snow blowers

suzuki2000

suzuki2000

Well-known member
Forum Sponsor
Looking at picking up a snow blower this year, maybe new, maybe used, haven't decided but I know we will get no snow once I buy one...

Nny opinions on whether to get a single stage vs dual stage? both have thier pros and cons

Lets hear your opinions
 
Last edited:
What type of driveway? gravel? interlock? double wide? single garage? lots of walkways?

More likely than not, a single stage is all you'll ever need. Costco has some nice little units right now for around $400 that would do the job for 90% of people in the GTA.
 
most of our snow in the gta seems to be wet snow and for that you can never have too much hp. 2 stage doesn't cost much more than a 1 stage and is just better at moving snow. I have a 5hp 22" 2 stage right now, I will never go smaller. Its an MTD brand with a techumseh motor. I think it was around $700 new, they are about 5-700 for a similar unit now.
Unless I knew a used machine personally I wouldn't buy one, snow blowers have two throttle positions, off and wide open blowing. Unless somebody is moving house or down sizing and selling off most used blowers are usually punched.
 
My toro snowthrower works wonders and we're "north" of the city (but not Barrie north). It's nice and small for summer storage, very light, and works well in all but the deepest of snows (which we've yet to have snow to deep that it won't make it through, including the snow plow stuff at the end of the driveway).

And if you do buy one and you don't need it due to no snow, that's good news.........
 
nfq said:
What type of driveway? gravel? interlock? double wide? single garage? lots of walkways?
Click to expand...

I have a double drive and likely would use it to do the nice elderly lady's drive across the street, she also has a double drive.

crankcall said:
most of our snow in the gta seems to be wet snow and for that you can never have too much hp. 2 stage doesn't cost much more than a 1 stage and is just better at moving snow. I have a 5hp 22" 2 stage right now, I will never go smaller.
Click to expand...

This is kind of along my train of thought, but maybe I am overthinking it? I know a single stage is probably ok for 80% + of situations, but its when the heavy drifting snow comes that I would hate to have an undersized unit.

Is the extra $200-$300 new worth that? I am undecided
 
Kids (both your own and local) make for great snow shovelling machines! And you can probably hire them WAY cheaper than a snowblower purchase! LoL

On a serious note, we have a sweet Toro snowblower - 22" wide I believe (2 stage (I think) + 5 forward gears + 1 reverse gear) that we use at the cottage (Collingwood area). The thing is awesome. Gets through 2-4' of snow with no issues.

Since we're not at the cottage that often it takes forever because the plows like to leave a 4-6' ice ramp at the entrance...takes about 1-2hrs to punch through but it's faster and easier than with a shovel and pick. If it wasn't for the ice hills left by the plows a full driveway (50'+ and 2 car wide) would take us about 30 minutes or so in regular snow.
 
suzuki2000 said:
I have a double drive and likely would use it to do the nice elderly lady's drive across the street, she also has a double drive.



This is kind of along my train of thought, but maybe I am overthinking it? I know a single stage is probably ok for 80% + of situations, but its when the heavy drifting snow comes that I would hate to have an undersized unit.

Is the extra $200-$300 new worth that? I am undecided
Click to expand...

The thing about a single stage, is you might have to do multiple passes, i.e. if there's 3-4" of snow on the ground, get at it, then do go over it again. If there's a larger buildup of snow (7" +) you'll have a harder time.

Also, storage, space, upkeep, etc.

Guess right now, sounds like you gotta determine what you wanna spend.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/power-clear-621-e-single-stage-snowblower-21-inch/959609
 
nfq said:
Guess right now, sounds like you gotta determine what you wanna spend.
Click to expand...

in a perfect world I would want this: http://www.homedepot.ca/product/45-in-15-hp-commercial-2-stage-gas-snowblower/935080
$(KGrHqN,!qcFH7wIncYJBR--p(uZ(Q~~60_35.JPG
15hp, 45" 2 Stage...



in the real world I need a 20-24" 5-8hp single or dual stage
 
nfq said:
The thing about a single stage, is you might have to do multiple passes, i.e. if there's 3-4" of snow on the ground, get at it, then do go over it again. If there's a larger buildup of snow (7" +) you'll have a harder time
Click to expand...

3-4 inches is no problem with a good snothrower. My toro will soldier through 7 inches of snow no problem, only it's a bit slower. The advantage of the single stage is if you don't get super big dumps of snow they are cheaper to buy, smaller to store, and will clear right down to the pavement.

