Snowblower Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear

[JCA]

Hi folks,
I'm on the fence about buying a tractor. The best excuse I have for buying one is a long driveway (about 1000 feet with parking areas included) and an average of 100 inches of snow per year. But the price of the package--tractor + front-mount 'blower--is putting me off.

One way to get the price down--partly because it'll work with a wider range of tractors--is to use a 3PH blower instead of a front-mount. But I'm worried about taking four (or so) trips up and down the driveway looking over my shoulder in very cold weather. I'd much rather be driving forward.

So I'd especially like to hear from people who have used rear-mount 'blowers to clear long roads and driveways. How do you do it? How do you keep from getting a stiff neck? Does it work just fine for you, or is it a pain in the-er-neck?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[gone]

I have a rear blower and it dosen't bother me i do mine and neibors his is around 450-500. 5' blower 3 passes goes prety quick. but if you have a bad neck think about it, most of mine even with loader still have to back up the lenth his i could turn around. but if you have a truck there is a blower with its own engine that mounts on plow set up i hear they work well. If you have room on side to push a plow might be an option, or tractor plow and blower combo. push into windrow and make one pass with blower.

 

[shvl73]

I have a 64" Blizzard brand rear mount & I really like it. We have 600' from road to garage with a reasonable parking area & I can be done in less time than it takes to warm up the tractor. It is pretty easy to get used to backing up & I don't find any neck or back issues, that could change with age. You do need to be careful with the FEL if you leave it on. It would be easy to hit a car or the house with the bucket when turning & looking the other way.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I have a front mount snowblower on my Cub Cadet and a rear mount snowblower on my New Holland.

I can tell you both will get the job done. The 60" rear mount moves the snow a heck of a lot faster than the 45" front mount, but it takes me about the same amount of time in a tractor seat with either tractor simply because it is easier to use a front mount blower and manuver the tractor.

I bought the rear mount becuase it can be installed in about 2 minutes, the front mount requires the removal a mid-mount deck and I go through lots of contortions taking it off or putting it on. The kids learn lots of new combinations of swear words on the days that I put on/take off the Cub's blower. Occasionally the doctors in the emergency room get a work out grafting skin back on my knuckles, and the local Catholic school principle ususally plays music really loud those days to drown out the cussing that can be heard coming across the valley and over the hills.

For 1000' of driveway I would suggest a 72" to 84" blower, you'd get it done in 2 passes. Some with rear mount blowers complain about spinning around and driving in reverse. In my humble opinion it is no big deal, but maybe I am more flexible than some others? I do my driveway and typically run a couple passes on the road in front of my house (it is a private road so the county doesn't do it) so that I can get down the hill from my drive safely and get up to the top of the next hill top.

Just my experiences . . .

 

[NATTYBUMPO]

I'm gonna vote for the RM snowblower + FEL setup. I have K 3010 4WD and live in NW Lower Michigan (ie Can you say "lake effect snow") Sometimes we have well over 200" a year. My drive, paved, is about 750' long with parking areas in front of garage and pole barn. The drive is about 10' wide and two passes with the 5' NH 2-stage blower and done! I'm in the SS age bracket but with no back or neck issues- if you have those the RM might be a problem. I find the FEL very useful in the winter for cutting firewood, etc besides piling snow.
I guess it all depends on your setup- everybodys is different but this has worked well for us for five years.

Natty B.

 

[jimgerken]

in my opinion... A rear mount snowblower is second only to a front mount for productivity and ease of use. Using a loader for snow removal causes extra work in Spring because it also moves crushed rock and sod with the snow. Sometimes in large piles. However, don't even THINK about buying a tractor without getting the loader with it. This gets you all the hydraulic options you need for the loader and other things too. And the loader is the most usefull attachment of all, for things you haven't thought of yet. I decided not to spend the 3500 for a front blower from JD when I bought my tractor and so this winter I moved snow with the loader. In the past i have used a lawn mower tractor-mounted blower. WOW, what a mess this Spring. Gravel piled all over the lawn. Next year I will have my home-made front mount snowblower ready to go. There's a thread on this web page I started ,, almost two years ago i think. Will have to find it and add to it once i get back at the blower project. Good luck.

 

[deepsnow]

+1200 foot drive, couple curves & driveway loop. Rear mount 60" Loftness blower. No problems except when I snag the snowbanks with the FEL bucket. Lake effect snowfall averaging ~14ft/yr over the last 10 years, big year broke 20ft. Never have operated a front mount unit. Happy with 3pt blower, not intrested in spending the extra $$ for a front mounted unit.

 

[rambler]

Here in southern Minnesota all us farmers use rear mount on 100hp tractors. Not a big deal. But then we are maybe so used to watching the implements behind us? Just never have understood how it matters - rear mount is just as easy to operate, and a heck of a lot easier to mount. I'd rather have it back there where I can see it, than hidden in front of the tractor hood. A no-brainer.

I put my 7' rear blower on my 1720 CUT - works well if a bit oversized.

--->Paul

 

[dlabrie]

I have a Meteor, 5', 3pt blower on my B2910. I maintain a 1700'+/- dirt drive with it. I have no problems going in reverse and it is great to have the FEL to move snow when necessary.

 

[Trouser Bark]

I've got a rear mount blower and FEL. Haven't tried a front mount but it looks like more hassle than it's worth and I'd hate to give up the FEL for it. As far as the neck thing goes I've got T-12 compression fractures and can't afford to treat myself like a rented mule too often.

Fact of the matter is that the twisting motion seems to help. Almost like a stretching excersize if you think of it that way. I'd buy this way again. One thing to be aware of is that the width of the FEL should be fairly close to the width of the blower. The bigger that difference is the more ackward it'll be to do a good job in some tighter areas.