Being a new 2601 owner your channel i can't get enough of. Thank you for all the testing you do. Iam considering a rear 3 point blower. I live in the snow belt off lake Erie in western NY and we get big snow. Keep up the great work and man do i Love my machine....
Hey good morning Mark! Glad it is helpful and thanks for your support! Welcome! That tractor surprises you with how much it can do, doesn't it? LOL. Love mine too. Thanks again and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
I have a long driveway, I use a rear blade and front mount blower. I couldn’t imagine looking over my shoulder all winter with a rear blower. Thanks for the video
I ordered my BX2816 in June, as my dealer had warned me of the effect on the production due to covid, and only got it end of October. Anyone thinking they just can get one, I think they are shit out of luck but I digress. I've been watching ALL your snow blowing videos, for personal training purposes, while I wait for snow. I don't want to wish time away but I can't wait for the big Noreasters we get in the Atlantic.I will be prepared.
Well done, sir! Especially the 'double vision' trick. I move snow for myself and four neighbors using a front plow and rear blower combo. The comments about the 'pain in the neck' is truth, but I'm lucky enough to have a cab with huge rear-view mirrors so, after getting my neighbors trained to keep the kids toys out of my way, I haven't had any problems just using the mirrors. Because of our daily freeze/thaw cycles here, I need the plow blade on the front to scrape down to pavement or we'd soon have a serious speed-skating course. Youand your commenters are absolutely correct - the best combination is what works for you and your own snow load. In my location, we don't often get deep snows but the blower sure works well in the 3' wind-driven drifts. Only question I have is - how high must you keep the shoes to prevent throwing your gravel into the forest? All my best to Guy, you and your family - and to all of your commenter community - great people here! Can't forget to thank your friends at Farmers Equipment for all their help too!
Hey Ron, thanks for the feedback and for sharing your setup and what works. The mirrors sound like a good solution and a few others have mentioned as well. How do I keep from throwing the gravel? A great question. I raise the skid shoes to their maximum at the beginning of the season and leave them high until I know for sure the ground is frozen deep - not just on the surface. Once it is, then by then I have built up a base and can now lower the skid shoes and also can start using the rear blade without throwing or digging stone. So far this year it has worked perfectly. Last year was a learning experience, including 5 or 6 shear pins. LOL. Thanks again and appreciate your kind comments! Cheers!
Great comments Ron. Here in Newfoundland, we can get lots of rain after a major snow storm, making the blade an invaluable part of the set up. I dream about being able to have a front mounted blower.
I have used a rear blower for 20 years and it really becomes second nature backing up. Other than cost, the main advantage is your loader is available for scraping,etc. And as you mentioned, the rear blower is easier to install. Good comparison and keep your blower well lubed!
Good morning CP! Thanks for sharing the setup you use and the feedback! I agree with you on the main advantage - being able to keep the FEL available is pretty helpful. Have a great weekend and all the best!
Morning GP, another fine video of the which is going to do the job. It seems to boil down to the body and budget. It's what will work for each person. Both of them are so much better than a shovel and being stuck all the time. Thanks for sharing the snow with us and the beautiful scenery.
Great and fair review - very nice! Great camera work too, and fun to see the blowers throw snow back-to-back in the driveway and chew into those snowbanks!
Excellent video! The turn radius is something I never thought about. I am leaning toward a rear mount since I would have the front loader to help manage snow as well.
I'm with you GP , I have a long drive and snow piling up all winter, front mount is the only way to go, but as far as performance they both do the job, great video as always
It's like you said Gord , it all depends on how big or long your driveway is . A good front plow is much faster to clean . Great for when you're doing a pesky few inches . The back blower can be used to clean up the sides of the driveway . Now if a big snow fall hits you can use the rear blower but just take it easy and take your time . The ideal way to go is maybe having a snow pusher on the front . That way you can push the snow and take care of your piles a lot faster and still have the use of your FEL . I like the fact that the rear blower is a lot cheaper than the front blower . Decisions decisions . It would make me dizzy making a choice . I remember driving a fork lift at work a few times . Very easy to go around corners and make very sharp turns like you can with a rear blower. Except you had to watch the back end swing . Great video .
Good afternoon Henry. Thanks for the thoughts! Yes a lot of folks prefer being able to keep their FEL if possible. It would be great to be able to keep it, use the grapple or bucket or a plow as needed with the rear blower if the driveway were a lot shorter. Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Well done GP... You hit a homerun on this video! You have touched on a subject that I have been conflicted with for so many years now. The beautiful aspect of a front mounted snow blower is obvious, it saves on the " neck & the back " over the course of a long d/way and/or road, in my case, BOTH... HOWEVER, with the front blower I lose the ability to push, lift & dump the snow off the road or the d/way creating push offs. The front mntd. blower is reverse engineered to work on the front. Excellent point on the tighter turning radius of the rear blower versus a front mnt. If I ever go the front route, I will need to modify my hydraulics and an additional drive shaft on the underside. If one purchases a newer tractor setup from the factory in advance for a frt. mntd. blower, so much the easier & presumably less expensive. The rear setup, hook up the (3) point hitch, slide in the driveshaft, engage the PTO & start blowing snow... In closing, I like your neighbors Record style woodworkers vise & the wall mntd. microwave! I recently finished the install on a very old 10" woodworkers vise donated to me by a good friend for my newly built multifunction workbench... Cheers, Bill on the Hill... :~)
Good day BOTH! I am sure he will see your comment and smile. He has quite a workshop there. Glad the video was helpful. If I had a shorter driveway I would definitely want to keep my FEL on the front. Thanks again and have a wonderful week!
hey good evening Dave! I like your thinking. It sounds like I may need to come down there and check to make sure it truly is warm and sunny. :)) All the best !
You must not have been living in Florida very long, because it has snowed in Florida. Although nothing compared to Canada and nothing to where we need a snow blower.
Michael Mac Tavish you can't just switch locations,the mounts don't work.the rotations are opposite,and the speed is wrong on the pto. I have custom mounted them ,it's a fun project but you have to make a lot of stuff.reverse gear boxes ,mounts,drive shafts and chute turners.
They both did very well! For what you’ve got you definitely have the right setup. I liked the new editing. Very cool! We got about 4.5-5 inches of snow this past Monday, but sadly I didn’t get it on film. I got up at 06:00 to go get er done before the bus came, didn’t even think about it. Now it’s supposed to snow all week.. yikes. Thanks for the video. Hope you’re staying warm! Cheers!
Wow that's a lot of snow. Hopefully this is our last winter blast. I finished up 12 hour night shifts at work and we had a -7° temps Wednesday morning. We were very lucky. Stay warm GP. Springs just around the corner.
Good morning Dean. Tough working the night shifts I know. I think that may be it for us for a while over here but you never know. Almost starting to count the days... Be well and all the best!
Front mount also allows you to have a salter/spreader on the back.The operator safety and comfort of forward facing is the big deciding factor.Some one will come up with a small self contained unit with quick connect for the front.(like the ones they use on large front end loaders).Of course all this is a mute point here in Victoria BC.....only thing white here are the bills.(and maybe the hair).Cheers.
Another great video GP, another unit to ck out is mfg by Quick Attachments... Hydraulic driven pump on the rear pto connected to main blower unit which is skid steer mounts...we are doing our homework on this unit for next year...Gives you the advantage of putting the bucket back on for moving piles... God Bless & keep warm...Chief{NYS/ADK}
I know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb forgot the account password. I appreciate any help you can give me
@Phillip Gage thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
Thanks Tim. LOL. I think I am getting the hang of it a little better this season. I can almost feel when it is getting too firm. Fingers crossed but this season I have not snapped a single shear pin! Of course, I probably shouldn't have just said that.;)) Have a good one!
Another bonus of a rear mount is with having your front loader available you can sometimes push yourself out if you happen to get stuck. Great analysis of both. Definitely gives everyone good options for making a blower choice,
I have the 3 “B” tool force. Bucket, blade, blower and blower for me is the way to go. I’m on my 2nd blower now. The first one was completely rebuilt twice. Gears, sprockets, chains, impeller and auger. Only issue when blowing is figure on a long time out there. I live in heavy snow country so it’s slow going. I am this year putting a backup camera on my tractor because my neck is in bad shape. Nice video Gord and stay warm.
Hey Gord, New subcriber here ! Really great channel. Videos are awesome - great camera shots, narration and subject matter. I could spend a whole day with Guy ..... could learn sooo much. More videos to watch so I'm going to make another pot of coffee ! Thanks and keep up the great work.
Noticed some new editing tricks, very nice. I agree with you. The front mount is by far the best option for your property. Great to see the comparison however. Keep on tractoring and God bless
Great video GP. As you stated every set up that each person chooses may be for a reason. A front blower requires less attention since you are facing the way you are going. As for the rear blower you have to know where the front of the tractor is in relation to obstacles at all time. I will amongst the many that will agree that a rear blower causes a stiff neck and sore back. Luckily we do short pushes. We get slack for our set up all the time. People say we should have gotten a front blower and a rear plow. Ideally, a rear mounted forward facing blower for what we do is IDEAL. This minimizes the need to watch behind you since the blower collects and blows the snow as you drive forward. Sadly the companies that make rear mount blowers like this don't make them for a machine of my size (Not that we have found yet). We will over the coming years undoubtedly make changes and find the right set up that works best for us. Keep up the good work. -John
Hey good evening john. Some good info in there. I heard about the inverted rear blowers recently. I never knew they existed until now. but it sounds like a good option. Keep smiling and keep warm and safe out there!
Last year I built a 6’6” blade from a old plow truck and fabbed that to a QA plate. Works great! I use a 6’ rear blade and the combination of the 2 on my B2601 is awesome. This winter I purchased a 6’ pusher with a back drag and a 6” rubber edge, and I purchased a old used rear 3 point snowblower and I’m gonna try that. Every attachment has its purpose. It’s definitely not a one size fits all. I would like to get a V plow next and fab that onto a QA plate. That would be the cats meow until I buy a front blower…. A front blower and a rear blade just like yours QP, that’s usually by far the best set up! My next tractor will be a cab LX2610. But by then I really hope Kubota figures out how to dumb down that hydrostatic whine and I wish they would put a couple sliding windows in the cab models. I really like to hear what’s going on around me.
