Front or rear mounted snowblower attachment??

tarscraper · Jun 15, 2005

Thanks for all of the good info. Just for the record I do not have a MMM. I am going to do a little number crunching and do the ride up and down the driveway a few times backwards. Thats a good idea.

You guys had to bring up the cab...hehehe now i want that too!!

Appreciate it!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

frank_f15 · Jun 15, 2005

if i needed a snowblower, i would have to opt for the front blower(although much more $$$) but i could not see driving backwards all the time. i move a lot of snow and just use my FEL and Back blade, but of course i am not doing 500 ft. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Junkman · Jun 15, 2005

( .............You guys had to bring up the cab...hehehe now i want that too!!

Appreciate it!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

You don't need a cab........ cabs are for wimps, not real Kubota tractor men. Just show them how tough you are and fore go the cab. Besides, with heat, it will just be so comfortable that you will be wishing for snow more than the school children looking for a day off.... You don't need or want a cab..... Keep saying that to yourself for a week and I am sure that you will be able to convince yourself of it.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MadReferee · Jun 15, 2005

( You don't need a cab........ cabs are for wimps, not real Kubota tractor men. )

Finally, Junkman has said something that makes sense. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Of course I don't need a cab, I have kids who will do the work for me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

beenthere · Jun 15, 2005

""The negative to plowing is as the winter goes on, your driveway narrows with each snow fall - you're not left with anywhere to push the snow. Also, traction can be a problem if your pushing alot of wet, heavy snow, specially up any kind of incline."" KubotaOne

This hasn't been a negative for me, nor a real situation. I bank all the snow to one side of the 600' drive (that is 12' wide) on the downwind side, and if it gets up to 3' high, I cut that bank off with the blade raised about 6-8" high. This moves the bank back where I have plenty of room, i.e. no buildings or fence to be pushing against. On the occasion this gets too high, then just pushing the bank straight back with the blade straight works very well too. In a real big storm, I can drop the plow off and quickly put the FEL with bucket on to carry the snow away. Now, it has been 3 years since I have had to even think about the FEL, but I'm ready. I put on chains only when the drive is ice covered (happened once last year with a heavy rain and freezing on.

I've only thought about replacing the plow with a front snowblower for the 35 years I have been plowing this drive with a tractor front plow. Because it would be considerably slower, I am not going to do it. Those few times I might have wanted a snowblower, I did resort to the bucket on the FEL.

There are different strokes for different folks. All can be happy with whatever way they want to play in the snow. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

robison · Jun 15, 2005

I have a bigger tractor and a smaller one. I've got a Deere GT235 with a 42 inch front mount snow blower. It works really well but if you have a lot of area to clear it's slow. Both because of the width and the fact that you can't run the machine really fast.

I have a Deere 4510 with a heated cab and a Pronovost 74 inch rear snow blower that will move all the snow you have, as fast as you can drive it. It will do a fine job of clearing the drive and the road, doing a mile in the time the little tractor takes to to 750 feet. And it's more comfortable.

My main driveway is maybe 400 feet long and the little tractor can clear it alone in 45 minutes or so. I guess it's a choice of speed, comfort, and $$.

I decided to go with the bigger rig and I'm probably selling the little blower now.

KubotaOne · Jun 16, 2005

( ""The negative to plowing is as the winter goes on, your driveway narrows with each snow fall - you're not left with anywhere to push the snow. Also, traction can be a problem if your pushing alot of wet, heavy snow, specially up any kind of incline."" KubotaOne

This hasn't been a negative for me, nor a real situation. )

beenthere,

I agree with your comments, and you're right there are ways to control the "narrowing" effect. Plowing can be the best alternative for some. We are located in ski country, dead center of the snowbelt, and it's not unusual for us to get a foot of snow a week. Add a few mild spells and then a cold snap and those banks get awfully hard real quick. I really think the decision should be based on drive layout and the amount of snow you get.

beenthere · Jun 16, 2005

Couldn't agree with you more. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Av8r3400 · Jun 16, 2005

Having tried a rear blade and the FEL for snow removal while my front blower was on order, I can see no useful reason to need an FEL in the winter unless you are cleaning a barn or other "farm" type chores with it. The front blower does everything the FEL can do with the snow only faster and better.

The "moving snow banks" argument doesn't hold water either. If you have the front mount blower (or rear mount) you won't have much for snowbanks because the blower will move the snow further away then just the edge. Also a properly adjusted snowblower will not need the FEL to return to scrape up the leftovers, it will have done it all the first time.

Yes, front snowblowers are expensive. But when it is all said and done the are the most efficient, fastest and ergonomic way to remove snow with a tractor.

tarscraper · 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.