Snowblowers

CycloneNick

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Mar 5, 2008
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I am looking for advice on snowblowers. It will be for personal use, driveway and sidewalk, nothing special.
 

jumbopackage

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Sep 18, 2007
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It's sort of a personal preference thing.

How big a driveway and sidewalk?

Generally the single stage blowers are ok for 6 inches or less of snow and smallish areas. Anything more than that and you'll want a 2 stage.

I'd highly recommend Toro, but you'll pay a bit more.
 

CycloneNick

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Mar 5, 2008
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Just the average suburban 2-story, 2-car garage with a 40 ft. setback.

Also, any reccomendations on where to buy, anybody offer a military discount?

Also, anybody use an electric?
 
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brianhos

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It's sort of a personal preference thing.

How big a driveway and sidewalk?

Generally the single stage blowers are ok for 6 inches or less of snow and smallish areas. Anything more than that and you'll want a 2 stage.

I'd highly recommend Toro, but you'll pay a bit more.

Exactly what I have. Toro single stage, very nice. My neighbors have the big auger types and they stink for anything less than about 6" of snow. My drive is clean when I am done, theirs still has snow all over it.

I have actually gone and helped them with my "cheap" model.
 

jumbopackage

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Sep 18, 2007
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Just the average suburban 2-story, 2-car garage with a 40 ft. setback.

Also, any reccomendations on where to buy, anybody offer a military discount?

Also, anybody use an electric?

You don't want electric.

I don't know about military discounts.

I"d probably look at a 2 stage if you're living in Iowa in that setting - especially if you have an end of driveway that the city covers with that wet, sloppy stuff. Ariens, Toro and Craftsman on the "more expensive" (well there's Honda, who makes the Cadillac of blowers, but that's probably a bit out of what you need), and then everything else is pretty much the same from there. For occasional, light use, pretty much any decent 2 stage is just fine, IMO.

I, personally, have a good sized Toro blower, and I was very happy to have it last year.

There is a reason you see pretty much every professional service with Toro blowers on their trucks though.
 

CycloneNick

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Mar 5, 2008
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Exactly what I have. Toro single stage, very nice. My neighbors have the big auger types and they stink for anything less than about 6" of snow. My drive is clean when I am done, theirs still has snow all over it.

I have actually gone and helped them with my "cheap" model.

What width do you use?
 

jumbopackage

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Sep 18, 2007
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Exactly what I have. Toro single stage, very nice. My neighbors have the big auger types and they stink for anything less than about 6" of snow. My drive is clean when I am done, theirs still has snow all over it.

I have actually gone and helped them with my "cheap" model.

Yeah, Brian is right about that. The single stage ones do a better job for light amounts of snow. They are propelled by the paddles actually touching the ground (usually), and this means that they work sort of like a vacuum sweeper beater bar meets paddle boat. The 2 stages rely on scraping along the ground with a scraper and don't always get everything. I'd recommend throwing down a bit of ice melt before it snows to loosen up the bottom layer, and then it comes up pretty easy with the 2 stage.

Where the single stage ones - especially the smaller ones - run into trouble is with heavy, wet snow, and the stuff the plows pile onto the end of your driveway. Even my 8 horse 2 stage toro had trouble a few times last year with a foot of that stuff.
 

Wesley

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Apr 12, 2006
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Thought we were moving to global warming in Iowa. Oh, that was last year.
 

cyadict

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Definitely go with a 2-stage. I had a single stage Honda that was good for light dry snow..but when it was wet and heavy it couldn't throw it far enough or would just bog down. It was almost impossible to clear the end of my drive after the snowplows pushed the snow into my drive. My neighbor got tired of seeing me struggle with my blower and would let me use his 2-stage. Now I'm a proud owner of a 10.5 hp Husqvarna 2-stage.
 

ketelmeister

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Oct 24, 2006
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I'm just the opposite of some. Had a big two stage, and it was too big to handle. Am going back to a single stage "thrower" with an electric start. If you are moving lots of snow, a two stage is best. If you plan to get out and get after it, the single is sure a lot easier to handle, and much quicker. Just my op.
 

CYdTracked

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Mar 23, 2006
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Northern Tool over on Merle Hay is where I bought mine. If you get a 2 stage I highly recommend getting one with an electric starter. Those things are very nice to have when it's nice and cold out!
 

1100011CS

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Oct 5, 2007
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I'm just the opposite of some. Had a big two stage, and it was too big to handle. Am going back to a single stage "thrower" with an electric start. If you are moving lots of snow, a two stage is best. If you plan to get out and get after it, the single is sure a lot easier to handle, and much quicker. Just my op.

Same here. I had a big 2-stage Simplicity. I traded my dad for his single stage Toro. It fits in my garage a lot better and is a lot easier for most snow. But, I sure missed the 2-stage last year.
 

CyinCo

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Mar 24, 2006
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If you don't get 2 stage, you are throwing your money away, IMO.

