Snow Removal.

[Lawngevity]

Guys

I'm considering replacing my walk-behind snowblower with a garden tractor mounted snowblower.

It's only a matter of time here in Connecticut before we get the next great blizzard. At fifty years old, I'm getting a little tired of getting thrown around by my Honda Snowblower. Don't get me wrong, its a nice unit (9hp wheeled HS928WA) but I should have gotten the tracked version.

My question is; would a 2-wheel drive garden tractor make snow removal easier for me, especially as I get older (let's say 70 years old for arguments sake) or would a 2-wheel drive tractor have its own set of problems?

Here are some tractors that I'm considering.

John Deere X570: 756lbs but the snowblower would be belt-drive.
John Deere X730: 857lbs but the snowblower would be shaft-drive.

Thanks for any advice and feedback!

 

[Bearcatrp]

It possibly could if the rear axle can be locked. BUT, if you get allot of snow, pretty sure you will have issues. 4 wheel drive tractor would be best. I went through this too and decided a Kubota 1880 would work for me. Wanted a loader too and mower deck. May have been a bit of money but works great where I live. I live out in the country. Read attachments for the 3 point hitch helps even more. You could try a garden tractor but I think you will be wasting your money buy selling it and upgrading again. Up to you how you proceed. Good luck.

 

[lynnmor]

My 520H Wheel Horse with a 44" snowthrower does just fine with rubber tire chains.

 

[psk125]

We've lived in our house in CT for more than 30 years, using 2WD Simplicity Sovereigns to clear the snow. The snowblower clogs with the heavy wet stuff we get, so the plow works better. It's enough fun that after doing our driveway I go over and do the neighbors too. With parts for the 50 year-old Sovereign now getting nearly impossible to find I got a Kubota TG1860 to replace it. Now I'm looking for a plow for the Kuboota.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I've used(abused) a beat up 25+ year old Craftsman rider(22HP) with a Berco 40" blower on it as my primary snow removal device. It ain't pretty, it ain't fast but it tosses the white far,far away.
This is a dedicated snow machine, NO mower deck ! Has a car battery to power the up/down winch.
6 years ago I built a SSQA gas powered snowblower for my BX23S, proved it worked, then lost interest in it as less snow fell.... ON/OFF took about 60 seconds.....
I would NOT get a front mounted blower for my BX23S after reading the horror stories on how Kubota cheaped out stiffed owners for $600 parts.

 

[Fordtech86]

I replaced my walk behind snowblower with Louisiana

 

[fried1765]

I replaced my walk behind snowblower with Louisiana

Excellent choice!

 

[Bearcatrp]

So Louisiana blows better?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I replaced my walk behind snowblower with Louisiana

Now you just have to deal with the banjos!

 

[lynnmor]

Excellent choice!

Louisiana ranked worst state, sounds great!

 

[Fordtech86]

Yep, it’s terrible here, do not recommend it

 

[jimh406]

Louisiana ranked worst state, sounds great!

Interestingly enough, many of us don't want to live in the "best" states. It depends on what they consider in their rankings.

 

[jimh406]

My question is; would a 2-wheel drive garden tractor make snow removal easier for me, especially as I get older (let's say 70 years old for arguments sake) or would a 2-wheel drive tractor have its own set of problems?

You might need chains on the rear, but otherwise, I see people using lawn tractors around here although most have blades on the front.

I don't know, but I think the shaft drive would have less of a tendency to fail at inopportune times. Belts tend to slip more when it's cold/whet and can come out of adjustment.

 

[D2Cat]

Interestingly enough, many of us don't want to live in the "best" states. It depends on what they consider in their rankings.

Like most surveys, the results is dependent on who pays the surveyors.