steelfan, I also use the loader/blade (7ft) combination. The loader alone is no good 'cause except for the first pass it won't windrow the snow but works great for stacking the snow as the winter progress's and you run out of room. If you get at least a medium duty it's also heavy enough to be pretty good ballast. I do a fair amount of loader work with the blade and it works fine. If I really max out, (which I can with wet sand), I could use a little more weight back there but if I'm careful and slow the blade is enough.