snowblower advice

[CycloneErik]

Some of the times that I had several feet in my driveway I think the only way I would have been able to clear it with a single stage would be to pick it up and use it as a shovel.

If you try that this year, make sure you get it on youtube, or at least here on CF. I want to see.


For my money, I'd buy the dual-stage. The extra power and blade would come in really handy.

[CycloneErik]

My motto on power tools is look for the biggest that you think you'll need and then go another couple of steps up. I wish I would have done this with the air compressor I recently bought.

We do that with everything, whether it's power tools or computers.

[ruxCYtable]

Hard to believe that I am thinking of a new snowblower... Any advice? Currently I am looking at single stages mainly a toro and a cub cadet. I know toro is the most popular, has anyone had good luck with cub cadet?

Most people can get by with a single stage, it is true. I had a John Deere single stage for 10 years and it mostly performed well. Where it lacked was heavy, wet snow and that giant pile left by the snowplow at the end of the driveway. It could not handle that stuff well at all and I burned a few belts off over the years.

Last year I got a Craftsman two stage and I have never regretted it. It cuts through light snow like butter and cuts through the heavy, wet stuff like, well...almost butter.

Reading the fine print of the owner's manual I found this Craftsman model was made by MTD, who also makes Cub Cadet, White, Yard Machines, etc. I think most MTD products are pretty solid so I would not think twice about a Cub Cadet if that's what you want.

[AnkenyClone]

Buy the biggest single stage you can. I bought the biggest Toro about 3 years ago and love it. It cleans to the pavement so you don't get the layer of snow that melts and turns to ice if you don't scoop it that a 2 stage leaves. I've only ran into too much snow once and that was when we had 18+ once. It'll go through 12-15 pretty good. I fly by my neighbors with their huge 2 stage blowers.

[Sterling4Cy]

My Toro single stage has been worry-free since I got it in '04. My driveway is about 30' wide at the garage and about 60' long. That, along with all of the sidewalk, means that it gets a decent workout each snowfall.

Single stage snowblowers have come a long way in the last twenty years.

I agree. I have a Toro Snow Commander and it works just as well as my neighbors 2 stage.

[cyadict]

Do it right the first time and go with the 2-stage. I had a single stage Honda that I thought was awesome until it was a wet heavy snow or when I needed to clear out the area that the snow plows pushed into my drive. The single stage just couldnt do the job. I found a monster 11.5 HP snowblower with all the bells and whistles on craigslist for $600 that was only a year old. Look around..there are good deals out there.

[jonnyb21]

Do it right the first time and go with the 2-stage. I had a single stage Honda that I thought was awesome until it was a wet heavy snow or when I needed to clear out the area that the snow plows pushed into my drive. The single stage just couldnt do the job. I found a monster 11.5 HP snowblower with all the bells and whistles on craigslist for $600 that was only a year old. Look around..there are good deals out there.

Cyadict - is that the Honda 520S? If so, how did you like it? I have several neighbors with large 2 stages and with space limited in my garage, I was thinking of getting this model as if the snow is that deep, I just borrow the neighbors.

[ketelmeister]

I've had both, much prefer a single stage with electric start. Sold my big Honda two stage and both a Toro single. Get's closer to the cement, much easier to manuver and will blow a lot of snow.

[dmclone]

I've never had to go back and scoop with a two stage. Maybe that's why I have to replace the wear bars every two years