LOL. Good morning LA! Man, Bitter, bitter cold this week and high winds. When she comes, she comes in hard. LOL. But good to finally see some snow. Cheers and all the best LA!
Nice comparison. We don't happen to see much comparison like you did on TH-cam. Plus you did it great! I think we all agree that the debate about the rear/front is all related to the specific need. No one told a rear blower is preferrable for a long driveway!!! I noted that the snow stream seems to be more diffused with the rear mount. You had a very special voice when you spoke in front of the snow blower at 1:45... Lol! I would say the rear snow blower is a "utility" implement (good in most situations), keeping the versatiliy of the tractor with the FEL available. Whereas the front blower is rather a "speciality" implement dedicating the tractor to snow blowing (great in specific situations). Thanks!
In my case Joe , my rear blower is much more diffused and doesn't throw it as far as my front blower either , maybe because my rear blower is much larger than the front one , I don't know .
This might be an advantage. The farther you throw snow, the more you draw power from the engine. Then if you don't need to throw the snow far, you might just gain some speed given the same engine power.
LOL Joe! It was almost 50km winds that day and I had to try adjusting the audio effects to remove as much wind as I could. I think I sound like I am in a tin can. LOL. I like the way you summarized the two blowers - Sounds right on the mark! Have a great weekend and all the best my friend!
The ‘ole front vs rear debate... love it! Nice video, with good information. The one thing I didn’t hear you mention (but was brought up in a comment) is that rear mount blowers are generally more durable and heavy duty than front mounts. My preference is rear mount with a front blade / bucket. But you are certainly correct that there are many variables that reflect an operators preference.
Good day KL4060! Thanks for watching and for your thoughts. A lot of folks like that same setup - makes a lot of sense and keeps the FEL available. That rear blower was definitely built like a tank! Thanks again and all the best!
For me it was the price, a box 2380 the rear mount blower was 2300 with the front mount and all the extra parts to mount the front blower it would have been 4500.
Excellent videos sir. Got a new holland boomer 3050. Was a tough decision went with a farm king 74 rear blower. Just like you said price. Massive difference. And than not having the bucket to clean up snow in tight areas. Want my bucket on.
Great that you made the right choice for you D! Pretty soon you will be needing it. LOL. Be well and good luck getting ready for the winter snows. Cheers and all the best!
I was in the woods all day cutting and blocking and hauling. Had a sip 🥃 or two when I came in too warm up. At the first of your video saw two blowers side by side. I thought.... too much sauce there mister. Lol. 👍
LOL Laurie!! That is classic! I am a little envious - I have not been out in the woods for a while and starting to miss it. Of course I have had a few "sips" more recently. Great story. Have a good one!
Great video. For me rear mount works best. Can leave loader on for bucket, pusher, and pallet forks. Can remove blower quickly to put other rear implements on. Only disadvantage, of course, is turning around. My driveway is only about 600 feet long and I use mirrors on the loader mounts, so I don't have to turn around much.
Hey good afternoon Jeffrey. Sounds like you have a great setup and I like the idea of the mirrors. A couple others mentioned that too. Good stuff and full access to your FEL attachments. Now if only my driveway was a little shorter...LOL. Cheers and thanks for your feedback!
GP, after serious consideration I have consulted a hand picked fully experienced group of tractor experts and it has been decided unanimously that Mrs GP must set aside her butter and egg profits to purchase a much larger Kubota, like a 3901, with full complement of attachments for you so that she can take over the snow removal with the 2601. She can then keep the front mount snow blower for ease of operation and you can leave your loader on the 3901 and use the new quick-attach front snow blade to give her assistance. Let it be noted to the Mrs that virtually every one of the group of experts agreed it is all really for HER benefit and she will enjoy the quality time spent playing in the snow. It really IS the only option....as WE see it. Btw GP...good luck with that.... LOL Great video and I too thought I had one too many with the blurred double vision. And please remind Guy we are expecting him to go 'green' one of these days to avoid confusion in the neighborhood....
LOL. Well good morning T44 and a good morning to the esteemed committee. I think Mrs. GP might like to address the committee personally on that one . LOL But I like you're thinking. A fine committee there for sure. Now that would certainly make for a good series of videos - me orange and Guy, green. Thanks for the morning humour - always goes good with the first coffee. Keep smiling T!
Well unfortunately GP, you must inform your bride that the special committee having been formed just for this particular recommendation has been disbanded and the members have moved great distances back to their homelands...needless to say at extreme expense. So it may be impossible for her to address them in person and facts being as such, we are forced to hold to that original unanimous decision. With that behind us now, all we have in front of us is waiting for you to begin your video series on your newly acquired tractor and all its new accessories !!! ...one more thing...I guess I better be quiet now if I ever expect to cross the Canadian border again...LOL....or she may be gunnin' for me. I hope you are enjoying your morning coffee, I am. ...and may it be noted you are certainly a good sport sir.
The mid mount usually spins at 2100 rpm wearing out the u joints faster....the front loader is great for finding the newspaper so it doesn't screw up your blower
LOL Andy! Funny you should mention. That happened to me a few years ago (not with this tractor). I was using a walk behind snowblower on my neighbour's driveway and I found the newspaper. LOL! I think I spent more time getting the newspaper out of the blower and then cleaning up all the shredded paper off the street, than it took me to actually blow out their driveway. Cheers!
Hi Gordon, Watched this one for the umpteenth time, I can hardly wait for the snow to fly this year. My B2601 is being assembled at this time and I can hardly wait. I've ordered the front mount 55" "commercial" blower ( so I don't have to spin around in the seat) and 60" box blade. I need to watch you final iteration of the accessory light install. Love your videos and am looking forward to the LX in the snow (some day a cab tractor will make it into my garage)!
Gord, buddy! As always nice job. This is a tough one. I live just south of Buffalo, NY and we get snow. I have a 300 ft driveway that is up hill and a sweeping arch. As I look for a tractor I'll be looking for some snow removal equipment as well. I like the idea of a plow type blade on front, but as you put it, a blower up front isn't easy to swap out. I may need to consider a blower on that back. Love the comparison you did. Very helpful. Cheers!
Hey good day Darren! We often watch your snows on TV up here. LOL. The nice thing I should have mentioned about the rear blower is that having 525 lbs on the back means I get some great traction on my hills. :)) Glad it was helpful. Have good one !
You could also consider getting a pull type inverted 3 point snowblower. It’s rear mounted and you drive forward. You won’t have the expense of a front mount blower setup
How's she goin'? Great test of the blowers Gord. I had a front mount and it didn't stand up. The rear mount has worked good for 7 years with no issues. BUT, I plow a private road that is 2.5 km long. When I have to blow it it takes a long time to go from end to end and I have to do this trip about 6 times to get the road cleared, so my back and neck get pretty stiff and sore. So from that point alone, the front mount would be the best choice. But for all the reasons you pointed out the rear blade has it's good points as well. You have an ideal set up for your situation and I think that's what it comes down to. What is 'your' situation. Then make your decision based on that. Your test and discussion with Guy will offer great insight for anyone looking at getting set up with a tractor and blower. Have a great week and stay warm buddy!!!
Good morning Grampie! Thanks for sharing some great thoughts and views. Boy that must be a long job getting that road done. Good thing you have the Cab! I think you nailed it. It comes down to what situation the person has to deal with as to the best option for them. You too! And safe tractoring out there! Cheers!
Just another thought I has was the transmission you have might make a difference in the blower you choose. Some tractors may not have a reverse that goes fast enough or slow enough. Usually that isn’t a problem with newer tractors ,but with older ones it could be. Just having a high-low range might not be the best anymore.
GP always a treat to watch your videos. Thank you so much for helping me become educated about tractors. You are a key part of my decision to get a b2601 and a front snowblower. I did get the rotary brush as well for the suburban driveway. Hopefully I will enjoy using it. Really appreciate you and what you have done for others.
Good evening and thanks very much David! Great to hear - I appreciate the kind comments and happy to hear you have a tractor to help with your chores. Have a wonderful week!
After 10 years of a rear blower.. I run a 8' blade on the back and a 72" skid steer blower on my FEL. A external res is mounted on the blade, and a Prince PTO pump and hoses power the blower.... and I can easily take the blower off to put the bucket on. At 40 I decided I didn't want to be backing up the rest of my life. I have a MX 4800....
I enjoyed this video in my opinion the rear snowblower seemed to make it easier and not take as much time then the front snowblower. You are right about the rear snowblower working better in small areas. Using the rear snowblower does look cool it looks like it is snowing when you are using it
Good morning James. Thanks for the feedback. It certainly is a beast and works great. Yes, it was so windy that the powder was getting thrown around in the air. I think I wore a little of it too. LOL! Have a good week and thanks again!
I've used both front and rear. Just prefer the front mount. Good comparison though they both did do a good job. Thanks for the video very useful information.
Thanks for the great videos. I'm new to tractor ownership and I just bought a little a farm that came with a Kubota B7510. Anyways, I was wondering if you have any videos troubleshooting the hydraulic lines and how to fix any issues with them. I had trouble getting the snowblower turning and when I switched the lines (did not follow the colour codes on the lines) it started to work. Just wondering.
Congratulations and hope you enjoy the tractor. I do have a lot of videos on mods, tips, maintenance etc for new tractor owners but very little on trouble-shooting the hydraulics. Sorry I could not help. Mine didn't have all the lines colour coded so I went to a hardware /auto store and got a small pack of coloured tie wraps and just added them so I would know which line to connect to which coupler. Good luck and wish you all the best!
Thanks GP for the review. I’ve been waiting for it and you did a nice job comparing blowers. I concur on your findings. How about a rear blower and purchase a heated cab with the savings over front mount. Maybe even a little cash left over for some chiropractic work after, haha
Hey good morning and thanks Tom! I think I could get a pretty good cab for the difference. And this last few days I sure could use it! Have a good one !
I agree with your summary. The front is absolutely the way to go if you have the money to do so, and assuming you have a mid PTO. Just wish it was half the price and I'd have one.
