Frontier SB2176 Snow Blower

[Red Horse]

Just thinking about the snow removal issues in the Boston area the last couple of weeks and in particular the inability to clear tight city streets in residential areas. Not a fan of rear 3 pt hitch snowblowers, I was wondering if anyone made a loader mounted blower for compact tractors. Well aware of such units for big machines with their own power units but unaware of smaller ones.

Did a search and find that Frontier makes one for the 400 series loaders. Rear PTO hydraulic power pack is the power source. I imagine these things are pricey.

Only drawback I see from their literature is the discharge chute is not very high so does not look like it would lend itself loading trucks. On other side of coin, they say you need a minimum of 35 PTO HP. I believe the 4720 is over 50 PTO HP so a 4720 might be able to handle a taller chute.

Anyone have any experience with this unit?

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I've seen these front mounted at the local JD store.
AGRO TREND SNOWBLOWERS

 

[Red Horse]

I've seen these front mounted at the local JD store.
AGRO TREND SNOWBLOWERS

These are conventional 3 pt hitch, PTO driven rear mount. The Frontier I'm talking about mounts on loader . Really unique.

 

[Silvic]

I looked at one at my dealer a couple of years ago. Really nice unit but a bit north of 10k list price so not cheap for both blower and power pack.

 

[Red Horse]

I looked at one at my dealer a couple of years ago. Really nice unit but a bit north of 10k list price so not cheap for both blower and power pack.

Figured as much. But like I said, given maneuverability of a 4x20, If it had a high enough discharge, would be a great unit for tight city streets.

Thinking about the application, perhaps if they made a unit that was not so wide, it might translate into higher discharge capability with same power pack.

 

[doxford jim]

If you were interested enough, you could always extend or build another longer discharge chute. They are not to fancy and should be readily modified IMHO.

 

[Red Horse]

If you were interested enough, you could always extend or build another longer discharge chute. They are not to fancy and should be readily modified IMHO.

Hmnn- think its as simple as that? I would imagine the resistance in the chute is directly related to the height you are pushing-as well as diameter of the chute--at least I would think so.

Then again my snow blower experience is based on my little single stage Toro:laughing:

 

[cobracnvt]

Hmnn- think its as simple as that? I would imagine the resistance in the chute is directly related to the height you are pushing-as well as diameter of the chute--at least I would think so. Then again my snow blower experience is based on my little single stage Toro:laughing:

Hey Bob,

I picked up a Sb1164 rear 64 inch snow blower for the 3320 and love it. I think having the plow or bucket in the front and a snow blower in the back is a great combination. The snow blower is really heavy, so it also makes a great ballast. I think it's over 500 lbs. Turning around to snow blow backwards isn't that bad and it really moves these big snow piles from plowing, far out of the way. I was very glad to have this setup for this year's mess.

John

 

[Red Horse]

Hey Bob,

I picked up a Sb1164 rear 64 inch snow blower for the 3320 and love it. I think having the plow or bucket in the front and a snow blower in the back is a great combination. The snow blower is really heavy, so it also makes a great ballast. I think it's over 500 lbs. Turning around to snow blow backwards isn't that bad and it really moves these big snow piles from plowing, far out of the way. I was very glad to have this setup for this year's mess.

John

John,
Very nice-I would have to believe that with that hill of yours that is a great combination. I'm sure with the amount of snow we have had so far having that blower is a nice option. I'm not a fan of rear mounts from a safety perspective but when you are working in the familiar confines of your own property, not the same as going out in the commercial world.

no way I would spring for one of those Frontier front mounts but if I was plowing commercially, I think that is a nice unit. One of my friends son has 300 residential driveways
that he does with a fleet of 8 F-250's (He is a big time landscape contractor) He also has two Bobcats that he has to bring in when the driveways get just too packed and the plows have no place to push. I would think a blower would be ideal for that work.
Bob
PS AVATAR looks good!

 

[MuttonPower]

Just thinking about the snow removal issues in the Boston area the last couple of weeks and in particular the inability to clear tight city streets in residential areas. Not a fan of rear 3 pt hitch snowblowers, I was wondering if anyone made a loader mounted blower for compact tractors. Well aware of such units for big machines with their own power units but unaware of smaller ones.

