Do you have a ride-on mower with a snow blade?
Ride-on mowers and lawn tractors are valuable garden helpers when it comes to mowing large lawns. But even beyond that, the devices prove advantageous when accessories extend their scope of use. For example, are there ride-on mowers with snow blades?
An extensive range of accessories is available for certain lawn tractors, making these powerful garden tools suitable for year-round use in the garden or around the house. Sweepers prove practical for spring cleaning, leaf collectors free masses of leaves in the fall and snow blades plow snow in the winter. But what about the more compact ride-on mowers? Is there a model with a snow blade?
Difference between ride-on mowers and lawn tractors
Both the traditional ride-on mowers (such as our Cub Cadet compact mini-riders) and lawn tractors belong to the group of ride-on mowers. Initially, the term simply refers to the counterpart of push law mowers. Generally, however, ride-on mowers tend to be small machines without a front-mounted engine block (they have an engine hood) and commonly smaller cutting widths. Lawn tractors, on the other hand, are usually more powerful and versatile.
The purchase of a ride-on mower is generally not inexpensive. Therefore, it makes all the more sense to use it the entire year for various tasks around the house and garden. In addition, clearing snow with the machine instead of with a shovel facilitates the work and the physical effort turns out to be unquestionably less.
Of course, a snow blade on a ride-on mower may not be able to replace a snow blower for massive amounts of snow, but for clearing sidewalks, parking lots or other areas, the attachment is excellent.
Ride-on mower with snow blade - Mini-Rider from Cub Cadet
Due to their design, one major advantage of these machines is that they can be stored in a space-saving manner. In the garage, they require less space than a lawn tractor. A parking assistant helps you park precisely.
Equipment with headlights is not only helpful for mowing the lawn. In winter, when it is becomes darker earlier, lights prove especially handy for clearing paths and areas of snow in the morning or evening hours.
The snow blade for ride-on mowers
A snow blade available for the ride-on mower from Cub Cadet is effective with a working width of 100 cm (39 in). With a snow blade height of about 35 cm (14 in), it is suitable for clearing small amounts of snow from paths and at the same time utilizes minimal space when stowed away.
The snow plow blade is simple to operate from the driver's seat. From here, it is possible both to lift and change the position (5 positions between left and right inclined for Cub Cadet).
A rubber strip, which helps prevent sensitive surfaces from being damaged , can easily be replaced in just a few steps.
The mounting frame is included with some ride-on mower models but can also be purchased separately.
Equipping lawn tractors with a snow blade
Retrofitting a snow blade is possible for a large number of lawn tractors. In most cases, this requires a one-time installation of a mounting frame plus a quick hitch with or without drive. This allows attachments to be swapped out in a short time . The available snow blades are often equipped with a handle so that the position of the snow blade can be conveniently adjusted from the driver's seat.
When selecting the right snow blade, it is important that the size fits the lawn tractor. In addition, it may be useful to add a rubber bar to the snow blade to help prevent wear and tear on the ground.
Attaching snow chains can also be helpful to maintain a good grip on icy surfaces.
Buying a ride-on mower with a snow blade
Before buying a ride-on mower with snow blade, it is worth comparing different models. Not every device is suitable for moving heavy snow masses. If the power or even the weight is insufficient, the wheels of your mower could spin. On the other hand, it is advisable to purchase a maneuverable device that can also be stored in a space-saving manner and which will be used on winding properties.
Compact mini-riders fitted with a snow blade are therefore more suitable for smaller snow masses due to their low weight and space-saving design. If you are planning on removing heavy and wet snow from a large area, it is more advisable to purchase a powerful lawn tractor, possibly even with a snow blower attached.
Another helpful aspect is the ability to easily mount the mower. This should always be done before use in snow and ice to help avoid rust formation. This is not possible with all models.