[jacksonpt]

Any recommendations on these? I'm tired of shoveling my 350' driveway every damn morning because of all the drifting. I called around, and I can get snow throwers from these 3 companies that meet my needs (electric start, 2 stage, adequate for a 350' driveway and 8-12" of snow, $1000).

Toro Power Max 826LE
Tecumseh Snow King 4-cycle engine (8.5hp)
electric start
26" clearing width
6 forward speeds, 2 reverse
$1000
2 year warranty

Pros - light, easy to handle. very easy to aim chute
Cons - lots of plastic, no headlight


Ariens 8526LE
Tecumseh Snow King 4-cycle engine (8.5hp)
electric start
26" clearing width
6 forward speeds, 2 reverse
$1000
3 year warranty

Pros - all steel, should hold up well, headlight
Cons - heavy


Toro Storm 9528
Tecumseh Snow King 4-cycle engine (9.5hp)
electric start
28" clearing width
$1000
2 year warranty

Haven't seen it in person, but no headlight

 

[SkaredShtles]

Any recommendations on these? I'm tired of shoveling my 350' driveway every damn morning because of all the drifting. <snip>

I'd say get a Subaru!

-S.S.-

 

[jacksonpt]

I'd say get a Subaru!

-S.S.-

F that! I've got a 4Runner that has no problem with the snow. Hell, I drove through my "yard" this morning... probably 2.5' of snow out there. My wife's car is the problem.

 

[Wumpus]

This might help:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98779&highlight=snowblower

 

[I Are Baboon]

Our Toro kicks ass (it is a snowblower and has a headlight). It's very easy to use, so I can just send MtnBikerChk outside to clean the driveway while I stay in bed and watch TV. Really, I have not used it yet...she'd cleared the driveway every time.

Of course, ours has been used about five times, so I can not really comment on its durability yet.

 

[Hawkeye]

My Mom has a toro that has been used like 10 times and it is a pain in the a to start.

I have a honda that is 10 years old and was bought at a garage sale and it starts like a champ.

Take that for what it's worth.

 

[jacksonpt]

This might help:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98779&highlight=snowblower

yea, I saw that and I PMed MBC and IRB about theirs. I was hoping someone could weigh in on whether or not one is a better brand than another.

 

[jacksonpt]

Our Toro kicks ass (it is a snowblower and has a headlight). It's very easy to use, so I can just send MtnBikerChk outside to clean the driveway while I stay in bed and watch TV. Really, I have not used it yet...she'd cleared the driveway every time.

Of course, ours has been used about five times, so I can not really comment on its durability yet.

Cool, thanks - you can ignore the PM.

 

[I Are Baboon]

Cool, thanks - you can ignore the PM.

Too late!

We haven't had any problems starting it like Hawkeye's mom has. We just push a button and it starts right up (it better...the damn thing is three months old).

 

[douglas]

I'd definitely go w/steel over plastic!!!

mine (which has been sitting for 2 years since I broke the drive train chain ) is steel and I'd say 20 years old, it always did a great job before the chain went !!

 

[SkaredShtles]

F that! I've got a 4Runner that has no problem with the snow. Hell, I drove through my "yard" this morning... probably 2.5' of snow out there. My wife's car is the problem.

I'd say get *her* a Subaru.......

-S.S.-

 

[I Are Baboon]

I'd say get *her* a Subaru.......

-S.S.-

Sure, a $30,000 vehicle over a $1,000 snowblower.

 

[N8 v2.0]

What's a snowblower???

 

[SkaredShtles]

Sure, a $30,000 vehicle over a $1,000 snowblower.

Alright. Maybe a *used* Subaru. Then you don't actually have to ever plow the driveway. Think of all the time saved!

-S.S.-

 

[SkaredShtles]

What's a snowblower???

It's sort of like the A/C of the north.

-S.S.-

 

[Handlebarsfsr]

my dad has a 30 year old ariens with a 15 year old tecumseh motor. thing works perfectly, and it even starts on the first few pulls. its a heavy bugger, but it will last for decades.

 

[Hawkeye]

My Mom has a toro that has been used like 10 times and it is a pain in the a to start.

I have a honda that is 10 years old and was bought at a garage sale and it starts like a champ.

Take that for what it's worth.

It helps that I put a cold air intake, coffee can exhaust, and aluminum wing on it.

 

[in the trees]

I just got the Ariens 8526 this fall and I love it so far. We really haven't had any major storms in my area yet (in VT, believe it or not) , so I can't comment on how it works in deep snow. It is a little heavy but that also makes it solid. I usually use the electric start but it will start on the first or second pull when using the pull-start. I had looked seriously at getting the Toro too, but decided to go with the Ariens. The chute is very easy to adjust even when the blower's in motion. I liked the Ariens' solid lever and crank chute adjustment better than the Toro's plastic joystick. I also like the headlight feature for night use and for added safety when I'm out in the street. I'd recommend that you also find a good dealer that you can go back to for timely repairs further down the road if things need any work.

 

[CChase86]

We have an Ariens from 1977 (8hp), a long (200 foot x 10 to 20 feet) driveway, and it has been running beautifully ever since. Starts up 2nd pull and will throw snow twice as far as any of the new ones that I've seen.

Go Ariens.

 

[Mike B.]

I personally will not buy a Tecumseh engine regardless of what it is mounted to - snowblower, lawn mower, etc. Only Honda (or if I have to Briggs) engines for me so I'd say check on a Honda if you've got a dealer nearby. Whatever you get, buy extra shear pins up front.

I just borrow my neighbors old Ariens or wait for my other neighbor to finish his driveway so he can use his truck plow.

 

[jacksonpt]

Thanks for the info everyone. I ended up buying the Ariens (the 8526). The guy dropped it off, showed me how it works, and off I went. Took me about 30 minutes to do my driveway - much better than I was anticipating. The thing is a tank... pretty dang heavy, but solid as a rock. It's a bit more of a workout than I was expecting, but all in all, I'm glad I went with it (after 1 use). Run #2 is scheduled for 6am tomorrow morning... I can see this becoming a daily routine.