Posted: 12/15/2010 7:08:54 PM EDT
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Does anyone have any good input on a snowblower? I currently have a small 3 HP single stage that just isn't up to the task of my 3 car wide driveway. I want to move up to a dual stage but of course cost is a factor. I'd like to stay around $500. Are the larger single stages going to be able to plow through heavy snow much better than my current one? Compounding my problem is that small engines are now rated by CC's and not horsepower, so power comparisons to my current unit are harder.
So, any suggestions? |
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I'm still a big fan of buying used. My snow blower was $100. Mid 1990's 8hp 2 stage briggs & stratton.
Works great if I remember to change the oil & maintain it right. Last year I forgot to check the clutch on the self-propelled drivetrain, and it's getting finicky. Only runs in 2 of 4 speeds. I'll tear it apart & fix it soon. Pretty simple repairs. ETA: get one with electric start option if U can! Makes it almost impossible to NOT get it started. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
| Mine has two parts made of plastic on it; the gas tank and the pull handle. The rest is all metal and it is heavy as sh_t. Starts on the first or second pull and tosses snow like no ones business. I believe it was made shortly after Jesus was born. I love it. If I bought new I would get one with the tank tracks on it. In your case, I think Costco has a nice one around your budget. |
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Definite +1 on the tracked version!
Mine has old tires with steel chains on it. Same here too - all steel except pull handle, gas tank, and tires. Tracks would work better for going up over the curbs, and the driveway apron at odd angles. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I have a driveway such as yours and I have yet to be able to justify the need for a big 2 stage snow blower. Other than the drift the big muni plows leave at the bottom, my little single stage blowers have done the job each and every time. Just due to age, this season I upgraded my 1980's vintage S-200 Toro (bought used in 1981 and still works) to a new 210E Toro. Both are two stroke single stage throwers but the 210E has electric start.
The only issue with the single stage machines is that they can't chew through the deep snow as well as the driven auger machines do. That said, even with the 21.5" dumping we had recently, I just blew the snow in two shifts. With this last little blast of 8"+... One shot and done. Light weight, easy storage... YMMV, but this 210E is just right for what I need it to do. |
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Rule #1 Never buy a single stage snow blower, buy it right the first time Get yourself a Ariens snowblower, bigger the better and don't look back The Airens has a all steel chute, no plastic to break when it gets cold Operator controls are easly operated. Electric start is always a good option to have. I'm not a big fan of the tracked models, more to go wrong with them when they get a few years on them. The tires that have been out for last 20 years don't need chains The new John Deere's, Toro and the rest have lots of plastic componets. |
| I have the newer style toro and nothing not even an ariens compares. Just because there is plastic on the snowthrower does not mean it's cheap or will break. Toro is the only manufacturer that uses grade 5 bolts instead of shear pins on their augers. When you get into heavy snow the shear pins will break. They are a pain to replace when the unit is full of snow. |
| Please do not fall into the trap of thinking you need a giant 2 stage to get the job done. Go get yourself a Toro singlestage snowblower and other then the compacted piles at the end of the driveway from the plow you should not have any problems. Toros are the only ones I've found that will handle the heavy wet snow and be problem free. |
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Get the right tool for the job. Bigger is not always better. Well, bigger engine is always better, but a 2 Stage is not always better than a Single stage.
