Abby’s Guide > Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) > Discussions > Snow blower Choices
Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions |
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SidV
Joined: Nov 9, 2005
Points: 1
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Snow blower Choices
Original Message Nov 9, 2005 5:07 pm |
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I am about to purchase a new snow blower and need some help in making a final choice. I live outside of Chicago. Typically we get several snows at 4"-8". Inevitably we get 2-4 at 12"+. I have a concrete driveway that's 150' long, single car wide, and splays open to a 3 car garage at the end. The house is on a city lot and there is only a few feet on each side of the driveway. Today I'm using an older 4.5HP single stage Yard Machines (was fine for our previous house with no driveway, just sidewalks). This machine simply takes too long and is too loud and rough to do the job efficiently. Here is what I am considering: Ariens 7524 E 7.5HP OHV 2 stage $729 Ariens 5520 E 5.5HP L head 2 stage $599 Toro Snow Commander 7HP 2 cycle 1 stage $799 I can see pluses and minuses to all 3. The 7524 has the best engine, but is big (I have limited storage) and I'm worried may be a bit intimadting for my wife to use. The 5520 is slightly more compact, is still an Ariens, but has 5.5 HP and is an L Head. By the way the price on the 5520 is great. The Toro is the most consumer friendly - i.e wife friendly - looking machine. It seems to have the power and size (24" X 15" opening) but is a 2 cycle, 1 stage and I'm not sure how well it will perform - and if it will much louder than the other 2. Few last points - 3 out of 4 dealers recommended the Toro. $800 is about the most I can spend right now. I would greatly appreciate your advice and also would like to hear your direct experience with any of these machines.
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AZinOH
Those who accept self-deception will perish by it. Shakespeare said "to thine own self be true".
Joined: Nov 25, 2004
Points: 189
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Re: Snow blower Choices
Reply #1 Nov 9, 2005 6:32 pm |
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I don't think either of these machines would be a bad choice. But with that long of a driveway you will be dissatisfied with either of the smaller machines when the really heavy snows come.The Snow Commander will probably do the best job 80% of the time. If it's wife-friendly enough I'd probaby go with it. During the heavy snows you'd probably want to blow while it's still snowing if possible rather than waiting until the storm ends. If you wanted to be certain that you had enough machine to tackle the big storms, I'd go with the Ariens 7524E. By the way, I have a Toro 2 cycle (not this model) and I love it. AZ
Snowblower...Toro Power Max 726te 2004 Lawn tractor...AYP w/ 14.5 Briggs-42in 2000
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machXS1
Location: Chicagoland
Joined: Sep 27, 2005
Points: 11
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Re: Snow blower Choices
Reply #2 Nov 9, 2005 10:36 pm |
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Tryig to clear 150' of anything with a single stage will take a long time! If space is a premium, go with a compact 2 stage. I read a review where the guy had used both the Toro Snow Cmdr & CCR 3650, and he preferred the 3650 because it threw the snow just as far but was lighter & more agile.
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LordVader
Joined: Nov 8, 2005
Points: 23
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Re: Snow blower Choices
Reply #3 Nov 11, 2005 12:02 am |
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I grow weary with the ignorance here. Ariens 7524 E 7.5HP OHV 2 stage $729 EOD mean anything to you?
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faithfulFrank
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose....
Location: Batavia, N.Y.
Joined: Jan 20, 2004
Points: 1067
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Re: Snow blower Choices
Reply #4 Nov 14, 2005 9:04 am |
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Take the wife with you and let her try the controls, etc. My wife is not big, and for years she handled our BIG toro 7/24 with no problem....Now she handles my BIGGER Ariens 13 hp 32" monster with no problem. Wives can be tougher then we think sometimes...... I like single stages because they clear snow fast....but when the big snows come, give me my two stage. Frank D.
Ariens 1332DLE Pro, Exmark 52" HP ZTR, Gardian Generac generator, Shindiawa T230 Excell/Honda PW, Craftsman rototiller, Favorite IPE- My Mac + Ipod- No Windoze for me!
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OrchidCrazy
Joined: Nov 6, 2003
Points: 55
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Re: Snow blower Choices
Reply #5 Nov 14, 2005 9:59 am |
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I'm a woman, 5'4", not starving, but not fat either. I am not afraid of power equipment, am a do-it-yourselfer within my own limits. When purchasing a snowblower as a surprise for my husband, I went and "Woman-handled" many machines. I ended up with a 9 HP Simplicity which was over the $1K limit I had set for it, but well worth it. I had originally looked at the 8 HP Simplicity and the competing Toro and Ariens models. What got me up above my budget was going for the Easy Turn feature of the 9HP and it was well worth the extra money! I was limited with storage space as well, the 9HP fit all our needs without being too big for where I needed to store it. The Machine handles everything thrown at it. I live in NorthWestern CT, we get about 40 inches annually here but have gone above and beyond the usual the past 3 years. What I love it that when hubby is at work, I can easily go out, start up the machine, clean the driveway all with ease. Without that easy turn, I'd struggle with the machine. My advice, take wifey shopping with you. Let her run the machines and get comfortable with them. If you want her to handle it, buy what she can handle. In the long run, you'll appreciate it.
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