Snowblower snowblower advice please

[hooked up]

New guy here begging for some help in finding the right blower for my needs.

I have never had or used a snowblower, but since I built my backyard rink sooooo big at 90X45 and with 4' high boards, now I have to get one!
I also run a business on the same property as my house and rink and have 1/4mile long driveway, parking lot and five loading docks. in the past I have used our plow truck (ford f250) and my DK50 Kioti's loader and rear plow to move the snow and yes I get a lot of snow here.

I will be limited to a 6' blower (or maybe a 7' MAX) to get in and out of the rink.

I was reading the thread about front vs. rear mount blowers and it got me thinking: Would I be better off to go with a front blower or will I need to pull it off and put the loader back on (a pain in the butt i would imagine) to move the large snow piles that accumulate over time or would the blower move them?
Or should I just get a rear one for the rink and use the plow truck and the loader for the rest?

I am currently looking at a 6' George White Blizzard Heavy Duty rear blower made in the late 90's that is in excellent condition (asking $1100 CAN) Anyone have an opinion on this?

BTW, this site has a ton of great info, I'm very glad I found it and I hope I can give some back in the future.

Bri

 

[rbargeron]

Once you have a snowblower there might not be any big piles left to move. A blower will chew up a pile - and if you point the chute right you should rarely need to handle the snow a second time. A good place to start is a big rear-facing back-up style blower. They are rugged and simple and not too expensive (the White you are looking at is a good example). Lots of owners say they like rear blowers because the front loader is still available.
I take off the loader in winter even with a rear mount blower - much better maneuverability in tight spots. For your DK50 the Cadillac blower would the Erskine front mount (driven from the rear pto). If the gods were really smiling, you'd find a decent used one somewhere, 78" wide, and priced under the national debt .

 

[studor]

Hi Bri -welcome aboard!! -- The rear mount blower will be fine and if the one you are looking at has hydraulic chute control the price appears to be pretty good. There are several models of six foot six blowers as well. You can still use the fel and as long as you have enough reverse speeds you will get pretty quick at cleaning up the snowfall
Make sure there are no broken sticks left on the ice -- the hardwood shaft is not good in the blower auger
JMHO

 

[pilot-werx]

For a 1/4 mile driveway I would not want to have deal with long periods of twisting my neck to go in reverse. If you can find a front mount you will not regret it. I have had both and sold the rear mount a few years ago. We get a ton of snow and I have needed the loader. The blower will move any pile you can throw at it....

 

[BeezFun]

I'd think about a rear mount, forward facing blower like this. If you're related to the Exorcist the rear facing style is probably fine, but my neck got really sore.

 

[Charles Billings]

BeezFun recommends a good compromise, I think, although I have never used the forward facing rear-mount blower. But, I am fully supportive of a rear mount, rear facing blower, as I have one and use it to plow 1/4 mile driveway, too. For me, the lack of an FEL would rule out the front mount. Honestly, I have not found driving backwards as much of a problem as I imagined. That is partly due to the fact that the NH TC45 seat swivels about 15 degrees, but even if it didn't I think the cost of the front mount and lack of an FEL still recommends the rear mount.

 

[lungdoc]

Rear mount blowers are essentially universal (as long as size is ok for tractor of course). This makes them much easier to both buy and sell used - a potential major advantage. I debated a lot about getting a rear mount conventional versus a pull-style rear mount. Ended up going conventional as most of my use will be clean up after pickup-mounted plowing at our cottage (we aren't there much of time so have to have someone do it). For that use the ability to blow away the banks as well as lower cost made conventional unit my choice. If I lived there permanently and did it all myself I'd go heated cab front mount for sure.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I prefer the front blower for the reasons already mentioned here and in the other thread that you mentioned.

Regarding the width of the blower...it should be wider than the tire width of the unit that you are pushing it with, to avoid driving over the unblown snow if you want a nice level finished surface.

 

[Builder]

I would think a nice set of side view cab mirrors and a bright set of lights should just about eliminate the need for turning around and neck pain.

Let's face it, the front mount blower is sexier and the cool factor is undeniable, but hardly justified unless you get 75" ++ or more snow. If you get that kind of snow, then it's a completely understandable. Same with the expense, my gosh are they expensive, but again, worth every penny for the big snowfalls.

I just can't have the front of my tractor married to a snowblower for 6 mos out of the year. Too much other work to do.