I have an Ariens 824 2 Stage and used it for about 5 years at my house (2 car wide, by 70' long). Yes it went through anything Mother nature threw at me, but I found myself always having to shovel that last 1/4", as I could never get the strike plate completely on the ground. So, I moved this one up to the cabin and use it on our 300' long gravel driveway when the snow is too much for my ATV and plow. A friend gave me his cheapo $350 single stage snow blower a couple years ago when he moved to the south. It handled a couple inches well. I could fight through 6 or so inch snow falls with it. It got downright angry at the end of the driveway. (He had to reinforce the handles iron pipe so he could push it into the snow bank hard enough to be useful) So this year, I broke down and bought the Toro 210 pull start for <$500. So far, I absolutely love it. I broke my arm and had it surgically pinned on Thursday. I was snow blowing with the Toro on Saturday for the big storm with one hand when I had about 8" on the driveway. It never complained even in the plow pile, and it cleaned down to the concrete. No way could I have even thought of using my 2 stage one handed. For a concrete driveway in a suburban setting, I'll take the single stage. I'd never have said that 8 years ago when I bought my 2 stage, but I'm happy with my single stage for 98% of the storms. Which snow blower is right for you? Do you *need* a 2 stage? If you have gravel that you need to clear, absolutely you need a 2 stage. Will your wife ever use it? I've already used my single stage Toro for three snow falls this year. Most people won't drag out their 2 stage for 3", but I can clear my driveway in 15 minutes with the Single stage. It's small, light, and easy to store. I will admit that If I wasn't able to keep up with the storm and had to snow blow it once at the end, I'd probably have preferred the 2 stage. Pick the type of blower that is right for you, and get the biggest engine in that model. With snow blowers, substantially, you do get what you pay for. The Toro's and Ariens are worth the money over the cheap Yard Machines/Murrays. |
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Quoted:
Get the right tool for the job. Bigger is not always better. Well, bigger engine is always better, but a 2 Stage is not always better than a Single stage. I have an Ariens 824 2 Stage and used it for about 5 years at my house (2 car wide, by 70' long). Yes it went through anything Mother nature threw at me, but I found myself always having to shovel that last 1/4", as I could never get the strike plate completely on the ground. So, I moved this one up to the cabin and use it on our 300' long gravel driveway when the snow is too much for my ATV and plow. A friend gave me his cheapo $350 single stage snow blower a couple years ago when he moved to the south. It handled a couple inches well. I could fight through 6 or so inch snow falls with it. It got downright angry at the end of the driveway. (He had to reinforce the handles iron pipe so he could push it into the snow bank hard enough to be useful) So this year, I broke down and bought the Toro 210 pull start for <$500. So far, I absolutely love it. I broke my arm and had it surgically pinned on Thursday. I was snow blowing with the Toro on Saturday for the big storm with one hand when I had about 8" on the driveway. It never complained even in the plow pile, and it cleaned down to the concrete. No way could I have even thought of using my 2 stage one handed. For a concrete driveway in a suburban setting, I'll take the single stage. I'd never have said that 8 years ago when I bought my 2 stage, but I'm happy with my single stage for 98% of the storms. Which snow blower is right for you? Do you *need* a 2 stage? If you have gravel that you need to clear, absolutely you need a 2 stage. Will your wife ever use it? I've already used my single stage Toro for three snow falls this year. Most people won't drag out their 2 stage for 3", but I can clear my driveway in 15 minutes with the Single stage. It's small, light, and easy to store. I will admit that If I wasn't able to keep up with the storm and had to snow blow it once at the end, I'd probably have preferred the 2 stage. Pick the type of blower that is right for you, and get the biggest engine in that model. With snow blowers, substantially, you do get what you pay for. The Toro's and Ariens are worth the money over the cheap Yard Machines/Murrays. Since this is ARFCOM shouldn't the rule be "get both".   
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I forget the brand (yard machine maybe) but I bought a single stage from Fleet Farm several years ago and its done great. I have a steep driveway but it isn't hand to push up hill. It throws fine and it'll chew through what the snowplow pushes back into the driveway. This last snowfall, it went through the 12" of fresh snow and about 18" of plow drifts just as easy as the 4" snowfalls.
Eventually, I'll get a 2-stage but only in the middle of the summer when the price is right and only because I can, not because I need. |
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Since this is ARFCOM shouldn't the rule be "get both". Of course. I have a 2 stage, 2 single stages, and a pair of ATV's with plows. I think I have my bases covered I still fall back to the better single stage at home on a paved driveway.
