How does Woodmaxx SB72 Snowblower handle Drifted, Packed Snow and Wind?

Testing the Woodmaxx snowblower for the second time. After a decent snowfall, we had an entire day of high winds which drifted the snow and packed it into a couple of vulnerable places on our driveway. Seeing how the tractor mounted snowblower works to move through these snow drifts, but there is one issue, today is still quite windy!

[@johnhodgson7402]

Hi guys, as usual another good video...Glad to see puppy is doing good..In order to maintain your body heat a nice pair of insulated coveralls and a really good quality set of rain gear or foul weather gear to wear over the overalls when you are using the snow blower..Also a clear face shield will help protect your face from blowing snow...Sounds like a lot of stuff but as a person that worked outside all year a little protection goes a long way......

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks 👍. Bryan was saying it wouldn't nearly have been as bad if he had dressed properly. He does own some extra thick coveralls, a fur lined hat with ear flaps, ski goggles and another winter jacket with 2 layers. The wind surprised us a bit during the video, as it wasn't nearly as windy as the day before.

[@rickb8808]

I bet someone had a stiff neck looking back like that ? I'll stick with my front mount snow blower & plow. And when blowing snow front blowing, the snow still blows back in your face. I swear they design them like that. In recent years, we haven't really had enough snow to use the blower. A plow has been all we need. If you put the chute end down more it doesn't blow as bad. Get a 1/2 cab for the back.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

so far so good, no complaints yet. will look into the 1/2 cab, sounds like a good deal

[@memyselfandifarmer]

your vid popped up, here is my story. i got a 7 ft lucknow 3 point snow blower. I ordered the hydraulic's for the chute rotation and spout angle at the top. both controlled by the rear remote's. welded everything on. then my kubota mx5000 4x4 -loader has a conopy roof. i got off of northern tool a golf cart cover to protect me from the wind. i also got a 10 ft snow pusher for the front. then i got a massey 5455 4x4- loader- cab. put the snow pusher and the snow blower on it. if the snow is a few inches, push it, above i blow it then push the little that is left. the blower has welded on shoe's to keep it off the ground a bit. works great. hope this story helps.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Golf cart cover, very clever! will have to look into that. Nice set up you have! We've got the shoes on the blower as well, works great!

[@sandranewton6534]

What a great investment. And oh that beautiful Colorado sky.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

It really is!

[@ChuckBronson100]

Hi Amy and hard working Brian, snow blower looks like it works great maybe he should have started at other end of driveway but Brian is a smart guy. Glad Vigo is doing better and remember that chicks dig scars!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks 👍 Could be something to try, but if the snow is too deep he won't be able to get to the other end!

[@gumbystown]

Also my first rear windshield was plexiglass and it worked okay! But it's scratched so when the snow stuck to it when you cleaned it off it scratched it all up so this year I put on a glass back window should be a lot better

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Cool. we might try something like that.

[@marlinnomaders5888]

😆 poor Bryan...he needs a cab cover!💜💕

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I know it!

[@RockyLimit]

Tuning in post work breakfast and pre nap vlog!!! Howdy from Beforeyouforget Films!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Morning!

[@kindagitnrdoneinvermont6057]

Thanks for showing how the snowblower works 😁

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

You bet!

[@jimwalker5941]

The three of you seem to be enjoying the heck out of that thing. (I'm including Viggo in that count.) Anytime you can make work more fun, that is a positive step. Poor Brian looked so cold . . . he needs to break out the polar expedition gear to operate that thing.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

haha. He was regretting not dressing more appropriately for that demonstration.

[@jasonmushersee]

did this yesterday. whenever i blow snow i always think about the shackleton expedition those guys in wet cotton tea bag clothes. my 1/4 mile driveway "if" i make it to the mailbox i warm my hands around the muffler that thing is like a gift from god

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I love that movie Shackleton. Our modern comforts vs. months in the Antarctic. 15 minutes of being cold and then coming back inside to a toasty house is a true gift.

