Front vs Rear Snowblower

[rbargeron]

I've used a rear-mount backup snowblower for a few years. Except for having to turn sideways in the seat, I like how the rear-mount works. I even made a drag blade setup for it last year.

This year an Erskine front-mount sorta fell in my lap so I've been using that one and trying to decide which is better. So far I can see each has its advantages. I think the backup style does a quicker and cleaner job on curved driveways. With the blower close to the rear wheels, it's easier to feed it around corners. Fewer passes are needed to complete the job.

The front go-forward style is definitely easier on the neck and is more convenient to control. On curved drives it seems to work better to cut a straight-ish path thru the middle first, then go back to clear the curves on each side. So it takes a bit longer. The front-mount is easier to sweep sideways in front of double-width garage doors, cutting down on the need for a drag blade.

So the jury is still out - maybe more people chiming in will be useful to others deciding which kind to get.

 

[Dmace]

Another big plus to my rear mount blower is that while snowblowing I can see directly in front of the blower so that I don't hit anything. With the front mount blowers, your sight distance is probably 3-5ft in front of the blower depending on the size. I have never used a front mount blower, but getting into tight areas with the rear mount is great. The steering is just like a forklift.

Also, how high can you lift the front mount blowers? I can lift my rear mount about 2ft or more off the ground. It makes it much easier to eat through snowbanks when you do the top half first and then the bottom. Just some food for thought...

 

[rbargeron]

.......Also, how high can you lift the front mount blowers? I can lift my rear mount about 2ft or more off the ground. It makes it much easier to eat through snowbanks when you do the top half first and then the bottom. Just some food for thought...

All good points Derek - the Erskine lift is limited to 8" - 10" off the ground. If it is adjusted to lift more, it would not drop enough below level to follow crowns. Other front-mounts may have more range but the pto shaft may dictate the range anyway. My rear-mount blower's frame is adjusted short so the pto shaft is unhappy if it lifts too high - I can raise the whole blower about 16". The drag blade can drop about 8" below the cutting edge. (sorta like the Pronovost PXPL)

 

[biffnh]

I have a Kubuta B7800 with a rear 5 foot snow blower and I love it. I have the FEL on and between the two items nothings gets in my way! My neck takes a hit after a few hours of operation, but the effectiveness of having both the FEL and snow blower at the ready make for effective snow control - especially with the snow piles that my F250 with 8 foot plow builds up during the storm. I take the FEL and break up the piles after the storm is over and then back into the loose pile and get rid of it.

 

[PILOON]

I have a Kubuta B7800 with a rear 5 foot snow blower and I love it. I have the FEL on and between the two items nothings gets in my way! My neck takes a hit after a few hours of operation, but the effectiveness of having both the FEL and snow blower at the ready make for effective snow control - especially with the snow piles that my F250 with 8 foot plow builds up during the storm. I take the FEL and break up the piles after the storm is over and then back into the loose pile and get rid of it.

I agree with above as well.

I had a frt mount rig and returned to rear mount but added a plow setup in place of my loader as I wanted some faster action for light snowfalls.

When snow is in the 4" range I do fast plowing to gather all the snow to one side of the drive and then blow that accumulation off to the boonies.
This results in two 'fast passes' and one slow blowing pass.

What many need to take into consideration is your tranmission type.
With clutch tractors you can well find that your drive speed is too fast for the blower to handle, hence rear blower may well be the only option as reverse is generally the slowest propulsion speed.

In my case both hi and low 1st in foreward are too fast for blowing any reasonable accumulation while in reverse I can handle anything.

Generally those who plan commercial snow blowing will order the tractor with a 'creeper' gear ratio.

Naturally hydrostatic transmission is the ultimate answer.

One important note; BE SURE THAT YOUR BLOWER IS AT LEAST 12" WIDER THAN YOUR WHEELS!

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have always had a front mounted blower. My neighbor has a rear mounted one which he doesn't like much because he constantly has to turn his head to work. His tractor only has a rear PTO.

