Snow Need Opinions on Rear Mount Snow Blowers

[COR8RFAN]

Hi. New to the board and to tractor ownership. I bought a BX2350 this summer and am finding that the FEL is not as clean as my walk behind snow blower for removing snow. It is great for moving the big drifts, but I always have to come back with the blower to clean up. Thinking about buying a rear mount blower. The local Kubota dealer is awful proud of the ones he has ($$$$$). Was wondering if I could get input on what I should look for in a blower for my tractor and what brands out there are dependable and affordable. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[skippy957]

I always had a tractor with snowblower at the rear and never try one in front so I can't tell for sure but the set-up rear snowblower/FEL works very well. You can blow as well as pulling hard with FEL without the need to leave your seat to add or remove any attachments.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Cor,

If u can wait until the snow season is over u will find better deals in the spring and summer then now. I had a Puma 54" rear blower and paid $1K for it in May 02, that same blower was selling for $1500 in the winter, it pays to wait sometimes. Call around and look on the Internet, I am in NJ and found this deal in Mass, a few hour drive saved me $500.

As far as type most are made from our friends up North of the border. Mfg like Pronovost, Metor, are 2 I see in the east.

PRONOVOST-PUMA SNOWBLOWERS

 

[rbargeron]

A large snowblower will generally not do quite as clean a job as a walk-behind. But it will do a bettter job than the FEL. Finding a good deal on a blower works better if you're not in a hurry. One thing that works pretty well for me is to search eBay for tractor attachments and then search that list for snowblowers. I found a 7-foot rear-mount blower listed there - drove about 75 miles to pick it up. It was in great shape and really inexpensive (around $300 I think). Snowblowers don't get very much actual running time so mechanically they are good for many years. When they get looking rusty they can go cheap, even though they still work perfectly. As mentioned by Yankees Fan, they are even cheaper in the spring. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an old one - many were made like tanks and will run forever. The rear-mount blowers are simple machines and I can't remember ever hearing about a badly made one. BTW the front-mount in my avatar is an Erskine. This type is less common and involves more machinery because the pto connects at the back of the tractor.

 

[COR8RFAN]

Thanks for the feedback, all. Was wondering what I should be looking for in size, etc. Is there a rule of thumb that the width should be wider than your tires, etc. I am not in a hurry since I do have my other blower, so can wait on a deal, just trying to get educated on what works best with the BX2350. Also, are the Kubota brand blowers really worth the $3,500 + they are asking for? Thanks again.

 

[ByronBob]

I have a BX2230 with a 51 inch Meteor on it new to me this fall. The tractor doesn't seem to have any issues with this size as it works well. You need the FEL on the tractor for ballast. Without it the front end almost lifts off the ground.

I think you need to ask yourself if the RMSB would be adequate for what you need it for. Would you ever need to use the FEL in conjunction with the RMSB or would just a snowblower be enough?

As for the front mount. I've never heard anyone complain about it. But cost does come into play. In my case I need both the FEL and RMSB to keep my driveway open so it was a no brainer.

My cost in September for the 51" Meteor was about $1700.

 

[rbargeron]

....Is there a rule of thumb that the width should be wider than your tires.........

Yes the cleanup quality will be better if a RMSB is a few inches wider than the outside of your rear tires. Width also affects weight - but with your FEL mounted that should help balance a wider unit. Power requirements are affected by width but can be regulated with ground speed. You'll see alot of preference at TBN for the blower being wider than the wheels.

 

[COR8RFAN]

Thanks, Rbar! I am such a noob with this stuff, but learning quickly. I have a small 2.5 acre lot in a pine forest here in Colorado with about 200 yards of driveway or so. I live off a divide in the Rockies where all the storms come through and got tired of clearing 5 foot drifts with a walk behind blower and a shovel and knocking down weeds with a string trimmer (broke two sliding glass doors with it too). Took the plunge on the tractor and am loving it. Just need a better way to clear the snow then just the FEL. Saw the prices of the Kubota brand blowers and about fell over. Hopefully the other brands mentioned are compatible and less than half the price.

 

[COR8RFAN]

I always had a tractor with snowblower at the rear and never try one in front so I can't tell for sure but the set-up rear snowblower/FEL works very well. You can blow as well as pulling hard with FEL without the need to leave your seat to add or remove any attachments.

Skippy,

I noticed you have the same tractor I do. Can you tell me more about the model blower you have in the picture. Did you have to buy a conversion kit for the hydralic chute controls? Also, what is the make and model of your cab? Thanks.

 

[lp333]

... Thinking about buying a rear mount blower... Was wondering if I could get input on what I should look for in a blower...

I like to have both a blower AND a loader working in tandem when I am moving snow. Presently, I am using a reversed snowblower mounted on the 3PH of my BX24. Reversed or Inverted blowers are not common. However, I find them easier and more pleasant to operate than the conventional 3 point units that require you to back-up while blowing. The inversed design also has the advantage of doubling as a type of boxblade to scrape the driveway or to pull snow away in tight areas.

At the link below, you will find a couple of photos of my AgroTrend 3PH snowblower (posted by STEF). The photos were taken when I still had my BX23. The chains provide unbelievable traction under severe winter conditions, and especially on those icy slopes around my home. This particular reversed unit is model # C48PBH. Although this is the smallest model at 48" wide, larger models are also available.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-snowblower-3.html?highlight=AgroTrend+C48PBH