Snowblower Pull vs. push rear snowblower

[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.