[@kenyh6695]

That will show you where to put cheap plastic snow fence in the fall of the year. Easy to put up in the fall and take down in the spring and it really works.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Good call. We do have some that we had put up over 2 years ago and believe it or not, the wind blew it down. But now we can be more specific in the placement.

[@boatworkstoday]

picked up the 84" version of this blower this Fall, have not had a chance to use it yet :-/

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I think you're gonna love it

[@patgaudrault2156]

Hi, from Canada. The idea of a snow shield sounded good, untill I checked online. They did'nt seem to exist. The explaination that I found, was that the blowing snow would simply be sucked by the wind behind the shield into the driver. It would act like a snow fence. Then your wife would have to come out to chip you off the tractor and drag you inside, -ehm. This is just something off the internet that I read. I'm sure someone else would have a different opinion. You guys are very hard workers and I would hate to see you spend money and time. Thanks, Pat

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahaha. . well we don't want that. But maybe something a bit more 360• might be in order. We could always try and see.

[@mawacal]

a good xmas present for Bryan. an enclosed cab for the tractor

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Good call!

[@kevinbrewer2141]

I have been looking at aftermarket cab's the two I like are Curtis cab's it's like a cab you would get if you bought a cab tractor and the other is the original tractor cab it's like a soft top jeep. But it has a fiberglass roof.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks for the info!

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

That's one heck of a snow blower!!!! Did the manufacturer come up with any stops to prevent hose damage for the chute?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

They sent some zip tie instructions, to pull it out of the way.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving That's really going to stop it from turning too far? Too funny.

[@MegaGrahamo]

Could you build a canopy over the door to stop the snow falling over the steps.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That might be worth it

[@ML-lg4ky]

A few scoops of the bucket would have done it however to appease the “crowd” you used the new blower. 👍

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

True. but that's not the only reason. Bryan wanted to test it out some more and it's also a lot quicker and doesn't produce any snowbank buildup.

[@bobberw7322]

One key practice of using any snowblower... Don't have the discharge chute pointed any higher than absolutely necessary to get the snow deposited where you want it! Particularly in windy conditions. And, it looks like the 3pt is adjusted to have the blower tipped away from the blower face... which results in a lack of clearing/scraping correctly (2" is too much). Looks like you are leaving a lot of snow on the driveway; which then later partially melts and freezes creating more problems.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Good tips. We're trying extra hard not to scrape up the gravel we just put down this summer. maybe after a few runs we can lower it with confidence a bit more.

[@raymondrussell500]

Try adjusting top of chute to stop blowing snow so high into the air. And try blowing down wind. Not into wind. That will also help keep the amount of wind drift down too. Stay safe and stay healthy. How’s Vigo doing?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks! Tricky balance to avoid the wind, yet still get the snow to land where you want. Viggo is coming along great! thanks for asking.

[@tombrienza4534]

I have had the same problem with a blower i use for our deck if the winds blowing it sucks , now that i'm retired I just shovel it off the end at one spot , just have to keep up with it same thing with plowing I try an not let it build up .. of course there are those blizzards that don't allow that to happen then it's oh well an a long day after it's over maybe two day's lol

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

The darn wind! We're just trying to keep the snowbanks from building up. AFter that happens the drifting is 10x worse.

[@randycarreiro8363]

Maybe a piece of plexi glass on the back of that roll bar. Just a thought. A heated cab would be sweet to lol

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That sounds doable.

[@billkacvinsky988]

That has to be awkward backing into the snow to utilize snowblower. Curious why he didn't back into that first pile (from roof) the other way. Work with the wind. At that angle the wind woulld have blown snow over your garden, down the slope. With shield snow might cling to it...if glass used "rainx" type product

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Guess because it wasn't windy at first and that's where the tractor was parked, so he just started driving. Good call on the rainX

[@stevecanepari106]

The blower seems to work great. What size tractor do you use.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

it does! it's 35 HP.