As a landscape contractor I prefer the front mount for comfort on long days and reducing risk of property damage when swinging the front around while in reverse. That being said I think the rear mounts are a little better for doing heavy duty snow work such as compact snow and ice
I finished the video and you pretty much confirmed what i feel about them. Heres another thing I think about it. Big tractor=rear snowblower(i dont think they make a front) for farm use etc. Landscaping municipal residential and most applications=front mount. Get a cab and a heater/radio. Go all day in comfort and style. Great videos. Im hooked. In talks with my dealer. Looking to get a BX series or B0 series and upgrade from my lawn tractors. We have a mx5100 on the farm and Im thinking it gets a rear mount next year
Very good video and points that you made. Retired down here in Minnesota. Just bought a Renegade 68 in for my Massey 1529, 2010 Model. I have a half mile gravel driveway out at the sugar shack got tired of just the blade and bucket. By spring there is nowhere to push the snow. Then the work doubles as I have to push side to side to get the width I need. I see Renegade offers adjustable skid shoes so I am thinking I may have t purchase a set. Keep Up the good work. Snow starting to fly Terry
My father used to have a bx2200 with a front blower. He upgraded his tractor to a b3400 with a quick attach bucket. Then he bought a quick attach plate and an old rusted plow that I welded up for him. With chains on the tractor that works great. We rarely get enough snow to justify the cost of a blower. It would be really cool however. Having said that I think the rear blower is a better option because he can plow with the front and still use the blower on the back to keep the banks down. Or, if we are lucky enough to get a big dumping he could just use the blower.
Good morning BM! Thanks for sharing your setup. It's great that you are able to weld and made him up a great plow to use. I'll bet it's his favourite attachment. I think that's a great setup to have so he can keep the FEL on the tractor. I really enjoy having the snow but this time of year, I can't wait for the sun and warmth to come back. LOL. Have a great week and thanks again!
Hi GP, good comparison video. One observation, when you started to cut into the snow bank with the rear blower and spun your tires, that would’ve been a great example of using the FEL to “plow” the snow and stack it, then use the rear blower to clean it up. That combo of FEL and rear blower is only good for short runs, in my opinion. Like you said, for long runs, the front blower and rear blade is the ideal combo. Have a great weekend!
Good morning Paul. That's a great observation! And I think most folks agree with you on the setup for short runs versus long runs. Thanks for tuning in and for the comment Paul!
Very informative video, you went through all the cons and pros of both blowers. I went with a front blower and kept box blade on back. you will be amazed how hand the box blade is in snow.
I bought the new Kubota 54" rear blower as I didn't want to give up the use of the bucket. I may be wrong, but the rear PTO may produce a little more torque as it is directly coupled through the drive train.
Hey good evening Jim. Congrats on the new blower! I think you may be right, as I have heard that before (I don't know for sure). But hey, if it helps you get the job done out there and fits what you need for your property, then to me, that's all that matters. I always find that clearing the snow is very relaxing and makes me happy. Takes you away from the rest of the day. Good stuff- dress warm and enjoy the time out there clearing the snow! Cheers!
@@GPOutdoors Thanks GP, and hello from Nfld. yes I bought this unit as a result of the mega snow fall we had here in mid January. In one dump we had in access of 100cm and as of today, we have had 328cm so far this winter. Needless to say the BX I have has been working out and I am so impressed with just how much snow it can actually move. Take care GP and I must say I really enjoy your channel. J
Lots of comments about it being hard on the neck. Have you tried it sitting side saddle on the seat and using your left foot for your speed control? My driveway isn't near as long and I'm debating between a 25hp CS2510 Kioti with a 54" front mount or a 35hp CK3510 with a 72" rear mount. The 35hp would be so much nicer in the summertime for the bushhog, has a bigger blower, and has almost 3x the lifting capacity. I'm pretty much set on the 35hp but you've got me reconsidering....
Good morning Greg. That's pretty exciting - new tractor! As you know , I am not much of an expert but can give you my honest thoughts (not knowing too much about your property overall). I think it's always important to consider the needs across the whole 12 months and if it is in the budget for the 35, then it is always helpful to get as much tractor as you can (in general). Not knowing much about the property overall, or the type of driveway or length you have. I have tried sitting side saddle but a little hard on the lower back and hip ( the seat is molded so your sitting with your hips angled) plus you can't quickly reach the brake pedal. I have a bit of a hip and lower back challenge so it's not good for me. However, not sure if you have looked into it but a few companies make an inverted rear blower (it blows while you drive forward), also maybe you don't need a blower if you have open areas at the sides of the driveway- just a good hydraulic plow blade(?). There may also be companies that make a front mount that runs off the rear PTO (My neighbour Guy has one on his L3400 - you can see it in a few videos from last winter). He has had it for 15 years - maybe you can ask your dealer. A few subscribers say they put mirrors on the tractor and primarily use the mirrors when using the rear blower so they don't have to turn around. A few thoughts for you. Having a front blower is great for me. However one of the negative things is that I lose having the FEL for the winter as I can not have both ( due to the blower's subframe below the tractor). Anyways, just a few thoughts - hope it has helped a bit. Good luck with your new tractor Greg!
@@GPOutdoors I like the idea of the mirrors. So simple I never really thought of it. I back a commercial vehicle in my yard every day so I'm plenty familiar with my yard in reverse using mirrors. As far as the inverted blower that's never seemed like a good idea to me. We often get 12+ inches of snow so I'd think itd be easy to get stuck. I'm thinking I'm going to stick with my original plan of the larger tractor and if down the road I decide to go to a front mount there's always the option to change to something different
G P Guy great test I am glad to have the front mount the shed is still in one piece hit it once and that was with the rear blade and we have a cab keep this kind of stuff coming God Bless All PaK
I have found my neck and shoulders gets sore when I have to twist and look back, as I’m in reverse using a brush hog. Can’t imagine the soreness it would create to use the rear blower on a driveway that long. I think, for me, the best set up is the front blower and rear blade.
Morning GP.....the rear mount is great if you dont mind the constant having to turn around alot......if you are on it any length of time your back can get sore for sure.......I prefer the front mount because of that.....lol.......looks like you got a nice bit of snowfall.....have a great weekend and stay safe my friend....... :)
With Kubota’s swivel seat when equipped with a backhoe, perhaps an option to sit backward with a rear blower if a linkage could be arranged to operate the treadle peddle safely?
Great comparison and you just confirmed that I need a rear mount. I am currently looking for a used one since it would not be used much. I use my Polaris ranger 90% of the time but my driveway will get 2-3 foot drifts that would be nice to blow out.
Only advantage front mount has is the not twisting sideways in the seat..... Other than that rear mount in my opinion is the best uses less RPMs.... And you still have the use of your front end loader and bucket
Hi GP! Love the double exposure opening! Both blowers looked like they could throw snow at least 30 feet or more. Impressive! I didn’t know the front snow blower’s subframe prevents you from having your FEL on there. That would be a big downside for me. Is it a lot of trouble to install and remove the subframe? Thanks for another very enjoyable video! Cheers!
Good day DIY! Yes, they both threw them a long way. Unfortunately true on the subframe. The whole subframe needs to be removed. Its not terrible but would take a good 45 minutes to remove everything and then of course to put back on. Would not be so bad if I had a heated garage to do it in, and lots of time, but is a bit tough laying on the ground in sub zero temps. LOL. Thanks for the kind words and for watching as always!
Sure am. Have been for a few years. I had the area out behind the cabin cleared 2 years ago but need to save more before starting. So very interested in your build. :))
Nicely done GP ....that should give all the folks looking to invest in a blower some good food for thought before making a final decision that is right for them. I guess in a month plus minus you could pull the front blower and put the loader back on with rear blower and do a "clean up" fun video. I'm impressed how well that rear blower tackled the driveway end vs the front blower
Good day B! Hope it was helpful for folks. Yes not much longer to go before we can mount up for Spring. Me too, it was a beast for sure. Was great to have it for a while to try out. Have a great weekend B!
Also as you touched upon, front mount is ok for straight line blowing rear mount is better for turning and you won't be driving your tires into unblown snow.
One other type of snowblower is the rear-mounted inverted blower that works while driving forward. The user’s typical snow conditions should also be of consideration when making the choice of which blower to buy as well as terrain and distance to be cleared.
Would love to get one of these blowers. Sadly they don't make them for our little BX2680. I think they require a minimum of 29 HP at the PTO and we have only 19.5HP. Just a tad under the line. LOL
Hi GP ! Nice video. 2 things i have to say about your comparaison. 1- the speed of your pto is it the same for the front and the rear ? Cause on my B2320 for the mid mount is 960 and for the back is 540. This will have a big influence on your engine and the speed of the auger. 2 - when you dig into the snow bank, the front blower have tooth on the auger so that made a difference when you have ice or compact snow. Those tooth are use on bien snow blower to remove the snow on the side on the road to help to dig in. So they have some difference on those 2 snowblower that will effect the performance of your tractor. Good job ! Love you video ( sorry for my english, i'm a french guy )
Good afternoon Nicola. Not to worry about your English, it is very good. :)) A couple of good points. I honestly don't know about the speed of the auger. On my B2601, it is 540 rpm in the rear and 2,500 at the mid PTO. However, both snowblowers have gearing that takes the RPMs down so I am not sure if they are both spinning at the same RPM or not. I know they are not spinning at the same rate as the PTO drives themselves. But a good question for sure. You are right about the auger on the front - it does have more of a jagged design and I didn't realize that provided a benefit. Thanks for sharing this with us all. Bien! Have a great weekend!
Morning ! I don't think I tested the rear in wet snow but it had a lot of power. The front mount did great in wet snow - many videos on the channel blowing the wet stuff. Cheers!
Good morning John. I usually run mine at around 2100 RPM if not using the PTO. If I have something really heavy to lift or do, then I will run it at full while I am doing that task. Have a good weekend!
I have a front blower on my B 2601 and I like it. But the rear blower might have d been the better choice because of price. But being 76 years of age may it might have been a problem with turning around. So the front blower is the right choice for me.
