snow pusher vs. rear 3pt blower

[totouchantler]

Here's my situation... I just bought a Kubota L3901. It snows where I live... and I mean snows (150 inches average!) Straight across from my driveway after the shoulder is quite a nice little drop off (Ill explain later). My question: Should I buy a snow pusher or a rear mount blower. Now for the pros and cons (as i see them). Pro for blower. I will never run out of room for putting snow on either side of driveway which is blacktop, my bucket would be freed up for moving banks back, etc.. Cons for blower: It is very windy on the hill I live on (open work station snow blowing everywhere as it is), having to drive in reverse, having to add extra rear remotes at quite a good cost . Cons for pusher: because it doesn't have a bottom I don't feel like I can pick and move banks back, bucket is off machine, etc. Pros for pusher: Cheaper to buy, rubber scraper easier on driveway, I have that drop off across street to push snow off. What do you all think. Just trying to ask question snow so I can be ready to go by next winter. Ugh...winter.
Chris

 

[Paystar]

I'm in snow country too, and I have all kinds of implements, but use nothing but my blower in the winter. At least you know it will handle any snowfall you get. My fear with a pusher is if you really get hammered, or can't get it done right away, you may have traction issues trying to push a big buildup.

I also get lots of wind here off the great lakes. I just blow one direction only if I have to. Some times I just do single passes blowing to go with the wind.
Or use the loader to push as much as I can, then blow from there. Meaning try and get it to an area where you can blow with the wind.
I thought I would hate the blower, but now I will never go without one.

 

[PILOON]

Blower for sure, handle it once and be done with it.
With pusher you compact the snow and when you need to widen it is frozen solid.
With a rear blower you soon learn to drive 'side saddle' and it is not all that bad.

 

[tractchores]

I also use a blower. I got a crank operated chute so no rear remote needed. The best part is no snow banks and with enough time you can move any amount of snow. I wear a snowmobile suit and full face mask.

 

[sandyc]

I use both a front blade and a front blower. Blade is used until ground freezes or small snows. Blower for everything else. The quick connect for the implements means I can change over in a couple of minutes.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Harnessing the power of Murphy, I got a snowblower to make certain I'd never get enough snow to justify its use. Used my Hiniker all winter.

 

[Farmer495]

Blower. Don't need remotes if it is crank turn. While hyd chute is nice, proper planning you might not need to move the chute much or at all anyways.

 

[Rustyiron]

Harnessing the power of Murphy, I got a snowblower to make certain I'd never get enough snow to justify its use. Used my Hiniker all winter.

:laughing: Yeah, I got a nice big blower last fall myself. Plowed around it all (pitiful) winter long.
My:2cents: is pushers are amazing no 2 ways about it. but if things get ahead of you and your site won't allow "small bites"……
How bad of a beating will you take if you had to sell a pusher in your area? I usually favor being cheap in these situations (choices), hoping I made the right decision but having a plan "B" if I didn't.
I am "open station" as well and my blower was bought (the story I'm telling myself) for blowing the banks back as needed rather than pushing sideways for near a mile with the SS. 9' at a time when I run out of room, my roads are through the wood's. But really blowers are cool and I just wanted one:laughing:

 

[Clint S]

I have an open station tractor, rear blower, rear blade, loader and it sits until the 40degree days because it's too **** cold and windy to use them. I live in the real snow country on the lower tug hill where 150 inches seems like an off winter. Go to bed at midnight, wake up a 0630 with 40inches on the ground. Plow truck for me with heat and windshield wipers. Just use the tractor push the banks back and emergency back up.

 

[chim]

I made side extensions for the FEL to use it as a pusher. They attach with one bolt each, so it's easy on and off. Picked up a used 64" Pronovost rear blower and wired up a linear actuator and car seat motor for cthe chute control instead of adding remotes. It all works well, but without the cab it wouldn't be as much fun.