Hello!
We live in southern BC, Canada, in the Okanagan region. We have a 600 ft gravel driveway on a hill. I’m trying to learn if a snowblower might be an option for us.
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Welcome to SBF! The Okanagan region typically don't get enough white sh_t to warrant a blower. That is unless you're perched way up on one of them thar hills. You're up high, in the snow belt?
Yes, we have a 600ft driveway about 700m above Penticton. (See pics in comment below.)
We need to keep it clear and want to avoid having to hire a service. We don’t have a vehicle we can put a plow on and think we’d prefer a blower to going down the ATV path.
I’m thinking since it’s a hill and rough/gravel that we’ll need tracks to do it safely?
Hi! Yes we definitely something for snow clearing (see pics in next comment). We're above Penticton, at 700-800m elevation (about 500 above the valley floor).
We really want to avoid hiring a service & don't have a vehicle for a plow. Would rather go down the blower route than ATV or a vehicle purchase.
Any advice? New to clearing & need as reliable as possible because we don't have much mechanical experience.
600 ft is a lot of driveway first thing you need to do is try to get your driveway smooth It will make things a lot easier for you . I would check out your Toro Dealer on Industrial ave down behind the Husky station .
My self being a Toro guy I would look at the Power Max 1232 or the 1432 if you need Max Power. You also have a Honda dealer there just up from the Toro shop. A friend of mine Savage420 North of you as a big Husky and has great luck with it for the last 3 or 4 years check out his thread in Husky. We have a good Husky dealer here in Princeton as well.
Hello!
We live in southern BC, Canada, n in the Okanagan region. We have a 600 ft gravel driveway on a hill. I’m trying to learn if a snowblower might be an option for us.
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Looking at the image you were so kind to provide and seeing it is a switchback I am going to suggest that you invest in the smallest Kubota 1870 if new with rear chains and loaded rear tires and a1860 if used and rear mount three point hitch snow blower like the MK Martin Series 1000 single stage snow thrower.
The reason I say this is an ATV with a snow blower will cost as much or more in total dollar cost and the sub compact tractor will be a more versatile year round piece of equipment to use for grading and spreading stone.
The only other option you should consider at a minimum would be a Yamaha 1332 with a snow cab. The only issue would be the 5-6 passes you would have to make making for a long walk every time you have a substantial snow fall.
You could add a roll up kiddee sled tied to the 1332 to ride on while clearing snow to save on all the walking as you could go out several times to clear the snow when it is not deep and not be as tired.
You will want to have the amber ski goggles to protect your eyes from snow blindness and warm insulated coveralls to keep warm and dry. you will want good boots like Lacrosse Sorrels too.
With your property you need to be able to get rid of the crap and get rid of it the first time and a snow blower either a walk behind Yamaha 1332 or a rear mounted Kubota 1860-1870 with a MK Martin Series 1000 single stage would be the best way to handle this.
A front mounted snow blower for an 1860-1870-2370 is going to cost you more than a Yamaha 1332 by itself.
You can purchase a 2370 with a kubota factory cab that will have a heater defroster and front and rear wipers and a high output alternator for the work lights mounted on the cab.
Having a single stage rear mount will be better for you as you are a first time user of snow blowers and they are much easier to maintain and own than 2 stage units.
Remember to think 10-15 years down the road when investing in this as its a chore that may have to be done every day or night very early in the morning and you will need to be able to do it quickly.
Please do not think I am intruding, but you need to think about this 5-10 years down the road; as you will be older and snow removal will be a real chore if you have the wrong equipment/underpowered equipment to do the job; one slip and you will be stuck using a plow truck and a wrecker may not be able to get to you and then you cannot get to work or get out in the event of an emergency.
The other thing you need to be aware of is that sitting in a plow truck will also limit your line of sight vision as you will not be able to see over the right side going in either direction.
Please do not consider a lawn mower with a snowblower and rear chains as they do not have the power or reliability that a sub compact tractor or a Yamaha 1332 will have.
The only other walk behind snowblower I would suggest for you would be a BCS 853 two wheel tractor with snow chains and a Bercomac 32 inch two stage snow blower as you can use a BCS sulky to ride on; BUT It will not have a provision for lighting for night time snow removal and a halogen head lamp on your head will not be enough to do snow removal at night.
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