What kind of snow blower do I need?

There are so many kinds out there, I'm just not sure where to start. I want obviously nothing crazy expensive, or ginormous. But enough to get the job done and easy to use. We have a 3 car garage/driveway in typical suburbia. I'm hoping to not have to spend more than $500, but if I have to I will.

Two words: Two Stager

What Floyd said. You won't always need it and for light snowfalls it'll seem like overkill, but when the shit gets real you'd be happy to have paid double.

Two Stage
Self Propelled
Electric Start
The wider the better...

I believe all two stagers will be self propelled. Definitely get the electric start though because they sit for long periods and suck to pull start in the cold.

I'd be prepared to spend upwards of $800 if not more.

Motown Spartan wrote:Two Stage
Self Propelled
Electric Start
The wider the better...

I believe all two stagers will be self propelled. Definitely get the electric start though because they sit for long periods and suck to pull start in the cold.

I'd be prepared to spend upwards of $800 if not more.

Fuck seriously? $800

Dendrobates wrote:

Motown Spartan wrote:Two Stage
Self Propelled
Electric Start
The wider the better...

I believe all two stagers will be self propelled. Definitely get the electric start though because they sit for long periods and suck to pull start in the cold.

I'd be prepared to spend upwards of $800 if not more.

Fuck seriously? $800

In the UP maybe. You're in mid-Michigan, right? You can get away with one of those cute electric ones with LED lights. Or spend $400 or so on a gas one. Shovels work fine also.

Or get a heated driveway.

Dendrobates wrote:There are so many kinds out there, I'm just not sure where to start. I want obviously nothing crazy expensive, or ginormous. But enough to get the job done and easy to use. We have a 3 car garage/driveway in typical suburbia. I'm hoping to not have to spend more than $500, but if I have to I will.

By a shovel and a 12 pack of PBR. Invite Bob over. Profit.

NigelUno wrote:

Dendrobates wrote:

Fuck seriously? $800

In the UP maybe. You're in mid-Michigan, right? You can get away with one of those cute electric ones with LED lights. Or spend $400 or so on a gas one. Shovels work fine also.

Or get a heated driveway.

Nigel is correct, for 85% of the snowfalls you get in Metro Detroit. But you won't regret buying one capable of 100% of the snowfalls that you get and you will regret buying the cheaper option 15% of the time.

Distance from garage doors to street? Length of sidewalk?

Two stage or GTFO. I've already used mine twice. Another thing to consider is even if you get only 2-4 inches and it's wet and heavy... Your single stage is gonna look like it's just puking slush instead of throwing it.

Most two stages are also self propelled. I've known more than a couple people who've busted their ass on ice because they're pushing a single stage instead of walking behind a two stage.

Just checked at Lowe's in Clinton Township. The smallest and cheapest 2 stage they have is a Craftsman for $899. That's about the best you could expect.

Weingartz in Utica. They have 4 in stock. Don't know the price for sure, but probably $899

https://weingartz.com/PD/4043369/Toro-SnowMaster-Snow-Blower-824-QXE-36003

Motown Spartan wrote:Two Stage
Self Propelled
Electric Start
The wider the better...

I believe all two stagers will be self propelled. Definitely get the electric start though because they sit for long periods and suck to pull start in the cold.

I'd be prepared to spend upwards of $800 if not more.

Or, check out the electric snowblowers. EGO makes a two stage for around $700.

duffy munn wrote:

Dendrobates wrote:There are so many kinds out there, I'm just not sure where to start. I want obviously nothing crazy expensive, or ginormous. But enough to get the job done and easy to use. We have a 3 car garage/driveway in typical suburbia. I'm hoping to not have to spend more than $500, but if I have to I will.

By a shovel and a 12 pack of PBR. Invite Bob over. Profit.

I like the way you think.

Jake from State Farm wrote:

Motown Spartan wrote:Two Stage
Self Propelled
Electric Start
The wider the better...

I believe all two stagers will be self propelled.  Definitely get the electric start though because they sit for long periods and suck to pull start in the cold.

I'd be prepared to spend upwards of $800 if not more.

Or, check out the electric snowblowers. EGO makes a two stage for around $700.

There you go! Might need some spare batteries though depending on how big the driveway is and how cold it is at the time.

Err: The 2 stage appears to be $1,300ish. The single stage, not self propelled, is $700.

