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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
I have a 2006 JD Gator TS (4x2) that I purchased over the summer. I know that JD makes a snow blade kit for it, so I'm assuming the Gator will push snow. I'm having a real hard time finding a snow blade other than the JD which concerns me a bit.
Does anybody know if this little Gator will push snow easily? If so, what kind of blade setup can I get?
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
John;
Just curious why it concerns you that only Deere offers the snow blade? Normally equipment offerd by the base machine builders fit and operate better than aftermarket offerings.
I've never had a blade on a Gator but being two wheel drive would seem to be a negative unless lots of ballast were in the cargo box to help you back out of a drift.
Frank.
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
My only concern with the JD blade is that I was quoted $1800. I'm sure it's top shelf quality, but it's out of my price range. I was looking for something that could attach to the front or rear receiver hitch. Most of the ATV/UTV devices seem to be model specific.
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
Meyers makes a plow.
BUT having been a commercial snow plower, a 2-wd-anything is not a good thing. Plowing snow takes in many, many variables such as: machine weight, available HP and speed, width of plow and its height, type and width of tires, type of tread, available traction, pavement conditions (ice covered or dry?) and type, weather conditions and temp, type of snow---light and fluffy, wet and heavy.
For reference Caterpillar Corp says under most good conditions a machine cannot push more than the weight of the pusher. So if the gator weighs 700 lbs. don't expect more than that to be pushed.
And 4x4 is essential if you want to turn the plow--otherwise your front end will slide sideways--even with 4x4. But that goes back to weight, traction and conditions.
I had a 4x4 Suzuki quad I put 4' plow on. I tried moving dry dirt and wood chips (before the snow came) on dry clay ground. What a joke. Sold it before I got in over my head--literally.
I have an 8,000 lb. skid steer like the one in my avatar with an 8' plow. I cannot push more than 8" of semi-wet snow without spinning or sliding sideways.
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
I use my 4x2 gator to plow snow, it does dang good. Never got stuck once last year. All I know is tires make a huge difference!
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
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I use my 4x2 gator to plow snow, it does dang good. Never got stuck once last year. All I know is tires make a huge difference!
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What kind of blade setup do you have?
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
And what were the conditions---weather, snow type and depth, etc.?
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
No Gator experience but lots with snow.
Blades are no problem -- it's the mount. And if the mount isn't for a standard rear 3-pt-hitch you're likely in for some searching.
You can compensate for 2WD with a narrower blade, but it still has to be wider than the vehicle track. Weights and lug tires will help only so much. I have 4WD and plenty of extra ballast, and still need four chains to get through most stuff.
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
Auer a 3pt on a gator?
And the blade has to be adequately wider than track when rotated to avoid driving on trail-off.
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Is a Gator TS good for pushing snow
While I dispute the generalized statement that 2WD is not a good choice for snow plowing, I do agree that in something as small and light as a Gator, it's not likely going to yield 'pleasing' results.
Aside from that, there are certain limits that you will never really get past, traction is one of them, you have 'X' horsepower, which can only do 'Y' amount of work, period.
In this case you have a couple of items that actually work against you;
First is weight, ideally, the optimum power to weight ratio for traction is about 100 pounds per horsepower. The Gator TS (11.1 hp) so it should top out around 1,100 pounds, but the dry weight is already about 915 pounds and that's before the operator gets in.
The second is width, as was mentioned, you want a plow wider than the wheel track, which is 60".
The third is traction itself, pushing just a 60" plow will be a challenge.
Finally, the almighty horsepower. From a 'rule of thumb' point of view, 11 hp just isn't enough grunt to push a 5' snow plow. We used to clear sidewalks with a 24 hp machine pushing a 5' plow, it was a real challenge sometimes. Sometimes it just didn't work, period. Usually we could sneak by using smaller cuts on each pass.
Bottom line, if you're determined to use the Gator TS, put a blower on it like they do the ATV's, blower in front, engine out back.
Best of luck.
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