How did you find the tractor handled the 72”, their website indicates the tractor should be min 30hp for that size? We don’t get as much snow in Nova Scotia, but it is often wet and heavy. The quality looks impressive and a good price. My Kubota dealer is quoting $114 more for a manual chute 54” that doesn’t look as heavy duty. Thanks for the videos
Great comparison video. Almost felt like I was watching an episode of the Red Green show. Was expecting you to breakout a roll of DuckTape back at Guy’s place. Still torn on which snowblower to get. I hate backing up but having to mess around with that front hitch/bracket to put the loader back on sounds like a pain. Not to mention double the price for a front SB.
LOL! Morning Evan. If I might offer, for me, if I had a normal driveway , I would have purchased a rear blower and a plow blade or just the bucket for the front. Too many times, I wish I had the FEL on all the time and I agree, swapping it out in cold temps is not my first choice. But being so long, there is no way my back could take twisting around for that period of time. Also, I have never tried one but there are several companies that make an inverted blower - hooked to the 3 point and pulls forward. Good luck with the decision!
Wife and are getting ready to move to the cottage. Can I ask how long your driveway is? I ask because I will have almost 2km to blow. Just trying to figure out the size of tractor and the placement of the blower. Thanks
First, good video... I'm still try to decide/justify purchasing a small tractor. Showing the end of the driveway test in the deep snow was interesting. It did sound like there was more ice when testing the rear mount. You were obviously trying to compare a full swipe to a full swipe but, it would have been a good test to have also tried only taking a half pass to see how it would have worked. Finally, are you aware of anybody making a small engine powered unit (similar to some ATV mount models) that could use the front bucket quick release and hydraulics for chute control, but use its own engine. If so, I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap but would allow for quick change between bucket and blower. Thanks
Good evening. Thanks. I can't help on the engine powered unit unfortunately. If you are considering a tractor, I can only offer the following: I only have about 4 acres here but for years many friends and neighbours told me I needed a small tractor. I kept thinking that was overkill and not necessary and continued paying people to grade my mile long driveway, and to plow it in the winter, to fell trees etc. I kept on using my shovel, garden tools etc and wheel barrow, little lawn tractor to mow the grass etc, to try to maintain my property. I finally started doing my research and due diligence on a tractor purchase. One of the best decisions I ever made and wish I had done it 10 years ago. If I could show you my property before I got the tractor and how it is now, I think it would make the point clearly. Lots of great options out there- I looked at 4 different tractor manufacturers before making my decision. Lots of great options out there for you to consider - Deere, Kubota, Kioti, Massey, etc. maybe check them out and compare and look at the costs you currently incur to manage your land, and those you might be able to avoid if you had your own tractor, and consider the projects you are thinking about in the future on your land and see if it makes sense or not, for you and your family. Good luck - hope that helped a bit. Cheers!
Hey Nick. It takes about 30 minutes or so because you have to remove the sub frame as well in order to put the FEL back on. For a driveway that long, I would definitely get a rear mount blower. That way I could keep my FEL on the tractor and also use other rear implements as needed. I would probably get a plow blade for the FEL as well. Cheers!
The 3ph blowers don't have down pressure where as the good front blower setups do. If you want to clean a hardtop driveway, down pressure can save the day.
Good day MNP. Don't like the cold too much? LOL. I tell you, it was in the deep - 20's that day and the winds were bitter cold at about 40 - 50 kms per hour. Felt pretty good getting back inside and warming up. Cheers!
GP, I think I would prefer the front blower much more. I think eventually, snow blower companies will produce a front blower that has skid steer quick-attach capability which should mean easy-on and easy off. Give it time. The price for each is going to be a factor for many needing a snowblower. If the cost disparity is that significant, most operators may go with a snowblower that doesn't hurt the wallet and may concede to the over-the-shoulder, neck-twist agony often experienced with rear snowblower usage. This was an excellent comparison. I have not operated a snowblower so my opinion has little weight compared to folks who a lot of experience using them. Idea......uh-oh. Is there a rear snowblower in which the auger tines are reversed (meaning designed to throw snow as you pull the blower vice backing into the snow)? Of course, something like this too would have limitations. Hey, just thinking out loud and will file-13 that idea since maybe it's too far-fetched (ha). Learning more from your videos. Cheers to you and Guy.
Good day Houndsman. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. Believe it or not there is such a rear unit. Its called an inverted snowblower and I just found out about it from some of the good subscribers. Thanks for saying hi and have a great weekend!
Hi Gord, my god is that driveway an extension to the Trans Canada Highway? ;-) Your front mount is so much easier on the neck, you are indeed correct. I recently swapped my B3300SU with the new Skid Steer Quick Attach mount and I assure you its a dream way to do things. Although I would love to have a front blower the new Skid Steer mount is so nice. I can switch from my bucket, to the 6' HLA Snow Pusher, 42" forks, 5' grapple and a Bauman Drop Sander all in less then a minute. I do cringe at looking backwards for so long on my driveway, although not as long as your county road ;-) it is still a real pain but I do like the fact I can change several attachments just by pushing two levers. The neck pain is short term and so what if I look like an owl looking for mice after an hour. There must be a way someday where a two stage blower can be mounted on a Skin Steer mount and voila, all problems solved. There are the new rear blowers now where they are dragged forward with auger facing 3 pt hitch, I am thinking this may be better for me once I get old and still be able to interchange attachments. Love your vids, keep em coming!
LOL Michel! Yup, it's a long one. You have a great setup there for sure. It would be great to be able to keep the FEL on as you do. Those rear mounts are called inverted snowblowers. A few folks mentioned them as well and by coincidence I was driving through the country a few weeks ago and there in the distance was a big Massey pulling one behind it. First time I saw one. So I pulled over to watch him for a few minutes and it seems to work very well. It was a farm with a long driveway and it seemed to be lifting and throwing the snow out just fine. Something to think about for sure. I do like my front mount a lot, but would really like to have the options as you do for the FEL through the winter. Cheers!
Hi Gord, I think the key work in your reply above was "big" Massey, I am not convinced that with our baby tractors it would work out. By going through the snow fist in lieu of moving backwards there may be traction issues in deep snow. I could be wrong but it might be too much for a small to medium tractor. Perhaps some of your TH-cam followers could jump in with some pros and cons if they have a rear inverted blower. I am also in the market for an HD Backup Camera, that is also a possibility in lieu of the neck wrenching and this way I keep my big blower and don't have to change a thing other than adding the camera.
Good morning Gord. That would be miserable to go backwards that long distance for sure. My friend Steve has the rear blower but has not got to use it much yet, not enough snow. 👍👍👍
Good day Dale. Thanks for the idea. Did you make them all on your own? Would love seeing a few pics if you feel comfortable sending them. My email is gordpotter55@gmail.com. . If not, that's ok but I like seeing projects and things from folks and that kind of intrigues me. Thanks for watching and for the comment. Cheers!
A simple solution. Another B2601 rigged for summer work. And one for winter. Love the sit downs with Guy.
Hey I think that would work.LOL. Thanks SH! have a good one!
Being a new 2601 owner your channel i can't get enough of. Thank you for all the testing you do. Iam considering a rear 3 point blower. I live in the snow belt off lake Erie in western NY and we get big snow. Keep up the great work and man do i Love my machine....
Hey good morning Mark! Glad it is helpful and thanks for your support! Welcome! That tractor surprises you with how much it can do, doesn't it? LOL. Love mine too. Thanks again and enjoy the rest of the weekend!
I have a long driveway, I use a rear blade and front mount blower. I couldn’t imagine looking over my shoulder all winter with a rear blower. Thanks for the video
I ordered my BX2816 in June, as my dealer had warned me of the effect on the production due to covid, and only got it end of October. Anyone thinking they just can get one, I think they are shit out of luck but I digress. I've been watching ALL your snow blowing videos, for personal training purposes, while I wait for snow. I don't want to wish time away but I can't wait for the big Noreasters we get in the Atlantic.I will be prepared.
Well done, sir! Especially the 'double vision' trick.
I move snow for myself and four neighbors using a front plow and rear blower combo. The comments about the 'pain in the neck' is truth, but I'm lucky enough to have a cab with huge rear-view mirrors so, after getting my neighbors trained to keep the kids toys out of my way, I haven't had any problems just using the mirrors. Because of our daily freeze/thaw cycles here, I need the plow blade on the front to scrape down to pavement or we'd soon have a serious speed-skating course.
Youand your commenters are absolutely correct - the best combination is what works for you and your own snow load. In my location, we don't often get deep snows but the blower sure works well in the 3' wind-driven drifts. Only question I have is - how high must you keep the shoes to prevent throwing your gravel into the forest?
All my best to Guy, you and your family - and to all of your commenter community - great people here! Can't forget to thank your friends at Farmers Equipment for all their help too!
Hey Ron, thanks for the feedback and for sharing your setup and what works. The mirrors sound like a good solution and a few others have mentioned as well. How do I keep from throwing the gravel? A great question. I raise the skid shoes to their maximum at the beginning of the season and leave them high until I know for sure the ground is frozen deep - not just on the surface. Once it is, then by then I have built up a base and can now lower the skid shoes and also can start using the rear blade without throwing or digging stone. So far this year it has worked perfectly. Last year was a learning experience, including 5 or 6 shear pins. LOL. Thanks again and appreciate your kind comments! Cheers!
Great comments Ron. Here in Newfoundland, we can get lots of rain after a major snow storm, making the blade an invaluable part of the set up. I dream about being able to have a front mounted blower.
I have used a rear blower for 20 years and it really becomes second nature backing up. Other than cost, the main advantage is your loader is available for scraping,etc. And as you mentioned, the rear blower is easier to install. Good comparison and keep your blower well lubed!
Good morning CP! Thanks for sharing the setup you use and the feedback! I agree with you on the main advantage - being able to keep the FEL available is pretty helpful. Have a great weekend and all the best!
Morning GP, another fine video of the which is going to do the job. It seems to boil down to the body and budget. It's what will work for each person. Both of them are so much better than a shovel and being stuck all the time. Thanks for sharing the snow with us and the beautiful scenery.
Good morning ODD. Well said. Well said. Cheers my friend!
Great and fair review - very nice! Great camera work too, and fun to see the blowers throw snow back-to-back in the driveway and chew into those snowbanks!
