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

I just stumbled across this web site tonight when I was searching for any reviews I could find on 2 snow blowers that I'm interested in.  I am excited to see all the knowledgeable people on this site who have such great advice.  Can anyone give me their opinion on these 2 snow blowers?

Before I came to this site I was steering towards the Toro 826 LE, as I have heard friends who love their Toro's.  After reading up on the comments here from owners on Ariens, I'm starting to wonder if they make a better machine.  I live in Syracuse, NY where we get record snowfall every season.  We often hit 200 inches of snow each winter.  I have a 2 car-wide driveway that can park 4 cars long.  I currently have an old John Deere (15 + years old).  It has given me so much trouble the last few years, I'm tired of putting a few hundred dollars into it each winter.

I'm looking for a reliable snow blower that will last a long time.  I'm guessing that both brands make good machines, but want to spend my money wisely.  I'm definately buying from a dealer (not Home Depot as I've had bad experiences with them in the past).  The price is close....the Toro is on sale right now for $1,050 and the Ariens is on sale for $999.  Any feedback on these 2 models would be greatly appreciated.  I'm going to purchase my new snowblower by next week, as the snow is flying here in Syracuse.  Thanks everyone!  Happy Holidays.

Jim

i think that this is actually the most popular question on this site.  look up the old discussions.  i think you'll find that most people prefer ariens.

   regardless  of what brand you shop for,   the first thing you should think about before purchase is  where can you get the unit serviced.   up here in minnesota   menards and lowes, homedepot  etc,  they will kiss your rearend to sell you a 1000.00 unit,  once your out the door  its now your problem.  we used to be an ariens dealer for 6 years.  we had problems with new units every year.  the owner made the decision to quit selling areins in order to keep his customer base.  now we solely sell toro / lawnboy.   i would vote for toro.

Thanks for the feedback.  It's nice to hear from someone that has worked in the snowblower business.  I'm reading alot of positive things about Ariens here in this website, but my friends who have Toro LOVE them!  I definately plan on buying my new snowblower from a dealer, not HD, Lowes, etc.  Service is very important after the sale.  I was wondering if the 8HP engine on the Toro will sacrifice much power compared to the 9.25 HP engine on the Ariens.  I was also concerned with the Toro's plastic discharge chute, compared to the all steel chute on the Ariens.  I was also warned to think about how many Toro dealers are around to service Toro, vs. Ariens dealers.  Lots to think about.

P.S.  I'm just curious....what kinds of problems were the new Ariens giving your shop?  Were they snowblowers bought in the last year or 2?

Thanks.

  no  we stopped selling about 4 yrs ago.  the issue was  the customer would get home with new unit and get 2o feet down drivway and unit would stop throwing snow.  after a service bulletin from ariens it turn out in the front auger gear box inside unit there is a roll pin that hold bevel gear onto auger shaft.  this roll pin was made of junk metal and would snap.    explain that to a customer who just spent that kind of money.  hence we no longer sell ariens as i previously stated.  anyway you look at units nowadays  you will not get 20 years out of them  like the good old days.   shop  wise

Thanks again for the follow up note.  I've decided on the Toro snowblower.  One shop I visited here in Syracuse also said that the new Ariens were giving them problems as well.  They said the Toro products are tried and true - design hasn't changed much in the last several years, and they've been very reliable.  I'm putting my money on the Toro - going to have it delivered next week (when the temps are going to rise into the 50's in Syracuse, NY - go figure!).  Thanks for your insight mech12....much appreciated!

I've been hearing a lot of bad things about Ariens lately. One dealer that I stopped at sells Ariens and Simplicity, and he told me to not waste my money on the Ariens. He said they weren't nearly as good as the Simplicity. My local small engine repair shop told me that he's had a lot of complaints from customers about their new Ariens.
So I'm curious, has Ariens quality declined in recent years? Or is this some kind of backlash over them selling through Home Depot? I really wonder how many of the problems that I've heard about are due to poor assembly from the Home Depot kids.

Regarding the Arien's auger gearbox...it has completely been redesigned 3 years ago.
Ariens responded to the problems and designed a much stronger gear case. You can't compare the new to the old cases anymore. I would bet it is now one of the strongest aluminum gearcases on the market. Take a look at the size of the newer gear cases compared to other manufacturers.

Regarding HD setup. The reputation of any snowblower company rides on the person who assembles it. I have seen a properly assembled Ariens SB and the chute controls work perfect.

Recently I have seen improperly set up of LAST year's crank style Simplicities snowblowers at a local Agway and noted chutes jammed on 2 floor units. (A simple adjustment, although I wonder why after a year it still wasn't corrected!)

Overall, many of the problem (IMO) come from stores who do not want to pay for experienced help or hire people who do not care.

I have the Toro 826 and its great. It  really clears the snow. The only problem I have is that if i'm not careful I will put the snow on the next driveway.  The neighbours cheapy blower can't send it back!!

I am a retailer for both manufacturers (not snow equipment as I am in florida). The only thing you need to ask is where do you get it fixed when it breaks, and what are the usual costs involved. Both companies make fine products, but not all retailers will support these products equally. I you choose a retailer that has a huge amount of toro inventory then they will most likely support toro more than ariens, and vice versa.