Buying Advice stand-alone vs. tractor mounted snowthrower

[fatalflaw]

Greetings, I'm brand new at yard stuff, having lived in an apartment for the last 30 years, so I need some advice.
Is it better to get a mower for the yard and a snow thrower for the driveway, or a tractor with an attachment that will do both? I was looking at a Husqvarna. The yard in the new house is a round a half-acre and the driveway is appx. 70 ft. long with a one-story grade.
Any advice is appreciated!

 

[SHIMERGOLF]

A tractor with attachments is only one engine to maintain.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

I would say a tractor and tractor-mounted snowthrower because your yard is pretty big, so it would make sense to get a rider. If you get a rider, why wouldn't you get a snowthrower for it. That is just my opinion. But there are advantages to stand-alone snowthrowers, also, like having a sharper turning radius.

 

[D2hornets58]

one of my friends uses a snowblower on a lawn tractor. It works great. I recomend getting tire chains because his has trouble moving in the snow without the chains.

 

[Rivets]

Sorry bet I have to disagree. With what you post I would buy separate units. In fact with a 1/2 acre if it is flat I would start with a push mower and snow blower. Why do I say this? 1. Buying a tractor and attached blower, for a first time user, is like buying the old TV consol unit. If one part goes out what do you do with the rest of the unit? 2. Separate snow blower because of the limited amount of use. Last year in my part of Wisconsin we used the blower only once after the first of the year. A good 8/28 or 10/32 blower will get your driveway done very easily. 3. You should be able to find a good used blower for a lot less than a blower attachment. 4. Buying a push mower and seeing howling it takes to cut the entire yard, may be the best way to go. 5. You're going to need a push mower for trimming anyway. 6. If you feel that you need a tractor, go get one after you know you really want and need one. You will also have a better idea as to the size you will need. 7. Believe it or not it takes more space to store a tractor and blower attachment, than separate units. Finally, I have a 21" mower, 7/26 blower and a 16/38 tractor. Mower was purchased used, tractor purchased new, and blower purchased used, all in 1993 when I built a new home. I mow about one acre, half must be done with a push mower due to trees, berms, slopes and ditches, in about 75 minutes. I can do a 40' long triple wide drive, 6" wet snow, one direction blow, in about 45 minutes. I also like to mow and blow, as I can't hear my phone over the engine noise.

 

[fatalflaw]

'Mow and blow'....love it! I also got input on another forum regarding possible traction problems on the steep driveway with the tractor. Fella says he had a similar situation and the chains chewed up his concrete and asphalt. Thanks for the advice, all points well-taken, I'm going the two separate units route, just not so sure about buying used.

 

[savageactor7]

I'm going the two separate units route

^while reading through the reply's I was inching toward the same conclusion.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

QUOTE: fatalflaw -- the driveway is appx. 70 ft. long with a one-story grade.

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Something you might consider checking into is that driveway angle and what engine manufacturers recommend as their maximum operating angle. This could possibly be 2 cycle time and if the slope description is what I think it is you won't be doing anything related to snow with a lawn tractor or blower on the drive without chains. You'll probably need chains on your boots too.:biggrin:

If portions of your lawn follow that same slope, the angle will be causing a lawn tractor problems there also.

 

[fatalflaw]

I've come to the same conclusion regarding snow removal. Luckily the back yard slopes down gently to the river so I don't think grass will present the same complications.
(Or I could just hang out west of Tulsa for the winter.....

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

'Mow and blow'....love it! I also got input on another forum regarding possible traction problems on the steep driveway with the tractor. Fella says he had a similar situation and the chains chewed up his concrete and asphalt. Thanks for the advice, all points well-taken, I'm going the two separate units route, just not so sure about buying used.

If you can help it, I would not buy used, but if you don't have the money, look very carefully for used things. You can get super nice things for super cheap OR super crappy things for super cheap. Look long and hard.