Thanks David. Appreciate the feedback and thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers!
Excellent video! The turn radius is something I never thought about. I am leaning toward a rear mount since I would have the front loader to help manage snow as well.
I'm with you GP , I have a long drive and snow piling up all winter, front mount is the only way to go, but as far as performance they both do the job, great video as always
Good day and thanks for the feedback Fred! Have a good one!
It's like you said Gord , it all depends on how big or long your driveway is . A good front plow is much faster to clean . Great for when you're doing a pesky few inches . The back blower can be used to clean up the sides of the driveway . Now if a big snow fall hits you can use the rear blower but just take it easy and take your time . The ideal way to go is maybe having a snow pusher on the front . That way you can push the snow and take care of your piles a lot faster and still have the use of your FEL . I like the fact that the rear blower is a lot cheaper than the front blower . Decisions decisions . It would make me dizzy making a choice . I remember driving a fork lift at work a few times . Very easy to go around corners and make very sharp turns like you can with a rear blower. Except you had to watch the back end swing . Great video .
Good afternoon Henry. Thanks for the thoughts! Yes a lot of folks prefer being able to keep their FEL if possible. It would be great to be able to keep it, use the grapple or bucket or a plow as needed with the rear blower if the driveway were a lot shorter. Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Well done GP... You hit a homerun on this video! You have touched on a subject that I have been conflicted with for so many years now. The beautiful aspect of a front mounted snow blower is obvious, it saves on the " neck & the back " over the course of a long d/way and/or road, in my case, BOTH... HOWEVER, with the front blower I lose the ability to push, lift & dump the snow off the road or the d/way creating push offs. The front mntd. blower is reverse engineered to work on the front. Excellent point on the tighter turning radius of the rear blower versus a front mnt. If I ever go the front route, I will need to modify my hydraulics and an additional drive shaft on the underside.
If one purchases a newer tractor setup from the factory in advance for a frt. mntd. blower, so much the easier & presumably less expensive. The rear setup, hook up the (3) point hitch, slide in the driveshaft, engage the PTO & start blowing snow...
In closing, I like your neighbors Record style woodworkers vise & the wall mntd. microwave! I recently finished the install on a very old 10" woodworkers vise donated to me by a good friend for my newly built multifunction workbench...
Cheers,
Bill on the Hill... :~)
Good day BOTH! I am sure he will see your comment and smile. He has quite a workshop there. Glad the video was helpful. If I had a shorter driveway I would definitely want to keep my FEL on the front. Thanks again and have a wonderful week!
I live in Florida and it has never snowed here. That said, I am considering both. :)
its good thing with rear blowers you can mount them to the front too wich is nice
hey good evening Dave! I like your thinking. It sounds like I may need to come down there and check to make sure it truly is warm and sunny. :)) All the best !
You must not have been living in Florida very long, because it has snowed in Florida. Although nothing compared to Canada and nothing to where we need a snow blower.
Michael Mac Tavish you can't just switch locations,the mounts don't work.the rotations are opposite,and the speed is wrong on the pto. I have custom mounted them ,it's a fun project but you have to make a lot of stuff.reverse gear boxes ,mounts,drive shafts and chute turners.
I'm keeping worm
They both did very well! For what you’ve got you definitely have the right setup. I liked the new editing. Very cool! We got about 4.5-5 inches of snow this past Monday, but sadly I didn’t get it on film. I got up at 06:00 to go get er done before the bus came, didn’t even think about it. Now it’s supposed to snow all week.. yikes. Thanks for the video. Hope you’re staying warm! Cheers!
Good day Jackson. Finally getting some time in on the sled as well. But not sure when we are getting more. Be well and all the best!
Wow that's a lot of snow. Hopefully this is our last winter blast. I finished up 12 hour night shifts at work and we had a -7° temps Wednesday morning. We were very lucky. Stay warm GP. Springs just around the corner.
Good morning Dean. Tough working the night shifts I know. I think that may be it for us for a while over here but you never know. Almost starting to count the days... Be well and all the best!
Front mount also allows you to have a salter/spreader on the back.The operator safety and comfort of forward facing is the big deciding factor.Some one will come up with a small self contained unit with quick connect for the front.(like the ones they use on large front end loaders).Of course all this is a mute point here in Victoria BC.....only thing white here are the bills.(and maybe the hair).Cheers.
LOL! That was a good one! And yes, good point about the spreader. I have already started on the white hair myself ( or maybe grey...) Cheers WC!
Another great video GP, another unit to ck out is mfg by Quick Attachments... Hydraulic driven pump on the rear pto connected to main blower unit which is skid steer mounts...we are doing our homework on this unit for next year...Gives you the advantage of putting the bucket back on for moving piles... God Bless & keep warm...Chief{NYS/ADK}
Hey good evening Chief! That sounds interesting. I will check it out! Cheers and have a great weekend!
I know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb forgot the account password. I appreciate any help you can give me
@Gael Jagger Instablaster :)
@Phillip Gage thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and im waiting for the hacking stuff now.
I see it takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Phillip Gage It worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much, you really help me out !
I was waiting for the shear pin to break on that side by side comparison, kudos for taking it slow and easy!
Thanks Tim. LOL. I think I am getting the hang of it a little better this season. I can almost feel when it is getting too firm. Fingers crossed but this season I have not snapped a single shear pin! Of course, I probably shouldn't have just said that.;)) Have a good one!
Another bonus of a rear mount is with having your front loader available you can sometimes push yourself out if you happen to get stuck. Great analysis of both. Definitely gives everyone good options for making a blower choice,
Hey thanks Tom. I had not thought of that but great point. Cheers!
Yup. Been there.
I have a plow on the front of mine. And would like a 3pt for the back. Which I'm considering now
Don't think I could add anything to this video, you did a great job of explaining the details. Great editing as well.
Good morning and thanks Dennis and Helen!
Thanks for the info. We've watched a couple of your videos and found the very informative and helpful.
I have the 3 “B” tool force. Bucket, blade, blower and blower for me is the way to go. I’m on my 2nd blower now. The first one was completely rebuilt twice. Gears, sprockets, chains, impeller and auger. Only issue when blowing is figure on a long time out there. I live in heavy snow country so it’s slow going. I am this year putting a backup camera on my tractor because my neck is in bad shape. Nice video Gord and stay warm.
That's a great idea John. I think Mech also put one on his Kubota and I think he likes it. Works well and saves the back. Cheers and thanks! You too!
Hey Gord, New subcriber here ! Really great channel. Videos are awesome - great camera shots, narration and subject matter. I could spend a whole day with Guy ..... could learn sooo much. More videos to watch so I'm going to make another pot of coffee ! Thanks and keep up the great work.
Hey good day and welcome JD! Glad to have you tuning in. Thanks for the feedback! Enjoy the coffee and the movies! Cheers!
Noticed some new editing tricks, very nice. I agree with you. The front mount is by far the best option for your property. Great to see the comparison however.
Keep on tractoring and God bless
You and Gp have good video
Good day Jon! Yes, still learning new things about the software. Thanks and all the best to you too!
Great video GP. As you stated every set up that each person chooses may be for a reason. A front blower requires less attention since you are facing the way you are going. As for the rear blower you have to know where the front of the tractor is in relation to obstacles at all time. I will amongst the many that will agree that a rear blower causes a stiff neck and sore back. Luckily we do short pushes. We get slack for our set up all the time. People say we should have gotten a front blower and a rear plow. Ideally, a rear mounted forward facing blower for what we do is IDEAL. This minimizes the need to watch behind you since the blower collects and blows the snow as you drive forward. Sadly the companies that make rear mount blowers like this don't make them for a machine of my size (Not that we have found yet). We will over the coming years undoubtedly make changes and find the right set up that works best for us. Keep up the good work. -John
Hey good evening john. Some good info in there. I heard about the inverted rear blowers recently. I never knew they existed until now. but it sounds like a good option. Keep smiling and keep warm and safe out there!
Last year I built a 6’6” blade from a old plow truck and fabbed that to a QA plate. Works great! I use a 6’ rear blade and the combination of the 2 on my B2601 is awesome. This winter I purchased a 6’ pusher with a back drag and a 6” rubber edge, and I purchased a old used rear 3 point snowblower and I’m gonna try that. Every attachment has its purpose. It’s definitely not a one size fits all. I would like to get a V plow next and fab that onto a QA plate. That would be the cats meow until I buy a front blower…. A front blower and a rear blade just like yours QP, that’s usually by far the best set up! My next tractor will be a cab LX2610. But by then I really hope Kubota figures out how to dumb down that hydrostatic whine and I wish they would put a couple sliding windows in the cab models. I really like to hear what’s going on around me.
Boy! I know y'all are drinking a lot of coffee this winter! lol Good tips and info GP! Have a good one and stay warm!!
LOL. Good morning LA! Man, Bitter, bitter cold this week and high winds. When she comes, she comes in hard. LOL. But good to finally see some snow. Cheers and all the best LA!
Nice comparison. We don't happen to see much comparison like you did on TH-cam. Plus you did it great! I think we all agree that the debate about the rear/front is all related to the specific need. No one told a rear blower is preferrable for a long driveway!!! I noted that the snow stream seems to be more diffused with the rear mount. You had a very special voice when you spoke in front of the snow blower at 1:45... Lol! I would say the rear snow blower is a "utility" implement (good in most situations), keeping the versatiliy of the tractor with the FEL available. Whereas the front blower is rather a "speciality" implement dedicating the tractor to snow blowing (great in specific situations). Thanks!
In my case Joe , my rear blower is much more diffused and doesn't throw it as far as my front blower either , maybe because my rear blower is much larger than the front one , I don't know .
This might be an advantage. The farther you throw snow, the more you draw power from the engine. Then if you don't need to throw the snow far, you might just gain some speed given the same engine power.
LOL Joe! It was almost 50km winds that day and I had to try adjusting the audio effects to remove as much wind as I could. I think I sound like I am in a tin can. LOL. I like the way you summarized the two blowers - Sounds right on the mark! Have a great weekend and all the best my friend!