My thought would be if you have to snow blow a lot (we get 20 to 30 feet of snow, so I am out to blow every other day for several months), the front blower is much more comfortable on the neck, I would imagine. If you have some obstacles to manuever around, the front blower makes that easier to see how you are doing. I haven't really had a need for the FEL. I am surrounded by tall trees so we don't get drifting.

 

[Dmace]

If you have some obstacles to manuever around, the front blower makes that easier to see how you are doing.

To me this is one of the biggest cons to a front mount blower, you cannot see the obstacles you are heading for as well as a rear mount. With a front mount blower, you cannot see the first 3ft or more directly in front of the blower, whereas with a rear mount blower you can see directly in front of it. Also, it is much easier to manuever into tight areas.

 

[smfcpacfp]

To me this is one of the biggest cons to a front mount blower, you cannot see the obstacles you are heading for as well as a rear mount. With a front mount blower, you cannot see the first 3ft or more directly in front of the blower, whereas with a rear mount blower you can see directly in front of it. Also, it is much easier to manuever into tight areas.

I wasn't thinking so much about things directly in front of the blower. I was thinking of things beside the blower such as steps that I am passing by, or walls. You are right, you can't see directly in front of the blower. I only do my driveway which I know quite well and haven't hit anything to break a sheer pin in probably 10 years.

In terms of manueverability, you probably are right. As I am having to look over my shoulder to see things, I am not so sure that the discomfort of the awkward position wouldn't offset, any visual advantage. I haven't ever used a rear mounted blower, so I can't be sure. But I know that I would never buy one in my current situation.

 

[hayden]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that with a front blower you lose your front loader. I like having them both on the tractor at the same time most of the time. Now keep in mind that I only have a rear snow blower so I'll do anything and everything to defend it's superiority even if it isn't....

Now I need to go put a hot pad on my sore neck....

 

[PILOON]

I don't think anyone has mentioned that with a front blower you lose your front loader. I like having them both on the tractor at the same time most of the time. Now keep in mind that I only have a rear snow blower so I'll do anything and everything to defend it's superiority even if it isn't....

Now I need to go put a hot pad on my sore neck....

Agree withe the hot pad! LOL!

I posted earlier on but what I neglected to add was that I had 'jury rigged' my 4' to work up front (quite well with an independant 16HP gas motor) and as another member mentioned, the forward vision is limited.

That 4 ft blower got trashed as I did not see a sizable metal object (gear box and one auger + auger shaft).

That is what led to the purchase of the 5' unit. which I promptly placed to the rear and added a plow blade up front.

Now I have the best of both worlds!

My loader bucket gets 'retired' in winter and replaced with the 6' push blade for the light snow falls.

Bucket to blade takes about 10 mins to convert as the loader arms remainin place. Simply the insertion of the 4 pins!

Next project:
To add a 'back blade' to my front plow for the 'close to the door work', but that's easy (when it gets warmer) last night was -28 deg cel.

 

[rico304]

I'm with Hayden! haha Defend defend defend, until you cannot defend anymore. haha
I have a rear mount and like the idea of keeping my bucket on. That being said, after spending time on my tractor looking backwards, I think a front mount might be nice. I really love mine though. Now, lets talk about those heated cabs!!!!!! (which I don't have!)

 

[MtIron]

Here is another option to think on. I purchased a used 48" Ariens front drive 2 stage blower a few years back and converted it by adding wings to make it 54". I had to use it on the rear to resolve the rotation direction issue. It still faces forward and runs off of the rear PTO. I used a chain drive that increases the speed about 1:2.5. I run at about 2000 engine RPM and that provides the ideal fan RPM of about 1900. It will blow snow about 20-40 feet depending on the type of snow. Best of all it never blows snow back on you 'cause it is behind the tractor (I rarely ever even change the chute direction). I can go through about 8" of fresh snow with no problems. It is on a B-2400 HST Kubota. Cost was a nominal $300 plus some iron for mounting, etc. I have a 6.5 foot Meyers blade with hyd. swing cylinders on the front that are controlled by using the loader bucket function. All in all it is a sweet deal for moving the snow we usually get. On occasion when there is a really big snowfall I just clear it several times as needed.

