So our local Toro\Boss dealer fabbed up a V plow on a Grandstand. Kinda pissed I didn't try\axe for this. I still might.

I haven't seen it in person, only pics so far.

We are about to pull the trigger on this machine, and leaning towards the v-plow verses the straight plow. Any further thoughts about this machine from you or the masses? A Z-spray with plow is also an alternative, but we are leaning towards the Grandstand. This would also be our first Toro in quite a while.

 

Mark - how has yours lasted with really just over a years worth of plowing? They gave me a today only price, then came back with a good for the month price 2k cheaper...

Bought a Snowrator, the wheels and plow are mild steel, everything else seems to be stainless, trying to get away from towing the RTV around, gonna see if we can make a carry all type thing for it.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't do it again. At least not after seeing the Ventrac SSV.

Supposedly they have a wheel weight kit for them to help with traction, which is the biggest issue. I would definitely NOT get a straight blade. As long as you can maintain traction, it works OK. Kind of suffers from the same issue the ZPlow does...doesn't go fast enough to "roll" snow over higher banks. I was considering the blower, but it still hasn't been released.

I can see the V blade working better. I think.

And I must say I am thoroughly underwhelmed by Boss' ATV plow. I really thought it would be heavier duty than every other ATV plow oot there, it isn't.

I'm really kind of hung up on something that can plow\sweep and apply liquids or granular all in one pass. And has enough nuts to push through heavier snow. Even if it does cost more and is a 1 season piece of equipment. Efficiency and doing a good job without having to push oof to the side every 20 feet is worth it to me.

Sorry I can't give a better review.

 

Skeeerd of the Ventrac price, probably shoulda went and looked at them though.

Time will tell - most of our walks are pushed into parking lots and plowed away although there is some that needs rolled. The spreader option is 1700+, comes with 20 gallon tank but that won't go very far plus we're newbies at that...

 

I appreciate the honest feedback and review, Mark. Like what framer mentioned in his scenario, most of our walks will get rolled into the lot and carried away by the truck/loader. 75% of the places this would be used at also do not require salting, so the lack of capability of the Grandstand right now isn't as much of an issue. I do like that part of the Z-sprays ability, but it sounds like there still isn't something that totally hits a home run. And all of the current options carry a pretty steep price.

 

If you can use the granstand in the summer then by all means consider buying it. But for anyone looking at a snowrator for snow, you need to look at the ventrac. I'd never buy a snowrator even being 25% cheaper than the SSV. Far too limited and not built anywhere near as well as the ventrac is.

 

25%?

I was quoted 100% more than a snowrator.

 

For what attachments?

 

What's a SSV with the plow cost? What's the 20 gallon add on liquid tank cost?

After tax, I paid 9800 for the snowrator - comes with a plow and 20 gallon liquid tank. Another 20 gallon tank was 450ish, the 175# salt spreader was 1700ish - didn't buy either.

The Groundmaster quote was 15k with the plow setup. They dropped it to 13k if I bought three....... I would have bought it had they had the other options available - it's been out two years and a big company that Toro is still hasn't come out with the blower. Somethings fishy there, why not have all the options available after two years?

That SSV is absolutely way more machine with the options, I cringed at the 10k and figured the SSV was 15k plus attachments so never took the drive to look.....

I think they're all good, just depends on what you need and how you want to work.

 

12500 for blade and machine on the SSV. Not sure on the liquid setup.

 

That's bunches less than what I thought.......

 

I realized I never posted pics of my Grandstand with Boss plow.

Apparently there were some complaints aboot lack of traction...not just me. They came oot with a wheel weight kit, we'll see how it works.

Sorry aboot the quality, the protective glass\plastic over my camera is scratched pretty bad.

 

Is that electric over hydraulic or full hydraulic controlled?

 

Wouldn't need the wheel weights if Buffy was running it.....

 

I was thinking with Oo's Ego would be enough.....

 

Btw....Could use a "Few" more Jagoof lights

 

Understood...

 

Update...wheel weights don't really help.

And FWIW, I am pretty sure that @Aerospace Eng assessment of the plow being too far from the drive wheels is correct. This machine will be moved to backup status at best next season. Maybe...but it won't be a front line unit.

 

Dumb question
You don't think tire chains would help
Or would they just fugger up the concrete?

 

Dumb question
You don't think tire chains would help
Or would they just fugger up the concrete?

I'm sure they would help...AND screw up the concrete.

 

Has anyone had any updated good luck with this machine and the traction issues?
Are the tire chains any better?
Possibly screw in studs in the tires?

What tire pressures are you guys running in the snow tires?

 

You can you tube it

There's all sorts of videos from people who think they're great
Not sure what the difference in conditions is
But I suspect all the videos had ample room to windrow off the snow and it didn't seem especially wet or heavy
Where as (perhaps) in marks case he had isolated walks that have a berm on both sides and with some wet/heavy snow and nowhere for it to curl off the machine gets bogged down/looses traction.

I think it all depends on your application

 

Hey Mark, I'm looking at some equipment that I can use year round as I need to get the best ROI I can on what I buy. Have you given up on the Grandstand or have you/your guys learned its limitations and do the best they can with it? I mainly do SMALL residential stuff and have been using snowblowers and shovels to get the job done but would like something with more speed.

 

It was 4 seasons old so we sold it late summer. Plow never went on last year because we bought an SSV.

I'd buy one to mow with, not to plow or vacuum with.

 

Hopefully we can demo one of these this winter.

 

Hopefully we can demo one of these this winter. View attachment 197392 View attachment 197393 View attachment 197394

That's from the guy who started and sold ground logic spreaders. Those sprayers wouldn't hold up past 250 hrs. They're a toy compared to steel green or even z spray. I would not be an early buyer of that plow thing. I'm sure there are COUNTLESS kinks to work out.