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

I have narrowed it down to a leftover pro 26 with a 305 cc or a new pro 32 for 500 dollars more with the 420 cc . I would have preferred the pro 28 but they are sold out.....Any opinions

What is your situation like - long straight driveway, lots of obstacles, short runs that involve a lot of turn arounds? A big 32" bucket with a 420cc engine is useful for long, straight runs and EOD slop but somewhat awkward for short runs, walkways, etc... where maneuverability is a huge benefit.

Well put FrankMA. 

Many people go for the big numbers.  Particularly if price between machines is close.  If you're not going to own a good SS machine and a dual stage, one would be wise to choose a machine that is easy to work with rather than too large a machine that becomes labourious to operate when conditions don't warrant a big snow blower.   Since buying my single stage machines, the big Simplicity seldom see action.  95% of the snow we get is either handled by shoveling or an SS machine.   It takes a serious dump to switch to the Simplicity.  

Good points from FrankMA and Borat.  I'd also add that having a machine that is easy to maneuver far outweights a bigger and wider one.  You may take an extra pass or two down the driveway, but it is more enjoyable when you don't have to struggle with it. 

Did you try to see if you can buy a Pro 28 through Home Depot?  This item is available only online and a local Ariens dealer will fulfill your order.  Or just call around to see who still has it.  Keep in mind that a Pro 28 is heavier overall compared to any other 28" due to the big engine and beefed up construction.

You may want to give these folks a call and see how the prices work out.  http://www.wisesales.com/ariens-st28dle-pro-926038-2012.html

driveway is about 250 ft....straight going. I was looking at the ariens dealer ,They will bring a pro 28 if Ipay freight bringing the price very close to the pro 32 in stock . I had JD 1130 for the past 2 years that blew 600 ft at my previous house....thought I would try a different brand this time. Didnt know if the 305 cc would feel underpowered after being used to the 342cc and the 420 cc is tempting....lol

I'd lean towards the Pro 28 (just for better maneuverability) but either would do based on your 250' of straight driveway run. That 420cc engine should prove to be well suited to the task!

If your driveway is that large I would say the Pro 28 at the min and I wouldnt think twice about the Pro 32............Thats a large piece of land but either way I would go with a something larger then a 305cc engine....

Another factor is where you live, and how much snow you normally get per snow fall. If I had a large driveway but only received say 8" inches at a clip I would have something 36"+ up to 42"! But if you live in say NY where you get up to 28" at a clip you need something narrow with a large motor. After typing this post I think you should go with the 32, Good Luck!

I don't know. My drive is about 400' long and my 24" Simplicity works great even in deep dumps. I wouldn't like wrestling a 32" machine around. I'd stay away from the wider unit.

if i had a 300 or 400 foot driveway I would put a two stage blower and cab on my garden tractor maybe even hook up a heating system of some type. 

about 150 ft of driveway and 100 ft of walkway in a rural setting

I'd try to get the Pro 28 if I were in your shoes. My driveway is about 130' long with a big open area near my 2 car garage and a fairly good size EOD area as well at the road. My HS928 (9 HP, 28" Bucket) handles that plus my walkways, runways to my firewood storage areas, etc... quite nicely and is very maneuverable. You may only have to take one more pass with the 28" bucket on your driveway but it will be much easier to use on your walkway areas.

I would like the pro 28 but retail is 2200 plus I would have to pay the shipping to bring one in bringing it up to 2330. The pro 32 listed at 2700 minus a 200 rebate for a instock model brings it to 2500,so it would be only 170 more then the pro 28......the pro 26 is a new leftover for 1995 dollars....canadian prices

You will own and use this for many years so don't let the perceived bargin of "bigger is better" stand in your way. You want to be happy with your purchase and comfortable using your new snowblower so think hard before you make your decision. Buyers remorse sucks (been there, done that) so try to think this through with the understanding that bigger is not neccessarily better and having the right OPE for the job makes your life so much easier.

 I own a powerful 2 stage and single stage machine because the conditions I deal with throughout the winter warrant the use of both types. Early and late winter storms typically involve the use of the single stage machine while mid-winter conditions definitely require the use of a powerful 2 stage machine. It took me many years to understand that the best of both worlds is owning a single stage and 2 stage machine that will handle anything Mother Nature can dish out. Having the ability to deal with most any type of winter storm condition makes things so much easier to handle.

I couldnt get a pro 28 until jan....so I decided to go with the leftover pro 26

Not sure where you live or how much snow you average every year but you should be fine with your new purchase. I used a Honda HS624WA  (6 HP, 24" Bucket) for 10 years and never had any problems. Maintaining a forward speed comensurate with the impellers ability to process the snow is the key to maintaining the snowblowers performance curve. People get in trouble when they try to go too fast and overwork the snowblowers ability to process the volume of snow it can realistically handle - sometimes slower is better. Good luck with your new machine!

granville wrote:
It's almost January.  I would have waited for the Pro 28.  What's another month to wait for something that will be owned for 10+ years.

The shipping date wasnt to aleast jan 15th....so it it could have been jan 20th before i received ..alot winter could have happened by then