The ‘ole front vs rear debate... love it! Nice video, with good information. The one thing I didn’t hear you mention (but was brought up in a comment) is that rear mount blowers are generally more durable and heavy duty than front mounts. My preference is rear mount with a front blade / bucket. But you are certainly correct that there are many variables that reflect an operators preference.
Good day KL4060! Thanks for watching and for your thoughts. A lot of folks like that same setup - makes a lot of sense and keeps the FEL available. That rear blower was definitely built like a tank! Thanks again and all the best!
For me it was the price, a box 2380 the rear mount blower was 2300 with the front mount and all the extra parts to mount the front blower it would have been 4500.
After seeing all the possible set ups in my opinion front blower rear blade is best. CHEERS
Hey good day David! Thanks for the feedback and your thoughts! Have a great weekend!
David Carrow TTWT showcased a rear snow pusher box for the 3pt with wings that move, that thing looked slick.
Front IS was better.
Excellent videos sir. Got a new holland boomer 3050. Was a tough decision went with a farm king 74 rear blower. Just like you said price. Massive difference. And than not having the bucket to clean up snow in tight areas. Want my bucket on.
Great that you made the right choice for you D! Pretty soon you will be needing it. LOL. Be well and good luck getting ready for the winter snows. Cheers and all the best!
I was in the woods all day cutting and blocking and hauling. Had a sip 🥃 or two when I came in too warm up. At the first of your video saw two blowers side by side. I thought.... too much sauce there mister. Lol. 👍
LOL Laurie!! That is classic! I am a little envious - I have not been out in the woods for a while and starting to miss it. Of course I have had a few "sips" more recently. Great story. Have a good one!
Great video. For me rear mount works best. Can leave loader on for bucket, pusher, and pallet forks. Can remove blower quickly to put other rear implements on. Only disadvantage, of course, is turning around. My driveway is only about 600 feet long and I use mirrors on the loader mounts, so I don't have to turn around much.
Hey good afternoon Jeffrey. Sounds like you have a great setup and I like the idea of the mirrors. A couple others mentioned that too. Good stuff and full access to your FEL attachments. Now if only my driveway was a little shorter...LOL. Cheers and thanks for your feedback!
GP, after serious consideration I have consulted a hand picked fully experienced group of tractor experts and it has been decided unanimously that Mrs GP must set aside her butter and egg profits to purchase a much larger Kubota, like a 3901, with full complement of attachments for you so that she can take over the snow removal with the 2601. She can then keep the front mount snow blower for ease of operation and you can leave your loader on the 3901 and use the new quick-attach front snow blade to give her assistance. Let it be noted to the Mrs that virtually every one of the group of experts agreed it is all really for HER benefit and she will enjoy the quality time spent playing in the snow. It really IS the only option....as WE see it. Btw GP...good luck with that.... LOL
Great video and I too thought I had one too many with the blurred double vision. And please remind Guy we are expecting him to go 'green' one of these days to avoid confusion in the neighborhood....
LOL. Well good morning T44 and a good morning to the esteemed committee. I think Mrs. GP might like to address the committee personally on that one . LOL But I like you're thinking. A fine committee there for sure. Now that would certainly make for a good series of videos - me orange and Guy, green. Thanks for the morning humour - always goes good with the first coffee. Keep smiling T!
Well unfortunately GP, you must inform your bride that the special committee having been formed just for this particular recommendation has been disbanded and the members have moved great distances back to their homelands...needless to say at extreme expense. So it may be impossible for her to address them in person and facts being as such, we are forced to hold to that original unanimous decision. With that behind us now, all we have in front of us is waiting for you to begin your video series on your newly acquired tractor and all its new accessories !!!
...one more thing...I guess I better be quiet now if I ever expect to cross the Canadian border again...LOL....or she may be gunnin' for me. I hope you are enjoying your morning coffee, I am. ...and may it be noted you are certainly a good sport sir.
LOL. Thanks T! I'll inform her....but will do so at a distance. LOL. Cheers!
great perspective, thanks for sharing
The mid mount usually spins at 2100 rpm wearing out the u joints faster....the front loader is great for finding the newspaper so it doesn't screw up your blower
LOL Andy! Funny you should mention. That happened to me a few years ago (not with this tractor). I was using a walk behind snowblower on my neighbour's driveway and I found the newspaper. LOL! I think I spent more time getting the newspaper out of the blower and then cleaning up all the shredded paper off the street, than it took me to actually blow out their driveway. Cheers!
Hi Gordon,
Watched this one for the umpteenth time, I can hardly wait for the snow to fly this year. My B2601 is being assembled at this time and I can hardly wait.
I've ordered the front mount 55" "commercial" blower ( so I don't have to spin around in the seat) and 60" box blade. I need to watch you final iteration of the accessory light install.
Love your videos and am looking forward to the LX in the snow (some day a cab tractor will make it into my garage)!
Good morning Domenic! That's great - just in time for winter. Good luck and let me know when you get it out for a spin! Cheers!
@@GPOutdoors you bet!
Gord, buddy! As always nice job. This is a tough one. I live just south of Buffalo, NY and we get snow. I have a 300 ft driveway that is up hill and a sweeping arch. As I look for a tractor I'll be looking for some snow removal equipment as well. I like the idea of a plow type blade on front, but as you put it, a blower up front isn't easy to swap out. I may need to consider a blower on that back. Love the comparison you did. Very helpful. Cheers!
Hey good day Darren! We often watch your snows on TV up here. LOL. The nice thing I should have mentioned about the rear blower is that having 525 lbs on the back means I get some great traction on my hills. :)) Glad it was helpful. Have good one !
You could also consider getting a pull type inverted 3 point snowblower. It’s rear mounted and you drive forward. You won’t have the expense of a front mount blower setup
@@bwillan That's interesting. I'll look into that! Thanks
How's she goin'? Great test of the blowers Gord. I had a front mount and it didn't stand up. The rear mount has worked good for 7 years with no issues.
BUT, I plow a private road that is 2.5 km long. When I have to blow it it takes a long time to go from end to end and I have to do this trip about 6 times to get the road cleared, so my back and neck get pretty stiff and sore. So from that point alone, the front mount would be the best choice. But for all the reasons you pointed out the rear blade has it's good points as well.
You have an ideal set up for your situation and I think that's what it comes down to. What is 'your' situation. Then make your decision based on that. Your test and discussion with Guy will offer great insight for anyone looking at getting set up with a tractor and blower.
Have a great week and stay warm buddy!!!
Good morning Grampie! Thanks for sharing some great thoughts and views. Boy that must be a long job getting that road done. Good thing you have the Cab! I think you nailed it. It comes down to what situation the person has to deal with as to the best option for them. You too! And safe tractoring out there! Cheers!
Just another thought I has was the transmission you have might make a difference in the blower you choose. Some tractors may not have a reverse that goes fast enough or slow enough. Usually that isn’t a problem with newer tractors ,but with older ones it could be. Just having a high-low range might not be the best anymore.
Good evening Walter. That is a really good point which I never thought about. Thanks for sharing that for folks to read. Have a good weekend!
GP always a treat to watch your videos. Thank you so much for helping me become educated about tractors. You are a key part of my decision to get a b2601 and a front snowblower. I did get the rotary brush as well for the suburban driveway. Hopefully I will enjoy using it. Really appreciate you and what you have done for others.
Good evening and thanks very much David! Great to hear - I appreciate the kind comments and happy to hear you have a tractor to help with your chores. Have a wonderful week!
Good evening GP ! Very well explained and done and your summarized is very good also at the end ! Cheers !
Good morning and thanks Dave! Glad you liked it. Cheers!
After 10 years of a rear blower.. I run a 8' blade on the back and a 72" skid steer blower on my FEL. A external res is mounted on the blade, and a Prince PTO pump and hoses power the blower.... and I can easily take the blower off to put the bucket on. At 40 I decided I didn't want to be backing up the rest of my life. I have a MX 4800....
Nice - thanks for sharing your experience and your setup Phil! A lot easier on the back and neck now. Cheers!
I enjoyed this video in my opinion the rear snowblower seemed to make it easier and not take as much time then the front snowblower.
You are right about the rear snowblower working better in small areas.
Using the rear snowblower does look cool it looks like it is snowing when you are using it
Good morning James. Thanks for the feedback. It certainly is a beast and works great. Yes, it was so windy that the powder was getting thrown around in the air. I think I wore a little of it too. LOL! Have a good week and thanks again!
I've used both front and rear. Just prefer the front mount. Good comparison though they both did do a good job. Thanks for the video very useful information.
Thanks John! Cheers!
Thanks for the great videos. I'm new to tractor ownership and I just bought a little a farm that came with a Kubota B7510. Anyways, I was wondering if you have any videos troubleshooting the hydraulic lines and how to fix any issues with them. I had trouble getting the snowblower turning and when I switched the lines (did not follow the colour codes on the lines) it started to work. Just wondering.
Congratulations and hope you enjoy the tractor. I do have a lot of videos on mods, tips, maintenance etc for new tractor owners but very little on trouble-shooting the hydraulics. Sorry I could not help. Mine didn't have all the lines colour coded so I went to a hardware /auto store and got a small pack of coloured tie wraps and just added them so I would know which line to connect to which coupler. Good luck and wish you all the best!
Great video, thanks! I have a long driveway and was wondering about front vs rear blowers.
I'm happy if it helped a little. Good luck with your decision and all the best!
Thanks GP for the review. I’ve been waiting for it and you did a nice job comparing blowers. I concur on your findings. How about a rear blower and purchase a heated cab with the savings over front mount. Maybe even a little cash left over for some chiropractic work after, haha
Hey good morning and thanks Tom! I think I could get a pretty good cab for the difference. And this last few days I sure could use it! Have a good one !
I agree with your summary. The front is absolutely the way to go if you have the money to do so, and assuming you have a mid PTO. Just wish it was half the price and I'd have one.
Thanks NMO! Enjoy the weekend and thanks for watching!