[@davidclark4390]

Amy, Good job on the video. Bryan, does your neck get sore from looking backwards all the time? At my age my neck would hate me the next day. Take Care Stay Safe.

[@ws775]

Maybe rig up some mirrors.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Thanks. He says it's not bad at all. Really only turning somewhat with the neck, mostly a back twist.

[@18twilliams]

A shield or turn the tractor around and blow with the wind?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I think so. Sounds good

[@davidkilbourne5422]

I've never had a snow blower but do you always go backwards? ( dumb question I know) Where I live we get snow but not really over 8 inches. I live in southwest VA

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

yes, the rear drive PTo means you need to drive backwards to "scoop" the snow into the blower. I've been to SW VA. Floyd, to be exact! used to work up there.

[@vaalrus]

Any problems with the septic tank freezing this year? Or is it a little early in the season for deep cold?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

None and none last winter. Yey! However, our neighbor had septic freezing problems (last year) and it completely backed up into the house. They had to completely insulate their tanks and replace some pipes and flooring.

[@vaalrus]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving Here’s to another ice-free winter. Back-ups like that are why it’s code up here in the Great White North to install high-level alarms on all new systems, and I was doing it back in the early ‘00s. Simple probe and a wireless sender.

[@Clothis64]

You can make your own personal snow storm :)

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahahah. Living in a snowglobe!

[@Clothis64]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving 😀😀

[@cleopatra4473]

So it only works when you drive backwards, that seems a weird way to do it but I've never watched a small home one before.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

The front mounted one was $3000 more

[@sharky09000]

Why does the snow fall off the roof above the door, is it insulated inside on that section of roof?

[@dennishayes65]

Steel roofs with a pitch they have are slippery & the snow slides off quick !

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

yes, and when it's fluffy snow, it's not stuck to the roof yet (like ice)

[@sharky09000]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving it was just that the snow was falling from the roof above the door & appeared to staying on the other parts of the roof?

[@davesaint86]

Costco ski/snow pants if they still have in stock.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I got him a pair of insulated Carrhart Bibs that are pretty warm.

[@jacksak]

I forgot to ask how many ounces are in each can of your chicken broth (3 cans total for chicken soup recipe)... thanks...

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

they are 14.5 oz cans. enjoy!

[@jackterry7664]

Some Counties in Colo require a dormer over all doorways. Kinda dumb, but in this case?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

However, when we build phase 2, this door will disappear and become a window; but a temporary roof sounds nice.

[@alane6555]

When i loaned our box blade to a friend i used a chain and lifted it onto the trailer. That would beat taking the blower off just to move the box blade.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

clever! may have to steal that idea

[@alane6555]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving As long as the box blade does not weigh more than the front end loader can handle. Knowledge is most valuable when it is shared. That is what you two do with your channel, so we should reciprocate when we can.

[@davedavis662]

I see a canopy or cab in someone’s future, if I lived at your elevation I’d for sure have a cab with a heater. Might be able to hack it now without one, but in 10 yrs? Have fun

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Maybe in 10 years we trade up for a heated cab model.

[@Mark-dp3zf]

What is the horsepower rating of your tractor?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

35 HP

[@dalebrew5209]

How about starting at bottom of hill.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

that could work when we don't have as much snow, like the filming of this video; but on deep snow days that won't be an option

[@gilbertmick62]

Aïe bryan a reçu la douche vite se séché avant d,attrapé froid vite au chaud gla gla 😊🤗🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷bisous de France

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Poor Bryan needed a fur hat!

[@gumbystown]

Yeah that's why I had to put a back windshield on my tractor to stop it from blowing in my face

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Right on

[@johnoliveri5544]

snow blower works great. it's a shame that they don't make one for the front of the tractor that works off a tractor PTO, or hydraulics

[@thisoldgoat3927]

I have a Massey-Ferguson 1526 with a front mounted snowblower.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

You can get a front mounted one for $4000 more

[@andrevanderheyden7356]

Het leek wel op een komedieserie,je kanook met de wind mee achteruit rijden .Maar ik heb goed gelachen!!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahha I was laughing too! Bryan not so much.

