How good/bad is the Frontier/JD SB1174P inverted blower?

[Piston]

You should talk to the folks at Erskine attachments about a front mounted 2 stage snow blower that can be powered with the rear PTO using a gear box and PTO shafts under the tractor before you spend any money.

www.erskineattachments.com

What is your experience with the inverted blowers? You seem very knowledgeable with single stage/dual stage and rear push/front mount blowers, but I’m wondering what experience you can share specific to the inverted blowers?

 

[leonz]

I have no experience with inverted snow blowers.

He has a small low horsepower mule with no mid point
PTO for a front mounted JD snow blower and we have no
idea whether he has loaded tires or rear chains that he
would want to have in any case.

Having a front mount snow blower with a belly mounted
propeller shaft and a mounting system for his tractor would
reduce the chance of getting hung up on deep snows.

 

[airbiscuit]

I think he has enough hp. My 40hp New Holland handles my 68" MK Martin rear pull just fine. I have R1 tires and no chains.

 

[leonz]

Do I have enough clearance? Good question. Does any tractor? I won't know until I'm in the thick of it I suppose.

One thing I learned more than a half a hundred years ago when cleaned snow off of neighbors' driveways for about $1.50, regardless of how deep it was, is that it is often easier to shovel it 2x or even more than wait until the snow is done falling and deal with the whole 9 yards. I suspect there will be something of this to my new situation.

I've been learning about inverteds for a while now, in anticipation of what is coming. I think it is the way to go for me. Driving backwards 1500' then doing it again and then doing it at least one more time is not something I would enjoy.

I don't think there is a perfect answer to the best type of blower, but I'm fairly set on inverteds, but is this model by Frontier a good one? I know of one that is relatively cheap right now, and I need to make up my mind - with everyone's help.

Look at the Erskine front mount snow blowers that use a rear to front PTO shaft system that is connected to the rear hitch.
The Erskine people use a roller chain drive system to spin the PTO shafts that is supported by the adjustable mounting frame that can be extended or retracted to fit your tractors size(length).
They also have videos on you tube and vimeo as well.



www.erskineattachments.com/products/front-mount-snowblower/

 

[airbiscuit]

A front mount blower is worthy of consideration. The benefit of a rear pull snowblower is that you still have use of your loader.

 

[Piston]

I have no experience with inverted snow blowers.

He has a small low horsepower mule with no mid point
PTO for a front mounted JD snow blower and we have no
idea whether he has loaded tires or rear chains that he
would want to have in any case.

Having a front mount snow blower with a belly mounted
propeller shaft and a mounting system for his tractor would
reduce the chance of getting hung up on deep snows.

If you ever get the opportunity to operate a tractor with inverted blower, I think you would find that the concern of getting hung up on deep snow is not actually a problem at all. Many people discuss this made up issue on the internet, but none of them are the ones who actually use inverted blowers.
Like always, there are exceptions to everything, but in the vast majority of areas in this country, we do not get 3’-4’ of snow in a single storm.

It sounds like the op already understands that the style blower he is looking at is superior for his situation.

 

[airbiscuit]

You will be happy with your inverted or rear pull snowblower. Others will think you need this

 

[number two]

Great video!
But it's in the 90's this week!
And we're talking snow?

 

[mnKirk]

I'm running a Wifco Upshot 72" inverted (non-hybrid) blower on my Branson 3520 with a Western plow up front. After 10 years of backing up, the comfort and speed are fantastic. I have major drifting on the driveway, that the v-plow on the super duty can't get through. My strategy for the deep stuff (3 foot, 100 yards long) is to raise the plow 18 inches, and the blower 6 inches for the first pass. With all that weight and some aggressive chains on the back, it's not a problem to bust through. More pto horsepower would be nice, but it'll do it.

 

[leonz]

As I have mentioned before The RAMMY 155 Commercial single stage snow blower can
be an option for anyone with a front loader as the mounting dimensions for the lower
mounts are the same as the plow mounts for pickups and you could use an SSQA
mounting plate to attach the snow thrower.