Rear Inverted Snowblowers 2019

[oosik]

I have a mile long gravel driveway with a valley near the middle. If I get icing - I go to the top on each side and plow DOWN into the valley. I use a rear blade to clear my driveway. I have loaded rear tires and 4WD. Chains would be a definite help. I had to use chains when I had a smaller tractor.

I HATE CHAINS. It's one of the reasons I upgraded to a larger tractor. My M6040 with grapple, loaded rear tires and uber heavy rear blade - 10,100 pounds. Weight is king.

 

[razor]

I have 2 L6060 's with inverted blowers. I have been using Normands for almost 15 years. Normand and Pronovost are top quality commercial grade blowers(Not sure about the Puma series).I'm sure the Meteors would hold up fine for personal use but around here every contractor that used them quickly switched to Normand..
I run R4 tires and have only had a traction issue on one very steep driveway. I had tried Nokians and R1 tires and found no earth shattering difference. Last year I experimented running skid steer snow tires on the front of one of the tractors. Again no great difference..
If you plan on blowing a foot of snow on a regular basis perhaps an inverted blower is not the best choice. A L6060 will do it but if there are hills you might have a problem. Perhaps a standard rear facing blower might be a better idea. They are a bit cheaper also.

 

[LouNY]

With a rear mounted pull type blower I'd be tempted to not load the tires, but I do believe that you will find that you need chains.
When you do go with chains I highly recommend the Euro styles such as the Aquiline Talons or the TRYGG or some of the OFA's.
Those studded chains may look like they would damage your driveway more the some of the others such as the twist link street chains but because of the greater traction and lack of slip using those they will do less damage unless you sit and spin then any chain is going to mark up your driveway.

 

[Boondox]

With a rear mounted pull type blower I'd be tempted to not load the tires, but I do believe that you will find that you need chains.
When you do go with chains I highly recommend the Euro styles such as the Aquiline Talons or the TRYGG or some of the OFA's.

What do you use for chains on the front? I have Aquiline Talons on the rear which work very well, but in icy conditions the front end slides quite a bit. I've searched online but am not finding chains to fit my 8.00x16 R1 tires.

 

[LouNY]

My internet connection isn't working well today, but;
OFA makes a Tapio 9 which may come in that size or possibly some ofthe atv chains would be large enough.
I have some of the heavier TRYGG for my fronts but they are 11.2-24's. At times they are almost to much.

 

[shooterdon]

I was very hesitant to get a pull blower but my dealer talked me into it. Have not have a chance to use it but will update after the first few snowfalls.

As mentioned in the OP, a front blower necessitates a large sub frame (in my case at least) and removal of the FEL...both deal killers for my use as I move firewood on pallets. I have purchased a SSQA that allows me to mount my 3PH blade and landscape rake on the FEL. For light snows, I will try plowing snow to the center of the drive and use the blower to remove it. That will reduce wear on the blower and make it easier to back blade where needed. One downside of the pull blowers is leaving more space between the auger and a wall that cannot be reached.

I bought a 74" FarmKing unit, so it is not top of the line, but it was reasonably priced at $4000...about half of what a front blower would have been for my LS. I have 300 yards of road to clear and less than a 1/4 acre between the pole barn and house. Not a lot to clear but we get about 135" of snow a year.

I believe for many people, a beater plow truck is a good option. Mine cost $3500 and I used for 4 years and got $2400 when I sold it this year. If I did not live in a high snowfall area and/or had more space to pile snow, it is an inexpensive and versatile choice (can be used to carry stuff and as a second vehicle).

 

[metalbender]

I tried to blade the snow from the edge to the center to make one pass with the blower. Rude awakening, the drifted snow and angled blade shot me towards the ever so steep ditch. Pucker power at it's best. Two passes, half mile drive, lots of time just watching the mirrors.

 

[shooterdon]

I tried to blade the snow from the edge to the center to make one pass with the blower. Rude awakening, the drifted snow and angled blade shot me towards the ever so steep ditch. Pucker power at it's best. Two passes, half mile drive, lots of time just watching the mirrors.

I can see that happening with deeper snow and drifts. In that case, makes sense to blow and not plow. With 4 inches or less, the plow should not pull the tractor to the side much if the blade is not too aggressively angled. At I hope that is how it will work.

My tractor will weigh about 5500 lbs with the blower and front blade mounted. Hoping the extra wide turfs will help with traction, but may need to add chains to the front. Putting chains on the rear will be a nightmare.

 

[metalbender]

For sure, four inches of just fallen snow would pose no problem. Happens here on occasion. The usual here with the snow breaks in the form of bush, trees and some old straw bales, a few 200 yard long drifts, two ft high, hard enough to drive the wheels up onto. Much different than heavily wooded areas where the snow comes to an obstacle and settles to create a drift. Members here from the Dakotas, Montana and states in the northern plains region know the drill.

 

[leonz]

I can see that happening with deeper snow and drifts. In that case, makes sense to blow and not plow. With 4 inches or less, the plow should not pull the tractor to the side much if the blade is not too aggressively angled. At I hope that is how it will work.

My tractor will weigh about 5500 lbs with the blower and front blade mounted. Hoping the extra wide turfs will help with traction, but may need to add chains to the front. Putting chains on the rear will be a nightmare.

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Is the snow chains nightmare because of a narrow spacing between the inner side wall and the fender on your ls tractor??