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Snow blower or plow for Cub

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 11:04 am
by spaulman
My wife and I recently moved from a city lot to a 1.75 acre country lot with a 250' long gravel driveway. Mother nature hasn't been kind to me since the move and keeps dumping the white stuff on the ground a couple of times a week. I can see that my back and schedule are going to require that I invest in some snow removal equipment for future winters.

A neighbor loaned me his snow blower yesterday and it seemed pretty nice. I had planned on purchasing a snow plow for the Cub but now I'm having second thoughts. We don't normally get snow on top of snow like we are this year but I'm thinking that the Cub might have trouble clearing repeated snowfalls. Once you build up a bank of snow, where do you put a new snow? Maybe there is more technique to it than I am thinking about but it seems like a snow blower would take care of this problem.

For those of you that have or have used both a snow blower and a plow on your Cub, which one would you recommend for a gravel drive? What is your 'technique' for plowing multiple snowfalls?

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 11:51 am
by Lurker Carl
I've used a 2 stage, walk behind, Toro snowblower. Don't recommend using one on loose gravel because it tosses rocks or jams the auger. That's hard on the snowblower, then the mower come spring. If you can keep the auger from eating gravel, it's a great thing to use. Works good on packed dirt and also the lawn (if the grass isn't tall). But if you get too much snow, it will pile up higher than the blower can throw it if your driveway cuts below grade. Then you'll get to experience your own personal avalanche.

When you push snow, make room for several storms worth. It seems like a lot of work while you're doing it but when several snows come in short order, you'll appreciate the effort. Here in Maryland, we usually get complete meltdowns before the next 'winter weather advisory' but not so this month. Used a front end loader to push back the snow mountains and make way for water drainage.

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 1:29 pm
by Jim Becker
Like Carl said, you have to push it far enough to make room for the next snowfall. One more thing, pile the snow to the prevailing downwind of your driveway. If you pile it on the wrong side, the next storm will fill your driveway to the top of the old snow pile.

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 2:43 pm
by George Willer
Here's another off-beat proposal from the Willer World Headquarters. A snow fence made of snow! It was easier to do when I still owned a dozer, but I have found that drifting can be minimized by plowing up a ridge 80 to 100' upwind. It seems to catch a lot of the snow before it gets to the driveway. One quick pass can do it. :lol:

Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2003 8:31 pm
by Bill
I have a53 cub with a blade, also a johndeere 318 with a 49inch snowblower. If I am not careful both will move stone into my lawn the blower alot further. If I had to make a choice, I would choose the blower.

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 7:50 am
by phantom
got to go along with bill on this one. my place is the only thing sticking up from ground level for a half mile in any direction. a one inch snow frequently drifts high as a car fender. i use a 3 foot wide snow blower. it does a faster, neater job more quickly than any blade i've tried.

Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2003 10:23 am
by Lurker Carl
If you live in snow country, you'd be best off with a blower and blade on hand. One may get used a lot more than the other but you'll be able to handle whatever ol' man winter throws at you.

Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:36 am
by Jim Miller
I had a walk behind blower and a 53 cub with a blade. I plowed for four winters and switched to an 8 hp blower. The blower doesn't create piles that have to be surmounted in the next storm. You can plan on subsequent storms by plowing the snow back farther, but there are those winters when one storm after another is rolling through, and you are locked in by your original plow piles. After the way is cleared to the road the snowblower is handy around the rest of the place.