Anyone with a lawn tractor or riding mower who lives in a snowy region has likely pondered the notion of attaching a plow or snow blower to it, especially when the snow falls heavy and deep. But for many of us, particularly those who’ve taken advantage of the latest wave of snow blowers that cost $2,000 or less, a beefy snow blower is probably the better bet for a number of reasons:
Shorter tractor life. The transmissions of most residential lawn tractors and zero-turn-radius riders are best suited for one use: cutting grass. Pushing or blowing snow is another story. A number of companies, such as Nordic Plow, sell sturdy plowing attachments designed for specific models. But unless you have a high-end lawn or garden tractor, you could shorten the life of your tractor by pushing a plow or snow-blower attachment against significant snow.
More expensive than you think. At about $300 to $800, a plow attachment can cost as much as a decent snow blower. For a snow-blower attachment, it’s closer to $1,300 to $1,400. Add in at least $50 for chains and more still for wheel weights, both of which you’d need for traction.
Cumbersome clearing. One plus to a snow blower is that you can maneuver it around vehicles and other obstacles in your driveway. But a snow-blower attachment adds at least two feet to the front of your tractor, making for clumsier movement. If it’s a plow, passage is restricted by the width. A bigger consideration, though, is that the engine and transmission themselves will limit you to snow accumulations better suited for a compact two-stage snow blower such as the 24-inch Craftsman 88173, $680. As for the plow pile at the end of your driveway, forget about it.
Lots of hassle. Before you install a plow or snow-blower attachment, you have to remove the tractor deck. Each spring, you’ll have to remove the attachment and reinstall and level the deck. Each of these tasks is a major headache, requiring at least an hour’s work each time.
Tricky storage. Any attachment, figuring in the mechanism to connect it to the tractor, will need garage or shed space. And as long as the plow or blower is attached, you’ll need space for the tractor’s deck. Any of these will take up more space than the average snow blower.