Blade, Blower, or Pusher? Picking Winter Gear for Your Tractor

The first big snowfall always seems to land on the morning you have somewhere to be. If you own a tractor, you already have the muscle to dig out. The trick is getting the right tool mounted on it before the flakes start piling up. In Ohio, that could mean light powder one week and heavy, wet slush the next.

• Blades, pushers, and blowers are the three main snow tools for tractors, and each one moves snow in its own way.
• Your property layout, how much snow you usually get, and your tractor’s setup should guide your pick, since the biggest size isn’t always the best fit.
• Spreaders and loader buckets round out a winter setup by handling ice and stubborn piles.

WINTER TRACTOR ATTACHMENTS

Start With Your Property

Take a walk around your place before you shop. Do you have a long gravel lane, a tight paved driveway next to the garage, or a big parking pad by the barn? Kubota sorts snow tools into three groups, which are blades, pushers, and blowers. Where you plan to put the snow decides which one fits best. On a straight, open driveway, a blade gets the job done fast. If you’ve run out of room to stack snow, a blower starts to look pretty good.

Think about what’s hiding under the snow, too. Curbs, edging, and drain grates can catch a blade and damage your gear. Mark them with driveway stakes before the ground freezes so you can still find them in January.

Snow Blades for Fast, Simple Clearing

Kubota calls the blade an easy and effective way to move snow, and it notes that blades scrape closer to the ground than a blower does. They can also clear large areas faster than a blower. The tradeoff is precision. A wide blade is harder to work in tight spots, and it leaves windrows, which are ridges of snow along the edge of your path.

You’ll find blades that mount on the front and blades that hang off the three-point hitch in back. With a front blade, you can watch where you’re going. Rear blades pull double duty in spring when it’s time to grade the gravel lane.

Snow Pushers for Big, Open Lots

Think of a snow pusher as a large box that shoves snow forward. According to Kubota, it usually moves more snow than a blade, and it won’t leave windrows behind. Some pushers have an optional pull back blade, so you can drag snow away from garage doors. Pushers fit loaders and skid steers, which makes them a good match for shop yards, parking lots, and wide farm lots. For scooping big loads in a hurry, Kubota’s LM25 light material bucket is another loader option.

Snow Blowers for Deep Drifts

A blower uses an auger to chop up snow and feed it into an impeller, which throws it out through the chute. You can mount one on the front or rear of a tractor. One perk Kubota points out is visibility, since you can see most of what’s ahead of you. You also get to aim the snow wherever you want, which keeps banks from creeping in on your driveway.

There are a few things to plan for. Blowers have more moving parts than a blade. Kubota also suggests blowing before snow gets too heavy, since a big buildup strains the attachment. With a front-mounted blower, you’ll need to pull off the loader bucket before you hook up.

Match the Attachment to Your Tractor

Construction Equipment Guide advises making sure your machine has enough traction and horsepower for heavy loads, plus enough PTO power to spin a blower. Check your owner’s manual for the blade widths and weights your tractor can handle. Look at your hitch and quick attach setup, too. If you’re comparing Kubota tractor attachments, bring your model number along so the fit is right from day one.

This quick chart lines up the most common winter tools side by side.

Building a Winter Setup That Fits Your Land

Pairing two tools covers most winters well. Let a blower or blade handle the heavy work after a big storm, then clean up near doors and steps with a loader bucket. Toss a spreader into the mix, and you’re covered when freezing rain glazes the driveway. It also pays to shop in the fall, so your gear is mounted and tested before the forecast turns white.

Get Winter Ready at Jeff Schmitt Lawn & Motorsports

We’re Dayton’s Lawn and Motorsports Headquarters, and we’d love to help you match the right snow tool to your tractor. Our Beavercreek showroom carries Kubota tractors and attachments, plus snow blades and salt spreaders from BOSS and Land Pride. Bring us your tractor’s details and a rough idea of your property, and we’ll help you sort out what fits. Our factory-trained technicians can also get your current gear ready before the first storm, and we offer free pickup and delivery within 20 miles for service work. Trade-ins are welcome, too!

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