As a landscape contractor I prefer the front mount for comfort on long days and reducing risk of property damage when swinging the front around while in reverse. That being said I think the rear mounts are a little better for doing heavy duty snow work such as compact snow and ice
I finished the video and you pretty much confirmed what i feel about them. Heres another thing I think about it. Big tractor=rear snowblower(i dont think they make a front) for farm use etc. Landscaping municipal residential and most applications=front mount. Get a cab and a heater/radio. Go all day in comfort and style. Great videos. Im hooked. In talks with my dealer. Looking to get a BX series or B0 series and upgrade from my lawn tractors. We have a mx5100 on the farm and Im thinking it gets a rear mount next year
@@platinumlawnservice Good morning and thanks for watching. I think you make a great point. Good luck with your purchase and have a Happy New Year!
Nicely done - enjoyed your method and final analysis
Thanks Roy. Cheers!
Very good video and points that you made. Retired down here in Minnesota. Just bought a Renegade 68 in for my Massey 1529, 2010 Model. I have a half mile gravel driveway out at the sugar shack got tired of just the blade and bucket. By spring there is nowhere to push the snow. Then the work doubles as I have to push side to side to get the width I need.
I see Renegade offers adjustable skid shoes so I am thinking I may have t purchase a set.
Keep Up the good work. Snow starting to fly
Terry
Good morning Terry. I think you will enjoy the blower a whole lot more. Cheers and stay warm!
Great video!
My father used to have a bx2200 with a front blower. He upgraded his tractor to a b3400 with a quick attach bucket. Then he bought a quick attach plate and an old rusted plow that I welded up for him. With chains on the tractor that works great. We rarely get enough snow to justify the cost of a blower. It would be really cool however. Having said that I think the rear blower is a better option because he can plow with the front and still use the blower on the back to keep the banks down. Or, if we are lucky enough to get a big dumping he could just use the blower.
Good morning BM! Thanks for sharing your setup. It's great that you are able to weld and made him up a great plow to use. I'll bet it's his favourite attachment. I think that's a great setup to have so he can keep the FEL on the tractor. I really enjoy having the snow but this time of year, I can't wait for the sun and warmth to come back. LOL. Have a great week and thanks again!
Hi GP, good comparison video. One observation, when you started to cut into the snow bank with the rear blower and spun your tires, that would’ve been a great example of using the FEL to “plow” the snow and stack it, then use the rear blower to clean it up. That combo of FEL and rear blower is only good for short runs, in my opinion. Like you said, for long runs, the front blower and rear blade is the ideal combo. Have a great weekend!
Good morning Paul. That's a great observation! And I think most folks agree with you on the setup for short runs versus long runs. Thanks for tuning in and for the comment Paul!
for small areas,driveways and parking lots, rear blower is ideal. Keep the snow pusher on the front, blower on rear, and now you have a counterweight.
Very informative video, you went through all the cons and pros of both blowers. I went with a front blower and kept box blade on back. you will be amazed how hand the box blade is in snow.
Hey good day Paul. Thanks for sharing your setup. A few folks have mentioned they like to use a box blade in the snow too. Cheers and all the best!
Cool comparison!! Thanks for posting!! I agree with you, the front mount seems to be the way to go for ease of operation.
You're most welcome C! Glad you enjoyed it - have great weekend!
Real interesting observations you did!! Cheers.
Hey good day Richard. Thanks!
Great comparison video! Have a good weekend buddy!
Thanks OD! You too!
I bought the new Kubota 54" rear blower as I didn't want to give up the use of the bucket. I may be wrong, but the rear PTO may produce a little more torque as it is directly coupled through the drive train.
Hey good evening Jim. Congrats on the new blower! I think you may be right, as I have heard that before (I don't know for sure). But hey, if it helps you get the job done out there and fits what you need for your property, then to me, that's all that matters. I always find that clearing the snow is very relaxing and makes me happy. Takes you away from the rest of the day. Good stuff- dress warm and enjoy the time out there clearing the snow! Cheers!
@@GPOutdoors Thanks GP, and hello from Nfld. yes I bought this unit as a result of the mega snow fall we had here in mid January. In one dump we had in access of 100cm and as of today, we have had 328cm so far this winter. Needless to say the BX I have has been working out and I am so impressed with just how much snow it can actually move. Take care GP and I must say I really enjoy your channel. J
Wow! I'll say - you and the BX have both been working hard this winter. Thanks so much- be safe out there and all the best Jim!
Keep churning up the good vids.
Thanks so much Alex! Cheers!
Very informative video, Thank you for doing this video!
Cheers!
Lots of comments about it being hard on the neck. Have you tried it sitting side saddle on the seat and using your left foot for your speed control? My driveway isn't near as long and I'm debating between a 25hp CS2510 Kioti with a 54" front mount or a 35hp CK3510 with a 72" rear mount. The 35hp would be so much nicer in the summertime for the bushhog, has a bigger blower, and has almost 3x the lifting capacity. I'm pretty much set on the 35hp but you've got me reconsidering....
Good morning Greg. That's pretty exciting - new tractor! As you know , I am not much of an expert but can give you my honest thoughts (not knowing too much about your property overall). I think it's always important to consider the needs across the whole 12 months and if it is in the budget for the 35, then it is always helpful to get as much tractor as you can (in general). Not knowing much about the property overall, or the type of driveway or length you have. I have tried sitting side saddle but a little hard on the lower back and hip ( the seat is molded so your sitting with your hips angled) plus you can't quickly reach the brake pedal. I have a bit of a hip and lower back challenge so it's not good for me. However, not sure if you have looked into it but a few companies make an inverted rear blower (it blows while you drive forward), also maybe you don't need a blower if you have open areas at the sides of the driveway- just a good hydraulic plow blade(?). There may also be companies that make a front mount that runs off the rear PTO (My neighbour Guy has one on his L3400 - you can see it in a few videos from last winter). He has had it for 15 years - maybe you can ask your dealer. A few subscribers say they put mirrors on the tractor and primarily use the mirrors when using the rear blower so they don't have to turn around. A few thoughts for you. Having a front blower is great for me. However one of the negative things is that I lose having the FEL for the winter as I can not have both ( due to the blower's subframe below the tractor). Anyways, just a few thoughts - hope it has helped a bit. Good luck with your new tractor Greg!
@@GPOutdoors I like the idea of the mirrors. So simple I never really thought of it. I back a commercial vehicle in my yard every day so I'm plenty familiar with my yard in reverse using mirrors. As far as the inverted blower that's never seemed like a good idea to me. We often get 12+ inches of snow so I'd think itd be easy to get stuck. I'm thinking I'm going to stick with my original plan of the larger tractor and if down the road I decide to go to a front mount there's always the option to change to something different
G P Guy great test I am glad to have the front mount the shed is still in one piece hit it once and that was with the rear blade and we have a cab keep this kind of stuff coming
God Bless All
PaK
You bet - thanks and enjoy the weekend Peter!
I have found my neck and shoulders gets sore when I have to twist and look back, as I’m in reverse using a brush hog. Can’t imagine the soreness it would create to use the rear blower on a driveway that long. I think, for me, the best set up is the front blower and rear blade.
Hey good day and thanks Erick! Thanks for your thoughts! That will work! Have a good weekend !
Great video GP you guys have to much fun ! LOL love the hat too !! Kioti Curt :-)
LOL. You noticed my little Canadian Flag on there Curt! Cheers and all the best!
Morning GP.....the rear mount is great if you dont mind the constant having to turn around alot......if you are on it any length of time your back can get sore for sure.......I prefer the front mount because of that.....lol.......looks like you got a nice bit of snowfall.....have a great weekend and stay safe my friend....... :)
Good day Don! Yes - finally got a good dump of snow. But a lot of bitter cold came with it. LOL Thanks for the thoughts above! Have a great week Don!
With Kubota’s swivel seat when equipped with a backhoe, perhaps an option to sit backward with a rear blower if a linkage could be arranged to operate the treadle peddle safely?
Great comparison and you just confirmed that I need a rear mount. I am currently looking for a used one since it would not be used much. I use my Polaris ranger 90% of the time but my driveway will get 2-3 foot drifts that would be nice to blow out.
Hey good day Greg! Glad it helped a bit. Sounds like a good plan getting a used one. Cheers and thanks!
Only advantage front mount has is the not twisting sideways in the seat..... Other than that rear mount in my opinion is the best uses less RPMs.... And you still have the use of your front end loader and bucket
Hi GP! Love the double exposure opening! Both blowers looked like they could throw snow at least 30 feet or more. Impressive! I didn’t know the front snow blower’s subframe prevents you from having your FEL on there. That would be a big downside for me. Is it a lot of trouble to install and remove the subframe? Thanks for another very enjoyable video! Cheers!
Good day DIY! Yes, they both threw them a long way. Unfortunately true on the subframe. The whole subframe needs to be removed. Its not terrible but would take a good 45 minutes to remove everything and then of course to put back on. Would not be so bad if I had a heated garage to do it in, and lots of time, but is a bit tough laying on the ground in sub zero temps. LOL. Thanks for the kind words and for watching as always!
That’s what you need, GP, a garage or workshop! Are you planning to build one?
Sure am. Have been for a few years. I had the area out behind the cabin cleared 2 years ago but need to save more before starting. So very interested in your build. :))
Great info!
What is the weight difference between the two blowers? Thanks for all the great videos!
Hi Shawn! The rear is 525 lbs and the front mount is 450. Thanks for watching - glad you like them. All the best!
Nicely done GP ....that should give all the folks looking to invest in a blower some good food for thought before making a final decision that is right for them.
I guess in a month plus minus you could pull the front blower and put the loader back on with rear blower and do a "clean up" fun video.
I'm impressed how well that rear blower tackled the driveway end vs the front blower
Good day B! Hope it was helpful for folks. Yes not much longer to go before we can mount up for Spring. Me too, it was a beast for sure. Was great to have it for a while to try out. Have a great weekend B!
Also as you touched upon, front mount is ok for straight line blowing rear mount is better for turning and you won't be driving your tires into unblown snow.
Good points Mark! Thanks!
One other type of snowblower is the rear-mounted inverted blower that works while driving forward. The user’s typical snow conditions should also be of consideration when making the choice of which blower to buy as well as terrain and distance to be cleared.
