Rear pull snowblower

[LindyT]

Hello guys,



I recently purchased a 2005 L4330HSTC - loving it so far. Had 700 hours, but well kept and maintained and will of course continue to be so.

I bought the machine for rotary cutting 10 acres behind our home. I also bought it for plowing our driveway and the area around our 62x100 building -- all of which is paved.



My initial thought was attaching a plow on the FEL, but with heavy Michigan snowfall, you run out of room for the snow -- plus, the plow is just obnoxious to maneuver around the circle drive, etc without damaging the lawn. I'm exploring blower possibilities. I'd prefer to keep the bucket and FEL to manage drifts, firewood, etc. The idea of blowing all that backwards isn't appealing to me, so I believe I'm settled on a rear pull-type blower such as the Erskine.

The question is, are there any reasonably priced alternatives to the Erskine? I can't see paying $7-8k for a snowblower for non-commercial use. I've come across the meteor unit, but haven't found much information about them.

Any insight would be appreciated and any thoughts on the rear pull from people who have used them in Michigan (or equiv.) winters would also be welcome. Naturally, one should expect to stay on top of snowfall - which with a heated cab, I don't think I'll mind doing -- a good escape from the wife and kids.


Thanks in advance!

 

[20 20]

I allways thought the pull style snowblower/thrower was goofy. If the snow is deep how is driving into it going to do anything? Now the tractor is stuck or just can't go through the snow, blower becomes obsolete, just my opinion. I bought a brand new blower last year for just over 1200 3pt style but I have to go backwards. I found it's not all that big a deal and I don't have to worry about getting stuck. I still have the FEL if needed.

 

[ericher69]

Hello guys,

The question is, are there any reasonably priced alternatives to the Erskine? I can't see paying $7-8k for a snowblower for non-commercial use. I've come across the meteor unit, but haven't found much information about them.

Any insight would be appreciated and any thoughts on the rear pull from people who have used them in Michigan (or equiv.) winters would also be welcome. Naturally, one should expect to stay on top of snowfall - which with a heated cab, I don't think I'll mind doing -- a good escape from the wife and kids.

Thanks in advance!

Meteor are good solid build snowblowers. Have not personally used one but have seen them used by co-workers and they like them.

Here is a video of one in action in some fairly deep snow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5dYUP7NInA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If you notice they are usually mounted to bigger tractors (probably for ground clearance issues)

Another nice thing with this type blower is that you can use as a box blade to pull snow away from buildings and cars then engage to blow the snow

 

[Dapolksjj]

Meteor are good solid build snowblowers. Have not personally used one but have seen them used by co-workers and they like them.

Here is a video of one in action in some fairly deep snow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5dYUP7NInA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

If you notice they are usually mounted to bigger tractors (probably for ground clearance issues)

Another nice thing with this type blower is that you can use as a box blade to pull snow away from buildings and cars then engage to blow the snow

I own one of these units here in northern Michigan. It's mounted on a JD 3520 and I've had no trouble with snow depths. It also handles wet snow well. In summary I am really pleased.

 

[JUBILEE1953]

What make do you own?

I own one of these units here in northern Michigan. It's mounted on a JD 3520 and I've had no trouble with snow depths. It also handles wet snow well. In summary I am really pleased.

 

[morrisond]

I've got a Lucknow 90" rear Pull that last year I ran on a JD5425 - Worked Awesome. I have a long Driveway and lots of space to clear, It's like your using a Zamboni when you look back and see your beautiful flat driveway with no tire marks.

I just got a JD4520 and will try it on that, it might slow down somewhat in the big stuff, but I never got close to getting stuck on the 5425. I also got a HLA 3600 84" Vplow Quick Tatch for the loader so if it's really deep I'll just put the plow down and clear a path while the blower cleans up everything behind me.

 

[RFB]

Have you looked into a Kubota front mount (drive forward) blower?

You will need a mid-pto to go with it, but driving forward is always easier.

Then put a rear blade on and you are a snow warrior.

 

[tcartwri]

With the amount of curves you've got there, the pull behind would be ideal. They are spendy though.

 

[kco]

With the amount of curves you've got there, the pull behind would be ideal. They are spendy though.

