Straight Frame Wheel Loader

lenray · Feb 8, 2011

I am looking at a few of these older wheel loaders to use in plowing snow.
Thinking of replacing the bucket with a snow blade.
Being that they are 4x4 will they do a decent job.
Just wanting for my own personal use.
A guy who has a Michigan straight frame doesn't think it would be very good in pushing snow due to traction issues on snow and or some ice.
Any thoughts out there???

Paul from MI · Feb 8, 2011

My brother used an old Mchigan for everything around his sawmill for years, including snow. The only complaint I ever heard was large turning radius.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 8, 2011

So just what does this guy think you should use? I'd go with a newer machine that articulates but loaders work excellent for snow removal. Being that they have tires, you can put chains on them if you really need to. Dave

Larry from MD · Feb 8, 2011

I used ours many times just leave the bucket on. They don't have lots of weight on front so with a blade pushing sideways it could push the front to the side.With the steering behind it can be hard to get the front to stay over to one side.

Fordfarmer · Feb 8, 2011

Dunno about the older straight frames... but our city uses an articulating one with a plow on the front. Works pretty nice.

Adirondack case guy · Feb 8, 2011

They will work just fine, except they arn't perticularly manuverable. Leave the bucket on and get a pusher box. These boxes lock on to the bucket with 2 chain binders, and can easily be attached, or detached, as needed. Worked for a contractor a number of years plowing malls and comercial businesses. We ran boxes from 10' to 20' on articulated loaders. We had these boxes on and off a half doz. times a night when plowing snow. We had a lot of loading docks and narrow allies where we had to bucket the snow away and the push it away.

VaTom · Feb 8, 2011

When I was shopping for my Cat I only looked at straight frames. More stable on my mountain. And certainly more back and forth to get it turned around, but for more stability that was a small price.

Last summer I sold my crawler, no need for it any more. My 1/2 mile driveway drops 400', almost never need chains. Used the rubber tire loader to cut in a new (similar) driveway for a guy I sold land to. Worked great.

ericlb · Feb 8, 2011

i had a friend recently pass away he had 2 old straight frame michigans, 55's i think, they always worked good, might mess you up at first if your used to articulated style, as they respond a little different but they;ll do the job

jm. · Feb 8, 2011

About any streight frame loader you find now is going to be 30 + years old. If you are a mechanic ok if not you will be out bucks keeping the thing going. Lots of the drive on the old michigans were pretty gernic but you will still find some parts hard to come by. I best I would look for an old model cat IF that is what you are set on doing.. I use a 4 wheel KUBOTA R 420 loader to push a 800 ft drive.

Heyseed · Feb 8, 2011

That looks like Rapp county Tom. Nice little driveway/road

VaTom · Feb 9, 2011

Thanks, but it's Albemarle county. I learned the hard way that it works better to lay out driveways according to slope. Measuring is good.

I lost $20k with a "professional" road builder 25 yrs ago who cut me a 30% slope driveway that didn't work very well. Had to reroute it to get down to 13%. Learn by doing. Both driveways rise 400'.

The client for this driveway had previously hired me to cut one on other property for him. He showed me where he wanted the driveway, I measured slopes and spent over an hour finally convincing him that it wouldn't work. Went the other direction around the hill and he's now a major fan of mine. Driveway worked out great, only one pipe. That one is in Rappahannock county.

They changed the Albemarle rules in 2009. The driveway in the photo would now cost about $300k, paved for it's half-mile length with 4' shoulders on each side. My neighbor across the road lost at least $1 million with that rule change. I told him he better cut in driveways before the change. He thought it was too expensive.

Bill in IL · Feb 10, 2011

I have an old Michigan 75A and its a snow pushing monster. I do have a set of chains for it when it gets icy or really heavy snow. You won't be disapointed they have lots of pushing power especially with the chains.

lenray · Feb 10, 2011

Bill in IL one I am looking at is a Michigan 85A with a gasser Wakashau sp. thinking Oliver engine. Cabn you share any more info. on your machine. Thanks to all you guys who offered info.

Straight Frame Wheel Loader

lenray

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Paul from MI

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Anonymous-0

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Larry from MD

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Fordfarmer

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Adirondack case guy

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VaTom

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ericlb

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jm.

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Heyseed

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VaTom

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Bill in IL

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lenray

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