Front or Rear Snow Blower?

grsthegreat · Jun 21, 2011

I live in north Idaho and had a 28 HP JD tractor and rear mounting snowblower that i used for some 8 years or so (i forget actually when i purchased the blower). The rear driving blower worked great in moving 18-24" snow piles, but bogged down in anything deeper. my problem with the JD was it only had 3 reverse speeds, and it was either too slow or too fast.

My new tractor is HST controlled, so i can set speed to conditions. i haven't Had it thru a winter yet, but due to neck and back issues (probably due to 8 winters of driving backwards) i recently purchased a loader mounted blower and rear power-pack from Quick Attach. They are kind of spendy, a little over twice the price of a good quality rear pusher model, but my back required it. I actually cant wait till winter

I also purchased an 84" blade for the smaller snowfall days (4-6") so i wont have to blow snow for 8 hours like i usually do. The blade moves it at least twice as fast.

RoyJackson · Jun 21, 2011

I don't have enough driveway or enough snow to justify a snowblower, but this one:
Skid Steer Attachments - Erskine Attachments, Inc.
is one of the neatest blowers I've seen.
There is a drive shaft running from the rear PTO to the front blower unit. Looks great, especially if you don't have a mid-PTO.

Grsthegreat has a cool blower too...but the price is definitely spendy!!!!!

crazyal · Jun 21, 2011

I have a front mount blower on my Kubota and wouldn't go to a rear mount blower. The sub frame can stay on the tractor if you want to use the fel but with the blower I rarely need it so even though in less then 5 minutes I can switch between the two it really doesn't matter. It costs more but it's worth it. Not sure about what model blower that fits on the 3200 but mine is extremely well built with very thick steel and grease fittings on every bearing.

johnems · Jun 22, 2011

I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow? I front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

90cummins · Jun 22, 2011

I live in Western Ma. and have had a rear mount 60" RAD on my 1720 for several years, very well built all bearings greasable.
In my opinion the rear mount makes the tractor much more versatile because the loader can be used to break down hard frozen banks and scrape the driveway down.
Living on top of a mountain and having my mailbox on a secondary road the banks can be 4 or 5 feet high and is very dense, heavy and hard after being rolled and pushed, the FEL can break them down for easier blowing.
The loader is very useful to do the final dressing up.
Another thing to consider would be hidden objects if you are not familiar with a particular area, use the loader first!
Looking and diving backwards does not bother me but that痴 me.
Lastly is cost, the rear mount is cheaper and can be mounted on any tractor.
Tim

leonz · Jun 22, 2011

johnems said:
I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow?, a front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

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The problem is power loss through gear reduction for front drive units except when snow casters are powered through
the rear PTO BUT the issues of lift for the snow caster limit its ability to chew at fresh snow banks and and frozen snow banks.

And the load the hydraulic drive snow caster encounters will affect its available power as the hydraulics rotate the gear box that
powers the impeller and the cross auger at the same time.

Unless you have a high flow hydraulic system with a largw reservoir a snow blower wil not work very well as the available fluid power
is limited in volume.

This is the reason a hydraulic pump tank unit that attaches to the three point hitch is available for the hydraulic snow blowers offered
by several manufacturers.

Fluid power losses affect the mid mount PTO as it also fluid driven as an attachment through the hydrostatic transmission
The propeller shaft delivers the rotary motion to the front mounted gear box which is typically a reverse rotation method
with chain drives or a reversing gearbox which also creates a further power reduction to the gearbox which provides
rotation energy for the snow caster.

And please understand that hydraulic power is lost through both heat and piping friction loss so that is another negative.

The price for a loader mounted snow blower and a hydraulic pump tank can start at $15,000 depending on the builder.

The rear mounted snow blower provides the most power as all the energy that is being delivered to the power take off is
being delivered to the snow blower gear box and the spur gear is rotating the cross auger at the same time with very little
power using the chain drive as the pass through shaft is rotating the impeller with massive amounts of torque from the gearbox.

grsthegreat · Jun 23, 2011

Yup, mine has a rear mounted 50 gallon, 3000 psi, 15 gal/minute rear hydraulic unit that powers the blower. the tractor itself could not power it. They are spendy, but i plan on living in snow country awhile so it will pay for itself. been here since 1996, not planning on leaving anytime soon. Lots of cold , wet winters ahead.

crazyal · Jun 23, 2011

johnems said:
I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow? I front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

As a rule of thumb gears and drive shafts are more efficient. There's a reason why cars and trucks use drive shafts and gear drive tractors have a little more HP than the same model in HST.

For the most part it's unlikely that you'll need the full PTO hp to blow snow. So either will work fine.