+1 on this. I have a similar layout with a drive-thru loop and long driveway. The pull-type greatly reduces having to look backwards. Although we get a lot of snow in my location it seems to never to dump more than 12" at a time (over the 9 years I've been here). My DK35 SE with the Meteor 75" pull-type easily handles it. Until last winter I used a smaller tractor and rear blade which required a lot of work in reverse. It was so hard on my old back that I had to quit plowing one neighbour's driveway. Thanks to the pull-type blower I'm again able to clear the large dumps from her driveway(another neighbour does the small ones with a quad) with no discomfort. I think the time I spend clearing has easily been cut to 1/3 what it used to be, and with NO back strain.

ERichter posted a link to a good video. Here is another one my dealer made for YouTube:

Snow Removal.mp4 - YouTube

As long as your tractor can get through the largest expected single snowfall a pull-type will likely serve you better (in my opinion) than a standard rear-mounted blower. The front mounted blower recommended by RFB will also serve you well but will be more expensive.

 

[94BULLITT]

You could get a regular blower and convert it to a pull type yourself.

 

[pane056]

Hello:

I bought an Eerskine about 8 years ago. Actually what I bought was a locally modified Erskine for rear pull. That was before Erskine started making their own.
I live near Lake City Michigan and we get our share of snow. If you can drive through it and the tractor has enough power it will blow it.

Good luck, nicholas

 

[LindyT]

Thanks guys! As a follow-up, I found a deal on an Erskine 725RP -- 78" rear pull unit. The problem is, the 05 Kubota manual shows the max width as 72" and max weight 720lbs. The weight of the 725RP is 1000#, even their 60" is 840#. The HP requirement for the Erskine is 30-50. My L4330 is 43HP and 36 PTO HP.

I'm almost wondering if the specs for "snowblower" are intended for a rear PUSH blower and if I could COMFORTABLY get away with the 725RP. It's going to be a bummer if I have to drop lower as the blower will not clear the path behind my wide turf tires otherwise.


Thanks for any insight!

 

[rbargeron]

Your tractor will handle the 725RP just fine. No worries about hp or weight. You'll like that the blower is wider than your wheel tracks. When you draw along a fence or parked car, etc. you can get closer by watching the blower and not worrying as much about where the rest of your tractor is.

 

[kco]

The tractordata.com site shows your 3 point capacity as 2,760 lbs. That seems a more reasonable value. Also, you will have no trouble with the blower and your pto hp. I have no trouble with a 75" Meteor on my DK35 which has only 27.5 hp on the pto. Erskine is a great top of the line snowblower.

 

[LindyT]

I have an opportunity to get the Meteor 75" w/ hydraulic chute as well. The Erskine will work out to be $1,000 more. Is the Erskine worth that much more?

Thanks!

 

[Dapolksjj]

I have an opportunity to get the Meteor 75" w/ hydraulic chute as well. The Erskine will work out to be $1,000 more. Is the Erskine worth that much more?

Thanks!

The Meteor is a wonderful piece of equipment. You would not be sorry to save the $1000.

 

[Piston]

Lindy, did you end up buying a pull behind snowblower?

Some people mentioned modifying a regular rear mount to pull behind. I'd be interested in how that would be done???

 

[Dapolksjj]

Hello guys,

I recently purchased a 2005 L4330HSTC - loving it so far. Had 700 hours, but well kept and maintained and will of course continue to be so.

I bought the machine for rotary cutting 10 acres behind our home. I also bought it for plowing our driveway and the area around our 62x100 building -- all of which is paved.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=278797"/>

My initial thought was attaching a plow on the FEL, but with heavy Michigan snowfall, you run out of room for the snow -- plus, the plow is just obnoxious to maneuver around the circle drive, etc without damaging the lawn. I'm exploring blower possibilities. I'd prefer to keep the bucket and FEL to manage drifts, firewood, etc. The idea of blowing all that backwards isn't appealing to me, so I believe I'm settled on a rear pull-type blower such as the Erskine.

The question is, are there any reasonably priced alternatives to the Erskine? I can't see paying $7-8k for a snowblower for non-commercial use. I've come across the meteor unit, but haven't found much information about them.

Any insight would be appreciated and any thoughts on the rear pull from people who have used them in Michigan (or equiv.) winters would also be welcome. Naturally, one should expect to stay on top of snowfall - which with a heated cab, I don't think I'll mind doing -- a good escape from the wife and kids.

Thanks in advance!

Try a Meteor pull-type. I have one and have found it a very good implement. Cheaper than others I believe but sturdy. Consider a hydraulic operated chute. I had to figure a way to limit rotation to keep the snow off of me and the tractor. It no longer gets me!