Recommend a snow blower

JoeRider

JoeRider

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Before we know it the white stuff will be on the ground and I'd like to get a head start in shopping around. Any recommendations on brand or store would be great. A 24"-27" two stage should do. I was initially leaning towards the Craftman or Toro, however, there was a long thread about the motor dying after 10 minutes under load. Both brands (Craftsman and Toro) use the same motor - briggs and stratton, which I'd like to avoid, if possible.

If you own any of the above let me know your experiences. My budget is ~$1200.
 
If you wait, Home depot will have them on sale.

I bought the inhouse Home Depot brand. 22" clearing path, and has not let me down now in 7 + years.

When i bought mine HD was offering gift cards of $50+ and up for each model you purchased. All in i paid just over $600, and got $50 gift card.
 
Odd to hear issues with the Briggs and Stratton as they are a pretty good motor.

IMO it's the other bits you have to worry about. Like the auger and chute. Avoid plastic chutes if you can. Depending on the job, don't get something too small. They tended to get overwhelmed in the heavy stuff. Then you can get something a bit too big as well. I had a 30" which was a bit overkill. But, I have to say my neighbors appreciated when I came by. And I took care of the side walk before the city did. I'd say something in the 24" to 28" range is pretty good. If you have to do a lot of short passes, anything bigger gets tiring. Then again, it's not a bad work out.
 
Go to Costco I think it's 750 for a 27 inch poulan. I'm very happy with the one I boughgt.
 
I got a small 20" 50cc 2stroke for free from a member here awhile ago, been working great.
 
24 inch Craftsman here. Bought it after Mel called in the army whatever year that was. No problems with it or the B&S engine. I had to change the drive belts once.

In Toronto we get heavy wet snow and a narrower higher powered blower is needed the throw the stuff. On colder areas like Ottawa you can actually go wider and less power.

I also went 24" because it's easier to store, get into the shed etc.
 
Snowblower? Same as my lawnmower and dishwasher, but you'll have to get your own wife.

;)
 
If it's a relatively warm winter and not much snow go to Home Depot. You can get crazy deals... lower than cost price.
 
more hp the better, you can have to much and not need it, but underpowered is awful. Most of the brands are very similar in performance and work unless your buying a premium brand like JohnDeere or Honda.

Mine is a Briggs&Straton 5hp, 24" sold under the MTD label. Use premium fuel, it likes the better gas and keep the fuel clean and fresh and no water in it and it should run years. My fall tuneup consists of a fresh spark plug and i spray the auger box and chute with silicone lube, makes the wet snow slide. Its 8yrs old and i love it.
 
Always makes me laugh when I hear you guys talk about snow-blowers. It reminds me of where I'm from I guess! Why someone would spend that kind of money on a machine that likely would not get used more than once a year is beyond me. Pay the kid next door that one day if its that hard. I know I am going to hear from everyone from Barrie and Peterborough... but the OP is in Vaughn! Sprinkle some salt... go to work... come home to a dry driveway. ;) Snowblowers require snow sillies!
 
Thanks for all the replies. A LOT of good info. I will check out costco as that is one place i didn't consider. Otherwise, I will wait until late November or early December...

Thanks again.
 
CanuckDuc said:
Always makes me laugh when I hear you guys talk about snow-blowers. It reminds me of where I'm from I guess! Why someone would spend that kind of money on a machine that likely would not get used more than once a year is beyond me. Pay the kid next door that one day if its that hard. I know I am going to hear from everyone from Barrie and Peterborough... but the OP is in Vaughn! Sprinkle some salt... go to work... come home to a dry driveway. ;) Snowblowers require snow sillies!
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AHH... last year we had two major snow falls (>15"), one of which I was cursing the whole 3 hours of shoveling. I'm not doing that again!

I'd rather have a machine collecting dust than not have one at all.
 
CanuckDuc said:
Always makes me laugh when I hear you guys talk about snow-blowers. It reminds me of where I'm from I guess! Why someone would spend that kind of money on a machine that likely would not get used more than once a year is beyond me. Pay the kid next door that one day if its that hard. I know I am going to hear from everyone from Barrie and Peterborough... but the OP is in Vaughn! Sprinkle some salt... go to work... come home to a dry driveway. ;) Snowblowers require snow sillies!
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Wait til we start talking about snow tires.
 
SunnY S said:
Wait til we start talking about snow tires.
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I caught that one already. Funny as it is, I am a big fan - there are so many bad/new drivers around that every little bit helps. From what I saw last year about this time everyone was focusing on just snow and no mention of increased precipitation or lower temps. If I everr get to be dictator ;) those few of us that are still permitted to drive will use snows from November 1 to April 30! I can sense that the snow tire rants are coming any minute now!
 
I've had one of those simple single stage snowblowers in both Kingston and Ottawa and never had a problem. Even when the snow was stupid deep it managed OK but most of the time it only needed one pass. Prefer it as it's lighter to move about and simpler to overhaul. Spray a crap load of oil into the chute and around the auger and it's good to go.
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