make sure you order tie rod ends for your new blade set up----the tucker blade set up sucks----I would have tried something different---but what do u do with a 2 by 2 sq. frame---lol---clubs in my area stuck on grooming with tuckers all have blades but don't /cant use them-----o ya don't forget to hang a set of springs on the wall also---this is clearly a tucker web site (and I had a tucker)but look back in the history books tuckers don't run blades----ski hills don't buy tuckers ----they did when blades weren't needed------just sayin
I think this is somewhat unfair, and could easily be taken out of context.
I grew up skiing in northern New England back in the sixties and seventies. Tuckers were, at least in my recollection, by far the snowcat of choice for ski areas there. Ski area snow making and grooming were really in their infancy. I don’t recall seeing any front blades on Tuckers, but I also don’t remember seeing any hydraulically powered implements, either. They had rollers made from sections of steel culvert to pack down new snow. They had sections of chain link fence that they would drag to break up frozen sections. Sometimes they’d use rollers made from expanded metal. Snow making was extremely limited and comparatively primitive.
Now I live in Park City, Utah, which is home to three world-class ski resorts. One resort, Deer Valley consistently wins the award for having the best grooming. They literally have a multi-million dollar fleet of snowcats. I’m guessing these machines start at about $300K. Huge Diesel engines, not to power the machine but to run big hydraulic pumps. Pumps that run the hydrostatic drive systems, front blades that have a tremendous number of functions, and rear hydraulically powered tillers to essentially roto-till the snow. Some machines have monster winches so two cats can work in tandem to groom very steep slopes. Literally every night during ski season they groom the mountain. These use the snowcats to literally re-distribute the snow from the edges of the slopes to where it’s needed, and then they smooth it out and when they’re done it looks like perfectly aligned corduroy. Deer Valley doesn’t allow snow boarders, but other areas that do use their cats to sculpt man-made terrain parks with various “features”.
I think most of us on the forum could be described as “amateur hobbyists”. If the price of admission to having a snowcat was $300K, I’m guessing the vast, vast majority of us would have to bow out. So we use older, simpler machines that we can afford. The fact that they don’t have the capabilities of decades newer machines costing perhaps ten times as much should be a surprise to no one, and comparing the two seems absurd, at least to me.
I’ve got a 1973 Ford F-250 4x4. It came with a 360 CID 2-bbl and four speed manual transmission, power brakes and an AM radio. It doesn’t have power steering, power windows, power door locks, power seats or even electronic ignition. A 2018 model would have all of those features, and a lot more. And it would be at least ten times the price. Guess what? The new truck can run circles around my ‘73. And it can do it on less gas and in more comfort, too. I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either.
but couldn't find anything that would show my welder friend how to build the mount - would sure appreciate some pictures if any one has some or is willing to take a few - thanks 
no wonder i dont see many blades on the old tuckers. Good luck. don
