Snowthrower recommendations? (1 Viewer)

[Chris Beveridge]

Since the time is near, and we're now in our own home, I've been looking for a decent snowthrower. So far, the Toro CCR Powerlite 325 Gas Single Stage Snowthrower is the one I keep coming across, since it's small and easy to store. I've only got a one-car length driveway but is 2.5 cars across. Heavy snow area in New England though. The other problem is storage. We've got no garage, so the only place to put it is around back by the cellar entrance, so I'll have to haul it out every time I want to use it. Hence the 40lb model being fairly desirable.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
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Chris Beveridge
Webmaster, www.animeondvd.com
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[Jay H]

We have two, one a Craftsman at home and a larger one at my father's office, I think it's an MTD or something like that.
Both have been good, the electric start is a great feature and both seem to be reliable enough. Lately, it hasn't seen that much use since these past winters have been mild. I remember I think 2 years ago, I don't even think we used it once, although last winter there were like 2-3 times we used it. Keeping in the basement or in the garage though would be nice as if it really snows and you can't get to your celler, shovelling snow to get to your snowblower kind of defeats the purpose so hopefully your cellar is accessable from inside your house...
Jay
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[David Werner]

We live in Bismarck, ND where it is known to occasionally receive snowfall . We have the TORO 824XL. I used to not mine shoveling the driveway and walk at our old house. But now with a triple driveway and twice the walk, this baby makes short work of it. It's able to cut through 2' drifts with no problem.
We do have a 5HP LAWNBOY at work that seems to work fine and it is a lot easier to manuever than the 8hp TORO.
For me it would depend on how much snow you get, how big of area you have to clear and how fast. A 5hp should do fine. My sister bought the 5HP TORO and loves it.
The neighbors at my old house had one of the smaller TOROs with the rubber augers, worked fine for light snow days but when the big stuff came down he brought out his 5HP. I feel the 5HP is a safe in-between bet. The Toro was a highly recommended machine when we got ours. We have encountered zero problems with ours.
[Edited last by David Werner on October 01, 2001 at 07:42 PM]

 

[Gene Severn]

Having just bought a new house with a LOOOONG driveway, I solicited friends and neighbors for their advice...well I just put a downpayment on an Ariens 824, 8 hp, 24 in cut, 2 stage, electric start...highly recommended. Delivery scheduled for some time in November. I looked at Toro's (a good second choice) but the dealer was sold out and can't get anymore..

 

[brentl]

I guess I could understand if you had a big driveway or were near retirement age, But PLEASE!!
It's a small driveway, buy a shovel, or get the neighbourhood kids to shovel the driveway when it's heavy. I'm sure they'd love to make a few bucks.
LL cool B

 

[Deane Johnson]

Do yourself a favor and go for electric start if it's available on the model you choose. Those things crank hard in cold weather.
Deane

 

[Chris Beveridge]

Brentl,

The main reason for getting one (beyond having shoveled driveways for 20 years now) is to have a nice clean driveway for my wife and young daughter to have access to. I go to work at 5:30 in the morning; I don't need to spend 2 hours shoveling when it can get done much faster and much better for them.
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Chris Beveridge
Webmaster, www.animeondvd.com
Animation and stories for those who like to think outside of the Disney box

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

What is a "snowthrower"?

 

[Michael Lee]

What is the ballpark prices for these? I have never owned one but the winters here seem to be getting a little rougher. I live on an incline so I need something that can be pushed uphill without killing me.
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[Philip_G]

What is a "snowthrower"?

california bastard

 

[John Besse]

You need to buy one that runs on nuclear power. There is one at my local hardware store that runs on nuclear fision, it blows more than just snow. For some reason, I see people using them here in Florida in the middle of the summer. I still can't figure it out. They always seem to have this look on their face:

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[Mike I]

Don't feel bad Dennis...As a person who never once has seen snow, I was not sure what a snow thrower was either..
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[Chris Beveridge]

The prices I'm running at seem to be between 450$ and 580$ or so.
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Chris Beveridge
Webmaster, www.animeondvd.com
Animation and stories for those who like to think outside of the Disney box

 

[brentl]

Sorry for you guys from the South.
Some days snow is hell, but the 4 seasons are amazing to see.
I might be alone, but I could never live anywhere that the seasons never change.
LL cool B

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

california bastard

Basically, is a snowthrower one of those things that looks like a roto-tiller with an exhaust chute out the side? Is it something that bolts to the front of a truck? Or is it some maniacal leaf-blower powered by fusion?
My family got to California the hard way back in the 1860's, so we paid our dues. We do have seasons here but they are more subtle. Lots of snow but at elevations over 3,000 ft. That means I see snow most winters on the mountains ringing Santa Clara county. Fall colors predominate in Sonoma and Napa counties after the grape harvest.
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[Philip_G]

yeah pretty much. THey look like this, in various sizes

 

[Stephen L]

Chris I'm curious as to what snowthrower you went with? Even though we've had light snow here in Massachusetts I've decided to get one .I don't mind shoveling but I leave early & come home late plus my wife hates snow.

 

[Michael*K]

I posted a similar thread and finally decided to pick up a Toro before Thanksgiving. Bought the CCR3650. Wish I could tell you it works great, but I can't...I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE THE DAMN THING! We've had almost NO snow! This is Chicago for Christ's sake...give us some white stuff! Actually,the area is very close to setting a record for the latest winter without a single 1" snowfall: January 16th. As it stands, we've only had 1.6" total since November. Pathetic.
I did finally pull my snowthrower out of "mothballs" to see if it actually started. It did. Now if only Mother Nature would cooperate...

 

[Armando Zamora]

My snowthower has worked great since I bought it last winter. It's been fending of any chance of snowfall that's been forecasted.
I think it's emitting a giant invisible dome (ala the Gungan shield in Phantom Menace) which is keeping the snow away from the mid-Atlantic States. Best damn, $600 I've ever spent...NOT!!!
I want snow damn it!!! I want to see this thing toss snow 20-25 feet in the air. I want to be the envy of my neighborhood. Wahhhhhhhhh!!! I want to be...the Snowthrower Man!!!!!!

 

[Eric Kahn]

I wish you lived near me, i would sell you my 9 hp craftsman snow blower, but if you lived near me, you would not need it