Snowblowers and/or Snowthrowers

[HTRN]

You want the best snowblower on the market? Buy a Simplicity pro model. They're available upwards of a 38" cut. Nothing you can buy in the big orange store of happiness will compare. Just be prepared for a hefty price(the pro series run upwards of 3 grand).


HTRN

[Netpackrat]

A few years ago I bought an 11hp Husqvarna on wheels and it works okay, never really had any trouble with it. The main reason I went with one that big, was because the 11hp model was the smallest that came with an OHV engine. Cost me about $1100. If I had it to do over again, I would have spent even more money and bought a Honda on tracks instead. The wheels are okay, but having used a track machine before, there is really no comparison. The track units are far more stable, and less apt to hop around, at the cost of being more difficult to maneuver.

For as much as I spent on it and the space it takes up, I really don't use the snowblower all that often. Unless we get a really heavy snow all at once, I have a big push shovel that I generally prefer to use, which is usually faster and does a better job of getting down to the pavement in my two driveways. Even with a fall of several inches, I'll normally use the shovels to push most of the snow away from the fence, house, and vehicles (my 2wd truck is basically stationary all winter), and then use the snowblower to throw it all to the center of the yard. But on those 3-4 times a year when we get a really heavy snow, I'm glad I have the Husky.

[HTRN]

Ariens aren't bad, just not as good as they used to be. Another name to look at is Toro.

Also, Honda engines have always added a hefty premium - go look at the price diffrences between B&S and Honda engines at Nothern Tool.

And there are LOTS of complaints about the outsourced snowblowers - Murray and MTD top the list(MTD makes the Craftsman and Troybilt, Murray makes John Deere). The actual OEMs cut corners wherever possible - it's not their name going on the machine, after all.

[BadgerVet]

I see the Craftsman Pro comes with electric start. Years ago I had a Craftsman snowblower without electric start and I'd work up a good sweat just pulling the cord. It was a hard starting machine but it could move the snow.

I recommend electric start even on the second smaller machine you are considering. Or an electric machine. Also the single stage machines don't throw snow very far so you'll want to consider how far the second machine will need to throw it.

Since you have a steep slope, you might want chains on the tires of the bigger machine.

[Langenator]

I'm not one of those idiots who believe hard and painful work is good for the soul etc...

Would you still say that if you had teenage sons in the house?

If nothing else, it's a great workout to stay in shape for next football season...

[SoupOrMan]

I've been trying to compare and contrast everything that isn't going to break my bank account... there's not much out there. I don't have much driveway (maybe 35 to 40 feet including the patio), so I might be able to get away with a single-stage thrower. I might like my reel mower for the lawn, but as much as I hate hate hate/ fucking loathe snow, a good snow thrower will be the difference between 15 minutes in the cold and 60 to 90 minutes in the cold.

There should be a Toro in my price range...

[blackeagle603]

If you're tight on funds do you have any neighbors who'd be interested in doing a co-op type buy and sharing a more capable 2-stage unit? Or perhaps a desire to run it around the neighborhood yourself as a side business on snow days?

[SoupOrMan]

If you're tight on funds do you have any neighbors who'd be interested in doing a co-op type buy and sharing a more capable 2-stage unit? Or perhaps a desire to run it around the neighborhood yourself as a side business on snow days?

Depending on the next round of budget cuts, a side business might not be too bad of an idea.

[HTRN]

Again, I don't see twice the quality, twice the value, twice the longevity there.

1)I wouldn't bother with a single stage machine.
2)The weld quality isn't the issue - the drivetrain is. Also, MTD has a very well known design issue that they've ignored for at least a decade.. The thickness of the metal and the welds are rarely the issue with these machines - it always seems to be either engine issues or broken drivetrain - keep in mind, that the Simplicity Pros are meant for hard service for long periods of time, while the others are meant for very light use by homeowners. I know for a fact that one of my neighbors has a 5 year old Troybilt(I actually picked it up for him from HD), and has had issues with it, despite it being used only about a dozen times.


HTRN

[Netpackrat]

Also, for the equivalent Honda... HOLY FUCK THE DAMN THING IS $3500 (or $3000 for the equivalent wheeled model).

Yeah, no.

Ouch. The one I looked at was about $1700 for a two stage unit, but that was 5 years ago. And I wasn't looking at one as big as the Husky that I bought, either. I didn't really need one that big, but like I said, it was the smallest Husky model with the OHV engine. And anything with a Honda engine carries a premium, because Honda engines just plain last. I have a 29 year old honda 3 wheeler that I still ride, and I don't think anyone has ever been into the engine since it was new. And I have some experience with Honda small engines on some of our ground service equipment when I worked for JAL; we abused the hell out of those things and for the most part they just kept working. We had a few die that had been in use for upwards of 12 years, but they were used really hard with sometimes questionable maintenance.