Front vs Rear Snowblower

[rico304]

I'm with Hayden! haha Defend defend defend, until you cannot defend anymore. haha
I have a rear mount and like the idea of keeping my bucket on. That being said, after spending time on my tractor looking backwards, I think a front mount might be nice. I really love mine though. Now, lets talk about those heated cabs!!!!!! (which I don't have!)

 

[MtIron]

Here is another option to think on. I purchased a used 48" Ariens front drive 2 stage blower a few years back and converted it by adding wings to make it 54". I had to use it on the rear to resolve the rotation direction issue. It still faces forward and runs off of the rear PTO. I used a chain drive that increases the speed about 1:2.5. I run at about 2000 engine RPM and that provides the ideal fan RPM of about 1900. It will blow snow about 20-40 feet depending on the type of snow. Best of all it never blows snow back on you 'cause it is behind the tractor (I rarely ever even change the chute direction). I can go through about 8" of fresh snow with no problems. It is on a B-2400 HST Kubota. Cost was a nominal $300 plus some iron for mounting, etc. I have a 6.5 foot Meyers blade with hyd. swing cylinders on the front that are controlled by using the loader bucket function. All in all it is a sweet deal for moving the snow we usually get. On occasion when there is a really big snowfall I just clear it several times as needed.

 

[Jerome]

after blowing snow every day this week for an hour and a half each with a rear blower my neck says front mount. Now i just have to get the wife to agree.

 

[rbargeron]

Well it's two months since the first post on this thread - and we've had a relatively "old fashioned" Massachusetts winter - several 8-10" snowfalls and some rain events that have made a frozen mess everywhere. Our town roads are not pushed back very well - not enough available manhours and only one piece of equipment heavy enough to plow it back.

My front-mount Erskine has done itself proud. It has kept the seven places on my rural road free of snow and high piles. Yesterday it even cut back and widened 1/2 mile of town road, while the operator (me) kept cozy inside the cab, er, tent. For my situation I think the front mount is the winner. The only drawback is it would do a neater job with side wings. The blower head is 72" wide and my rear tires are 76" overall. I'm thinking 6" on each side would be about right. A seven-foot Erskine would be perfect - maybe one will turn up. Anybody looking for a nice six-footer?

 

[Northland]

I agree with above as well.

I also agree with these gentlemen. I used a rear blade and FEL combo until recently when I had to buy a rear PTO snowblower because my snow banks got higher then the FEL would reach up to

While I love the FEL/rear snowblower combo I miss not having snow blowing in my face and all over me I never had that problem wity the rear blade

 

[JerryK]

Other than an Erskine, rear PTO'd front blower, another big plus to a rear blowers is that...... you can buy an older/bigger two wheel drive tractor and mount a rear blower....and blow lots of snow for very little money. Plus, add a set of chains, and it will go places that the littlier 4X4 tractors wouldn't dare to go. I have about $8 grand in my 5000+ pound compact 51ptoHP JD2240 w/reverser, and my blower cost me a little over $2K shipped in from Looney Land. You can hear the snow trembling as I approach.......

 

[Wyld Bill]

I am a noobie & I have never snowblowed a day in my life (yet) but why couldn't you just put mirror on the tractor for using a rear blower & save your neck?
That's what I'm going to try. It seems like it would be tough to stick to at first but once you got used to using the mirrors, facing straight ahead while going backwards it would be great. Just like being a truck driver.

I can't help but think of Mater on the movie cars LOL!

 

[Tig]

Bill,
I wouldn't be comfortable blowing snow in a mirror. Even if I could keep it clear of snow I would want a wider field of vision. I like to keep tabs on both edges of the blower as well as whats up ahead and coming from the side. I don't think I could do that without turning around. Maybe someone else has given it a try and can tell us how it worked out.

 

[Kendrick]

Now, lets talk about those heated cabs!!!!!! (which I don't have!)

I have but one thing to say MEOW.......

I wouldn't be comfortable blowing snow in a mirror.

Im putting semi truck mirrors on my tractor with metal housings to keep the branches at bay. I also plan to put one of those passenger viewer mirror things in place of the middle mirror. with factory mirrors properly adjusted I could do the job with some trouble. they are just to small. about the size of a class 3 truck. with the semi mirrors you have 2 sets 1 you can aim speciffically for the edges of your blower and one for the further range rear view. I am able to back down my windy/hilly drive with the blower running h1 with minimal trouble. buh bye 3" of powder fluff. 15 min and my job is done. I dont run with the bucket down at that speed. any other time though and it isnt much of a problem just remember to reverse your turns. I agree with the wings as well. mine is getting a pair to make it 80+" wide. if you get hit with about 6" your stuck at m2 or less though i have only needed grany for breaking through the walls at the side of the plough cleared area. 4'+

Some one mentioned they could not raise their blower very high due to pto length. mine goes up 3'? full raise. I specifically measured so that would never be an issue. lowest point is easily over 9" overlap so not a problem