Generally I don't have much need for fenders. But if pushing snow on unfrozen roads it can be a problem.I find our machines with fenders stay much cleaner than the ones with.
It definitely comes in handy main reason I have ripper is we have a handy hitch packer that mounts to the ripper really nice having the packer with youI'd love to have that ripper
ovrszd
I recently bought a 143H (low hrs.)with rust issues, only because the machine was not washed or cleaned after it was in the corrosive environment when plowing snow. I have a 140G that is ten years older than this one & it is pretty much rust free. Some counties and municipalitys are very good about keeping things clean and some are not. Those that let their equipment sit and rust away are losing money when they trade it in. Corrosion not only affects the metal but wiring and even radiators. Keep up the good work!
I maintain 50 miles of gravel roads. Only time I see pavement is when running on the State Hiways getting to the next gravel road. I've never ran with the blade in float.Always interesting to see how different things are in different sections of this country!
I'm assuming you have many unpaved roads to maintain? I'm sure there are some here in New York State but even here in what I would call the rural part of the state I would have to think hard to come up with one within a couple hour's drive from here.
The few graders I might have seen in the last ten years are used to maintain roads in quarries or grave beds and the are probably 1970's vintage if that new!
Fenders are awesome to keep windows clean. ....