It's all about where the OP is and what surface and expected snow levels he will have.
 
Snobike Mike said:
3-4 inches is no problem with a good snothrower. My toro will soldier through 7 inches of snow no problem, only it's a bit slower. The advantage of the single stage is if you don't get super big dumps of snow they are cheaper to buy, smaller to store, and will clear right down to the pavement.

It's all about where the OP is and what surface and expected snow levels he will have.
Click to expand...

I found the rubber/plastic paddles on the Toro to be better for interlock and that's why I grabbed it. Money well spent.
 
I picked up a discarded 80's vintage toro 2 stroke in the summer that needed a little points love. It got it's first workout on the weekend. I hope to god it has more power than it provided and will pick up steam after another few workouts. For the amount of noise it was making, the snow wasn't moving very far.

This is probably the closest modern equivalent (although mine has vanes not a throwing chute.)
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/power-clear-621qze-single-stage-snowblower-21-inch/960185

In university, I revived a 2 stroke power shovel. That thing was pretty amazing in light snow, but quite useless in the heavy wet stuff.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/electric-power-shovel-snowblower/938847

Personally if I was investing in a snowblower, I would need it to deal with the frozen windrow the plow leaves. For everything else, shovelling isn't that bad. Do any of the single stage ones chew through ice well? I would expect they don't due to the way they are spinning, but maybe some work.
 
Last edited:
SunnY S said:
Best on earth. Buy it once, buy it right.
Click to expand...

Totally right IMO. I bought the entry Honda track model for a high snow area, large corner lot, and large driveway. http://powerequipment.honda.ca/snowblowers/hss622tc

Dealer said I was over buying too, but I wanted piece of mind. This thing will blow snow 50 feet if I want too. And I used it in the sloppiest of late spring melts, with no problems blowing that crap. Nothing bogs it down. It is also quite compact so easy to store and pull out and use.

Buy the right Honda and it will go forever and work super well.
 
Last edited:
Well, in a perfect world I would have kept my Kubota 4wd diesel tractor with the 48" 2 stage on the front, the cab was cozy in any temp. But in town with a 30x50 driveway the 5hp 22" job I have now will last my lifetime and its been here 10yrs now. Paved drive, interlock front walk and concrete side walks and it just chugs along. I keep the gas fresh and treat it to a new plug each season. Anything beats a shovel.
 
4 car driveway and previously a 2 car driveway, all done with one of these

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/cub-cadet-24-inch-snowblower/911817

still going strong, and I have no complaints, it works well, easy to use, be it a small dumping of snow or a large one, and it tackles the snow at the end of the driveway that the snowplow leaves with very little effort, the joystick is the best. one hand operation to swing the chute left or right or up and down, I usually don't need to stop the machine at all.

funny part is the first year I purchased it, it wasn't even used....but HomeDepot had a promotion of 12 months no payment and no interest, so we paid a bit each month over the 12 months and incurred no interest and it was paid for by the next winter

the heated grips are great as well.....

the price listed now is not what I paid, it was cheaper, and there was a sale on, and an employee discount, thanks to a previous neighbour..
 
GreyGhost said:
I picked up a discarded 80's vintage toro 2 stroke in the summer that needed a little points love. It got it's first workout on the weekend. I hope to god it has more power than it provided and will pick up steam after another few workouts. For the amount of noise it was making, the snow wasn't moving very far.

This is probably the closest modern equivalent (although mine has vanes not a throwing chute.)
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/power-clear-621qze-single-stage-snowblower-21-inch/960185

In university, I revived a 2 stroke power shovel. That thing was pretty amazing in light snow, but quite useless in the heavy wet stuff.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/electric-power-shovel-snowblower/938847

Personally if I was investing in a snowblower, I would need it to deal with the frozen windrow the plow leaves. For everything else, shovelling isn't that bad. Do any of the single stage ones chew through ice well? I would expect they don't due to the way they are spinning, but maybe some work.
Click to expand...
The old Toro's are very good.Gotta keep the floatbowls free of water tho.And it's a pain to get at the carb.

nearace said:
allways go big,just like bikes buy a 250 then you realize its too small.
Click to expand...
Exactly.I have double driveway and a 10.5 hp MTD 2 stage.Bought it about 15 yrs ago.It's a bit rusty,but does a great job still.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom