I've limped along for years with a single-stage blower: it will barely get the job done with a few inches of powdery snow. However, anything approaching wet, slushy snow renders the thing worse than useless.

Saturday morning, I started trying to use it on the 12-inches in the driveway. I quickly realized the old-fashioned shovel worked faster. Fortunately, a neighbor brought a four-wheel ATV with a blade on it over, and pushed a lot of the snow out of the way. I finished with the shovel.

I've been considering buying a real snowblower for a couple of years. I think this is the storm that is finally going to cause me to make the purchase.

 

I have a http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/ModelDe...delName=hs724ta
I've had it for 4 years, the last two it has not really come up (a good thing).
But in the prior years it's been worth it's weight (and price).

 

I have an Ariens 11.5hp, 28" cut. Two stage, but that really goes without saying in the larger units. Here are my buying tips.

1. Briggs and Stratton engines are fine. they run for decades with minimal maintenance. Honda engines are good too. I have heard bad things about Tecumseh.

2. Look for the ability to disengage the locked differential so you can turn the corners more easily.

3. Bring a caliper with you to measure the thickness of the construction. Get the thickest one you can afford. Top save money, the lower priced models use a thinner gauge of steel. This allows more flex in the body and that flex results in early failure of the moving parts.

 

Good points, Bill. I've been doing some research online this afternoon.

Ariens units are very well thought-of, although there are stories of poor assembly at Lowe's or Home Depot, whichever it was that carries Ariens. My own experience with power equipment at these two stores is that I'd prefer it in the box, and assemble it myself.

 

are you saying that the 17 year old, who has been there two weeks, might not do a good job?

 

Some companies offer a different line at Home Depot/Lowes than they sell in their own stores.

 

Correct.

It's the same thing that Sears has done to their suppliers for years, WalMart does to their suppliers, and now Lowe's and Home Depot are doing it: provide them with product for a specific price or don't have your product in their stores. We used to have manufacturers who built brand names, (often) on the quality of their products. Now we have retailers dictating price and quality often goes down the toilet.

What's really sad is that the average American today is so pathetic that he/she can't do any better than the 17-year old at the big box store.

 

So true. The first time I used my new Ariens a part came loose. It was part of the Home Depot assembly. I spent a couple of hours putting it back together myself rather than returning it for further unqualified repairs.

 

I would recommend an Ariens 2-stage as well.

However, I would purchase it at your local mower/power equipment shop, not the big box stores. I have been told, but haven't confirmed, that Ariens has different build specs for the big box stores.

You may more up-front but the service on the back-end more than makes up for it.

 

Does anyone build one to mount in a Class III/IV Reciever? I dont like to get out in the cold so if I needed one, I would want to hang it on the reciever on the front of my wife's F-250.