Snowblower PTO Mounted Forward Pull Snowblower

[beenthere]

Is that little toy truck about 3' away from the camera?

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I like snow, but would have a hard time with that much. It looks like the UP Michigan one winter when there was 8' on the ground.

But you are right, that was just a light snow in my pic, but it was just to show the plow. It will push a whale of a lot of snow though. Much more than I ever imagined, and the width is 7½' so it makes a guick job of my long drive. Tractor hardly gets warmed up.

 

[Dutch445]

I can't imagine dealing with that kind of snowfall. North of me, last year,, one town had 7' in one storm. 84"! Needless to say,, we've been selling a lot of snowblowers to people from that area!
I sell a lot of tractor mounted blades also, they are handy, and the ability to use them up in the air is nice also for pushing the tops of banks back. The only problem is when it's windy, if somebody lives out in the open, any snowbank becomes a snowfence which leads to higher drifts. If somebody can blow the snow away from the driveway, it can help reduce drifting somewhat, at least until there's 4 or 5 feet on the ground,, then it doesn't really matter.

oh man, it's almost that time..
time to get the sleds running i guess..

 

[beenthere]

I hear what you are saying. I move all my snow to the downwind side when plowing. I keep the wind side low as possible, and even cut it down when it gets high, and move it across the drive to the downwind side. As you say, raising the blade 6" or so and trimming off the 'windrow' of snow piled up is easy to do with the blade. Also, when really bad, just dozing it back away from the drive works, but takes some time. All requires some room along the drive to move and maneuver the snow. I have plenty of room. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

But along the lines of this thread, a CUT with 4wd and chains doesn't move easily through snow that is very deep. Maybe a level snow of 6, or 8" at best. Breaking through deep snow going cross-country with a blade can be done, but it takes some work and some time.

 

[trlong]

Dutch445, et. al.

What have I started here /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Headed to the J.D. dealer this afternoon to see what I can negotiate (bringing my 1st born if I trade on a front blower /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Maybe when the real snow starts this winter, we should start a thread of just pic's of clearing what we consider more than a "dusting". Will check for some pic's when I get back from work today.

 

[Von]

Last year I made the switch from a 5 ft. rear blower and FEL to a 5 ft. front blower for my B2710. I too was worried about not having the loader, but after the winter we had last year (over 150" of snow) I am so glad I made the switch! I had no problems with drifts that were 3 ft. over the top of the blower! Never had a need for the loader that the blower could not handle. (Well thats not totally true, I could have used the loader when I took the tractor in the woods to get my deer out. Had to drag it with the tractor instead of putting him in the bucket!) Only thing is its too fast! I just get going and I'm done! Its much faster going forward than backing up. Good luck in picking the best blower for your needs. Von

 

[Dave___in___CT]

Hi...


How about doin' what truck drivers do goin' backwards...

Use good size side mirrors...

May take a while to get comfortable/good at it...

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif


Dave...

 

[beenthere]

I talked to a fellow once who was changing from a rear blower to a front blower. His complaint, because he had a long drive that had turns along a side hill, was his 'fear' of turning on the curve when he was on the outside edge. The front of the tractor would come around quite a ways, and he worried that he would lose it over the edge. Said he had to run the front wheels into the snow, and it didn't turn easily.

After getting the front blower, he said all that problem was gone.

 

[Dutch445]

Hey VON,
Nice tractor picture you have there!
I bet it's the first Zamboni tractor on the board!

What kind of drive system is in those zamboni's anyway? obviously it's all wheel drive, but do they have locking diff available for the really tough cleaning job? maybe for going outdoors to dump the snow?

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[trlong]

beenthere, and all,

Thanks for all the great input. I finally bit the bullet today and ordered the front blower (JD) and a rear blade. Although a few locals, and the parts Manager at the dealer swear by that blower, I'm a bit concerned that the 47" blower is at least an inch shy of my wheel base on either side. So, figured I can clean up some of the edge by angling the rear blade 15 deg. (as it will extend about 4 1/2" beyond the rear wheels, both sides). As I need the blade for other uses, I'll keep it on for the winter to push the dirt, stone, and nasty snow pile out of the end of the driveway, after the town truck plows me in. I don't want to jam the blower by trying to eat 3"-4" stones.

Will post some pic's when I get the equipment and we get the 1st good snow.

Thanks again... Tom

 

[PILOON]

I purchased a 60" pto driven front mount setup that I reconverted to conventional pto installation simply to keep the FEL free.
If anyone wanted to have his blower up front I have the kit available.
It is a HD installation made by Bervac (Cdn cio that is big in blowers)