Snow Blowers

[Saphire]

We have a 100' long driveway but my husband has always shoveled, he loves being outside in the winter and never minded the task. However, I really want him to buy a snowblower, and he is starting to warm up to the idea. There is quite a range in cost. Can anyone recommend a good brand that is under $1000? Ugh, winter.

 

[nhpooh]

Sear's Craftman, I have one and it's about 20 years old. I think we paid around $600, my bother has it now. It's getting a tune up, I have been looking at new ones. I don't want to spend any more then $800. You can get a good one for around that. For now I will use the old one, it's been really good.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

thanks for starting this thread, as we are in the same boat with this long...a** driveway!! Dont want DH shoveling anymore, had lots of snow here last year in the Chicago suburbs...!!

 

[mickeyboat]

We also have a Sears Craftsman, and it has served us well. We bought it several years ago for about $750. FIL has a Simplicity (I think) which he paid $1400 for which has also worked well.

Denae

 

[dnoyes]

Another vote for the Craftsman. I bought a new one last winter at Sears and it's been a life saver for me. I had a Honda snowblower for years but I wanted one with a headlight and more forward speeds. I ended up with a Craftsman 250cc (10 hp) 28 inch path for about $950. Electric start is very nice when it's really cold out. I don't know what kind of snow fall you get? but I take this thing in the back of my truck to our cabin (it's the only way we can get to the door) and push a foot with no problem ......

 

[pumba]

we have a toro......it is our second one and we needed a bigger one.....the older one is OLD....like 30 years old and we gave it to our son....so if you get a toro remember to leave it to your family in your will.....seriously they are good machines.
whatever you get ....make sure you get an electric start too....just plugs in and then unplug it when it starts

 

[MNT568]

I'm also looking into getting a snowblower this year, they are on sale at Sears now. Do you recommend a gas or electric? If I got one, I would be storing it in our shed (large rubbermaid type shed), I was thinking there might be issues trying to start a gas one if it is too cold. Any opinions?

 

[mtdevine615]

I had a Toro for 20+ years until I got a Craftsman about 7 or 8 years ago. The Toro was great but I'd stick with the Craftsman. It's a 12 horse and does the job very well up here in Maine. Mine stays outside in a shed all year. Most of the time I will just use the pull start unless it's below zero.

 

[dnoyes]

I'm also looking into getting a snowblower this year, they are on sale at Sears now. Do you recommend a gas or electric? If I got one, I would be storing it in our shed (large rubbermaid type shed), I was thinking there might be issues trying to start a gas one if it is too cold. Any opinions?

I've never had any problems starting the gas powered blowers we've owned. The electric start option on the one I have now isn't really like it sounds. There is no battery to mess with you just plug it in to any outlet and push the starter.

 

[CowboyCO]

I'm also looking into getting a snowblower this year, they are on sale at Sears now. Do you recommend a gas or electric? If I got one, I would be storing it in our shed (large rubbermaid type shed), I was thinking there might be issues trying to start a gas one if it is too cold. Any opinions?

Get a gas powered if you get a lot of snow or have a large area to clear. Make sure to get one with an electric start. You will generally not have any problems from year to year as long as you have it tuned once every other year or so and always remember to add stabilizer to the gas at the end of winter.

Sears Craftsmen are good -- So are Honda Blowers. I used to have one (wish I still had it!) that had tractor treads instead of wheels. It was the BEST! It almost made clearing snow fun!

 

[SpecialK]

We bought a new one last year. It makes a wider path than the old one, has elec. start and is self-propelled. That's one feature I really like. Ours is a Toro.

 

[DawnCt1]

We have an Ariens.

 

[nhpooh]

I'm also looking into getting a snowblower this year, they are on sale at Sears now. Do you recommend a gas or electric? If I got one, I would be storing it in our shed (large rubbermaid type shed), I was thinking there might be issues trying to start a gas one if it is too cold. Any opinions?

Gas with an electric start. Just plug it in and away you go, but don't forget to take the cord off the snowblower. I wish I had an electric start on mine, back when we got it we didn't think of it. I used the one across the street last year it was the best thing.