I know its the wrong time of year to ask about snowblowers but I'm currently in the market for a tractor and I would like to buy the attachments at the time of purchase on the tractor. My question is can anyone give me some insite on how well the snowblowers work. I llive in S/E Michigan and we don't get the snowfalls as they do in Northern Michigan. My house sits on top of a hill and would have to move snow down and up the driveway. The driveway is gravel and about a 1/4 mile long. Any help or tips would be appreciated...
Snowblower Snowblowers
- Thread starter sman322
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Craig Clayton
Platinum Member
This is the best time to start the thought process about snowblowers. There will be none in stock but the specs are there. Your tractor hookup will be what decides the type of snow blower. Rear blowers are hard on the neck but easy on the pocket book.
Craig Clayton
Craig Clayton
oldnslo
Super Member
If you get a rear wheel drive tractor the 3-point or rear mount blower is the only option to consider. It puts all the weight on the drive wheels.
If you get wet heavy snow get a two-stage blower, they work much better. With gravel drive also get a blower with height adjustable wear shoes or skids. This helps reduce the amount or gravel you try to put through the blower.
You may be surprised on what is in stock. I have seen some sitting by dealers.
Roy
If you get wet heavy snow get a two-stage blower, they work much better. With gravel drive also get a blower with height adjustable wear shoes or skids. This helps reduce the amount or gravel you try to put through the blower.
You may be surprised on what is in stock. I have seen some sitting by dealers.
Roy
dmay
Gold Member
Be careful that the tractor and snowblower are a good size match for PTO HP and max tire tread width. Getting a snowblower that is too small for your tread width is close to useless. Too big and a heavy snowfall may be too much for your PTO HP to operate efficiently.
Front snowblowers require an optional $$$ front mount and PTO and usually mean your loader gets removed for winter. There are some loader mounter hydraulic snowblowers but this is typically for larger tractors. Do you need your loader in winter? If yes, go rear blower. Rear snowblowers use your 3PT and rear PTO so are cheaper overall, but then you need to drive backwards. You might find this ok or a PITA.
Snowblowers are great when snowfall is heavy. For light snow a blade is much quicker. I recommend you consider both blade and snowblower. Up to you which end gets what attachment.
Darrell
Front snowblowers require an optional $$$ front mount and PTO and usually mean your loader gets removed for winter. There are some loader mounter hydraulic snowblowers but this is typically for larger tractors. Do you need your loader in winter? If yes, go rear blower. Rear snowblowers use your 3PT and rear PTO so are cheaper overall, but then you need to drive backwards. You might find this ok or a PITA.
Snowblowers are great when snowfall is heavy. For light snow a blade is much quicker. I recommend you consider both blade and snowblower. Up to you which end gets what attachment.
Darrell
JDGreenGrass
Veteran Member
To see how well they work....go to YouTube and see for yourself. Lots of good posts there.
Good luck with your purchase.!!:thumbsup:
sweettractors
Advertiser
If you decide to go with New rear snowblower, we have a couple left over from last season. They are Buhler/Farmking/Allied brand and I have the 50 inch for $1995 and the 60 inch for $2195. Ken Sweet
rekees4300
Elite Member
A snowblower is the best way to remove snow from a lane if you have a lot of it. The second best method for lesser amounts of snow is a front blade. Also since your lane is hilly you might want to consider a set of rear chains. They make a BIG difference.
MichiganIron
Silver Member, Advertiser
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Sman
We are between Flint and Lansing, Michigan. We offer a full line of Plow Packages, manual and hydraulic, along with rear and front-mount snow blowers for all of our KIOTI Tractors, and most any other brand/model. Check out our website, or give us a call. We would be happy to discuss options with you.
Bob
We are between Flint and Lansing, Michigan. We offer a full line of Plow Packages, manual and hydraulic, along with rear and front-mount snow blowers for all of our KIOTI Tractors, and most any other brand/model. Check out our website, or give us a call. We would be happy to discuss options with you.
Bob
pitt_md
Veteran Member
I bought a Buhler/FarmKing 740 last year. I run it with a Kubota MX5000. Works real good. I don't have a problem with the rear mounted version. I think if it took me hours to get the job done then i might think otherwise.
Attachments
rbargeron
Elite Member
Sounds cheap - also relatively high hours - maybe used commercially. Some points to consider: does the tractor look well-kept or beat? sheet metal straight? rubber ok? any leaks ? air filter(s) intact? oil filters ever been replaced? any clutch engagement noises?
is the front blower wider than the rear tires? Does the tractor have a wet kit? Any worn sprockets, leaking gearbox. hydraulic leaks, etc.? If you post some pics the eagle eyes around here usually raise good points. Good luck and have fun figuring out what you want. I have an Erskine 6-ft front mount (rear pto driven) for sale but I'm in MA. Take care, Dick B
Last edited:
smfcpacfp
Veteran Member
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Now is the perfect time to shop for a snowblower. If you wait until near when you will need it, none will be available. There is little doubt that a snowblower is the preferred way to handle a lot of snow that stays a long time - the type we get on the south shore of Lake Superior. If you get a lot of snow you will also want a front facing blower to avoid the pain and visibilty issues associated with a rear facing blower. A heated cab is a must for me since I may have to snowblow 20 to 30 times a year.
You weren't too specific as to where you lived, but the less snow the less serious equipment that is needed. If your snow comes and goes several times a year, I would consider a plow - fast but problematic where the snow just keeps piling up. A rear blower would be OK if you only had to do it a few times a year.
Here is my rig below and a link to a popular video of I made of mine in action tackling more than a foot of snow:
YouTube - Kubota B3030 snowblower
You weren't too specific as to where you lived, but the less snow the less serious equipment that is needed. If your snow comes and goes several times a year, I would consider a plow - fast but problematic where the snow just keeps piling up. A rear blower would be OK if you only had to do it a few times a year.
Here is my rig below and a link to a popular video of I made of mine in action tackling more than a foot of snow:
YouTube - Kubota B3030 snowblower
JoeL4330
Platinum Member
you want a blower big enough to cover your track (rear wheel width) and, IMHO, you want hydrostatic drive on the tractor ... this winter we had that 100 year snowfall and a lot of people had to replace clutches on their gear-drive machines...just couldn't attack the big drifts slow enough without riding the clutch...I had no problem.
If you have hills as I do you want 4wd and--my opinion, again--chains on all 4 wheels; and, turfs work best with chains (again, my opinion).
My 4330 (not too different than the 5030 mentioned) had no problems with 50 inches; rear-mounted and I've learned to sit side-saddle. If it's a rear-mount and you have a cab, I would think a rear wiper would be almost essential.
Nice to think about the snow with the temp around 100 F.
If you have hills as I do you want 4wd and--my opinion, again--chains on all 4 wheels; and, turfs work best with chains (again, my opinion).
My 4330 (not too different than the 5030 mentioned) had no problems with 50 inches; rear-mounted and I've learned to sit side-saddle. If it's a rear-mount and you have a cab, I would think a rear wiper would be almost essential.
Nice to think about the snow with the temp around 100 F.