I have 22" MTD Yard Machine. It is going on 8 years old and still runs perfectly. I have cafefully maintained it, however.

This year, I had to replace the skid shoes on the side of the intake since they had worn all the way through. Those pieces are designed to wear, though.

The engine is Tecumseh and seems to have enough power. There was one snow storm in CO where we got 24" of snow and blowing and drifting and I couldn't get through some areas without killing the engine. That was the only time it felt underpowered. Otherwise, it does fine.

Also, mine pull starts very easily which is great in case I'm out of town and my wife needs to snowblow.

Hope this helps.

PS...I think MTD got bought by a much larger company that owns Toro and some others.
 

Wesley

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Apr 12, 2006
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I would think you would want a snow blower mostly for the heavy snow, so go BIG.

You can always shovel little snows if you can swallow your pride.

As they say in Vegas, BIG is better.

If you are rich by definition, buy one of each.
 

matmann22

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Dec 31, 2007
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If you don't get 2 stage, you are throwing your money away, IMO.

I have 22" MTD Yard Machine. It is going on 8 years old and still runs perfectly. I have cafefully maintained it, however.

This year, I had to replace the skid shoes on the side of the intake since they had worn all the way through. Those pieces are designed to wear, though.

The engine is Tecumseh and seems to have enough power. There was one snow storm in CO where we got 24" of snow and blowing and drifting and I couldn't get through some areas without killing the engine. That was the only time it felt underpowered. Otherwise, it does fine.

Also, mine pull starts very easily which is great in case I'm out of town and my wife needs to snowblow.

Hope this helps.

PS...I think MTD got bought by a much larger company that owns Toro and some others.

I think I have this same or a year newer snowblower and it is a backsaver. All I do is the standard maintenance and it hasn't given me a problem.

It has electric start, heated handlegrips, and 4 forward speeds so it is as easy to operate as a lawnmower. Plus Forward 4 will drag you through snowbanks left by the friendly snowplows !

I live on the 'wrong side' of a downhill curve in Central Iowa and just a couple inches of snow will produce a 3 foot high pile when the plow goes by.

I got guilted into helping all my neighbors with their one stage snowblowers at least 5 times last winter.

I would also agree that two stages are next to worthless if their is very little snow. In those cases, I can usually leaf blow it out of the way or if it is heavy, push it out of the way with a wide push type shovel.

I have a snowblower to handle big snows...
 

cmoneyr

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Nov 8, 2006
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2-stage definitely, when we get that first heavy, wet snow you'll be glad you did. I have a Troy-Bilt 24" I believe, got it from Lowes, have had no problems. I make sure to start it and let it run for a little bit about once a month in the off season.
 

Cyclonesrule91

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Apr 10, 2006
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Get a 2 stage for sure. I have a 1980 something Massey Ferguson that a neighbor gave me because it didn't work for him correctly. I put a carb kit in it and replaced the skid plate on the bottom and have no problems blowing snow whether it be 2 inches or 12 inches wet or dry. Had two neighbors who had the turbocharged hairdryer paddle types and I did their snowblowing more then they did last year. If you don't have a clean drive after using a 2 stage, it is because you probably don't do any maintenance on the thing and it needs adjusting. The snowblower given to me was never maintained, the skid plate was gone and the main auger was dragging the ground. also the shoes were missing. I had to take it back to my parents and weld it back together properly. Now i have a snowblower that was giving to me that I could sell now for $250. It's all about how you take care of it.

And electric? That wouldn't be a good combination in snow, especially wet snow. Get a 4 stroke engine model.

long story short, if you can do simple maintenance on stuff to keep them operating correctly, get a 2 stage hands down. They cost more but will last forever. If you don't do maintenance, then buy the cheaper paddle types and replace them every 3-5 yrs. That's my opinion anyway.

Editted to add: Tecumseh engines are known for starting a lot easier then other brands in cold weather so keep that in mind too. It doesn't matter if you have a heater and/or electric start on it or keep it in a heated garage/shop, but if you are like me and it is a pull start in a unheated garage, that can be huge. Mine usually starts the 2nd pull.
 
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dmclone

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Oct 20, 2006
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IMO Snowblowers are a lot like other things in life. Have you ever wished you would have gotten a smaller TV, had a less powerful car, or a wife that was a little uglier?

Pay a couple hundred dollars more and get a dual stage like this

Craftsman 208 cc 26 In. 2 Stage Snow Thrower - Model 88970 at Sears.com



My neighbor has a single stage and it takes him about 3 times as long. We both have corner lots so we have a lot of sidewalk. I can go out and do my in 10 minutes with my work clothes on.
 
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DevilDog

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I've been using a 1998 Toro 2 stage 5hp 21" since its been new and still works like a champ. In fact its such a good design they still make the exact same model it just comes in a 22" clearing path. I believe u cant go wrong with any model of Toro.
 
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