Well my wife and i are moving north of Grand Rapids, MI. I know they get some decent lake effect snows there and i need to buy some sort of snow removal equipment. Our new house has about 130 yd long gravel driveway, with a cement slab going 90 degrees into the garage. i will also have to mow about 1.5 acres. I dont really want a snowblower, because of the gravel driveway so im thinking of investing in a new JD tractor with mower and bucket:
John*Deere Sub-Compact Utility Tractors 1 Series JohnDeere.com

I figure this will be an investment more than anything, im just having a hard time swallowing $17,000.00 for this.. but on the other hand this will do everthing and then some that i will ever want to do.

OR

do i try to find a used skid loader for a decent price or maybe an 4wd ATV with a plow?
I really want something 4wd, I currently have a Cub Cadet Lawn tractor but its only 2wd..
Im also guessing that ill be plowing out the neighbors driveways too...

any help guys?!

 

Both me and my dad have used Kawasaki Brute Force ATVs to plow snow and mow using a 48"(?) finish mower on our old place that was 7 acres and had two driveways that were ~35yards long and 15' wide. It was nice because we could also move trailers and spray with them plus they were just fun to play with. Dad had $9,400 in his and I had ~$11,000 in mine in the end.

Mine - 750 4x4, independent rear, 60" Moose plow, WARN 2.5 winch, 2" lift, HD springs, 27" ITPs
Dads - 650 4x4, independent rear, 55" Moose plow, WARN 2,000# winch

 

I'd be looking for a used Skid Steer myself. They can maneuver into more places then ATV's or Utility Tractors. have better traction, and have a lot of options available for them. Angling blade and sweepers are two really good examples for this case. You could also get a mover attachment for the 1.5 acres.

 

the other thing i forgot to mention is on our new property there is an old concrete slab, from an old trailer house that never got removed, and one of the garages sits in front of the house, we are going to move that to the back also. and that sits on a cement slab as well.. i thought of renting a backhoe or a skidloader with a jackhammer bit for the job but i still need to haul it away, maybe rent a dump trailer??
i cant decide!

 

A jackhammer can be rented and put on a skid steer. The skid steer (as long as it is big enough) can load a tandem dump truck. (I work on this stuff all day. Service Technician on Deere construction and forestry equipment)

 

RAW, good call..

 

I'd say a compact would be more practical for a homeowner machine. If you try and mow with a skidsteer you're gonna be tearin up the lawn.

 

Yeah i know the Skidloader would wreck havoc on the lawn, it would be strictly for snow removal and the concrete work.. Id have to keep my current mower then.

 

Don't get me wrong a skidsteer is a great piece for construction but for home you can put either a blower or backbladeon the 3 point, or even a pusherblade on the loader of a compact.

 

I'd find a smaller used skidloader but thats just me