Which to get, snowblower or plow/tirechains for the lawntractor?

[Old Mission]

We do not have a regular tractor, just a craftsman lawn tractor. Should we get a regular push snow blower, snow plow and tire chains for the lawn tractor or a snowblower attachment for the lawn tractor? Our driveway is gravel/dirt and not super long but too long to shovel anymore especially since it gets covered with snow drifts every hour. (in MI)


Thanks, Stephanie

[Cabin Fever]

The last thing I'd get is a plow on your lawn tractor.

With either type of blower - walk behind or lawn tractor - you have to watch out for throwing rocks out of the snow chute.

If it were me, I'd opt for the walk behind. Make sure it's a two-stage with a minimum of 8hp.

[chestnut]

I have a push blade for my tractor, a 16hp garden tractor, and would not recommend one. I also have a 4ft snow blower for it and it is great. Tire chains and tires filled with antifreeze on a 1/4 mile gravel drive, awesome.

[farminghandyman]

with a snow blower on the tractor one may need a weight box as well on the tractor rear end,

I bought a blower when I blew my knee out a good number of years ago, and the thing is so heavy hanging out in front of the tractor you have nearly 0 traction, if you could mount it on the rear of the tractor and power it it would be great, but I was disappointed, I ended up building a weight box on the rear and using cement blocks filled cores with cement, I think I used two of them, and with all the weight on the front of it it steered very hard,

I hardly ever hook it up to the tractor any more in the winter, not really worth it, IMO.

[arabian knight]

You forgot to mention also that with that snowblower on the front of the lawn tractor, your turning radius stinks. It maybe fine for long driveways and such but then try doing some nice blowing around the house walk ways etc. I had one given to me for free, put it on drove it around a bit. Took it off and never ever put it back on because of it is a BEAR to turn around etc. Get one and I bet you will wish you had never thought of buying such a thing as a front end snowblower attachment for those types of tractors.

[littlebitfarm]

I have to say the snow blade on my ATV is the sweetest way I have ever cleared my drive! Farm tractor took forever with a 6' blade, always looking behind you and having to watch where you go. With the ATV and blade I can clear a foot of snow, off 500' of driveway in under 20 minutes. A pass down the middle of the drive and then a pass down each side of the drive. A good 10' wide path in no time. Do have a 4wd ATV so my hill isn't an issue.

Kathie

[arabian knight]

That is a MUCH better idea. If a person had one that is.

[Sawmill Jim]

Well believe it or not till my uncle had some northern folks bring one down i never saw a real snowblower Here on our side roads the most time it melts before the county get here . I got a 4x4 S10 with mud tires if it is to bad to go with it won't be nothing open in this area anyway :smiley-laughing013:

[Kevingr]

I currently have a blade on my 4-wheeler (or quad, depending on where you live) that works great but you need to think about how you're going to move the 4-5 feet of snow that falls in a season. In other words, when you start plowing push it way back early in the season so that you have enough room throughout the season. I couldn't imagine doing that kind of plowing with a garden tractor.

I had a 2 stage blower on my garden tractor years ago. Totally destroyed the lawn tractor from rocks flying up from the dirt driveway. Broke out the lights, snow packs in and it would overheat, all kinds of problems.

If I was starting all over I would go with the biggest walk behind 2 stage unit that I could handle. Even in the heaviest snow it can throw it and clear a path and I wouldn't need to worry about how much it's going to snow this season.

[foxtrapper]

With my snow blower I dug out a fair number of solidly stuck 4wd tractors and trucks last year.


Draw your own conclusion about what works best in deep snow.

[Old Mission]

Thanks everyone!

Stephanie