Snowblower Front Mounted snowblower

[KevinMcD]

I am looking into buying a snowblower for my Kioti 30HP tractor. I haved searched the forums and there is alot of info on rear PTO blowers but not much on front mounted blowers. I have about 1500' of driveway I will be cleaning and think doing it in reverse will be a tough job. My questions are.... how are the front mount vs the rear PTO type, will a 30HP tractor with a 12GPM pump handle a front mounted unit and has anyone had any experience with the front mounted type? Thanks in advance.
Kevin McD.

 

[MadDog]

Kevin: I am sure that your tractor can handle a front mounted, but they are a good deal more expensive. Plus, with a front mounted. you can't keep your FEL on in the winter for moving the tops of any piles that are too high for the blower.

I have a B7800 (also 30hp) :and recently bought a Pronovost Puma rear mounted blower for it. In the snowstorm that we had two weeks ago, I did ten driveways. While not quite the equivilent of your 1500', I didn't find having the blower in the rear much of a hassle. I just sit sort of turned half way round, so that I can see what's going on and raise or lower the blower as needed for grade changes. I know that some people here consider the rear mounted uncomfortable, but I didn't find it so.

Hope this helps.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Kevin,

Do you have a mid PTO? if so, then a front snowblower can easily be added. If not, then a front blower gets a little more involved i.e.more $$$.

 

[RayMunising]

Erskine makes a commercial quality front mount snowblower that is driven off the rear PTO. The FM-601 model would be perfect for your machine. I'm told any dealer can order from Erskine for you. www.erskineattachments.com

 

[KevinMcD]

Thanks for the input. I went to Erskine website and liked what I saw. I will contact them after the holidays. I know that I am giving up the FEL with the front mounted blower but I think my driveway is going to be a pain to clear in reverse. I'll have to compare prices and maybe I can find someone with the rear mounted blower that I can try out. Here are a couple of pics to give you an idea of what I'll be clearing.

 

[Roger2561]

Kevin- If you go to the "Projects" postings area, you'll see a pic of an Erskine snowblower attached to my JD4500 tractor. I believe it is headlined "JD4500 with Erskine Snowblower". It'll give you an idea what it looks like. I have had this blower for approx. 8 years and I have probably put $100.00 in it regarding replacememnt parts. One of the teflon shields inside the blowershoot needed replacing and I once had to replace the chain that operates the auger. Other than oiling and greasing per directions nothing else needs to be done.

 

[MadDog]

That is certainly a healthy stretch of driveway. Also, what it appears that you don't have to deal with (but I do) is a cul-de-sac at the end where the town plow piles everything up. After a major storm, the pile of snowplow-compacted snow at the end of my road (and frequently right in front of our driveway) can be 4-8' high.

Although I have sufficient power to just drill into it with the blower I think that damage to the chute would result eventually, so I remove (or push back) everything above about 2 1/2' that has already been compacted, with the FEL before usng the blower on what remains and on everything that has not been compacted.

Since I frequently need to use the FEL, a front-mounted blower wouldn't work for me. Come to think of it, maybe I am just rationalizing not minding backing up. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[DickThomas]

Kevin; If you're looking at Erskine, take a close look at that website: That rear mount is a rear PULL type! Works going forward rather than 'pain-in-the-neck' style. That may be the option you (and I next winter after I build) need.
Dick Thomas
(Colo Mountain bound)

 

[HEC]

Like others have mentioned backing up doesn't bother me either and I do 700 ft. plus a parking area.I would never give up my FEL. and a good reason is ,we just got a snow storm, than rain ,than freezing rain on top of all that , that a blower could never touch.I would have been up the creek without a paddle if I had come home and faced that mess with a front mounted blower. My fel never comes off my tractor.Good Luck with whatever you choose as I know many folks love the front mounted blower.
Herb,

 

[RoyJackson]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Kevin; If you're looking at Erskine, take a close look at that website: That rear mount is a rear PULL type! Works going forward rather than 'pain-in-the-neck' style. That may be the option you (and I next winter after I build) need.
Dick Thomas
(Colo Mountain bound) )</font>

That's one heck of a snow blower, isn't it? I don't have enough drive to justify a blower, but if I did...that would be the one.
Even HEC could use that pull behind unit, since the tractor driving over the crappy stuff would break up any ice.