The Garage Thread: Tractors and UTVs

[x10003q]

This is simpler:

I don't want a plow truck.

Hey i am moving to upstate ny to retire. I'm complicated.

Funny.
If I were moving to the north country to enjoy powder days the moment they happen, I would buy a pick-up, install the plow when it was going to snow, and back my truck into the garage. When I wanted to leave in the morning, I would open the garage door and just push my way down the 500 foot hill driveway and head to the mountain.

Good luck monkeying with a tractor when you want to ski.

 

[Ripitz]

Funny.
If I were moving to the north country to enjoy powder days the moment they happen, I would buy a pick-up, install the plow when it was going to snow, and back my truck into the garage. When I wanted to leave in the morning, I would open the garage door and just push my way down the 500 foot hill driveway and head to the mountain.

Good luck monkeying with a tractor when you want to ski.

Haha, that’s what I’m sayin’, blast right through that shit and keep going. Plow all the way to the lifts if you have to. Then when you get home after it snowed all day you don’t have to park at the bottom and walk up to get your tractor.

 

[freeheeln]

I have a Cub Cadet XT3 25HP 42 inch 3 stage snowblower attachment (belt drive) with tire chains, wheel weights and locking differential. I have added aftermarket ARMORskid shoes huge improvement. Cab by Carharrt, Kinco and Sorel

although there is an optional soft cab available. I swap out the 42 inch fabricated mower deck myself for year round use.

 

[Sbob]

I do 750’ gravel driveway with an ATV , chains on the rear tires. I go out every 6” and have managed some 24-36” snowfalls . Planning pre season is key , fill in potholes, have a 10’ area either side to push back early season snow. It’s downright fun , plowing the straight sections at 20 mph . On occasion I’ve needed to top off a bank by using a “drifting “ technique, putting the plow at an angle one tire up on the bank and floor it . The Atv is at a 20° angle to the bank and balances on the bank.

My one neighbor has a small Kubota and it takes him 3x as long to clear the same area. I wouldn’t mind having one for the backhoe and grading abilities though.

My other neighbor is a cheap bastard and doesn’t want to spend money at all. He’s got tons but won’t part with it no matter what. He gets stuck all the time and it’s mind boggling watching him shovel his car out. I’ve jokingly told him he’s going to die of a heart attack in the back of an ambulance “Stuck “ in his driveway. Another reason to keep your driveway open, you never know, fire , medical reasons?

 

[Cork]

Have you ever driven an NTN binding?

When you build something like this, it makes sense to think about it. If a tractor is going to be the best solution longterm, it's probably smart to listen to those with experience, those who know.

@Cork I'm starting to think we need to lengthen the building, get rid of the shed roof all together, add a side garage door and park all 4 vehicles inside. To me that side garage door is very appealing. Even with the removal of the shed roof, it's probably a net increase in price.



More very helpful info. Thanks for your help with everything man.

I agree, go bigger with the structure. You could always put another shed roof on later, but having everything inside is key.

Funny.
If I were moving to the north country to enjoy powder days the moment they happen, I would buy a pick-up, install the plow when it was going to snow, and back my truck into the garage. When I wanted to leave in the morning, I would open the garage door and just push my way down the 500 foot hill driveway and head to the mountain.

Good luck monkeying with a tractor when you want to ski.

X you're showing off your flatlander skills

 

[Tjf1967]

Have you ever driven an NTN binding?

When you build something like this, it makes sense to think about it. If a tractor is going to be the best solution longterm, it's probably smart to listen to those with experience, those who know. I'm sure I can learn to 'drive' whatever I end up with.

@Cork I'm starting to think we need to lengthen the building, get rid of the shed roof all together, add a side garage door and park all 4 vehicles inside. To me that side garage door is very appealing. Even with the removal of the shed roof, it's probably a net increase in price.





More very helpful info. Thanks for your help with everything man.

This stuff if fun to figure out. That said a budget number would be helpful. A 20 by 50 metal garage seems in your future.

 

[timbly]

I'd consider getting to know the nearest/best tractor dealer/service to where you're going to live to figure out what brand to get. Unless you've got a truck and a trailer to haul your tractor.
Regarding tractor snow plowing, my 85-year-old dad maintains his farm with a(n?) LS MT4 with a bucket--it's totally overkill for snow plowing, it's mostly for dragging logs and digging with a backhoe. Tips the bucket forward/down for pushing snow, tips it up to move the snowbanks. Clears a half circle driveway, maybe 300 linear feet, plus an adjacent barnyard in an hour or so, depending on snow amounts. Then my nephew borrows it to clear his 800 foot driveway next door. That takes 30 minutes or so--it's a fairly straight shot down a gentle slope.
Depending on how big you go, you may also want to budget for some sorta diesel fuel storage tank and know what additives to get to keep it liquid in the winter...

 

[Harvey]

I spoke to my builder this am, who's also, coincidentally, my road builder (new, less steep driveway) and my plow guy.

His recommendation in order of preference:

Have him continue to plow
Tractor
Pickup with plow (a distant dead last for him).

For those thinking, of course he wants to keep plowing, yeah maybe. But he pretty much hates plowing, and my driveway is his least favorite.

He said he might put the tractor first depending on the price of the tractor. Maybe be had a bigger tractor in mind. I was thinking I could get something decent for $25k. He thinks it will be a lot more.

Net net, I don't need to pick a tractor now, just have to decide how big to make the garage. I think I'm going to extend the length 6 or maybe 8 feet so the UTV and maybe the tractor can fit inside, instead of outside. Removing the shed roof, its almost a wash for cost.

Pulling out of the garage and plowing down to the road sounds simple enough, but you probably want to clear out your wife's garage bay and clear out the turn around too. Maybe driving to Gore with a plow on is no big deal, but what if you are going somewhere else? Glens Falls, Killington, or Jay Peak? Pretty sure you are going to drive back up the hill and drop the plow.

Downsides to the truck plow, he mentioned:

Plowing beats on your truck
Driving a truck with a plow on it sucks
If you need a new truck, you're old plow might not work, so you might have to replace
Sometimes the only way he can plow my driveway is to sand it. Am I buying a sander too?

The tractor can have chains that stay on all winter?

We have a Kubota dealer here in town. I'll stop in and look at prices.

 

[gorgonzola]

If I recall @Campgottagopee has a sweet Kubota, I'm sure he will have some words of wisdom when he gets out of the woods

 

[jasonwx]

I think this is a pretty easy decision..
how much do you pay per season? Lets say 3k
How many years do you think you will be plowing? Do you want to be plowing 6" of wet slop in freezing mist , at 75yrs old?
a tractor with a plow will cost 30k and ya know it's gonna brake and need to be maintained.. IMO just pay him