[@daveg1747]

You will figure it out! Don’t spit into the wind don’t piss into the wind don’t snowblower into the wind!!!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahahahaha

[@ladwiss]

Where is Bryon ? Oh wait , there he is . I see him after the blizzard subsided. Ha Ha too funny. I see a cab in Bryon's future for sure

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

LOL. He was just looking at the soft cabs last night.

[@ladwiss]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving I used to freeze my butt off when I was a kid blowing snow with the old 706 international tractor with a 72 inch blower. Brings back the memories. Hope he gets a cab. ha ha

[@RagsdaleCreek]

Tractor with a cab is your next purchase!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

That would be cool!

[@bobbennett3153]

A big plexiglass bubble

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Sounds great!

[@DennisDuboisLifeview]

Anyone for a cab on the tractor?

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Please send us one!

[@DennisDuboisLifeview]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving I know, expensive! Wouldn't life be simple if money grew on trees but it doesn't. 😕

[@jerrycattau97]

you need to make a window for on your roll bars went plowing snow

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

sounds like a fun project

[@chuck020950]

That is living proof you need to make an investment in a total enclosure cab with heat

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Sounds great. Maybe after the house is done we'll have the money to upgrade.

[@roberto.peterson9917]

When possible let wind help you turn tractor around so wind behind you

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Great advice, only tricky thing is the wind changes directions quickly here. One minute it's blowing one way, then you turn around and it's from the other side!

[@roberto.peterson9917]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving i suggest that the porch area extend roof and slope away from entry also drift fence so that wind driven snow not pile up in that general area We had chicken coop that wind from north blow snow from north facing side but collected on back side in dead air space built up to the hight of coop lol 9ft on ine side bare ground on other the side where aslos swept clear Sniw collect in fence line where the tumble weed got caught

[@gordonwilloughby8793]

maybe plexiglass fastened to the roll cage.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

I think we could fashion that.

[@michaelkus6026]

PEEING INTO THE WIND LOL!!!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahahaha!!

[@RA-sz5tu]

if you would have just turned around and use the wind you would have had it made, I've been blowing snow for 16 yrs up here in the north east

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Good call. However, up here the wind will change directions in a heartbeat, so not always a guarantee.

[@canamrider7195]

Bet you wish you had a cab now. LOL

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahhaah!

[@canamrider7195]

@@ColoradoMountainLiving My neighbor has a sub compact Kubota. He plows about 1/2 a mile road to his place and finally had enough and bought an aftermarket cab. I think it even has a heater built into it. I've only driven it a few times, so don't know a whole lot about it, but am sure it make a huge difference.

[@deane9996]

Looks like you need to buy some plywood and plexiglass to build a cab.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

He might fashion up something

[@deanturman7539]

As much snow as you all get i think i would have got a Tractor with a Cab & heater on it ...Just saying ,,,,,Have a great day.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

True, but at the time of purchase, saving $10-$20k was more important. There's always the option to ugrade in the future as building expenses decrease.

[@fredhinck8847]

Think I said it before, back drag with the bucket close to the house, then blow the snow with the wind. Comical to watch.

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

it was pretty funny since it wasn't too windy, but as soon as I got the camera out! Look out!!!

[@kipcudd7253]

You could say he's in a fog!

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

hahaha

[@patriciamontague6035]

Boy's and toys.😂

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Yep

[@johnjaco5544]

What in the world are What in the world are you doingyou???? You don't have enough snow to warrant using a snow blower. Use the front bucket and does it out of the way dummy

[@ColoradoMountainLiving]

Ah! Citizen's arrest. Citizen's Arrest!!!!