but too time consuming and not much of a float option as Ed said.

Used a plow on a four wheeler and that always  worked ok. Had plenty of WH plows pass thru here but never used one. 

Problem I always had with a plow is running out of room to stack it if alot of snow and a long winter. Blowing does away with that problem. 

[ebinmaine 67,953]

I've seen plow heads mounted to the reinforced floor of a loader bucket on larger rigs many times. 

Only disadvantage is manual angle but that's not a huge deal to some. Or you run hoses to a set of power cylinders..

[rjg854 11,404]

@squonk put a plow blade on his loader, he might have a picture and some suggestions

[wallfish 17,056]

I have a plow frame that fits the loader arms but don't really use it anymore. Unfortunately I made it for an Ark loader or you could have it. I prefer the blower for my situation and run a little 654 tractor with a blade for plowing light stuff. One nice thing about having the blade on the loader arms is being able to push back the top off the drifts when they get too high. Your loader should have a float detent on the valve so that shouldn't be an issue. 

Using the bucket was just too slow but each situation is different.

[Chestnut 315]

1 hour ago, WHX24 said:

Personally 'nut i like to use a blower ... I wanna see it leave! That said if a blower wasn't available I would say a plow. I have used a loader and it works but too time consuming and not much of a float option as Ed said.

Used a plow on a four wheeler and that always  worked ok. Had plenty of WH plows pass thru here but never used one. 

Problem I always had with a plow is running out of room to stack it if alot of snow and a long winter. Blowing does away with that problem. 

I like the blower too. Gets the snow far enough away so I don't worry about later storms. The plow would be a backup just in case. Last Thanksgiving weekend we had two feet of snow and I broke a snowblower drive belt. I think the belt got nicked during storage. Sure would have liked to have another way do clear that snow but didn't. 

[muz123 1,192]

2 hours ago, WVHillbilly520H said:

I prefer the plow over the bucket and that is on a 4x4 CUT... 

I own that same kioti! I prefer to plow with my 520 or my 315, but when it gets bad the kioti comes out

Edited November 14, 2020 by muz123

[1995 520H+96+97 937]

Just buy two spare blower belts.

[squonk 41,226]

11 hours ago, rjg854 said:

@squonk put a plow blade on his loader, he might have a picture and some suggestions

 

Just 4 pins hold it on. When they bend I get new ones. This set up got me out of a jam once. My plough tractor broke down and  I had to plough about 10" of snow and still had to get to work.

[WHX?? 48,934]

A backup plan is always a good idea!

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

5 hours ago, WHX24 said:

A backup plan is always a good idea!

Its about time we see that deuce hooked up.

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

16 hours ago, muz123 said:

I own that same kioti! I prefer to plow with my 520 or my 315, but when it gets bad the kioti comes out

That front plow is a JD (off a 755-955 series) that I fabbed up some mounts to work on the CK20 unfortunately the 1 i got someone had all read cut 6" off originally 60" to 54". I have my build thread on here somewhere.

Edited November 14, 2020 by WVHillbilly520H

[DET 105]

Here are a couple of pics of my snow blade adapted to fit my FEL. I made my quick attachment brackets from 2” x 6” channel.

[Tractorhead 9,064]

Depending on the Years, the snowdepth here differs extremely.

In the earlier years we have to remove the Snow by Hands, a also time consumpting Task, no doubt.

In the year 2019 we had such mass of Wet heavy Snow, a remove just by Hands where impossible,

even the try with my 212 Horse and a Plow was absolutely impossible.

It was mainly wet heavy Snow, so a Plow was absolutely unable because of the height and the weight of the Snow.

I was glad to have my 212 Horse prepared with a FEL i built myself, to be able to remove it.

 

I could not believe to myself this Aluminum FEL can handle all that Tasks, even the neighbours jiggling about my Try’s,

and i had looooong Seat times and it last‘s all the Load‘s like a Champ.

It only bends a little on the Main Liftarms over the Time but i doubt it will lasted all that Load‘s i need to remove.

each Bucket where 160 pounds at least and i stopped counting on 40 Buckets full, but there where plenty more.

I was really proud of my FEL and even neighbours honored that „we“ do all that jobs even in their Driveway‘s.

 

I agreed, it was very time consumpting to remove the Snow with a FEL with the Bucket and i think a lot if i should buy a Blower.

The year 2020 we had nearly no snow at all, so i toasted that idea of a blower. And built a FEL for my Iseki 4x4.

On the other side, the snow heights differs extremely the last 10 years here, was this the right decision?

i planed a bigger Bucket, but i still shifted this task more and more to a later timeline, at least i stopped it.

 

My last decision now was rework a existing Snow Plow from the 212 Horse for the 656 Horse for lighter snow and a quick remove

and if the year 2019 happened again, the Iseki 4x4 at least with FEL in case of wet heavy Snow like we had is my Backup.

I know, also the Iseki with it’s FEL will work time consumpting, but is just Fun for me 😎 and in 2019 i had most Fun since.

 

But i agree with JCM spare belts are best solution in your situation, better to have than to need,

a additional Plow will be a perfect Backup just for short time while changing a broken Belt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A float valve for a FEL in the Lift cylindres is urgently recommanded, 

in my opinion at several tasks a great helper

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by Tractorhead

[WVHillbilly520H 10,374]

@muz123, here you go...

 

[c-series don 8,785]

I prefer one of each! Options depending on snow density and amount.