Snowblower Front snowblowers and Kioti

[johnsonauto]

Have you looked at the Mahindras? They offer front mount snow blowers on there tractors, and yes they are alot more expenssive than a rear mount, but much nicer than looking backwards all the time.
I think front mount aftermarket blowers run in the high 3's and up from what i have seen. Not shure about aftermarket for the kioti's though.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

If you're an older gentleman like myself, the back and neck don't handle being cranked around to see where your going if using a rear-mount snow blower.

And even if you're not an older person, doing that sort of thing on a regular, frequent, and extended basis will mess up your neck and back eventually.

I have a 1400 foot drive that's 15 feet wide for half the distance, and 25 feet the rest of the way. If the tractor won't handle a front mount snowblower running off a mid-PTO, it doesn't even make the consideration pile.

The only reasons why farm tractors have rear mount snow blowers is that the rear PTO was traditionally the only standard PTO. (That discounts the side PTO belt drive on the antiques) And because the blowers weighed so much it needed to be rear mounted for traction. You can offset the blower weight by making sure you have a rear weight box or backhoe installed just as you would with an FEL.

 

[GreenWannabe]

Erskine makes a front-mounted blower which is driven by a shaft from the rear pto, through a transfer case. You can see it on their website, Snow Blower - Front Mount - Erskine Attachments, Inc..

 

[smfcpacfp]

Even though the Kubota blower you mentioned was $2,800, you also need a subframe which would probably bring the cost to over $4,000.

As to the front blower...I guess it would depend upon how much time you have to spend blowing. I probably have to snow blow 40 times a season (20 to 30 feet of snow) and it takes about 40 minutes from when I start up my rig until it is put away. I couldn't imagine twisting my neck for 25 hours of blowing each year. It depends upon how much you value you comfort. Here is my rig - mid winter:

 

[brandoro]

I want to be like smfcpacfp when I grow up.
For years I thought the 3 pt snow blower was okay. Last year I guess I spent a little too much time looking over my shoulder, messed up my neck and upper back, so now I have a front mount snowblower on its way. Seems odd to be looking forward to a new snowblower in June but I still remember how long it took for my back to get over that. If your back is still young and flexible the 3pt blower will do the job, if you are not so flexible talk to someone who will get you what you want, after all, you are the one to decide what is "too expensive". That means way different things to different people.