Snow blowers....

[DitchPanda]

I've never owned one, always just shoveled and toughed it out. Backs not liking the shoveling anymore. Where I live a normal year we usually get 35" of snowfall in a season. We've had a couple bigger snow events  this year but a typical snow is 3"-6" average I'd say. Just looking for brand recommendations? Is it worth paying the extra for 2 stage where I live? Thanks for any help

[padlin]

How big is the driveway, do you get slushy wet snow or just dry?

[DitchPanda]

The driveway is not very big...barely wide enough for 2 trucks. Maybe 35 feet long. We do get some wet  slushy snow in March but majority of it is fairly dry and fluffy.

[DanielG]

look into an EGO single stage... the make 2 of them. The one with the metal auger. i've got several of their tools and have ditched engines. You can see them in action on youtube in a number of videos.

I live in Maine an have a 2 stage but for 3-6" of snow these things will work just fine. Up to a foot actually.

[padlin]

Ariens is top notch, Toro’s are good too.

 

I only know 1 guy with a single stage, he uses it for under a few inches, driveway is roughly your size, he has someone plow when it’s deeper. He’s happy with it under those limits.

 

For a shorter drive like yours, I’d look at the Classic, a 24” is good, they have smaller ones to if your wife or similar will need to use it. I had a small one before, easy to use but choked if you got wet snow.

 

I have about 200’ and have a big Simplicity from before Briggs bought them. Goes thru anything but it’s very heavy.
 

I’m old school where bigger is better.

[Jar11591]

  On 1/28/2023 at 11:09 PM, padlin said:

Ariens is top notch

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This. As someone who snow

blows for a living during the winter months, Ariens are kickass machines. They aren’t cheap but they are top notch. 

[gim]

Toro, Ariens, and Cub Cadet are all popular snowblowers up here. Perhaps the more important aspect is the engine brand it has. Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh are American made engines that are reliable and durable.

 

I would highly recommend using ethanol free premium fuel in it, since it’s a seasonal engine and could sit unused for periods of time. As always, routine maintenance also goes a long ways too.

 

Bear in mind that even some of the more powerful models can’t throw the soupy wet snow. It comes out like ketchup and constantly gets clogged. Those are the worst, often referred to as heart attack snow.

 

@A-Jay has a pretty souped up blower with tracks.

[Log Catcher]

I would go with a two stage. I have owned both single and two stage. I currently have a Cub Cadet two stage. It may be too much for smaller snows but when you get a big snow you will be glad you have it. As already mentioned a heavy wet snow can stop up the chute. I take a broom handle to punch through it and clean it out.

[A-Jay]

Seems I live in a different world and deal with snow that comes in feet at a time.

There's a loop type drive to clear as well as making 'path' through it all.

Makes getting around (back & forth from the dog kennel) much easier.

Terrain isn't all flat.

This Honda 1332 is a beast and probably more than the OP needs.

Either way two stage is my choice as well.

https://youtu.be/zl0DDZEBbKk

A-Jay

[casts_by_fly]

  On 1/28/2023 at 11:55 PM, gimruis said:

Toro, Ariens, and Cub Cadet are all popular snowblowers up here. Perhaps the more important aspect is the engine brand it has. Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh are American made engines that are reliable and durable.

 

I would highly recommend using ethanol free premium fuel in it, since it’s a seasonal engine and could sit unused for periods of time. As always, routine maintenance also goes a long ways too.

 

Bear in mind that even some of the more powerful models can’t throw the soupy wet snow. It comes out like ketchup and constantly gets clogged. Those are the worst, often referred to as heart attack snow.

 

@A-Jay has a pretty souped up blower with tracks.

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  On 1/29/2023 at 1:07 AM, A-Jay said:

Seems I live in a different world and deal with snow that comes in feet at a time.

There's a loop type drive to clear as well as making 'path' through it all.

Makes getting around (back & forth from the dog kennel) much easier.

Terrain isn't all flat.

This Honda 1332 is a beast and probably more than the OP needs.

Either way two stage is my choice as well.

https://youtu.be/zl0DDZEBbKk

A-Jay

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when we moved back and into this house I thought I’d be fine with shoveling.  Our driveway is 40 yards long and the house end has a 3 car x 2 long pad.  There is also another 60’x 4’ wide sidewalk to the front door. That year we got a couple instances of 4-6” and I shoveled it all. It got old fast. That summer I bought a used Craftsman snowblower from an old lady that was moving to Florida. Solid steel construction, tecumseh engine, overpowered for my needs. I think it’s 8 hp or maybe more. Two stage. Six forward and two reverse speeds. It started right up when I picked it up. 
 

