Snowblower Recommendations

[Musky]

Looking for a decent snowblower. Currently have a 30" Ariens that is time to be replaced. Looking for recommendations for something that will last a decent amount of time, is at least 2 staged and easy to start in -30 weather. Bonus points for EFI motors, not against all electric. Looking around $1200 or less and I'm NOT a brand snob. Just wondering what all you northerners with snowblowers use.

For fear of cursing too much, I won't go into the negatives I've had and currently have with this Ariens.

 

[Bucky]

Toro 2 stage is what everyone in my family and I have. Work great for us for many years.

 

[FOS373]

I have a cub cadet two stage for our colorado mountain property. Tracked. 26”. Heated grips. LED lights. Works great. Only thing i dont like is that the reverse gears are SLOW. 6 forward 2 back. It has an electric start plug, which i rarely use; just prime and pull.

I cleared a 1/4 mile sloped driveway with it (~ 6“ of snow) when our plow guy was running behind and I had a delivery coming.

I just used it to clear the decks of ~ 12” of snow and it does great.

Ordered from https://www.powerequipmentdirect.com/

 

[sf jakey]

Honda, no question

 

[IdahoElk]

I have a cub cadet two stage for our colorado mountain property. Tracked. 26”. Heated grips. LED lights. Works great. Only thing i dont like is that the reverse gears are SLOW. 6 forward 2 back. It has an electric start plug, which i rarely use; just prime and pull.

I cleared a 1/4 mile sloped driveway with it (~ 6“ of snow) when our plow guy was running behind and I had a delivery coming.

I just used it to clear the decks of ~ 12” of snow and it does great.

Ordered from https://www.powerequipmentdirect.com/

I just got this and it rocks, reverse gears are Slow! but man does this throw snow and didn't break the bank buying it.

 

[GrayGoose]

I've owned a Husqvarna for about 3 years. No issues with it so far. Starts easily with the pull start even in cold temps. I also liked how the chute controls were set up on the Husqvarna compared to others I looked at.

 

[PNWGATOR]

We have Ariens at work and have very few, if any, issues (we have about a dozen of them in various sizes).

What’s been going on with yours?

 

[Musky]

We have Ariens at work and have very few, if any, issues (we have about a dozen of them in various sizes).

What’s been going on with yours?

Inherited it from my folks roughly 10 years ago. Had always been a cold blooded sob. Wouldn't ever pull start 20* or colder. Folks had it in for maintenance a few times as the starter for it has always sheered teeth, for that reason I haven't replaced it since the last time it went out. Replaced the carb 2 years ago and it helped with the starting but still anything around 0* had issues. Obviously nothing likes running that cold and unfortunately I don't have a heated garage, however, it is insulated.

Used the blower 2 nights ago clearing 36" snow plow drifts across my driveway. Tonight I couldn't pull it over, locked up. I'm sure I could pull the spark plug and take the recoil out and get the motor to probably move.

Just frustrated as it's currently -5, was colder when I got off work and I just don't feel like fighting with this "lemon" anymore. I had an old snow king I donated to my brother when I inherited this one, never had to use the electric start, 3 primes and it'd always start on the second pull. Money can't always buy everything, but I'm hoping it'll buy me less headache. I'll eventually fix this one up next summer and dump it or keep it as a backup. Just tired with this particular Ariens.

 

[LuvDog]

Wow... you got a lemon for sure. I have 2 Ariens. One is 20 years old, 3 primer pumps and it starts on the first pull 95% of the time and always by the second pull. I've never once even had to think about using the electric start. I got a newer one a couple of years ago because someone I knew was selling a Pro model when they were getting divorced.

Honestly, I know you had problem with yours, but Ariens Pro models and Hondas up here in New England are the kings of the driveway.

 

[Dioni A]

The hard starting could be as simple as the valves being a little out of spec. I know dirt bikes get really hard to start when they need valves adjusted.

 

[Justin Crossley]

We don't get much snow here and I'm no expert but I ordered this snowblower attachment when I bought my Bobcat a couple of years back and it works really well for clearing the snow at my parents' cabin. Not what you're looking for probably but if you have a machine it's the way to go.

 

[Catchfish]

Honda but you won’t be able to touch one for 1200 bucks

 

[shtrbc]

Ariens HO models. Cub Cadet, Toro, and Honda are all decent too. I replaced a 15 year old John Deere last season with the Ariens Deluxe 30 SHO and could not believe the difference in performance. I "thought" my old reliable John Deere could throw snow, but the Ariens will throw it easily twice as far in my area. The SHO models have the biggest engines for frame size I found.

 

[SteepandDeep]

I just replaced my 2009 Ariens with a new Ariens; so far so good. I kept fighting the older one and replacing parts but I beat the crap out of it due to our steep 200ft gravel driveway. I have an atv with a plow now so that does the majority of the work but I still use the blower on the concrete up top and the new one handles much better. Old one always started and ran strong but some components broke/wore out which is to be expected if heavily used. Got it on sale before most people were thinking of snow

 

[SteepandDeep]

Ariens HO models. Cub Cadet, Toro, and Honda are all decent too. I replaced a 15 year old John Deere last season with the Ariens Deluxe 30 SHO and could not believe the difference in performance. I "thought" my old reliable John Deere could throw snow, but the Ariens will throw it easily twice as far in my area. The SHO models have the biggest engines for frame size I found.

Good advice

 

[Outcast2.0]

I’d go with an Airens or Husky. In my opinion these are built a little more stout vs the competitors. Also, I would probably avoid the EFI- they are cheap systems, they may work, but a carburetor or just a battery one would just be easier.. my 2 cents.

 

[Okhotnik]

Honda, no question

yep Honda with tracks

 

[thinhorn_AK]

The Honda with tracks has a weak engine and it costs like 4000 dollars. While it’s well built, the value isn’t there. I have one and it stays in the shop most of the time.

My go too is an ariens Great Lakes edition machine. That thing thrashes my Honda in side by side tests. The Honda is going down the road after the winter.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

yep Honda with tracks

If a 196cc engine, 4,000 dollars and 300lbs is what you are looking for, sure. I have one. It’s built well but gets beat out by my ariens Great Lakes machine in every metric.

 

[Rob960]

I have a 28" Troybilt that has served me well for the last 12 years. When we get hit with the big 20"+ snows I use it to open my street the cross street which os a snow route so I can get to work. Sucks being one of the last streets to be plowed by the township.