Hey dendro I have this one. Only used it last year, but it definitely got the job done for my suburban sized driveway

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H73P304/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_AEDFB3Q4DHJVDYQK01DR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The purests in this thread I think live in places that get more snow than we do. In the once every few years event that we get 12+ inches, I’ll probably want to go out and snow blow more than once rather than waiting until all the snow has fallen and do it once. Never had to do that last year, but even if I did it takes like 20 minutes so ‍�.

Man, I don't want to brag, but I just walked into lowes and they had a floor model craftmen lawnmower out that they had used twice. You could tell it was brand new. they have two strips of grass they cut in the back. Anyway, I said I'd buy it if they changed the blade for me. it originally cost 394 dollars. I walked out with a new lawnmower for 170 bucks.

My business partner had done that kind of stuff with snowblowers before. He got an 800 dollar blower for half price at a floor model. What I'm saying Dendro, if you can get through this winter shoveling, and you wait until May, and you aggressively go into Lowes, Home Depot etc and ask (many people won't) you might get a crap load of money off. I was looking at my lowes and I think these people just want to get the models off their floor space and make room for new stuff.

For something that's going to last you your whole life, don't cut corners.

ITT...I'm turning into my dad.

Inherited two 2-cycle single-stage push Toro paddle blowers, one from my parents and one from the inlaws...same model made in the mid-70s.  Maybe 20 inches wide.  Had both pull start (for after it warmed up) and electric start...you plugged an extension cord into them, set the choke, turned the key til they started, then removed the cord.  Both were still running fine when sold at a garage sale maybe 25 years ago. Required very little maintenance.  

They weren't great with the real heavy wet shit but worked fine for most snows.  So light you could push them up on really deep snow and take it off in a couple layers.  So light they had an extra handle on them to pick it up to clear porches.  Since it wasn't self-propelled you could push it at your own pace (didn't have to wait for the drive gearing) when clearing light snows. Great little machine. Worked fine for most SE Michigan snows.  Talked with a few others that had them and they agreed.  

A shame Toro doesn't make that model anymore.  Looked up Toro's current similar version.  It's 4-cycle, self-propelled, probably a lot heavier, and $699 at Home Depot.

Power Clear 721 E 21 in. 212 cc Single-Stage Self Propelled Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

@Dendro   Scroll down the link for other options.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Hey dendro I have this one. Only used it last year, but it definitely got the job done for my suburban sized driveway

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H73P304/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_AEDFB3Q4DHJVDYQK01DR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The purests in this thread I think live in places that get more snow than we do. In the once every few years event that we get 12+ inches, I’ll probably want to go out and snow blow more than once rather than waiting until all the snow has fallen and do it once. Never had to do that last year, but even if I did it takes like 20 minutes so ‍�.

I imagine most big snowfalls we will be going through them a couple times and not waiting for it all to fall.

The distance from my garage to the street is a little over 40 ft.

I now feel more confused.

DWags wrote:Man, I don't want to brag, but I just walked into lowes and they had a floor model craftmen lawnmower out that they had used twice. You could tell it was brand new. they have two strips of grass they cut in the back. Anyway, I said I'd buy it if they changed the blade for me. it originally cost 394 dollars. I walked out with a new lawnmower for 170 bucks.

My business partner had done that kind of stuff with snowblowers before. He got an 800 dollar blower for half price at a floor model. What I'm saying Dendro, if you can get through this winter shoveling, and you wait until May, and you aggressively go into Lowes, Home Depot etc and ask (many people won't) you might get a crap load of money off. I was looking at my lowes and I think these people just want to get the models off their floor space and make room for new stuff.

That is impressive. I tend to never remember to do shit like that. We're at this stage in life, where any extra little things (like shoveling) we just don't have the time for. And I have some bulged discs, so if I do it, I need a snow blower.

Dendrobates wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Hey dendro I have this one. Only used it last year, but it definitely got the job done for my suburban sized driveway

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H73P304/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_AEDFB3Q4DHJVDYQK01DR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The purests in this thread I think live in places that get more snow than we do. In the once every few years event that we get 12+ inches, I’ll probably want to go out and snow blow more than once rather than waiting until all the snow has fallen and do it once. Never had to do that last year, but even if I did it takes like 20 minutes so ‍�.

I imagine most big snowfalls we will be going through them a couple times and not waiting for it all to fall.

The distance from my garage to the street is a little over 40 ft.

I now feel more confused.

