Snow Blowers

[EllenFrasier]

If you own a snow blower, are you happy with the one you have? Are there features that you wish it had?

We are thinking of getting a snow blower this year and would like to get a reliable one.

Thanks.

 

[LJSquishy]

I don't own one but I know a few people who do...make sure to get at least a 2-stage snow blower.

 

[mrodgers]

Like has been said, make sure you get a two stage. I know nothing about the expensive fancy ones. The typical $500-600-700 ones, all the same. Sears, MTD, Troybuilt, Murry, etc, they are all made by MTD.

Mine is a 24 inch 6hp 2 stage. My neighbor isn't home in the winter. I keep her driveway cleared for her family. No snow last year, but the year before I had a blast clearing it. I didn't clear it until it was well over 2 and a half feet deep. Had no problems at all. At that depth you have to cut into the snow in narrow sections because the snow falls past the chute into where you already cleared. Lot of fun though when there isn't a house right next to where you are clearing. Fun shooting the snow 20 feet in the air.

I bought the snowblower to replace using the tractor and plow. Halfway through winter the pile of snow is too huge to plow any more and I can't clear the driveway any more. The snowblower is the best tool I've ever bought. It is a necessity where I am unless you have a big farm tractor. A little 20-25 hp gerden tractor with a plow just doesn't cut it.

 

[marius97]

It really depends on where you are. If you will only be clearing a few inches at a time, then a single stage is fine. I grew up in Detroit and almost no one had a snow blower...that's what sons are for ...those that did have one, just had the single stage which worked fine. I now live over on the west side of MI in the lake effect area. You NEED a two stage I you I'll be clearing deep or wet snow. And this is coming from someone with a single stage that has been use to clear 2 feet at a time. I might have an idea for what Santa could bring me this year.

 

[crisi]

Both where you live and how much you have to shovel.

When I lived in South Minneapolis and had to clear a parking pad and a sidewalk, a little single stage was perfect for me. It was the cheapest Toro sold and lasted ten years without a repair. Once in a great while the snow was deep enough that it was difficult, but still easier than shoveling. A single stage would be fine anywhere you didn't get much snow.

In the burbs I have three cars worth of driveway up hill and have a huge John Deere snowblower. Its TOO big - its too heavy for me to really work well even though it has drive. I can do it, but it isn't easy to use. On the other hand, it gets through snow like no one's business and unless we get a few feet at once (and I don't clear at intervals) it handles almost anything.

Don't get a lot of electric bells and whistles - they break. Hand warmers are nice, even with gloves. A light is good for night time. Electric start.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

We lived outside of Detroit a few years ago. We had a somewhat entry level machine. It was 2 stage, 5 HP, self propelled in the forward direction and happened to have 120 volt electric start. It was on sale at Sears for about 500. I think prices have crept up a bit but you do not have to spend a fortune. The only thing I can not remember is how wide it was.

It was easy to use (I did it myself sometimes!) and did not take up too much room in the garage.

When we got our job offer down here in Atlanta that was the first thing we sold! (to a neighbor)

added- we had everything from 3 inches of snow to 24 inches while we lived in Michigan

 

[Ginny Favers]

We got a Toro 2-stage from Lowe's a couple years ago for about $1000 delivered. It's, big, super-powerful but not ultra-fancy. My husband used to hate shoveling, and now he can't wait for it to snow. It's fun, and he had no trouble busting through the 30" of heavy wet snow that got packed in our driveway once the plows came through.

Also, he desperately wanted a John Deere, but those are very expensive. And our neighbor's very fancy, bells-and-whistles JD broke after only a couple uses. It was under warranty, but like automobiles, a lot of the reliability of snow-blowers has to do with how well the owner uses and takes care of it.

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

Metal Shute not plastic. Also that the Shute is bolted Down not bolted through the sides. Electric start big plus too