Like the gray wheels. Steering brakes on the left - Brilliant. L02 series should have 3pt extendable links and pin type stabilizers as long as they are making improvements.
Those shoes look like they are made for walk behind or lawn tractor snowblowers. I would bur the OEM version. Won't your road have a hard packed base of snow after the first snowfall?
BMBlank, If you would like your blower to be a bit wider, you could fab up some wings. I did that for my push type one and they were rugged and performed well.
It sounds like the OPs friend might be in the country. A lot of snow removal contractors use rear pull snowblowers because they are a quick in and out, and they are in suburban settings. It does require some operator awareness.
I have had both - Both MK Martin Meteors. Both function well. If you regularly have snowfalls over 24" or have 4' snow drifts, then a push snowblower is the way to go. You can push into the drifts, but it is cumbersome to do all your blowing in reverse.
The rear pull works great for...
If you have no tractor experience, get the owner/operator manual and read it from cover to cover. Then check all the fluid levels, air pressure and grease all the zerks. Familiarize yourself with all the controls. Check the air and fuel filters and change if necessary. Power Service in the...
I agree with RCW. Just broaden that ditch to be about an 8' wide depression (swale), maybe even a bit deeper than it is now. You can even give it a little curve for aesthetics. Seed it and mow it and it will look great and soak in and drain water.