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

I was all set to order a Toro 20" model, but I see they've just introduced a new line that's an inch wider, otherwise pretty similar and doesn't weigh any more.

Anyone have the inside scoop on these? Same Toro quality?

http://www.toro.com/home/snowthrowers/index.html

67L48 wrote:
Yup, I agree. In spite of the chute control, I would have bought the Honda in a heartbeat - if one was available. I'm sure I would have been much more satisfied with Honda's engine (you kidding?), and if I decided to sell there's no doubt I'd find a willing taker.

Strange that snowblower prices in CO remain fixed like that. I would have figured sales volume would encourage competition among the numerous dealers. Guess they just went the other way - you know, the "Screw the Consumer" school of business. Methinks there is a statewide OPE association at the bottom of this plot. Imagine that.

I live west of the Mississippi, but I can assure you that deals are possible here. Usually, around mid-April the first of the markdowns appear, and the patient buyer may find a 50% off deal in May of June. Of course, this assumes that the unit you want is still available - many of the Hondas, Ariens, and Simps are out of stock by February. You also must account for seasonal differences - a mild winter generally means a suplus of stock - therefore a better chance to deal.

You have a better chance of finding what you want online, but shipping costs can offset an otherwise good deal. From what I've seen, many dealers or auctions offering "free shipping" will adjust their selling price accordingly. No free lunch, folks. However, patience can pay off for the savvy Internet buyer. Sounds like the way to go in your neck of the woods.

I feel your pain, brother, since I was forced to buy a snowblower in January! I suppose once you amortize the cost over 8 or 10 years, it's a lot easier pill to swallow. Sure beats shovelling.

Well, it's been an interesting winter. More snow than usual, and bitter cold like I haven't seen in 5 years. This was not the season to rely on a shovel - I'm feeling a lot better now about buying at January prices.

My little Toro 4-stroke handled most of the snow events with ease. It rips through powder like nothing - I pushed it into 26" with no problem. Wet snow is a different story, though. We've had a couple of major wet snowfalls since my last writing, and I have to say this single-stage machine was really laboring. It did get the job done, but often required a lengthy smash-and-backup routine when the depth went above 20".

In all fairness, this type of duty is probably beyond the machine's capabilities.Fortunately, this is only an occassional event here. The engine did surprisingly well in the wet stuff, until this last snowfall - which was nearly slush it was so full of moisture. Took twice as long as normal to clear the drive and walkways, and chute clogging was a real problem. I finally was able to tax the engine to the point where it stalled, but you wouldn't believe how thick and heavy this snow/slush mixture was. I think a small 2-stage model would have bogged down in this slop as well.

I'm givng the new Toro good marks for performance. Most winters aren't as bad as this year, so I doubt if I'll be pushing it to the limit very often. That said, it's an excellent dry snow machine - with more wet snow capability than you might expect. The chute control continues to impress me, but the extra cost is a bit hard to accept. By the way, the chute did freeze up after use (as they all do), but I'm happy to report that it took very little effort to break it loose - and the control still worked smoothly. The crude feel of the engine still bugs me somewhat, but not enough to break the deal. Think I'll be hanging on to this machine for now.

If you're in an area than normally gets less than 70" a year and you don't have a 500' driveway to clear, I'd say this Toro will do fine as your primary blower. For the bigger snow, a 2-stage can't be beat - but this little unit is quite capable in a pinch.

oldcrow had no issues blowing 26" snow with his Toro SS so he must have a superior technique.  Perhaps, oldcrow can share his secret technique so we can master it.