Good luck finding one on sale in the summer. I tried looking for mine my first 2 stage that way. If you want to save a buck, you have to be lucky and fall over one on craigs list or have a friend who is moving to somewhere they don't need it. People don't get rid of usable snow blowers without a really good reason. I found that everyone either sold out in the last big storm of the season when everyone reached their breaking point and bought one, or the store simply put it in storage and got full price the next season. The better ones simply don't go on sale by much. The cheap ones that do go on sale...well, personally, I'd pass on them. |
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My neighbor with the 2 stage goes out once during a really big storm to do the job. They are nice.
But, I didn't mind going out three times to do my driveway and sidewalk with my Toro electric. Started right away, easy to maneuver, and putting it away was a breeze. With anything, you ave trade offs. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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I'm still a big fan of buying used. My snow blower was $100. Mid 1990's 8hp 2 stage briggs & stratton. Works great if I remember to change the oil & maintain it right. Last year I forgot to check the clutch on the self-propelled drivetrain, and it's getting finicky. Only runs in 2 of 4 speeds. I'll tear it apart & fix it soon. Pretty simple repairs. ETA: get one with electric start option if U can! Makes it almost impossible to NOT get it started. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Good luck with that. I'm guessing that the availability of used snow blowers is probably a regional thing, but here in the Minnesota metro area you won't have much luck finding a used one for sale (well, used one under $1k - always seems to be some really pricey ones for sale in the classifieds or on Craig's List). Typically when someone has a used snowblower to get rid of it is because they are moving to warmer climates (e.g. retiring to Florida), moving to a home that doesn't require snow blowing (e.g. from the suburbs to an apartment), or upgrading to a newer or better blower (e.g. going from a single-stage to a two-stage). In most cases (I guess) the person who has a functioning snow blower they want to get rid of will almost always have a son or daughter who needs/wants it, a relative who gets to buy it dirt cheap, or a neighbor who is tired of shoveling and gets to buy it for a really good neighborly price. I had been checking the ads for years in the winter and especially off season looking to buy a used one and they simply are rarely advertised and if they are they tend to be the really expensive ones (>$1K). Just my observations, and it is only based on the Minnesota metro area so your mileage may vary depending on where you live. I went with a 24" two-stage electric start Troy Built I bought in the off season from Lowes for 25% off (nice thing about buying one in the off season, steep discounts). After years of shoveling snow, the snow blower saves me tons of time and back pain. |
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...no plastic to break... Hahaha....I've used the same argument for half of my adult life. Of course, rather than comparing snowblower options, it was always pointing out the obvious deficiencies with another common tool...  Sometimes I crack myself up....
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I'll post a follow up here. I bought a 2-stage 27" Poulon that Fleet Farm had in their ad this week for $699. Got it yesterday and so far I'm pretty happy with it. Some of the ergonomics suck but it fired up with the first push of the electric start and just chugged through the plow furrow at the end of my driveway and around the mailbox. It didn't chew through the packed snow I've been driving over the last couple weeks like I expected it would but I'll get that done eventually. It also plowed right through the drift leftover from the big snow a couple weeks ago without any problems.
That said, if I wasn't able to get that blower I would have settled for a single-stage Toro. I got my old thrower fixed with a new belt over the weekend and it chewed through the snow well enough I think I could've been pretty well served with a larger single stage if I had to. But with so much snow already this year, coupled with my existing one being undersized, I went ahead and sprang for the newer larger model. Thanks for the insight. |
| I have a older nice shape 2 stage got it used for 150.00 a few years ago. this year also picked up a mtd 21" single stage used like new for 100.00. It works very well for most snowfalls and can be used on the deck. I needed the two stage for the 20" storm and used the single stage for clean up. I would try to get one of each used. try craigslist and garage sales. I got 250.00 into 2 nice used snowblowers. good luck.in your search. |