Would love to get one of these blowers. Sadly they don't make them for our little BX2680. I think they require a minimum of 29 HP at the PTO and we have only 19.5HP. Just a tad under the line. LOL
Hi,
Great videos! What size snow blowers are you using? I have 72" three point blower, wondering if the b2601 will be powerful enough.
What size is the rear Beco 3 in this video is it the 54" or 64"? We are operating a B2601 with 19 hp @ the PTO is the 54" better suited for the B2601?
Hi GP ! Nice video. 2 things i have to say about your comparaison. 1- the speed of your pto is it the same for the front and the rear ? Cause on my B2320 for the mid mount is 960 and for the back is 540. This will have a big influence on your engine and the speed of the auger. 2 - when you dig into the snow bank, the front blower have tooth on the auger so that made a difference when you have ice or compact snow. Those tooth are use on bien snow blower to remove the snow on the side on the road to help to dig in.
So they have some difference on those 2 snowblower that will effect the performance of your tractor.
Good job ! Love you video ( sorry for my english, i'm a french guy )
Good afternoon Nicola. Not to worry about your English, it is very good. :)) A couple of good points. I honestly don't know about the speed of the auger. On my B2601, it is 540 rpm in the rear and 2,500 at the mid PTO. However, both snowblowers have gearing that takes the RPMs down so I am not sure if they are both spinning at the same RPM or not. I know they are not spinning at the same rate as the PTO drives themselves. But a good question for sure. You are right about the auger on the front - it does have more of a jagged design and I didn't realize that provided a benefit. Thanks for sharing this with us all. Bien! Have a great weekend!
How well does it do in wet snow?
Morning ! I don't think I tested the rear in wet snow but it had a lot of power. The front mount did great in wet snow - many videos on the channel blowing the wet stuff. Cheers!
Hi at what rpm do you run your tractor I have a B7800 thanks
Good morning John. I usually run mine at around 2100 RPM if not using the PTO. If I have something really heavy to lift or do, then I will run it at full while I am doing that task. Have a good weekend!
I have a front blower on my B 2601 and I like it. But the rear blower might have d been the better choice because of price. But being 76 years of age may it might have been a problem with turning around. So the front blower is the right choice for me.
Very nice comparison 👍
Thanks for sharing
Regards ,
Glad you liked it P! Have a great weekend!
How did you find the tractor handled the 72”, their website indicates the tractor should be min 30hp for that size? We don’t get as much snow in Nova Scotia, but it is often wet and heavy. The quality looks impressive and a good price. My Kubota dealer is quoting $114 more for a manual chute 54” that doesn’t look as heavy duty. Thanks for the videos
Great review, does the tractor have single rear brakes for one or both if so one could use one to make a sharper turn. What's the engine size and fuel
Morning Robert! Yes, it has split rears - 25 HP and diesel. Cheers!
Great comparison video. Almost felt like I was watching an episode of the Red Green show. Was expecting you to breakout a roll of DuckTape back at Guy’s place.
Still torn on which snowblower to get. I hate backing up but having to mess around with that front hitch/bracket to put the loader back on sounds like a pain. Not to mention double the price for a front SB.
LOL! Morning Evan. If I might offer, for me, if I had a normal driveway , I would have purchased a rear blower and a plow blade or just the bucket for the front. Too many times, I wish I had the FEL on all the time and I agree, swapping it out in cold temps is not my first choice. But being so long, there is no way my back could take twisting around for that period of time. Also, I have never tried one but there are several companies that make an inverted blower - hooked to the 3 point and pulls forward. Good luck with the decision!
Great video love the comparison me to long drive way I would get a front one
Good morning and thanks Teddy! Keep warm out there!
I will whit mi second heater im mi cab
Wife and are getting ready to move to the cottage. Can I ask how long your driveway is? I ask because I will have almost 2km to blow. Just trying to figure out the size of tractor and the placement of the blower. Thanks
Congratulations Todd. The driveway is just under 1 mile long. Good luck and all the best!
First, good video... I'm still try to decide/justify purchasing a small tractor. Showing the end of the driveway test in the deep snow was interesting. It did sound like there was more ice when testing the rear mount. You were obviously trying to compare a full swipe to a full swipe but, it would have been a good test to have also tried only taking a half pass to see how it would have worked. Finally, are you aware of anybody making a small engine powered unit (similar to some ATV mount models) that could use the front bucket quick release and hydraulics for chute control, but use its own engine. If so, I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap but would allow for quick change between bucket and blower. Thanks
Good evening. Thanks. I can't help on the engine powered unit unfortunately. If you are considering a tractor, I can only offer the following: I only have about 4 acres here but for years many friends and neighbours told me I needed a small tractor. I kept thinking that was overkill and not necessary and continued paying people to grade my mile long driveway, and to plow it in the winter, to fell trees etc. I kept on using my shovel, garden tools etc and wheel barrow, little lawn tractor to mow the grass etc, to try to maintain my property. I finally started doing my research and due diligence on a tractor purchase. One of the best decisions I ever made and wish I had done it 10 years ago. If I could show you my property before I got the tractor and how it is now, I think it would make the point clearly. Lots of great options out there- I looked at 4 different tractor manufacturers before making my decision. Lots of great options out there for you to consider - Deere, Kubota, Kioti, Massey, etc. maybe check them out and compare and look at the costs you currently incur to manage your land, and those you might be able to avoid if you had your own tractor, and consider the projects you are thinking about in the future on your land and see if it makes sense or not, for you and your family. Good luck - hope that helped a bit. Cheers!
How long does it take to remove the front blower. If your driveway is 700 feet long gravel what unit would you purchase. Thanks
Hey Nick. It takes about 30 minutes or so because you have to remove the sub frame as well in order to put the FEL back on. For a driveway that long, I would definitely get a rear mount blower. That way I could keep my FEL on the tractor and also use other rear implements as needed. I would probably get a plow blade for the FEL as well. Cheers!
The 3ph blowers don't have down pressure where as the good front blower setups do. If you want to clean a hardtop driveway, down pressure can save the day.
Good video
Hey good day and thanks Cliff! Hope you are well... and warm!
Yeah no thanks, i'm gonna grab a coffee and watch ya. And send positive support thoughts your way.
Good day MNP. Don't like the cold too much? LOL. I tell you, it was in the deep - 20's that day and the winds were bitter cold at about 40 - 50 kms per hour. Felt pretty good getting back inside and warming up. Cheers!
GP, I think I would prefer the front blower much more. I think eventually, snow blower companies will produce a front blower that has skid steer quick-attach capability which should mean easy-on and easy off. Give it time. The price for each is going to be a factor for many needing a snowblower. If the cost disparity is that significant, most operators may go with a snowblower that doesn't hurt the wallet and may concede to the over-the-shoulder, neck-twist agony often experienced with rear snowblower usage. This was an excellent comparison. I have not operated a snowblower so my opinion has little weight compared to folks who a lot of experience using them.
Idea......uh-oh. Is there a rear snowblower in which the auger tines are reversed (meaning designed to throw snow as you pull the blower vice backing into the snow)? Of course, something like this too would have limitations. Hey, just thinking out loud and will file-13 that idea since maybe it's too far-fetched (ha). Learning more from your videos. Cheers to you and Guy.
Good day Houndsman. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. Believe it or not there is such a rear unit. Its called an inverted snowblower and I just found out about it from some of the good subscribers. Thanks for saying hi and have a great weekend!
Very interesting.
Hi Gord, my god is that driveway an extension to the Trans Canada Highway? ;-) Your front mount is so much easier on the neck, you are indeed correct. I recently swapped my B3300SU with the new Skid Steer Quick Attach mount and I assure you its a dream way to do things. Although I would love to have a front blower the new Skid Steer mount is so nice. I can switch from my bucket, to the 6' HLA Snow Pusher, 42" forks, 5' grapple and a Bauman Drop Sander all in less then a minute. I do cringe at looking backwards for so long on my driveway, although not as long as your county road ;-) it is still a real pain but I do like the fact I can change several attachments just by pushing two levers. The neck pain is short term and so what if I look like an owl looking for mice after an hour. There must be a way someday where a two stage blower can be mounted on a Skin Steer mount and voila, all problems solved. There are the new rear blowers now where they are dragged forward with auger facing 3 pt hitch, I am thinking this may be better for me once I get old and still be able to interchange attachments. Love your vids, keep em coming!
LOL Michel! Yup, it's a long one. You have a great setup there for sure. It would be great to be able to keep the FEL on as you do. Those rear mounts are called inverted snowblowers. A few folks mentioned them as well and by coincidence I was driving through the country a few weeks ago and there in the distance was a big Massey pulling one behind it. First time I saw one. So I pulled over to watch him for a few minutes and it seems to work very well. It was a farm with a long driveway and it seemed to be lifting and throwing the snow out just fine. Something to think about for sure. I do like my front mount a lot, but would really like to have the options as you do for the FEL through the winter. Cheers!
Hi Gord, I think the key work in your reply above was "big" Massey, I am not convinced that with our baby tractors it would work out. By going through the snow fist in lieu of moving backwards there may be traction issues in deep snow. I could be wrong but it might be too much for a small to medium tractor. Perhaps some of your TH-cam followers could jump in with some pros and cons if they have a rear inverted blower. I am also in the market for an HD Backup Camera, that is also a possibility in lieu of the neck wrenching and this way I keep my big blower and don't have to change a thing other than adding the camera.
Good topic for a video. Thanks
Good morning Gord. That would be miserable to go backwards that long distance for sure. My friend Steve has the rear blower but has not got to use it much yet, not enough snow. 👍👍👍
Cheers AK!
Coffee and GP, doesn't get much better...rear blower does have its place but in an application like yours and mine the front mount is the way to go!
Thanks Bota! Hope you get out on the sled soon. Season is passing fast. Cheers!
You can keep your loader on if you custom make your blower. I have made 3 of them work great.
Good day Dale. Thanks for the idea. Did you make them all on your own? Would love seeing a few pics if you feel comfortable sending them. My email is gordpotter55@gmail.com. . If not, that's ok but I like seeing projects and things from folks and that kind of intrigues me. Thanks for watching and for the comment. Cheers!
I don't know how to do that. But if you have cell phone with number I could do it that way
Thanks Dale if you email me I will send back my number. Thanks!