That's on you. You've been here long enough to know better...

you could just rent a kid to shovel it.. or someone like me who enjoys that sort of thing.

would likely pay off in the long run.

I can vouch for Bob's snow plow service. Top notch.

Like others in this thread, I would reccommend the 2-stage self propelled. As dwags stated, it is something you will have forever.

That said, if your in an area that doesn't see a lot of snow, you can get away with Travis' option. Your driveway is not very long. Where you live in Michigan can make a big difference. I live in a weird snow belt and see more snow than just a few miles south. Most of the time I just shovel as it is coming down. Gets me out of the house. But there are a half dozen times a year we get slammed and I need to breakout the 2-stager. I think mine is going on 20 years.

If you've got disc problems, you need a 2 stage.

Motown Spartan wrote:If you've got disc problems, you need a 2 stage.

Word

Dendrobates wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:Hey dendro I have this one. Only used it last year, but it definitely got the job done for my suburban sized driveway

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H73P304/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_AEDFB3Q4DHJVDYQK01DR?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The purests in this thread I think live in places that get more snow than we do. In the once every few years event that we get 12+ inches, I’ll probably want to go out and snow blow more than once rather than waiting until all the snow has fallen and do it once. Never had to do that last year, but even if I did it takes like 20 minutes so ‍�.

I imagine most big snowfalls we will be going through them a couple times and not waiting for it all to fall.

The distance from my garage to the street is a little over 40 ft.

I now feel more confused.

Do the Bob/PBR thing this winter season

Dendrobates wrote:There are so many kinds out there, I'm just not sure where to start. I want obviously nothing crazy expensive,  or ginormous. But enough to get the job done and easy to use. We have a 3 car garage/driveway in typical suburbia. I'm hoping to not have to spend more than $500, but if I have to I will.

 
Depends on if you want an excuse not to go to work or not.

If you want be always be able to clear your driveway a two, or better yet three stage is the deal.

The size of the opening at the front is the big deal.  If you want to go through 18 inches of snow the height has to be close to 18 inches.

Width is all about how many passes up and down the driveway, which is more about how fast you can clear the driveway, sort of, feed rate comes into play on that one, too.

So in this case, size does matter.

The Pantry wrote:
Do the Bob/PBR thing this winter season

Not trying to offend - and I am not sure how serious you are - but it has been my experience that the Old Framers Almanac is about as accurate as your average horoscope and Punxsutawney Phil. They may claim success but it is based on the vagueness of their predictions.

All winter forecasts are not very accurate, but at least this is based on some science:

NOAA Winter Outlook  2021-2022

My neighbor has a Kubota diesel yard tractor with a plow. He did mine yesterday with what little snow we got. I think he just likes driving the thing around. I pay him with maple syrup.

make sure you get one with a Kevlar reinforced 32eTu rotary belt. If one of them cheap rotary belts blows out, you'll wish you had the Kevlar reinforced 32eTu rotary belt.

don't skimp when it comes to the rotary belt.

trust me on this.

Dendrobates wrote:

DWags wrote:Man, I don't want to brag, but I just walked into lowes and they had a floor model craftmen lawnmower out that they had used twice. You could tell it was brand new. they have two strips of grass they cut in the back. Anyway, I said I'd buy it if they changed the blade for me. it originally cost 394 dollars. I walked out with a new lawnmower for 170 bucks.

My business partner had done that kind of stuff with snowblowers before. He got an 800 dollar blower for half price at a floor model. What I'm saying Dendro, if you can get through this winter shoveling, and you wait until May, and you aggressively go into Lowes, Home Depot etc and ask (many people won't) you might get a crap load of money off. I was looking at my lowes and I think these people just want to get the models off their floor space and make room for new stuff.

That is impressive. I tend to never remember to do shit like that. We're at this stage in life, where any extra little things (like shoveling) we just don't have the time for. And I have some bulged discs, so if I do it, I need a snow blower.

Nevets hasn't been able to aid with that? My old chiropractor claimed he could cure anything.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

duffy munn wrote:

By a shovel and a 12 pack of PBR. Invite Bob over. Profit.

I like the way you think.

Except for the whole by instead of buy part. And it should be High Life in a bottle.

Floyd Robertson wrote:Two words: Two Stager

Yep, and I'll add two more Troy Bilt.

It wil cut through those drifts like a hot knife through butter.

I like my Ariens.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:I like my Ariens.

Best there is.