 

[Jerome]

after blowing snow every day this week for an hour and a half each with a rear blower my neck says front mount. Now i just have to get the wife to agree.

 

[rbargeron]

Well it's two months since the first post on this thread - and we've had a relatively "old fashioned" Massachusetts winter - several 8-10" snowfalls and some rain events that have made a frozen mess everywhere. Our town roads are not pushed back very well - not enough available manhours and only one piece of equipment heavy enough to plow it back.

My front-mount Erskine has done itself proud. It has kept the seven places on my rural road free of snow and high piles. Yesterday it even cut back and widened 1/2 mile of town road, while the operator (me) kept cozy inside the cab, er, tent. For my situation I think the front mount is the winner. The only drawback is it would do a neater job with side wings. The blower head is 72" wide and my rear tires are 76" overall. I'm thinking 6" on each side would be about right. A seven-foot Erskine would be perfect - maybe one will turn up. Anybody looking for a nice six-footer?

 

[Northland]

I agree with above as well.

I also agree with these gentlemen. I used a rear blade and FEL combo until recently when I had to buy a rear PTO snowblower because my snow banks got higher then the FEL would reach up to

While I love the FEL/rear snowblower combo I miss not having snow blowing in my face and all over me I never had that problem wity the rear blade

 

[JerryK]

Other than an Erskine, rear PTO'd front blower, another big plus to a rear blowers is that...... you can buy an older/bigger two wheel drive tractor and mount a rear blower....and blow lots of snow for very little money. Plus, add a set of chains, and it will go places that the littlier 4X4 tractors wouldn't dare to go. I have about $8 grand in my 5000+ pound compact 51ptoHP JD2240 w/reverser, and my blower cost me a little over $2K shipped in from Looney Land. You can hear the snow trembling as I approach.......

 

[Wyld Bill]

I am a noobie & I have never snowblowed a day in my life (yet) but why couldn't you just put mirror on the tractor for using a rear blower & save your neck?
That's what I'm going to try. It seems like it would be tough to stick to at first but once you got used to using the mirrors, facing straight ahead while going backwards it would be great. Just like being a truck driver.

I can't help but think of Mater on the movie cars LOL!

 

[Tig]

Bill,
I wouldn't be comfortable blowing snow in a mirror. Even if I could keep it clear of snow I would want a wider field of vision. I like to keep tabs on both edges of the blower as well as whats up ahead and coming from the side. I don't think I could do that without turning around. Maybe someone else has given it a try and can tell us how it worked out.

 

[Kendrick]

Now, lets talk about those heated cabs!!!!!! (which I don't have!)

I have but one thing to say MEOW.......

I wouldn't be comfortable blowing snow in a mirror.

Im putting semi truck mirrors on my tractor with metal housings to keep the branches at bay. I also plan to put one of those passenger viewer mirror things in place of the middle mirror. with factory mirrors properly adjusted I could do the job with some trouble. they are just to small. about the size of a class 3 truck. with the semi mirrors you have 2 sets 1 you can aim speciffically for the edges of your blower and one for the further range rear view. I am able to back down my windy/hilly drive with the blower running h1 with minimal trouble. buh bye 3" of powder fluff. 15 min and my job is done. I dont run with the bucket down at that speed. any other time though and it isnt much of a problem just remember to reverse your turns. I agree with the wings as well. mine is getting a pair to make it 80+" wide. if you get hit with about 6" your stuck at m2 or less though i have only needed grany for breaking through the walls at the side of the plough cleared area. 4'+

Some one mentioned they could not raise their blower very high due to pto length. mine goes up 3'? full raise. I specifically measured so that would never be an issue. lowest point is easily over 9" overlap so not a problem