Yet another snow thread: which would you choose?
 

Well since the winter bug seems to be biting people around here, I thought I'd throw this question out; I've got a decision to make for this winter.

A short bit of backstory; During any given snowfall, I am responsible for clearing my driveway (duh), 2-4 neighbor driveways, as well as a large amount of sidewalks where I work. There is very little gravel in the driveways I clear, so that is not a problem. My big concern is, however, reliability. When it snows, I HAVE to be out there moving snow at work, at very least. So this is where my question comes in; I am in a position right where I have to decide between a 451 or a 54" blade for my 1864. I have my concerns with each one. I've never used a 451 so is there a lot that can go wrong with them if they've been taken care of? The more complex it is, the more that can go wrong, of course :biggrin2: My other concern with the blower is do I really want to use it after a light snow fall? May be a bit overkill, or would it? :biggrin2: How would it handle small amounts of snow? :bigthink: My concerns with the blade are it's limits; I know how much snow it can (and can't) push through. This was a rare problem last year during the heaviest and coldest of snows. It couldn't get through some deep drifts or some frozen snow. Also, and not a deal breaker, it's manual angle so I do get up and down quite a bit.

I do, however, have a backup, if you could call it that. Worst case, I have a 24" walk behind snow blower I could use in a pinch, but I would rather not even consider that. Then there are shovels, but that's just mean :biggrin2:

So, what do y'all think? I've got a good tractor to run whatever I choose, a cab to keep warm, and plenty of lights to see what I'm doing. Now, I just have to decide what to do :BlahBlah: Do I want a big blower or a big blade?

There is only one "reliable" answer to snow removal, I learned that during a big snow in 1995.

The answer is four wheel drive,,,,,

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps396b3ade.jpg

Everything else is just hoping it does not snow too much!! :bigeyes:

http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0ad66c09.jpg

It works, if there is not too much!! :biggrin2:

lol CAD, that 2nd pic makes that Cub look so lonely and tired. Like it knew it wasn't going to finish the job so it just told you to go on without it then you snapped one last pic as you walked away. Never leave a man behind!! :biggrin2:

Honestly I'd go with the plow and if you need to switch to the thrower, I can switch from one to the other in about 30 minutes.

I agree Ryan. You really need both. Especially for what you are needing it for. Doesn't mean you have to keep them each mounted up...... but blowers are no good for wet snow, or light snowfall. Blower's are obviously more complex, and can break down. A blade is a nice backup. You really, really need both.

I am (was) facing the same dilemma. Mine isnt a Super though.

The blade works for the heavy stuff, when its not as deep. And does a better job scraping it clean.

But when its deep (New England) the blade wont push it. Out comes the blower (a 450). But I find it a pita to put the blower on/off - its heavy, and when its cold out just not something I want to be wrangling with.

So I have two tractors.

I know it doesnt help your question since you said you have to choose. I think if I had to choose, I would give up the blade and go with the blower. (they are pretty durable and not all that inclined to break, unless you run a log through it or a rolled up newspaper as I once did). The 450 is pretty good at slinging wet stuff. But I havent been able to make the choice myself and am holding onto them both.

I have both but plan to sell the blower and stick with the blade. Paver comes tomorrow to finish the driveway so that blade is gonna work nice :) Then I have a standard push blower that a swear by and has never let me down to help get rid of the stuff as well.

For me I'll stick to the blade. If the snow is too much for the blade. I can drop the blade and use the bucket. So far even in a New England wet 24" snow fall the blade has done the job. 1st pic is from when I lived in CT. 2nd pic is from last year in VA.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...1.jpg~original

( the 122 has been replaced by another 125 )

Can you scratch up the $ to grab another wideframe to throw your plow on? I kinda think you need both too. Especially if this winter is anything like last years. I'd think you could probably score something like a 129 or a 1250 for $3-400. Big plow on a hydro should cruise through the light snows and use the blower when it gets deep.

$$ is just the problem :( If I had more of that, I'd keep the 451 blower and either put it on the Super or just switch blower and blade on the 1864 when needed. But unfortunately, finances are only allowing me to keep one or the other. I'm honestly leaning towards the blade because it never let me down last year. The QA42A I had on a 149 had a couple issues, though they did get worked out, but like an energizer bunny, that blade just kept going, and going, and going, and going...Plus the machine the blade is on this year will be a couple hundred pounds heavier with new chains, so that should make things even better.

See above response :biggrin2: :beerchug:

I'm baffled Ryan.

If you already own the blade..... and a blower, (you still have the 451 right?) then why is keeping both not an option? Seems like you already have what you need. Not like your going to get a lot out of the blade if you choose to sell it. Blower's (450/451's) don't come up for sale that often for a decent price. I guess I just don't understand the logic of "only one". :Huh:

Me too.
The only reason I got my cab is for the blower. I don't know how your weather is there, but here its normally not too bad plowing uncovered. Unless you are doing it in the middle of the storm. I guess if I were in SW PA where I was a few years ago, it would be a different story.

If I had to choose between tractors and implements, I'd go back to less tractors and keep the implements. I can always switch. It's a pain, but do-able.