 

[JerryK]

Rear blowers can be raised up to clear banks, and also for ground clearance if you want to forray out in the woods for some reason...giving you usually the full normal ground clearance of your tractor..plus lots of rear traction. Most front blowers can only be raised way less than a foot off the ground, and the attaching framework is a lot lower than that. The looking backwards thing is not as much an issue in tractors with roomier seating areas where you can set at a 45 degree angle, or if your seat swivels. On long drives, once you have done it for a few times, you can do the long areas almost blindfolded...or staring forward, glassy eyed, dreaming of warmer days. Not much looking backwards than using a backblade, boxscraper, etc.. If I hit the lotto, I'd go for a shinny new tractor, soft removeable cab, and front blower [probably Erskine cuz' my new tractor would be too big to have a mid PTO]....but I will get by for now.

 

[hooked up]

Holy cow, you guys are fast! I feel like I'm late for the party

A lot of opinions out there....exactly what I was looking for -thanks guys

So, it seems that if I have a ton of cash I should go with a front mount, if not, get the rear mount, a swivel seat and better rear lights. Well, I think the latter will be for me and not just because of the cash, but also I just remembered I will need the FEL for moving firewood this winter and after some more thought I believe that the FEL is just too useful, I don't think I could live without it.

The used blower I'm looking at does not have hydraulic chute control, just the hand crank. Would I be correct to assume that the hydraulic control is a must have? Anyone have an idea how much $$$ to add one on?

Thanks again fellas

Hooked up

 

[Builder]

Holy cow, you guys are fast! I feel like I'm late for the party

A lot of opinions out there....exactly what I was looking for -thanks guys

So, it seems that if I have a ton of cash I should go with a front mount, if not, get the rear mount, a swivel seat and better rear lights. Well, I think the latter will be for me and not just because of the cash, but also I just remembered I will need the FEL for moving firewood this winter and after some more thought I believe that the FEL is just too useful, I don't think I could live without it.

The used blower I'm looking at does not have hydraulic chute control, just the hand crank. Would I be correct to assume that the hydraulic control is a must have? Anyone have an idea how much $$$ to add one on?

Thanks again fellas

Hooked up

I've seen them with the hand crank rod extended right through the back glass into the cab. You can crank to your heart's delight.

If you have a rear remote, you can use it to power a hydraulic chute. Best way to finf out the cost is to call the blower manufacturer and ask them how much for the optional hydraulic chute parts.

 

[JerryK]

You can also go with the manual swivel for the first winter [if you don't have a cab] and see how that works out for you. My chute is 12" diameter at the swivel and it takes little effort to spin it around unless you are really blasting out heavy snow. It takes about four cranks to spin the chute 180 degrees, and after you get snow in you face a few times [ and everywhere else ] you learn to spin it around REAL FAST, or do a little thinking beforehand and always blow downwind.. !!

 

[studor]

Hand crank works fine -- just thought the price was a little high for a hand crank unless it is in really good shape, good paint etc. Most rear mount blowers in the six foot range seemed to go for around $800 - $900 the past few months.

 

[Bedlam]

Also can make your own electric rotation devices with windshied motors etc. but thats another thread.. Pros and cons. but a cheap possibility.

 

[hooked up]

Well, I think I'll keep looking and/or try to get the price down on this one...

 

[ScottyChip]

I agree, go with the rear blower and hand crank this winter if you are still uncertain. Thats what I've been using the past two years and works fine. The twisting in the seat not as bad as I initially thought, you get use to it. Welcome to the site, you will find that after a little while the amount of information and tips here is overwhelming, but something you can't do without. Its my daily fix, and I find my day is not complete if I don't checkin.

 

[Charles Billings]

Hooked Up, My snow blower has a hand crank, and I have lived quite well with that, not wanting to take on the expense of a rear remote, and the hefty cost of chute hydraulics. But, I have been reading other threads on Tractorbynet, which have taught me how to add the same conveniences with an inexpensive atv winch and low cost linear actuator. You might want to search for those threads. I have purchased everything I need to automate things, but haven’t had a chance to install it. Hopefully, I can take some pictures and add to what others have already done.

 

[Llamaman]

Hi,

I just bought an Agro Trend 5' rear mount snowblower with hydraulic chute rotation. Seems very well built but my NH TC30 does not have rear hydraulic hookups. I just priced out the kit to add the rear hydraulics and it came in around $800. Ouch!!!
Can I run hydraulic hoses from my FEL control to the back to operate the chute? I know I 'll have to remove the FEL but with a blower I won't need to move any big piles anyway.

 

[FxdGrMind]

If you have a Kubota, you may have "Quick" disconects on your FEL. You could have some hoses made with Quick connects and leave your FEL on, select the connections for the Buckett rotation and plug in the Lines there using your FEL Buckett control for the L/R shute rotation.

Just an idea, not saying it's a SAFE solution to have your bucket on and not connected.