Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Some More Snow....

Yesterday we got a little more snow. When I went out to clean off the driveway there was about 8+" of the new stuff. The drifts are getting large and my snowblower needs more horsepower to stack it any higher!




Even the wind chimes are feeling the effects of the snow...



I have to upgrade my arsenal to fight off next winter's assaults! My 10 year old, 5.5 HP, 24" blower is ready to throw in the towel. It's the right size for a city driveway, but it's seriously under sized for use out here in the woods!

Maybe something like this....

The Ariens Platinum 30


Or even.....

John Deere 1026 with loader, mower and 54" blower....

17 comments:

  1. I'm guessing you are wearing hi-via not to get lost in the white stuff, eh?
    Glad you seemingly haven's lost your good spirits.

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    Replies
    1. Sonja - that was my first thought as well - thank goodness for Hi Viz ... where's Nancy's?

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    2. Hi-vis, it's not just for motorcycles...

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  2. Erik:

    I know if you bought that nice John Deere it would never snow again but it needs a log splitter attachment

    bob
    A weekend photographer or Riding the Wet Coast

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    Replies
    1. Same thing snowmobiles... if I had one the snow would never come.

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  3. Maybe something with tracks, heated cab…

    Whatever happened with the tractor restoration?

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    1. The A-C is still in the garage, maybe some time this summer I'll start that project back up.
      Tracks and heat would be nice, then a bigger garage, then.... it goes on and on.

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  4. Thought about you up there Erik. We were on the right side of this one; you were in the bulls eye. Friday we'll be 'trying' again.

    I'm not sure I'll shoot for other equipment next season. I will be making a change in technique though.

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    Replies
    1. Your driveway would be a tough one to deal with. More snow fence? raise the roadway? cut away some of the dirt on the sides? A windy day in the winter fills it back in and then there's the melting snow/mud bog issue. A lot of work...

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  5. Erik ... I'm so glad "I've got friends ... with big .... snow blowers!"

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    1. A 100+ HP tractor and an 8' PTO powered blower make just about any snow fall manageable!

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  6. Wouldn't it be easier if you just lived somewhere were it doesn't snow? Just throwing it out there. The benefits would be more riding time. Think about it. Huh huh. Nah maybe not.

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    1. I've been tempted to throw in the towel and move south, but I'd really miss having 4 distinct seasons. The other problem is, if you go south to avoid the long cold winters, you pay for it with long HOT + humid summers!

      I'll stay here and deal with it.

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  7. Holy crap you still have a lot of snow. I bet the snowbanks hamper the view from your front windows.

    Do you like white? Because your view is all white.

    Time to add a snowmobile to the garage so you can still have some fun in the winter.

    Happy First Day of Spring. It has to melt now doesn't it?

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    Replies
    1. Melt? haa! It's snowing again!
      If I got into snowmobiles it would probably never snow again... Maybe that would be a good thing...

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  8. I love your second photo! I too am in need of a new snowblower and am dancing around the idea of a tractor with blower combo. Checking out the rural auctions starting this week.

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    Replies
    1. That pic was taken from the front window.. looking out at me behind the snowbank. I'm standing up straight and reaching up over the snowbank to shot a pic of the front of the house.

      I have a 63 year old tractor but it has no 3 point hitch, no hydraulics... Just a pto, belt pulley and a draw bar. It's OK for riding in the woods, but for anything serious I'd have to update. I really like the current John Deere in the SCUT (sub compact utility tractor) size. It could be a do-it-all for me, loader, mower, blower, blade, landscape rake, back hoe.... But it's $$$$
      If I went with a bigger blower I'd for sure want one with a 30" or 32" inch cut, and plenty of HP and torque for throwing it far. My driveway, if I blew it all, is horseshoe shaped.

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