WHAT SNOWBLOWER TO BUY?

Question

Looking to buy a new snow blower but not sure which brand to go with so I am asking every ones opinions The brand I am looking at are Honda, Ariens, Husqvarna and what size would you recommend or get. I have a YardMan (track wheels) and its a piece of Crap
Driveway: 600' long and 8' wide (paved slightly steep)
We have allot of wet (heavy) snow , (more wet than powder)
6"-16" average of snow per storm (most snow fall was 22" in one storm)

Answer 1

When we purchased our snow blower we did research for about a year. Went and looked over a lot of them to decide which one would last longer, work harder and hold up to our 1/4 mile long driveway. The Ariens was our choice, it had a light, a strong engine with a good throw and it also could handle small chunks of ice. They demonstrated it throwing ice before we made our purchase.



Size is not much of a factor with your small driveway, but yet strength would be since you like us get a heavy snowfall and a lot of wet snow. For this reason you would want an 8 HP or stronger so it can work under the heavy load without bogging down on you.



Also you will want to consider shoot size, how far the blower can shoot the snow away from where you are blowing. This will help you keep the drifting and banks down.

Answer 2

Stick with the Honda and Ariens, Yardman was basically the cheapest build quality using left over parts from tecumseh. I have had an Ariens for 10 years, with no issues not even shear pin replacements, and before that I had a track drive Honda two stage, only sold it because I was running out of money at the time. For your situation I would reccomend a two stage machine, you don't really need a track drive system, on today machines especially Honda and Ariens they have some really knobby tires that bite into the snow and pavement without chains. If money is an issue I would reccomend the Sno-Tek series from Ariens specifically the 28" model. If money isn't an issue I would reccomend the Ariens professional line:http://www.ariens.com/products/snow-blowers/professional-snow-blower/pages/default.aspx

Any of those sizes will fit your needs.



Honda two stage machines are pricey yes, but they last quite a long time and will always start right up on command but this will do the trick:http://powerequipment.honda.com/snowblowers/models/hs928ta



It would have helped if you gave use a budget line, because Honda snow-blower become the sort of limit of what people will buy the two stage models now cost $1500+. Ariens doesn't cost as much because its made in the U.S. so less cost in the production.



Bottom line, any two stage machine from Ariens or Honda will be your best bet for your heavy snow conditions.



Best of luck enjoy your winter

Answer 3

consider the price of a snow blower v. the cost of hiring a competent person who needs work

v.

buying one with three other neighbors or you buy it with their signed agreement to rent the machine from you for their needs

v. rental by 3-4 neighbors for a 24 hr period