5030 · Jun 23, 2011

MIKE R said:
You can also get loader mounted snow blowers. They are powered from the PTO and the hydraulic unit mounts on the 3 point hitch. They have to have their own unit because the tractors hydraulics don't have enough flow. They are a little more expensive but are easy to hook up and use. John Deere has them for their tractors (made by frontier implements) but you can probably get one from you local dealer. I'm not sure if they make the size to fit the tractor you are looking at.

I don't mind using the rear mount snow blower but they don't have the scraping ability of one mounted on the front with down pressure from a hydraulic cylinder.

That's not true. The attitude at which you set the blower (angle) provides plenty of downward force as the auger pulls the snow in. You actually don't want a blower to scrape but leave a bit (1/4") or more of snow on the surface you are blowing because if the cutting edge of the blower contacts the ground, any object (gravel, kids toys, anything, becomes a missle). A blower is a wonderful machine gun and will destroy your siding, windows, car sheet metal or cause injury to animals or people if it throws objects.

I actually put skid shoes on mine to insure it would not contact the ground.

Front mounted truck plows have no doen pressure either. It's the attitude the blow is set at that makes it dig in, in to the depth of the skid shoes that is.

johnems said:
I have a question? Which has more power to blow snow? I front mount PTO mid mount snow blower or a front mounted hydraulic driven power like the quick attach type talked about in this thread. Years ago my dad taught me that shaft driven devices are better to transfer power to unit. Obviously hydraulic units have come a long way. Does any have experience using both and can compare the power for each. I currently own a Kubota 5030 with a cab. Thanks

I ran my Lucknow 72 rear mount with my 5030 and it's gradualted to my M9. I added some width with angled side sheets because I went up appreciably in horsepower (pto) from the 5030.

The 5030 was capable with the 72 in all but very deep, wet snow. The M9 throws 150 feet or better, depending on wind and is capable of cutting a 6 foot drift. I do our road every winter.

I'd never have a blower without a cab. An open station tractor and a blower is inviting frozen skin. A blower is miserable with an open station, rear or front mount. If I had an open station (I don't), I'd have a front mount blade or a rear blade. Never a blower.

I'm sold on Lucknow Blowers. I had a Land Pride prior to the Lucknow and the Lucknow is much better built, with heavier gage steel, grease fittings and adjustable drive chains. My lucknow will throw a cinder block, I knw, one reason why I don't want the blower contacting the ground and why I watch where I'm blowing. The Lucknow also has a cab controlled chute via the remote valve. I don't want to get out and get cold. I want to stay inside the tractor, where it's toasty and listen to Rush Limbaugh blather about something inconsequential to everyone, except him.

Don87 · Jun 26, 2011

5030 said:
That's not true. The attitude at which you set the blower (angle) provides plenty of downward force as the auger pulls the snow in. You actually don't want a blower to scrape but leave a bit (1/4") or more of snow on the surface you are blowing because if the cutting edge of the blower contacts the ground, any object (gravel, kids toys, anything, becomes a missle). A blower is a wonderful machine gun and will destroy your siding, windows, car sheet metal or cause injury to animals or people if it throws objects.

I actually put skid shoes on mine to insure it would not contact the ground.

Front mounted truck plows have no doen pressure either. It's the attitude the blow is set at that makes it dig in, in to the depth of the skid shoes that is.

I ran my Lucknow 72 rear mount with my 5030 and it's gradualted to my M9. I added some width with angled side sheets because I went up appreciably in horsepower (pto) from the 5030.

The 5030 was capable with the 72 in all but very deep, wet snow. The M9 throws 150 feet or better, depending on wind and is capable of cutting a 6 foot drift. I do our road every winter.

I'd never have a blower without a cab. An open station tractor and a blower is inviting frozen skin. A blower is miserable with an open station, rear or front mount. If I had an open station (I don't), I'd have a front mount blade or a rear blade. Never a blower.

I'm sold on Lucknow Blowers. I had a Land Pride prior to the Lucknow and the Lucknow is much better built, with heavier gage steel, grease fittings and adjustable drive chains. My lucknow will throw a cinder block, I knw, one reason why I don't want the blower contacting the ground and why I watch where I'm blowing. The Lucknow also has a cab controlled chute via the remote valve. I don't want to get out and get cold. I want to stay inside the tractor, where it's toasty and listen to Rush Limbaugh blather about something inconsequential to everyone, except him.

Lately everything has been extremely consequential, but with that aside.............I wouldn't trade my front mount blower for anything(cept a blonde and a 12 pack).............oops, did I say that?:laughing::laughing::laughing: