snow removal

Dogdoc,

      I have the same problem. Although I wouldn't give up my 5' rear mount snowblower, I really wanted a blade for the loader so I could pull the sides in and then blow it away. A 5' cut on the road requires multiple passes obviously, and a 6' blower would be nice but harder to find imo. So I got serious about having a light pivot blade made for the loader and was told I would be VERY sorry as the lateral forces on the loader would be catastrophic.  So I'm screwed.  3 point blade and 3 point blower. Don't be afraid of the rear blower tho, you're really not turned around ALL of the time and the front mount blowers are spendy.

Just my $0.00000002 worth, Fido

Has anyone with a rear mount used mirrors mounted to the canopy?

How about a back-up camera or two? They are inexpensive.

I have tried mirrors as Tin suggested when I had the backup type.  There was just too much vibration no matter how I tried to mount them.  The snow blower I have now mounts on the rear but you go forward with it.  I have not seen any like this that would work on a tractor as small as a 284.  Mine says right on it that it requires a minimum of 35 HP.   Perhaps somebody makes a smaller one but I have not seen it.   Mine is 68″ wide. 

Any blower that goes on the front is very costly on a small tractor such as that.  You don't have enough hydraulics to run it so you have to arrange other hydraulics off of the PTO. There are some models that have a drive shaft that runs off the PTO and up under the tractor to the front.  All of those solutions are very expensive.   

You can get used to anything.

When I first used my TPH rear snow blower, I thought it would be really bad and awkward. It really isn't all that bad and I find I sit almost sideways on the seat, which allows easy control in both the front and rear. Once you get used to the blower, you will find a speed that works best and use it for most of the time. I have two speeds I use in reverse – one slightly faster than the other.

I have 1/4 mile long driveway and about 300 yds to and from my workshop – so about 750 yards or 2250 ft of blowing driveways. Also I keep and area in front of the house clear to turn my vehicles around in – about 560ft x 60 ft.

If the snow is half decent (8″-12″) it takes me a couple of hours or so. Even of the snow plows have blocked in the driveway entrance, it doesn't take too much longer.

My only regret is that I don't have a bigger blower – 84 ” would be perfect for me. My current one is 73″ with two wings added making it around 80″.

I use a Lucknow 72″ drive forward 3pt hitch snowblower on my 284. It works great. From the web site it seems they also make a 60″ but I wouldn't suggest one that is just the same width of the tires.

It seems obvious when you say it (but not everyone thinks of it) when using this sort of blower you are limited to blowing the amount of snow you can drive through. i.e. you can't back your way into a big bank or drift and chew your way in.

Also, moving snow out of a yard where there is a large area but limited places to blow the resulting snow can require some creative planning as you can only really blow left or right. Obviously forward will just fill the neck of your jacket faster and backwards will fill the path you just drove.

For what you are describing, it seems like it would be ideal.

G'Day