Lawn tractors are generally associated with summertime, when most property owners use them for the purpose they were designed for, namely mowing grass. This doesn’t mean that the machine should be confined to the warm time of the year, though. It turns out that many people rely on their tractors, to which they attach specialized blades aka throwers, to remove snow during the winter.
This article will be useful both if you already own a lawnmower and if you’re just contemplating a purchase. Homeowners who fall in the former category might want to invest in a snow thrower to complete the set. This will broaden the machine’s functionality dramatically and potentially reduce the burden on your muscles.
Those who haven’t chosen their perfect lawn tractor should factor in wintertime chores. After all, the more universal it gets, the greater its value for money. Read below to find the answers to the following questions:
- Is it safe to use a lawn tractor to remove snow?
- What kind of attachments work best for snow removal?
- Which additional factors to consider when choosing a lawn tractor plus attachment combo for snow removal purposes?
Using a Tractor to Get Rid of Snow
First of all, yet, it’s possible to use a riding lawn mower with snow plow to remove excess snow in your backyard. This might sound surprising since a lawn tractor is far from a full-fledged snow machine, but it can do the job on a property that’s not too vast, provided that a number of prerequisites are met. Clever snow thrower attachments that are compatible with such kind of equipment make the mission quite possible.
The bad news is that a fitting attachment won’t necessarily turn your lawn tractor into a device for removing snow. Whether the plan will work depends on both the machine and the extension, so check the sections below to make sure you invest in the right equipment.
What to Look For
Not all lawn tractors are created equal. This is a kind of equipment that tends to be massive and not especially easy to either store or maneuver, which can get much worse during the cold months. Riding your snow-covered lawn on a winter day is a lot more challenging than doing the same when it’s warm and sunny outside.
Control and Maneuverability
If you’re planning to spend some serious time removing snow with your lawn tractor, look for models that are famous for good control. It’s best to check first-hand customer reviews as well as specifications or professionals’ opinions. As for the transmission, people fall into two categories: some say automation makes things much easier, while others believe it’s only with a manual transmission that you can enjoy full control of the machine. Ideally, ask someone you know for a quick test ride — this is a no-fail scenario.
Size
As with everything that has wheels, there’s a tradeoff between stability and maneuverability when it comes to size. With lawn tractors, the also determines the amount of storage place you’ll need. We recommend that you choose a model that’s no bigger than the average size if you’re going to operate it in winter. Add an attachment, and you get a rather bulky set.
Engine
Another important factor to consider when shopping for a lawn tractor is engine power. Typically, this will range between around 15 and 40 horsepowers. You aren’t likely to need something on the bigger end of the spectrum unless you have a huge property, but we do recommend that you start at above 20. This way, you’ll be sure you can get your property clean without annoying hiccups.
Snow Plow Compatibility
It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to state expressly that their lawn tractor supports snow thrower attachments. While this doesn’t guarantee excellent performance as such, it enables you to experiment safely. If there’s no such statement in the model’s description, we recommend contacting the manufacturer for more information.
Finding the Right Attachment
Snow thrower attachments vary considerably in size and shape, which can determine their performance as well as compatibility with this or that lawn tractor model.
First of all, check if there’s a list of models that will work with this attachment. There should be at least the deck size that it can go with safely as well as the appropriate engine power. Otherwise, the perfect attachment size depends on that of your property as well as the quality of snow. There’s another trade-off here, this time between the amount of snow you can possibly collect in one go and the load it puts on the machine.
Smaller attachments are generally more maneuverable and energy-efficient, although it’s never a bad idea to check how much snow a certain model can hold. They take up less storage place, too, which can be a valuable bonus. A 42-inch plower will work with a wide range of lawn tractors and is a great one-size-fits-all solution.
Additional serrated elements might help you with nasty half-frozen or dirty snow, so consider this as an option if your budget allows for this. Pay attention to how much time the loading and unloading cycle takes and how much control you have. Ultimately, you might get to control everything from snow attack angle to speed. Sometimes the controls can become finicky when there’s too much to factor in, so make sure the model you choose has a simple one-button operation mode for quick cleanups.
Since snow is essentially water, material quality is key. Don’t invest in flimsy, easy-to-break structures or those with metal parts that are likely prone to quick rusting since those won’t last.
Clearing Your Way to Success
There’s no denying snow in the backyard or in front of your house can become annoying. It doesn’t mean that you can’t fix it with your regular equipment, though, such as the lawn tractor you use to cut your grass. Choose a fitting snow thrower attachment and enjoy a clean, easy-to-walk property.