Did a search and find that Frontier makes one for the 400 series loaders. Rear PTO hydraulic power pack is the power source. I imagine these things are pricey.

Only drawback I see from their literature is the discharge chute is not very high so does not look like it would lend itself loading trucks. On other side of coin, they say you need a minimum of 35 PTO HP. I believe the 4720 is over 50 PTO HP so a 4720 might be able to handle a taller chute.

Anyone have any experience with this unit?

We've sold a few of these units in the past, they are pricey but are like nothing else in the market. The blower will throw snow about 50ft and operating with your front loader makes everything much more convenient. The hydraulic power pack is easy to hook up and will allow you to take the blower off the front loader easily. For those who don't know what this product is, here is a link Frontier 64" Loader-Mount Snowblower (SB2164) for sale | Tractor Attachments Fort Wayne, IN

 

[Red Horse]

The attachment is less than clear -is the power pack included in that price- for that kind of money I would thin k it would be but why do they refer to it as a separate part n umber?

 

[AKFred]

They are separate part numbers because you can also use the hydraulic power pack for a frontier loader mounted broom or blower. There's also a optional cooling unit you for summer applications. I bought a SB2176 and HP2134 without cooling unit for my 4066R and have been very happy, it works very great. I think another added benefit is the HP2134 adds many options for custom hydraulic attachments.

 

[Stromeyer]

There are a couple of other companies that offer front-end loader mount blowers.
For example
Compact Tractor Front Mount Snowblower - Erskine Attachments, Inc.

Not sure on prices thought

 

[tractorslinger]

Shane here with Mutton Power. This price does include the power pack. The reason there are two part numbers is because you could use the power pack with different attachments. They make a boom mounted broom and debris blower that would run off the power pack as well. If you already had the power pack for another attachment, you wouldn't need another. Any other questions, let me know. Thanks

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm not sure a snow blower (front or rear) would be a good thing in a city. It would be impossible to know what's under that snow...any one would either be swapping out shear pins regularly, or launching projectiles toward houses, store window, what have you.
Also, blown snow has to go somewhere...not many places in a city it could be blown that wouldn't require moving it again.

Now, a rear mount pull type blower with a wagon of some sort (hitched to the blower) to cast the snow in could work...but there would still be the problems of shear bolt replacement or launching projectiles (rocks, stones, bottles).

 

[Red Horse]

I'm not sure a snow blower (front or rear) would be a good thing in a city. It would be impossible to know what's under that snow...any one would either be swapping out shear pins regularly, or launching projectiles toward houses, store window, what have you.
Also, blown snow has to go somewhere...not many places in a city it could be blown that wouldn't require moving it again.

Now, a rear mount pull type blower with a wagon of some sort (hitched to the blower) to cast the snow in could work...but there would still be the problems of shear bolt replacement or launching projectiles (rocks, stones, bottles).

Disagree Roy. Looking at the disaster we had this winter, a loader mounted blower IMO would be ideal for cleaning highly congested areas where it is very difficult to use conventional loaders-even skid steers. You would of course have to have a machine with sufficient discharge chute height-and control to cast the snow into trucks that would be part of the team.

Do you run the risk of picking up an occasional piece of trash? For sure but all in all better option in my book. Also in addition to absolute removal another good use would be clearing intersections so there was visibility. You can only do so much with a loader-unless you just keep bringing in bigger loaders with higher/farther reach.

 

[AKFred]

Roy,

There are no shear pins in the SB2176, it monitors the hydraulic pressure and shuts down if jammed. Just remove the blockage and keep going.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Have been around a few of these myself on 4720 tractors and they perform very well even in economy pto mode. If there is a downside (other than price) for me it would be the overall length. With the powerpack mounted and the blower mounted it is a pretty long configuration. It is not the only one out there, erskine also makes one. I have seen one mounted but not working in the field so can't state how they perform or holdup. Other than looking a little lighter it looks like a good unit. One advantage to the frontier is that you can also add a cooler to the powerpack if you want to run a broom in the summer. I could be wrong for current units but it used to be that the frontier only had 400 series carrier hookups, the loops and studs could be lopped off though and weld a ss carrier plate in its place. Erskine offers a ss plate as standard I believe.