Pros/Cons of Front Mount Snowblower vs Rear Mount

[leonz]

Leon, thanks for taking the time for writing such a detailed response. Cford, that is such a clean set up you have, and that might be worth looking into also. What type of snow do you have where you are located? Heavy or light? How's it perform? So you are talking roughly $7k for the hydraulic set up? Really? Did you have to install it yourself? If so, how difficult was it and did you have to purchase any extra parts to pull it off? The only downside is giving up the 3pt on the back. Either way, thank you everyone for such detailed answers. It gives me more concrete info to pursue though the summer to figure out what I want to do next winter. This winter we were lucky the snow levels were so high as if they were at my elevation, I'd still have 20' of snow around my house (the people on Donner Summit DO have 20' of snow around THEIR houses right now).

Hello KanakaRick,

Just as an FYI to help you Reist has an authorized dealer for their product line in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Their name is Tram Sales They are located at 10757-182 Street Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Their telephone number is 1-780-484-2231


I only want you to succeed Rick as your snows are always troubling to both manage and clear and always making a very very long snow season and you require both simplicity in design and an implement that allows easy repairs and the single stage units do not require shear pins as they use a direct chain drive behind an access cover that is just pinned in place with spring cotter pins.


Leon

 

[FatTire]

KanakaRick,

I prefer a two stage blower but I'm not going to get into a P....n contest as to which is best like in another recent thread on this forum. All I will add, all two stage blowers are not built alike, just as all single stage blowers are not built alike. To each their own.

I apologize for my part in that.

 

[leonz]

I do not think you have to apologize for that FatTire NOR DO I.

You and I are probably the only ones besides the CSX Railway Maintenance of Way folks in the east that are the exception in snow clearing work that have first hand knowledge of high capacity high tonnage single stage snow throwers that will clear 22,000 tons per hour of heavy snow pack.

I think that you are on the right track with the mog; wherein you could paint the snow ejection chutes with several coats of EZ Slide and the 8 inside edges of the scoops on the snow cutting discs on the mog and you will not have any clogs to deal with. The EZ Slide graphite paint works wonders for sticky materials.

leonz

 

[cford36]

Leon, thanks for taking the time for writing such a detailed response. Cford, that is such a clean set up you have, and that might be worth looking into also. What type of snow do you have where you are located? Heavy or light? How's it perform? So you are talking roughly $7k for the hydraulic set up? Really? Did you have to install it yourself? If so, how difficult was it and did you have to purchase any extra parts to pull it off? The only downside is giving up the 3pt on the back. Either way, thank you everyone for such detailed answers. It gives me more concrete info to pursue though the summer to figure out what I want to do next winter. This winter we were lucky the snow levels were so high as if they were at my elevation, I'd still have 20' of snow around my house (the people on Donner Summit DO have 20' of snow around THEIR houses right now).

I live just south of Buffalo. I just got this this year and it wasn't a bad winter. But, it performed very well. Had both wet and dry snow. Even with only an inch or two I was surprised it blew it well even without filling the drum. Blew some very heavy wet stuff in the road, still did well. Didn't blow it 50' but it moved it.
The blower as it came, a rear 3pt mount ,was $3000. It was an additional $4000 to convert it over. That included all the parts and labor. That was for my dealer to do everything.
The only thing I have changed or will change (I just assumed it was coming this way but that's my fault for not asking) is that I changed the 2 main connections to the hyd pump on the blower to skid steer quick disconnects, pricy parts at about $300. The only thing it still need to do is put quick disconnects in the 4 lines to the chute actuators,and I'm going to put protective sleeves on the hoses when they go on next winter. I just want to be able to quickly change to the bucket or blower without having to take the hoses off.
I did look at the Shenandoah (sp?) model I think you mentioned but that uses the tractors hydraulics and I wasn't sure about more strain on the system and on cooling it. It was also more expensive.
I was a little concerned with no cooler on my system but the dealer had made several of these and said it wasn't a problem. I checked the tank temp several times and it was only warm enough to melt the snow on it, and the tank was nowhere near full of fluid.
If you need anything more info let me know. I can take detailed pics if you need them.

 

[FatTire]

cford36, you just answered my question, I was looking at your photos and wondering about the fluid getting too warm.

Leon- I am planning on putting some EZ slide in a few critical areas of both blowers. Also I will do some hard material on the back surface of the chute for my 2 stage. That one surface gets pelted by stones. But none of that will get done until the leaves have come and gone...

 

[aeblank]

I was a little concerned with no cooler on my system

The tank is nearly always part of the "cooling system". Sometimes tanks have cooling fins. Hoses are coolers too, naturally. Obviously your pressure nor flow are terribly high, or you'd need a dedicated cooler. Do you by chance know your flow and/or pressure? Just curious.....

 

[cford36]

The tank is nearly always part of the "cooling system". Sometimes tanks have cooling fins. Hoses are coolers too, naturally. Obviously your pressure nor flow are terribly high, or you'd need a dedicated cooler. Do you by chance know your flow and/or pressure? Just curious.....

Not sure of the pressure. I think the flow is 18gpm.

 

[art]

It was after driving backwards with a manual rotation snowblower I was stuck on front mounts!!! That is until a factory cab Kubota with the loader on the front and a blower on the rear with the nice factory mirrors!!!!! The loader meant that I could clean up around the entrances super fast without shoveling for 20 to thirty minutes before getting started!! Garage doors, steps, I only needed one pass with the shovel. Cut my time drastically!

 

[FatTire]

Good point Art. The rearward visibility on a modern cab tractor is excellent. And some even have swivel seats. For a lot of people a loader or plow on the front and blower on the back is a very efficient combination.

 

[aeblank]

I run a back blade for near-building-cleanup and a front blower. I sure wouldn't trade it!
I can easily blow at 3mph. The reason it is that slow is because I run wicked-mean V-bar ladder chains on all 4 wheels. Faster just jostles too much.

A bit OT, but I honestly don't understand plowing (with a tractor). People say it's faster, but I'd put my rig up against any of 'em. I go over an area exactly once. Any plow goes over an area more than that. I do my drive in 1/2 the time than it took me with a boss plow and pickup truck. about 900' drive and garage/turn-around area.

So yeah, my vote is front all the way. Go at least a size larger than you're "supposed" to, too. When the snow is deep, you go slower. But when the snow isn't deep, you can get that much more done per pass. Also helps covering your wheel tracks when turning.