How miserable is it to use a rear mount snowblower on an open station tractor?

[Bedlam]

One advantage to a blower if its a concern is the snow is gone. I have a dirt drive and this keeps it a lot less muddy come spring.I use a plow to make the banking and then use the blower to move them one or two times

 

[scesnick]

Another advantage of the blower is when your driveway is tree lined. There is only so much room to put the snow. After that you need to blow it down through the woods.
Not to mention when it gets REALLY deep, especially the drifts and even the backhoe can't plow it, the blower will easily blow the drift out of the way... Drifts are the main reason i bought my blower. I was sick of trying to pile up the snow with the backhoe..

 

[canoetrpr]

I would have shared RickZ's opinion until last winter. We had a LOT of snow and boy am I happy that I had the blower. I wouldn't give that thing up!

 

[Tig]

I have 600 meters of lane to clear. Wind is usually steady but the laneway winds along and there are buildings etc to consider when throwing snow. I used hydraulic chute controls to keep the snow out of my face. A cab would be nice but I won't be getting one any time soon.

 

[jaybrad]

For about 10 years I had a JD 755 with a 5' rear snowblower and a 5' FEL and thought it was the perfect combination. The snowblower was large enough to clear my driveway in a few passes, and throw the snow about 25' - then having the bucket was great for working around the mailbox, the propane tank, and the oil fill pipe.

I sold that tractor many years ago when I moved to a different house, with a smaller driveway and less property. But this summer I got back into tractor ownership, albeit with a smaller unit (Massey GC2310TLB), and this winter I will have a 54" rear snowblower and about the same size FEL.

I just wear a winter coat, hat, gloves, boots, and waterproof insulated pants - and it's fine. I have this neighbor who has a front mounted snowblower on his Kubota. He dresses like a combination of the Creature from the Dark Lagoon and the Michelin Man. His outfit is pretty dangerous because drivers are often distracted into hysteria when they see him all bundled up clearing the driveway.

But that's another post....

Jay

 

[DANOCHEESE]

It is not that bad, I know my fellow cheeseheads got a lot of snow last year. I use a heated visor on a snowmobile helmet. Plug it into the 12 Vdc outlet and the way I go. Of course after I blow the 2000 foot driveway I get to play with the snowmobile. We get some heavy drifts here so the blower is great to widen out the lane. I would'nt want to push those drifts with a blade.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I have no idea what y'all are talking about

 

[Rara Avis]

If anyone has experience with using a rear mount snowblower on an open station tractor...I would like to know what I can expect. Just how bad is it?

I've narrowed my tractor choice down to a smaller cab tractor, or a larger open station. In both cases I would choose a rear mount snow thrower for snow removal here in WI.

Thanks in advance,
Bob

Just like downhill skiing in Vermont...

 

[rfmr]

It's miserable! There isn't an OEM or after market for my tractor so I did this.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ng/95733d1203036944-plowing-rain-dscn3254.jpg

 

[jas67]

"I usually sit on the hood looking backwards with the steering wheel between my legs."

Anybody else wanna see a picture of that? I know I do! You guys are going to scare me right into buying a cab tractor. Sheesh!

LOL!!! Please post pictures! How hard is it to reach the clutch, brake, and gearshift?