Best snowblower width for 35hp, 62" wide tractor

[Farmer495]

72" would be ok since you are hydrostatic.

MK Martin are good, think most common on the local lots, Tidal Tractor and Fort Equipment carry them.

 

[Jims1025R]

Buy a blower just wider than your wheel width, not too much more. Unless you find a nearly never used used blower, buy new. I have found that used blowers are often really used! I don't think there are deals on used blowers, they are worth what their condition indicates. If you like rebuilding projects that's fine, but this is not the time of year for a blower rebuilding project!

I have been very impressed with Bercomac:

https://us.bercomac.com/taxons/category/snowblower/snowblower-for-for-compact-sub-compact-tractors/3-point-hitch-category-1

 

[chim]

I had a Provovost Puma 64" that worked well. To get a wider path, I fabbed a pair of reinforced bolt-on wings. For the areas I clear, the blower wasn't the answer. It was replaced with an "underslung" mounted 8' Fisher plow from a truck.

 

[JJT]

For the past 23 years I've been running an 80" blower on a 37 horse HST tractor that's 62" wide. Perfect size for me.

 

[John_Mc]

I had a Provovost Puma 64" that worked well. To get a wider path, I fabbed a pair of reinforced bolt-on wings. For the areas I clear, the blower wasn't the answer. It was replaced with an "underslung" mounted 8' Fisher plow from a truck.

Chim -

Can you explain what the advantage of an "underslung" plow is (as opposed to just mounting the frame directly on the SSQA)? Is it just that it lets the blade float more easily than if it were mounted directly on the FEL arms?

I've been debating getting a plow for my tractor fro years now, but never made the jump.

 

[Captain Dirty]

. . . the advantage . . . Is it just that it [an "underslung" plow] lets the blade float more easily than if it were mounted directly on the FEL arms?

Exactly. For a more thorough discussion of the geometry, listen to this guy:

.
Admittedly, it is a sales pitch, and I bought into it. With the blade floating I can steer without playing with the FEL; with the blade locked, I can steer only by lifting the blade enough to transfer weight to the tractor front wheels. DIY fabricators can achieve the float with the "underslung" method using a pick up truck plow frame as Chim did.

 

[sheamus]

The local lot here has a 68" meteor for $4100, and a brand called renegade at 68" for $3300. The meter adds adjustable skids, seems like a thicker paint, and the chute crank seems to operate much smoother. But at the price diff, and for personal use only I think the renegade would be fine. I'd be doing our driveway 3-10x/year and probably around the yard about the same. But the 64" Frontier at $3600 is likely best deal new (no taxes on it too). I am going to reach out to Bobcat too, and see what their prices are; I have a 15% discount card for an attachment when I bought the tractor. Anyone know who makes bobcat snow blowers (I think it used to be RAD)?

Marketplace has a 10 y/o 68" meteor for $2300 that has been stored outside, but used "lightly". But I think at that price, I'd rather just go with the new Renegade. I worry about the rusting aspect in this part of the country.

 

[PILOON]

Chim -

Can you explain what the advantage of an "underslung" plow is (as opposed to just mounting the frame directly on the SSQA)? Is it just that it lets the blade float more easily than if it were mounted directly on the FEL arms?

I've been debating getting a plow for my tractor fro years now, but never made the jump.

Underslung results in a straight line push while mounting onto the FEL arms tends to create a lifting action as the pivot point is high up and that takes weight off of your steering.

You'll observe that on plow truck blades they always provide 3-4 mounting holes provide adjustment.

Old time tractor plows often had long pusher rods/tubes that clamped onto the rear axle housings which solved that straight push geometry.

 

[CH4Ohio]

The local lot here has a 68" meteor for $4100, and a brand called renegade at 68" for $3300. The meter adds adjustable skids, seems like a thicker paint, and the chute crank seems to operate much smoother. But at the price diff, and for personal use only I think the renegade would be fine. I'd be doing our driveway 3-10x/year and probably around the yard about the same. But the 64" Frontier at $3600 is likely best deal new (no taxes on it too). I am going to reach out to Bobcat too, and see what their prices are; I have a 15% discount card for an attachment when I bought the tractor. Anyone know who makes bobcat snow blowers (I think it used to be RAD)?

Marketplace has a 10 y/o 68" meteor for $2300 that has been stored outside, but used "lightly". But I think at that price, I'd rather just go with the new Renegade. I worry about the rusting aspect in this part of the country.

The advice about getting it wide enough to cover your rear tires is spot-on.

I can vouch for the Frontier SB1164. I had one and it worked great on a 30HP Kubota. I sold it in excellent condition to a friend when I bought an 84" blower to put on a bigger tractor.

Around here you can find barely used snowblowers. Lots of people panic buy one AFTER a bad winter and never really put any hours on them. I'm sure that's less true the farther north you go.

 

[5030]

Just fab up a set of wings for the blower from 1/4" steel with gussets. Issue solved.