Front or rear mounted snowblower attachment??

Junkman · Jun 16, 2005

( Can anyone comment on the easy of install for the front mounted snowblower?

I have heard that getting it mounted to the mid PTO can be a real challenge. )

Please fill out your profile. My crystal ball indicated that you own a tractor, but without brand / model, there is no way to answer this question. Also, you mechanical aptitude has a lot to do with the level of difficulty. I know of people that can't wrap a sandwich and put it into a paper bag, but they own a tractor. For them putting any implement on is difficult.

techman · Jun 16, 2005

First let me throw in my 2 cents. If you have a long driveway, front blower the the best way to go. Costs more but is well worth it. As for a cab, I went 15 years w/o a cab. After I got my Kubota, I invested in a $ 100 vinyl "cab". It is like night and day. It has no heat, but just keeping the blowing snow and wind off of you makes the job comfortable enough that you don't mind it. W/O a cab I would be frozen and need to take a break at half done with my 2100' driveway, even with the best snowmobile cloths I could find. You are not moving much, and getting encrusted with snow the whole time.

As far as attaching the blower, the front hitch is a bit of a pain. I do it myself, and it is heavy and needs to be centered as you attach it, so you need to hold it as you position it (remember it is heavy). With 2 people it would be a snap. All of the other connections, shafts, etc are fast and easy. Attaching the blower to the hitch isn't much more complicated than driving the tractor a bit. All-in-all it takes me 1 to 1.5 hours to put the hitch on, attach the blower, and hook up the hoses, etc. The cab takes another hour to bolt up and mount.

One thing I made that was a great help was a 2'x3' dolly made from 3/4" ply and some HD casters. I put the blower on it and I can roll it around and line it up easily to the hitch. Also make parking it in the corner of the shed easy in the "off" season.

One more comment is I installed the highly inflated (price) chute angle and rotator options. (You can see a few threads here on DIY versions to save money) They are also well worth the money if you have a lot to blow and the season is harsh in your locale.

paul

tarscraper · Jun 16, 2005

I hope I entered my info correctly but if not. I am new to tractors. I have been reading a bunch.

Kubota B7500 4x4 HST 165hrs.
LA302 Loader
Woods Rake
Woods Cultivator
NO - MMM (Have mid PTO though)
Speedco quick hitch

Junkman · Jun 16, 2005

The only thing left to do is put a geographical location to your name. You don't have to give your exact city, but at least give us a general location including the state. If you live in a suburb of a larger city, then use that city if you feel uncomfortable in using the exact name of your location. That way, people commenting will have a general idea of the type of soil or weather conditions that you will experience. Both are worlds apart from upstate NY as compared to Maryland, or any other region of the US. TBN has members that come from all over North America and some from as far away as Turkey and Australia. While tractors are all alike, the land that they work is very different. That is why I suggest this last bit of information from you..... The snow fall in Buffalo is a lot different in volume than it is in Albany.... Junk..

tarscraper · Jun 16, 2005

This will do it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

frank_f15 · Jun 16, 2005

( I know of people that can't wrap a sandwich and put it into a paper bag, but they own a tractor. )

do you mean you are supposed to WRAP the sandwich Before you put it in the gunny sack? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

DHD · Jun 17, 2005

I just bought a B7800 with a 64" RM Snowblower.
I haven't used the snowblower yet but just have an
obsevation that influenced my purchase.

I tried out a B7510, B7610 and B7800 and for me it was more difficult to swing around in the seat to look backwards on both the B7510 and B7610.
The B7800 has more leg room and was much easier for me to look rearward, therefore a RM snowblower was a more viable option.

jim_wilson · Jun 18, 2005

The front mount vs. rear mount snowblower topic is something that has been covered numerous times here and in the end it really boils down to each individual users needs. After using my BX to clear snow this past winter using the FEL and a rear blade I managed to pick up a rear mount 54" blower right at the end of the season. I would agree with everybody that says a front mount is the best setup if you want a blower because you wont have to drive backwards. But for my specific case I feel a front mount blade is actually the best overall solution for clearing snow, but I also have a need for the FEL too - so I came to the conclusion that a rear mount blower, the FEL, and then a FEL mounted plow of some sort gives me all three options with relative ease of changeover. If I was to take the FEL off for a front mount blower I would have a long changeover time to go from blower to FEL and the rear mount blades don't work as well in deep snow as a front mount does. My driveway is in relatively tight quarters so the blower will mostly be used to take the banks of snow I pile up with the FEL and plow and blow them away from the house. I cant use the blower for the whole driveway because I would be blowing onto my neighbors house, hitting cars, etc.

Av8r3400 · Jun 18, 2005

"Down here" in north central Wisconsin, we often get "Lake Snow" off lake Superior. These storms can and will dump feet of snow at a time, too. So, I know your pain. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I have never seen a snow which my blower wouldn't get rid of many times faster than the FEL would, including the snowplow berms left in the driveway. (Mine is a BX , so if you are running a larger tractor with FEL, then that is a different story.) Having done both with my BX, I'll take the blower any day.

Fisherman's suit is a great idea. I use the old snowmobile garb including the helmet, until I can get some of Junkman's money for a cab. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman · Jun 19, 2005

( ............Fisherman's suit is a great idea. I use the old snowmobile garb including the helmet, until I can get some of Junkman's money for a cab. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Just send me your address and I will include you in my will... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif