To get a snow blower... or not a snow blower...

[Caleb]

I'd go wider then 22" imho...2 stage is a must.

I use a 22" single stage...while it's good for 1-4" of dry snow, ice/4"+ of snow/wet snow makes my single stage clog up. Clogged up snow blower means I'm out in the cold more then I'd like. 22" is ok for sidewalks, going bigger does make clearing the drive go much quicker, again, less time being outside in the cold weather.

Also, if you invest in a snowblower, buy a good quality brand. Cheap snow blowers really isn't all that cheap if you have to repair or replace them more often then the more expensive, higher quality snow blower.

 

[hoosierdoc]

Snow blowers are awesome. It's like being a super hero who can shoot snow at things. Then you can do your neighbors sidewalks, driveways call kinds of fun things.

 

[WhitleyStu]

We purchased this Ariens last month and have used it twice during the last snow fall. Even if we only get 3"-6", it is the drifts we get living in an open area that makes this snow blower pay for itself. I am sure it will get a work out today if the snow fall predictions are accurate.

 

[Aggiedad]

I lived for awhile at North Pole Alaska and Eielson AFB. All I remember is I had a big gas self propelled snowblower that made 11 foot of annual snow a breeze. I wouldn't shovel snow for all the gold in china again.

 

[rgrimm01]

Now that I have had time to reconsider, this sounds like justification for an ATV or SxS with a snow plow blade.

 

[Hoosier8]

I had a Craftsman 9hp 2 stage that was OK but got stolen out of my garage so I went and bought a Toro Power Max 828 OXE and couldn't be happier. It kicks butt. Smooth and powerful and easy to use. My drive is about 100 feet long and I often have to change the angle of where the snow goes and it has a hand control that points both the direction and the height. Yeah, I paid a lot for it but it was worth it.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I've thought about buying a snowblower, but I know that as soon as I did, Indiana would see the longest snow-drought in history... I generally can get by with my leafblower as long as it's not too deep and heavy. I've cleared 8-12" of powdery stuff with no problem, although I do look a little like Frosty the Snowman by the time I'm done...

 

[Harleyrider_50]

We purchased this Ariens last month and have used it twice during the last snow fall. Even if we only get 3"-6", it is the drifts we get living in an open area that makes this snow blower pay for itself. I am sure it will get a work out today if the snow fall predictions are accurate.

........'AT dude.......iz badAZZ!........

Bet'cha it were'nt cheap,neither.......

 

[Hoosier8]

I've thought about buying a snowblower, but I know that as soon as I did, Indiana would see the longest snow-drought in history... I generally can get by with my leafblower as long as it's not too deep and heavy. I've cleared 8-12" of powdery stuff with no problem, although I do look a little like Frosty the Snowman by the time I'm done...

Ha ha, so true. When I bought my Craftsman snow blower, it did not snow that Winter enough to use it once. My GF just laughed at me. I rarely get to use it but when it snows and drifts, it is sure nice to have it. I think the most I have used the recent blower was about 5 times in one Winter.

 

[bartonmd]

I got a Craftsman 5hp 2-stage on CList for like $250 last year, with obviously pretty low hours on it. My driveway is like 50 feet wide and about that long, plus the part that goes around the house to my shop. I needed a 2-stage to get the snow off the drive, and blow the same snow twice (doubled up) where it didn't get off the drive the first time.

It does work fine, but I've got 6' tall fence that I have to blow over, and I'm planning on picking up a $900 8-10hp model off CList for $500 this spring, and selling my current 5HP model for $400 the day before the first snowstorm next winter.

Mike

 

[hornadylnl]

Now that I have had time to reconsider, this sounds like justification for an ATV or SxS with a snow plow blade.

 

[long coat]

1995 F150 4x4 With a Western plow > snowblower. ;-) .
I would look on Craigslist before buying anything new.
Also most of the tractors and blowers are made by MTD.

 

[rgrimm01]

Awesome. Does it have the umph to push the wet stuff?

 

[bartonmd]

Isn't that like $20k sitting right there?

 

[bartonmd]

1995 F150 4x4 With a Western plow > snowblower. ;-) .
.

I seriously considered putting a plow on the truck I have, anyway, but I don't have the time to make any extra money with it, and my driveway is NOT conducive to using a plow.

Mike

 

[hornadylnl]

Awesome. Does it have the umph to push the wet stuff?

It's like any vehicle mounted plow. You need a little bit of speed when pushing. This is the 855D diesel so it's only about 25 hp. The 825I is 50 hp so I'm sure it'd push a lot better. I had no issues with the last 2 snows and as long as I have a little head start, I can push big piles. I put 3 buckets of wheel weights by the tailgate for ballast weight.

I had an old s10 regular cab 4wd with a 7' Snowbear plow that pushed amazingly well.

Isn't that like $20k sitting right there?

No, I don't have that much in it. The gator was about $13k new, the blade around $3k, and less than $1k in the roof and windshield. I didn't buy it for the express purpose of pushing snow. I had a power angle blade that went on my front end loader of my Deere 4120 tractor and it sucked pushing snow. The tractor is about 4500# with loader but the blade sat so far out front that when I angled the blade, it'd just push the front end one way or the other.

 

[hornadylnl]

I seriously considered putting a plow on the truck I have, anyway, but I don't have the time to make any extra money with it, and my driveway is NOT conducive to using a plow.

Mike

I've had 2 different truck mounted plows and they're nice but you're everybody's friend then. Part of the reason I got rid of them. They're hard on your truck suspension as well. I had one on a diesel truck that got 10 mpg and I had a guy who kept wanting me to plow his drive. He was 10 miles away and didn't think he should have to pay me to burn 2+ gallon to drive to his place and plow.

With this gator, it's not really practical to drive to other places, especially since I don't have a full cab. My in laws are about 5 miles away. They're about the only place I'd take it.

I had a nice 20' construction trailer for my tractor. One of the biggest reasons I got rid of it was so that I wouldn't have people bugging me wanting to use my tractor.

 

[melensdad]

. . . I had a power angle blade that went on my front end loader of my Deere 4120 tractor and it sucked pushing snow. The tractor is about 4500# with loader but the blade sat so far out front that when I angled the blade, it'd just push the front end one way or the other.

That is why I don't have one of those angle blades on my tractor. I have the bucket on the front and Buhler/Farm King 2 stage snow blower on the back for snow season. My tractor is probably closer to 6000# so it doesn't have much trouble pushing things out of its way, but the angle blades mounted to the front buckets extend out too far and create leverage issues, plus, they are just a PITA to use anywhere that there are obstacles or tight spaces.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

Regular MTD 2 stage/5HP here. Owned it for 9 years. We live in the end of a cul-de-sac and the town always manages to leave a 2ft pile at the end of the driveway. It does a good job on ours and several neighbors driveways each winter.

I was worried that it would not hold up. So far, no issues and it starts the first time, every time. Plan on replacing the belts next year.

 

[RustyHornet]

I use a Yamaha Grizzly 350 with a 4' plow hooked up to a winch. Works wonders very quickly and allows to do neighbors driveways for some extra gun money. Nothing I have not been able to plow yet in the 2 years of doing it that way, although this storm will be a good test.

Jon