Fast forward to the first 6” that winter. I thought I was in great shape. Plugged in the starter and nothing. Pulled the cord a bunch and nothing. I let the snow sit and worked on the engine the next day. The carb was like it had jelly in it. After I cleaned it out I could get it started with starting fluid and then it ran. It was good it did as that was the winter that we got 48” of snow over two storms and it stuck for 6 weeks. I had to snow blow paths for the dogs to go pee because it was too deep for them. After winter I had a local guy service it and it’s been great since. 
 

that’s a long way of saying:

 

1- buy quality that is serviceable. Plastic breaks and means replacement and not fixing. A little surface rust can be brushed and painted. Good engines last forever and everyone makes parts for them. 
 

2- use dry fuel some of the time. If you’re getting a bit storm and going to run through multiple tanks then standard 87 octane is fine. If it’s going to maybe sit, then use dry fuel. It’s about $5 a half gallon at your local ace but if you end up leaving it in the tank longer than planned it will be fine. 
 

3- buy bigger than you need. It’s not much more money to upsize power but when you need it you need it. Our friends bought an 18” 3hp snow blower last winter. If we get 36” in 48 hours like last time I expect to be bringing mine to his place to clear him out. Go two stage, plenty of horsepower, and all metal construction. 
 

 

 

[gim]

  On 1/29/2023 at 2:41 AM, casts_by_fly said:

That year we got a couple instances of 4-6” and I shoveled it all. It got old fast.

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The first winter I owned my own house in 2011-2012, we barely got any snow either.  I didn't have a snow blower, and shoveled the minimal amount of snow we got that winter.  The following two were brutal.  After 2012-2013, I didn't think we'd get two snowy winters in a row.  We did.  Shoveling got old quickly.  The fall of 2014, I bought a 2-stage snow blower that I've now had for 8 years.  Mine is the Menards brand, MTD Yard Machines.  It has a Briggs & Stratton engine.  I have had a belt go bad and needed new tires for it but other than routine maintenance, I have not had a major issue.  As previously mentioned, it does not work very well with the heavy wet crap.  Not sure anything less than @A-Jays machine could move some of that really wet heavy snow though.

 

I've used mine about 6-7 times this winter already.  Anything more than an inch I use it.  The stuff that the plow leaves at the end of my driveway sucks.  That's where is really helps to have a snow blower.

[CountryboyinDC]

I believe the 2 stage is the way to go, as others above have said.  My driveway may be twice the size of yours and I live on a corner lot, so it has maybe 200' of sidewalk.  I used to shovel it, and have 3 types of shovels.  The issue was that I would have to shovel it before work, which meant getting up even earlier on a snow day, sometimes substantially so.  Now, when it snows enough to bring out the blower, I end up doing the little old lady's 2 doors down, the people beside me with an infant and toddler, etc., so I probably don't save much time with it, but it's so much easier.  Mine is a Troy-Bilt "3"-stage https://www.troybilt.com/en_US/prior-year-models/vortex-2890-snow-blower/31AH5DQ8766.html, which I don't believe accomplishes anything other than scattering snow.  Looking between the brands, there are super premium (Honda), premium (Ariens, Toro), and pretty much everything else you'll find at Lowes, Home Depot, or True Value.  The feature besides the 2 stage auger system I would insist on is a steering mechanism of some sort.  Most use hand clutches, but some are more like an automotive differential.  Without this, the transmission is much like what's found on a tiller.  Very hard to maneuver, even with a light 24" blower.

[Bird]

Definitely get the 2 stage.

[DitchPanda]

  On 1/29/2023 at 3:27 AM, Bird said:

Definitely get the 2 stage.

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My brother in law did my sidewalk today because we got more than I wanted to scoop. Stupid back! Anyway he has a single stage and he told tonight me he wished he still had his 2 stage. Think that's definitely the way I will go. Yeah it will be a little heavier but I'm not planning on hauling it around much so that shouldn't be much if an issue.

[casts_by_fly]

  On 1/29/2023 at 4:18 AM, DitchPanda said:

My brother in law did my sidewalk today because we got more than I wanted to scoop. Stupid back! Anyway he has a single stage and he told tonight me he wished he still had his 2 stage. Think that's definitely the way I will go. Yeah it will be a little heavier but I'm not planning on hauling it around much so that shouldn't be much if an issue.

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and with a drive mechanism you’ll never notice it when in use. Mine is a heavy beast. I bet it’s 100-150 lb. You’re not going to lift it into a truck by yourself. I can back my truck to a steep bank and muscle it on from there, but not from the ground. But that keeps it from riding up on the snow.  And I know the steel isn’t going to waste away over the years. 

[BrianMDTX]

Get a two-stage. And get non-stick snow blower spray. It helps keep the slushy mess from clogging the chute. 
 

Left my behind in Maryland when I moved to SE Texas. Thank God!!!

[DitchPanda]

  On 1/29/2023 at 4:28 AM, BrianMDTX said:

Get a two-stage. And get non-stick snow blower spray. It helps keep the slushy mess from clogging the chute. 
 

Left my behind in Maryland when I moved to SE Texas. Thank God!!!

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Maybe this is the answer! I used to live in that neck of the woods!