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

[Musdalen]

I am looking around for a snow blower for this winter. For sure, I will need one. My soon to be regular driveway will be 1500 ft long and gravel in Northern Minnesota. My tractor is a JD 3039R. I'm looking at a SB1174P Frontier inverted blower that is 74" wide. The 3039 is "rated" for handling it.

There is one influencer on Youtube that does not much like this blower, but I'm not sure how valid his concerns are - he rates them for use as a snow moving business. That is not me.

I'm open to any brand (if I can find and afford it), but unlike someone in another thread - money is an object. I'm not made of the stuff, so cost matters.

Used is fine, but the right combination of blower, price, and condition are not likely to show up.

Thanks.

 

[Piston]

I can't say specific to that model, but inverted blowers in general are incredible for snow removal. I have a 7.5' wide Erskine commercial unit that weighs 1,400lbs, and I found that it's really too much for my tractor. I may sell/trade it for a smaller one, but my point is the inverted is so much better than the rear push so you are on the right track. I personally would never consider the front mount so I didn't even mention it.

My tractor is 39 pto hp, with a 90" blower. Ideally, I believe the 82" version would be about perfect. I use a 1,600 pound box blade but I feel like the snowblower is 'heavier' than the box blade on my tractor, I"m sure because it hangs back further than the box blade. Not sure if any of that helps.

 

[oldnslo]

Do you have enough ground clearance If you get heavier snow falls or drifts.

Some people hate them but rear push are usually less money and snowfall depth and drifts are of less concern since you are moving the snow before driving on it.

 

[Musdalen]

Do you have enough ground clearance If you get heavier snow falls or drifts.

Some people hate them but rear push are usually less money and snowfall depth and drifts are of less concern since you are moving the snow before driving on it.

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.

 

[Piston]

If it is cheap, then take a chance. You can ALWAYS sell it and likely make money on it.
It appears that it’s the newer style hybrid pull behind which are all the rage now. It would be easy to sell if it didn’t meet your expectations.

However, I would bet a lot of money that you will be blown away (no pun intended) with how much better this u it is than any rear push.

Don’t worry at all about the snow piling up or driving over it first. It is a non issue (with very few exceptions in areas that get 10’ of snow in one hour )

 

[HobbleCreek]

We have a mountain property where the driveway is a little over half a mile, so I definitely like the idea of not having to drive backwards to clear the snow. Because this is not our residence, I often get behind the snow accumulation — to the point that I l cannot get my JD 4720 up the driveway — so an inverted blower may not work for me. I am thinking of upgrading my snow removal solution this year, but maybe I need to upgrade my timeliness more than my equipment! Thanks for your post.

 

[airbiscuit]

Here is a good thread.

Inverted snowblower on my TYM T474

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[leonz]

I am looking around for a snow blower for this winter. For sure, I will need one. My soon to be regular driveway will be 1500 ft long and gravel in Northern Minnesota. My tractor is a JD 3039R. I'm looking at a SB1174P Frontier inverted blower that is 74" wide. The 3039 is "rated" for handling it.

There is one influencer on Youtube that does not much like this blower, but I'm not sure how valid his concerns are - he rates them for use as a snow moving business. That is not me.

I'm open to any brand (if I can find and afford it), but unlike someone in another thread - money is an object. I'm not made of the stuff, so cost matters.

Used is fine, but the right combination of blower, price, and condition are not likely to show up.

Thanks.

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