Snowblower/rear blade ??

[WCarlson]

I use a 59 inch front mounted blower and wouldn't trade it for anything. It allows me to clear my 270' drive plus the turn around area at the garage in about 15 minutes regardless of the amount of snow. Last year was light, we only had 152 inches. Two years ago we had 192 inches so my requirements are a bit different than yours, however, if you can afford the blower they have a lot of advantages.
Bill

 

[fom]

Good grief with that much snow I should be talking to you and 755inNY about snowmobiling and not tractors.LOL.

 

[WCarlson]

Snow mobiles are big here, but the best area is the Tug Hill plateau about sixty miles North of me. They get about three times what we get here. It is the snow mobile capitol of New York.
Bill

 

[TheKid]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Some have posted that they bolted on a piece of rubber along the bottom edge of thier rear blades to protect their driveways from damage. Among other things, horse mats which are relatively cheap have been sliced into strips and used. I am not sure how durable they are, maybe someone who has done this can give us a report. )</font>
I've been thinking about what I was going to bolt to my FEL when I use it to clean snow off my driveway and came up with this idea. I'm going to use a piece of recycled 100% plastic deck board. For $33.00 I can by a 1X6X12 and make three scrapers that will fit my bucket. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cort]

Keith,

Do you mean the fake lumber stuff that people use for decks?

- Cort

 

[rambler]

Do you know anyone with a round baler that replaced the belting? That would make a soft edge.

The decking is really kinda brittle, don't know how it will last in cold weather.

--->Paul

 

[r0GuE]

I've gone 2 winters just using the FEL itself with the metal edge. Boy does it ever peel the ice away nicely. I do have to be carefull when transitioning to the road though. Slightly tilted up and be sure the main arms are in float.

 

[TheKid]

Yep, the fake stuff for decks. I thought the solid plastic boards made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) would work best. I didn't know if the ones that are made using a mixture of plastic and wood fibers be strong enough.

 

[Dutchman]

One thing to take into consideration is wind. If you live in an area where the wind will impact your snow removal I would seriously consider a blower. I have a blade at the moment and as soon as I can afford it ,I'm going to get a blower. Here's what happens to me. I use the blade and it makes small banks. The banks act as snow fences and trap or drift more snow. I then use the FEL to move the banks back as much as possible. It is a never ending battle. My neighbor uses a blower and because the snow thrown is more evenly distributed over the deposit area, drifting isn't nearly as much a problem.

Dutch

 

[fom]

I appreciate all of the knowledgable responses.I can't seem to find a 3pt rear blower for much less than $1,800.With the 3-4' of snow we get per year it sounds like a medium duty 7'blade is the best option.Some of you imply that you need a strip of material attached to the blade edge to keep from gouging the blacktop.Some of the posts state that you definitely don't.What conditions/circumstances make the difference?