Here's the long and short of it: I have right now for implements a QA42A, a 451, and a 54" blade. For tractors, I have an 1864 and a 2284, neither of which I will part with. Now a little backstory to help clear up why I only get to keep one implement. I will sell the QA42A as I don't have a machine that it'll work on, that's the easy part (already found a tentative home for it). It gets complicated from there. I have had the 54" blade for a while now, and planned on using that this winter. But then I came across a guy online locally selling an 1862 with a deck, cab, and blower. I didn't want the 1862 or the deck, and seeing as how cab's almost never come up around here, I made him an offer on just the cab (last winter was harsh between the winds, snow, cold, etc so between the cab and the blower, I chose the cab). We got to talking and turns out he's a newly single guy with a lot of financial burden going on so selling just the cab wouldn't work for him. He did say that he'd sell the cab and blower, but he had to have no less than $700 for both. Now, I don't make bad money, but between the upcoming wedding, work that needs done on the house, etc I couldn't swing dropping $700. BUT, if I could find a home for the 451 to make back some money, I'd be set. So, that is where the burden comes in. I can keep the blade and hope we don't get any huge snows or keep the 451 and deal with it when we get small snows and hope it doesn't give me any problems. I've basically got to sell one or the other to make up the money to the community bank account (fiance is great about patience but bills are coming up due :biggrin2:). It's long, it's complicated, but it is what it is. IF I found a way to make some quick cash, I'd keep the 451 and throw it on the Super as a backup for those bad snow storms, then use the blade for the other 90% of what comes.

Shrewcub: I agree, plowing without a cab isn't usually bad, but it's the times that it is bad that convinced me a cab is the 1st priority. It does come up where I have to plow during a storm, or plow when there are strong freezing winds blowing (I don't always get to wait until the weather calms to go out. It's not uncommon for me to be up and plowing at 4am or 5am while it's still coming down). And I'm sure y'all know, once you get cold to the bone and wet, you don't warm up until you get dry clothes on, which is not always an option. :BlahBlah:

So that's where I'm coming from, and why I've got to decide (unless someone wants to make a donation :biggrin2:). Hope that clears things up :beerchug:

Edit: John, I know 54" blades don't usually fetch much, but I have a buyer for it that'd give me a good price so between the QA42A and the blade, I'd make the money I'd need. If I had some Cub lovers closer, I've got a front axle from a 147 as well as a set of tires, fenders, and a few other misc parts I could sell but that's not looking like a good option, either. :-/

There must be a long line for the QA42A snow blowers! Looks like maybe I'll wait until next time.

Well, here in North East Ohio, we get a load of snow. There were but two or three times last year, where the 71 with 42" blade had to "chip" away at some of the huge 4.5' snow drifts. Tractor had plenty of power, not so much traction to load the blade completely. Those days were the mornings where you walk outside and "guess what", we're going to be late for work! However, I think I would lean toward keeping the blade in your case, because it's as fool proof as a wheel barrel, and can be used any time.

But I really like JeffinPa one-two punch combo!

So if you sell the 451 blower, you can replace it with a blower and a cab? And still keep the blade? So won't the "new" blower replace the 451 and you still have a blower and a blade, plus a cab that you don't currently have? I got confused somewhere along the way. :confused2.gif"

Ryan, isn't the brides family responsible for the wedding cost? :biggrin2:

I like the blower and cab on the super. Blade on the GT. If my cab will fit ok on the Super that is what I will be running this year.

I've looked at the other threads but didn't see a good pic of how the mounting brackets for your cab attach to the tractor. If you have a minute could you post some. I would appreciate it. I hope to start some "prepping" this weekend. :beerchug:

It looks like we will still be moving snow next June!! :bigthink:

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/09/1...6pLid%3D527962

:biggrin2:

This is how I deal with lake effect snow in central NY.:beerchug:

haha I was wondering if anyone would get confused. To start this year, I had a QA42A leftover from last year and a 54" blade. Seeing as how I don't have any machines anymore that could use the QA42A, that has to go.

So, my setup was planned to be the 1864 with the 54" blade.

I then found a guy online with an 1862, cab, 451, and deck for sale. I wanted the cab, but he wouldn't sell it without selling the blower with it. I couldn't afford to buy both and keep both, so I had find a buyer for blower so I could keep the cab.

I could finagle it to where I could keep EITHER the blade or blower and still get enough money back into the account to break even, hench this thread. :beerchug:

I know, that's what I said!! :biggrin2: Unfortunately, the brides father is not in the picture, hasn't been for a while so there's no money to be had there. We are going to go at it with the money we have, I'm sure her family and mine will pitch in but we're the type of people where we won't ask for money/help with the wedding, financially at least. :beerchug:

As far as the cab on the Super, I don't THINK it'd work. The front where it mounts to the foot rests might, but the rear where it mounts to the frame wouldn't (not without some fab work). The brackets come from the rear of the cab and mount to the frame of the machine it's on. Since the Super's fenders are jacked up a couple inches, those brackets wouldn't line up. At least that's how I see it, I've not tried to mount it up on it and don't think I will.

But I can try to get some more pics to make what I'm saying a little more clear :beerchug:

The brackets that I circled are the ones I'm talking about. Those wouldn't be long enough to clear the fenders and still attach to the frame on a Super.

http://s26.postimg.org/5efdklthl/IMG...354_Custom.jpg

VERY nice setup! :beerchug:

Ok, now I see where I got lost.

I took that to mean that you already had the 451.