Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I have been in the market for a snowblower for the past month or so. Having bought a new home last winter which we completely furnished and remodeled in the last year, my budget for a snowblower is noit a kings ransom. While I have finally convinced my wife that we will not be buying a single stage like the one she grew up with, we were a bit turned off by the price of the big 2 stage models. Going to are equipment dealers, I found that the smaller 2 stages are in the price range we are lookin for. With a smaller drive (50x25) I think I should be OK with a smaller HP. Living in the NW suburbs of Chicago, we can get some good lake effect snow at times however. I have been thinking about the Aries 5520 but have come across a left over, never used 520 at a local Ariens dealer for an even $500. Seems like a great deal.

Question is, while I really want a 7HP and went down to the 5.5 budget wise, I am wondering how capable a 5.0 will be. While everyone on my block owns single stages and I was the only one with a shovel 9 months ago, I have to think that to 5.0 2 stage will perform better that a 5.0 single stage.

Does anybody have any experience with these small 2 stage models?? I realize with a big snow fall I may have to blow twice in storm but with such a small drive, I dont mind.

Great site by the way!

I have a 5hp MTD 2 stage. It has handled several 15"+ snowfalls, with end of driveway (EOD) snow depths up to THREE FEET! When the snow is that deep, I have to work more slowly since I have only 5hp to work with. I have used 7hp & up machines and they really do make quicker/easier work of clearing DEEP snow piles.

5hp will do it, but just be prepared to be out in the cold a little longer to perform your snow clearing task.

Another thought - stepping up to a 7hp+ machine will probably run about another $300 or so over your $500. Over 10 years, it ends up costing you only $30 extra per year to have the extra power. Many others wiser than I have said "cry many times if you under purchase, cry only once if you spend the extra chingwa"...

Marty

You might consider things this way.

1. Never purchase anything at MSRP.  Never purchase anything IN SEASON ... I got my $1500 machine for less than $1000 by buying in September three seasons ago.  So the machine is already discounted 30%.  And when you DO buy, get everything that you think you will NEED and USE.  But refrain from being swayed by the "toys" of some of the more up-scale models - these are the first things to break/go bad/etc.  In other words, you are INVESTING in something to make your life easier and at the same time, maximizing the re-sale value of your investment.

2. Plan to keep the machine 7 years.  Treat it gently, use it wisely, maintain it religiously (there are LOTS of self-help books and courses/clinics that the average back-yard mechanic can get for very little cost) - and regardless of make it will doubtlessly do yeoman service .... AND, with a little care, it may NEVER see the inside of a repair shop.  My experience is that minimum shop charge usually STARTS at $100 and the clock ticks from there.  Parts are extra, not cheap, and sometimes(many times) have to be ordered and take extra-ordinarily long times to arrive (if YOU need it, many others do as well!!!)

3. At the beginning of year #8 (August or September), you buy yourself a brand new machine (see #1 and #2 above).    At the FIRST GOOD SNOWFALL, put your previously well maintained, polished and running machine up for sale - probably for 60% of the original MSRP.   The pre-owned market for GOOD machines is usually EXCELLENT - at least it is in my area.  Your average yearly cost would be far  less than what you would have had to pay the neighbour kid to do your laneway, you haven't suffered a heartattack or wrecked your back shovelling, you have not suffered the aggrevation of machines not working the way they should,  and you have enjoyed your outdoor experience.

4. If you are a "tinkerer", then YOU buy my previously well-maintained machine, and enjoy yourself.  AND come back to see me in 7 years and I'll have ANOTHER good deal for you.

This philosophy seems to work well for me.  Something to think about!!!

Cheers.....    *(:>)*

 

Thanks guys. We had about 4 inches here in Chicagoland last night so I am out to shovel, or bribe a neighbor to snowblow, my drive! I am defintatly off to the equipment dealer tomorrow. If your MTD 5hp does you well, I may go with the Ariens 5 myself. I was watching my neighbor with HER single stage toro throw quite well. I'd imagine a 2 stage would do even better.

I guess my last concern was if 5hp would be able to power both the 520's auger and discharge effectively?

Thoughts.....

Matt,

         Yes, read Martys post above.

As he says, just takes a little longer with a 5 than a 7 or 8 HP.

                                              Fred

If throwing distance and capacity is extrememly important you may want to opt up for the ST5520. It's not the extra power that will be of great benefit, but there were discharge improvements made to the compact units for the current model year to increase performance. The impeller was improved and made larger, and the chute geometry was optimized. These increased performance to the tune of approximately 20%.

PK

Matt,

Snowman above  is an Ariens engineer!

                         Fred

I'm in the NW Chicago burbs (Lake Co.) and my Toro 3650 worked like a champ on last night's 3" snowfall. The advice that folks tend to dish out is to buy the high end for what your budget allows. In other words, don't buy a 2nd tier dual stage in lieu of a high end single stage. Dual stage units are more complex, so you want a quality brand. Remember that the low end dual stage units do not have the steering capabilities of the high so you will be stuck trying to maneuver a 150+ lb unit.

For a graph of annual snowfall in Chicago check out this site: http://home.att.net/~chicago_climo/CHISOW.gif

Note that the last time we had more than 40" of snow was back in '99!

Matt,

2 stage blowers are better than single stage machines.

                     1.  No torque steer.

                      2. You can raise the scraper bar and blow snow on your lawn. (A doggie path)

                      3. Weight is not a problem turning when you have snow on the ground !

                      Ariens blowers are quality machines.

                                                          Fred

Well, you guys wont believe it. I was put in touch with a guy in Glenview (a suburb near Chicago) that was moving. He had an Ariens snowblower he wanted to get rid of. He was not sure what kind it was so when I called him, he went out in his garage and took a look. It was a 5520. Said he bought last winter, used it twice and was selling it because he was purchasing a condo. Needless to say, I was at his home an hour later. We put some fresh gas in and it started in 1 pull!

And the best part, it came with all the documents and I only paid $250!!! He was thinking $220 - $270 range. I still feel guilty!

Thanks for all the advice guys. Now I look forward to contributing to this site as an owner....

Matt

Matt,

You are going to love it!!

When you went there to see it did you wear a mask and a gun???

Marty,  who posts here, always wears his when he is shopping!!!

I used to hate the words "Heavy Snow Tonight".

 Now that I have a blower,  I look forward to it!!

                           Fred