Snowblower Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear

   / Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear #11  
I've got a 1600' drive.
I got a great used P620 Pronovost. I don't really mind backing so far.
I also have a plow for the front bucket and a 4x4 atv /plow for the "little" stuff.
I might add , the rear blower at $850 vs. $4000 for the front was a big influence.
GrayBeard
 
   / Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear #12  
I switched from plowing snow with a tractor to plowing snow with a truck to blowing snow with a rear mounted blower and the blower is my tool of choice.

Mine's 78" wide, I have an 800' drive and can be done in under 30 minutes, no matter how much snow we have.

I don't have any issue with the rear mount, I sit sideways.

The FEL is great for cleaning out the mailbox area and in front of the garage, as well as piling up some hills for the boys to play on. I'd never give up the fel for a front mounted blower, (even if I could afford the front blower.....).
 
   / Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear #13  
I've had both & I'd prefer the front mount blower if the higher price is acceptable to you. The 3ph blower does have advantages. It's cheaper, a little easier to attach to the tractor, & you get to keep the FEL on. But I blow snow for 5 or 6 hours at a time & sure do prefer to do it facing forward. I have a scraper blade mounted on the 3ph in Winter & the combo of the 72" front blower & the scraper blade is best, in my opinion. I don't miss the FEL in Winter, but I can see how some folks might.
The most important thing when getting a tractor & 3ph blower is to be sure the tractor has sufficient gearing choices in reverse. If the tractor has a manual transmission with only very limited reverse choices you'll be forced to go a lot slower than you could. My current tractor, a NH TC40D with hydro transmission & the NH 72" 716B front mount blower, gets the job done in half the time it took with my previous rig, a JD 950 with 3ph blower and only two reverse gears-- "Too Fast" & Too Slow"
More horsepower with the NH, true, but the most important difference is the old manual JD tranny with only 2 reverse gear choices forced me to go slower than I could have most of the time.
My advice would be to 1st of all get more horsepower than you think you need & a hydro tranny. If the $$ difference in the front vs rear blowers matters a lot, then go for the 3ph blower. It'll work fine. If you can afford to spend the extra $$ to be a little more comfortable, get the front mounted blower.
 
   / Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear #14  
I have a rear mount Meteor on my JD4010 and I love it. No regrets. I clear about 500 ft of driveway in no time at all. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
   / Snowblowers: Front vs. Rear #15  
I use a Blower on a Cub 3204 which is my favorite snow removal tool. Its my favorite because a front mount blower for my JD 4100 is close to $4k new. It would be real nice to have the 4100, a heated cab and front blower, and I'm sure most folks would agree /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
In my opinion any of my 3pt attachments give me a twisted neck...its a trade off I guess...I prefer to look foward however!!

Duc


Front Blower on Cub 3204 Garden Tractor

Cub 3204 Blower

JD 4100 FEL & Rear Blade
 
 

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