Getting a snowblower

[Tonkaman]

I’ve decided that this winter I’m finally going to buy a snowblower. I don’t have a huge driveway, but it is big enough that my back gives up before I’m done shoveling.

How do I know if I want a single stage or 2 stage? How deep will a single stage go through? Does a 2 stage get as close to the concrete as a single? Besides cost what are the disadvantages? What brands do you guys love/hate?

 

[jeeper]

I prefer a single stage 2 stroke. Lighter, smaller, and they actually brush the ground, not scoop across it like a 2 stage. I also feel like the dual stage clog easier. When doing commercial clearing, I can push it as fast as the machine can clear it.. if there is just a couple inches, I can move very quickly.. With a dual stage, you are limited my the gears so you clear light snow that same pace as heavy snow.

 

[Hickey]

I have a single stage 4 stroke I'm ready to sell. 4 years old I think. $200

 

[J-mobzz]

I’ve had both but my single stage wasn’t that nice and didn’t have the power for heavy wet snow. If I had to buy a new one I’d go with a high end single stage.

 

[jeeper]

I have a single stage 4 stroke I'm ready to sell. 4 years old I think. $200

I'd be very happy to look at this.. Pending Derek passing it up, as this is his thread

 

[lhracing]

I have a Honda 4 stroke single stage and it works prefect for me.

 

[4x4_Welder]

A single stage is better in light powdery snow, but can clog with wet heavy snow. A two stage is better in wet snow to a point.

 

[Tonkaman]

So it sounds like I was on the tight track thinking single stage.

I’d like to follow jakes advise and get one as powerful as possible. Looks like the biggest are 252cc, 212cc, 190cc and down.

What brands does everyone like/dislike?

How about certain features you would t go without?

 

[Tonkaman]

I have a single stage 4 stroke I'm ready to sell. 4 years old I think. $200

What are the details?

 

[Hickey]

What are the details?

I'll get back to ya when I'm home.

 

[Medsker]

I bought the EGO battery powered single stage last year from Home Depot. I only used it 3-4 times but other than one time the snow was really wet it worked great and had plenty of battery life. The wet snow was bad enough that I don't think any blower would have thrown it. Just another option.

 

[rholbrook]

I prefer a single stage 2 stroke. Lighter, smaller, and they actually brush the ground, not scoop across it like a 2 stage. I also feel like the dual stage clog easier. When doing commercial clearing, I can push it as fast as the machine can clear it.. if there is just a couple inches, I can move very quickly.. With a dual stage, you are limited my the gears so you clear light snow that same pace as heavy snow.

I’m with Brian. I have a single stage smoker and it works just fine and is smaller and easier to store after the one time a year you use it

 

[TRD270]

I bought the EGO battery powered single stage last year from Home Depot. I only used it 3-4 times but other than one time the snow was really wet it worked great and had plenty of battery life. The wet snow was bad enough that I don't think any blower would have thrown it. Just another option.

This is my plan this year, good to hear it worked well. I bought an EGO lawn mower and trimmer this year and they are fantastic

 

[gijohn40]

This is the one I bought...
Troy-Bilt Squall 210 21" Snow Thrower with Electric Start
that electric start is great.. i just plug it in and hit the start button then once its running I remove the power cord. So no messing around with choke to get it started in the cold.
It throws snow about 20 ft out and has an adjustable shoot to direct it.

 

[nnnnnate]

I have a big 2 stage I got from and ucle a few years ago and think it's too big and heavy to be worth the hassle. My dad had a similar one and last year bought a Honda single stage. I want to sell mine but haven't looked into what it might be worth and what a decent single stage would cost me.

 

[Noahfecks]

I run a 24" 2 stage Ariens and it works great for where I live.

Last year we regularly had 6-12" snows and by the end of the year I needed for the snow to get over 6-8' banks along the driveway. Replacing the steel skids with some polymer helped a lot and allowed me to adjust the augers closer to the concrete.

My only complaint is it doesn't do well with less than 2" of snowfall, in those cases it was better to shovel or push into piles to blow.

 

[moab_cj5]

I like my big 2 stage. I attached hard rubber to the 2nd stage to scrape the chute and it made all the difference. it doesnt clog anymore and will really throw snow a long way.

 

[J-mobzz]

This is the one I bought...
Troy-Bilt Squall 210 21" Snow Thrower with Electric Start
that electric start is great.. i just plug it in and hit the start button then once its running I remove the power cord. So no messing around with choke to get it started in the cold.
It throws snow about 20 ft out and has an adjustable shoot to direct it.

I’ll agree with electric start. My current 2 stage has it and it’s amazing.

And my current 8hp 2 stage works amazing and never clogs even in the deepest wettest snow. It just doesn’t clean to the bare Cement. Most days it clears it close enough even a little bit of sun melts it off but if it doesn’t turns into an ice rink. Also like Jeeper said not nearly as fast as a single stage. It’s so big and heavy I have to use the hand controls to turn and shit gears to go in reverse.
My neighbor has a nice single stage and gets his driveway done in half the time if not sooner.

 

[DaveB]

I've had both single and two stage. The two stage was great when the snow was very deep but it was heavy and slow. I now have two single stage units a Toro and a Honda. The Toro is a 2 stroke the Honda is a four stroke. The four stroke is the one I use the most because it is quit and doesn't smoke. The Toro is lighter and does a bit better on the wet slushy snow. I should fix up the extras I have under the deck maybe someone could use them.

 

[Kevin B.]

I bought the EGO battery powered single stage last year from Home Depot. I only used it 3-4 times but other than one time the snow was really wet it worked great and had plenty of battery life. The wet snow was bad enough that I don't think any blower would have thrown it. Just another option.

I have an Ego mower and it's been great. I'm tired of fighting with the carb on my old blower and was thinking about getting the blower, glad to hear it works well.

Who wants a self propelled electric start 2 stage that needs a carb rebuild?