Snowblower Pull vs. push rear snowblower

[MapleLeafFarmer]

ahhhh.... winter in Canada and the seasonal arguments about what is better.

- Front mount snow blowers
- rear mount pusher snow blower
- rear mount pull snow blower
- front snow box pushers
- rear blades
- etc...


now around the coffee table neighbor brings up another option that has been around for many years I didn't know existed. A bi-directional rear blower that can be either pushed OR pulled. From the tractor seat push a button and the blower changes from a rear push to a rear pull....

so does this put to rest the discussion on what rear blower is better (push vs. pull) with the combo being best?

Bi directional New Holland tractor with Pronovost PXPL snow blower - YouTube

Artix - 213 - YouTube

made in Canada:22 Artix Bidirectionnelle Snow Blower Head

Pic's of the storm ending now in Eastern Newfoundland Canada

 

[BoylermanCT]

Wow, that's a lot of snow you have!

I'm sure those bi-directional blowers cost a pretty penny!

 

[MAD777]

YIKES!!!

 

[radios1]

rear pull is better, unless you prefer driving backwards with the rear push!..

 

[metalbender]

Check out Paul Short's recent video on the Newfie storm. A rear pull wouldn't fare too well with all that snow. The convertible on the other hand would shine.

 

[metalbender]

Gets me to wondering if a regular rear blower could be converted.

 

[dennis103]

In my opinion with a rear snowblower, regardless of push or pull you are looking backwards most of the time. If you need the bucket at the same time, then you have no choice. You need a rear mount blower. (push or pull). If you don't need the bucket at the same time, I would go for the front mount. Especially if I was doing commercial accounts. Its a long day looking over your shoulder all day.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I just got hired to do a quarter mile driveway with 30" of snow on it or more later on this week. Without a push blower, my tractor would high-center in the snow and get stuck.

 

[oosik]

Holy carp - that's a LOT of snow. I used a rear push on my mile long gravel driveway for 25 years. That's 25 years of sore shoulders & neck. If I had that much snow.........I'd probably move to Florida. No, I'd be looking at a front mount( FEL ) blower for sure. Or one of those new Pronovost bi-directional for sure. I don't think that there is a tractor in this world that could handle that much snow with a rear PULL blower.

With the amount of snow you show in your pics - snow is not a game for you. Get serious, get something that will handle all that carp.

I just looked at the OP's pictures again. How strange - all that snow on the ground and barely a flake on the roof.

 

[PILOON]

Still recall a 30+ dumping when my plow truck had a 24" high blade.
All my drives were downhill (lakeside properties).
I raised my blade about 5 inches and plowed away the top half and returned for the balance.
Next I'd make repetitive side pushes going uphill as if I lost traction I'd have gravity help getting unstuck.
Even with chains and 4 x 4 you still get stuck under those conditions.
That was the day I decided a blower was the better tool.

 

[jrh009]

In my opinion with a rear snowblower, regardless of push or pull you are looking backwards most of the time. If you need the bucket at the same time, then you have no choice. You need a rear mount blower. (push or pull). If you don't need the bucket at the same time, I would go for the front mount. Especially if I was doing commercial accounts. Its a long day looking over your shoulder all day.

Agree, I went from a front mount 4' blower on an Ariens after thirdy years to a rear mount 6' on a 30 hp Montana. Needed the FEL, so no choice. Looked at pull and push, but settled on a push as you can clean into very tight spaces. After all the years of looking forward I don't have any regrets about turning in the seat to look backwards. I have limited mobility so I twist from the waist and rest an arm on the fuel tank.

Mind you I have a small area to do, approx 500' of drive, but we get a lot of snowfalls and often.

 

[shooterdon]

The best is different and that is important to consider when giving advice.

I deal with 120-140 inches of snow a year. I like to have my FEL freed up for other duties. I have no room to store a large subframe. I do not like dealing with PTO's so I wanted something that goes on at the beginning of the season and comes off at the end.

If I faced 30-50 inches of snow I would definitely have selected another option.

If I had to deal with 200+ inches, I may have selected another option.

Are you just doing 100 yards of drive or 1/2 a mile? Any open areas that need clearing? Lots of curbs or planters or other obstacles to deal with? Place to push snow?

If I was 35 and full of piss and vinegar, I also may have selected something else. But I am old with a bad neck.

And then the reality of budget....I may not want to invest in the best.

No "best" for everyone as there are a slew of variables to weigh.

 

[ruffdog]

Holy carp - that's a LOT of snow. I just looked at the OP's pictures again. How strange - all that snow on the ground and barely a flake on the roof.

That is what high wind does in a blizzard. The wind blows it off the roofs and into low lying areas or dead air areas.

 

[ruffdog]

I only get the blower out when the snow is too deep to push with a plow. If it is too deep to plow, it's too deep to pull a blower through it so I use a push type blower.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That is a bidirectional tractor with the guy facing backwards in the video. I wanted one for a while, but the thing is really long and awkward. Put a blade on the front, and it's even worse. Nice having a tractor where you could drive over the plow mound if you felt like it.