Snowblower

[TheIglu]

For the money you would spend on that big Ariens new, you could pick up a cheap 4 wheeler, put a plow on it and still have enough leftover to buy a brand new smaller ($500 worth) gas snowblower for walkways/parking area, etc.

Then for anything under 1 foot or so of snow, you'd be all plowed out in 10-15 minutes. Big snowfalls you would just use the snowblower or break up the storm into 1 foot plowing increments.

[nhbubba]

I agree. That's much a much longer driveway than I expected you were clearing. That will take you hours with a standard sized machine. Even that 32" may take much longer than you anticipate. You need the biggest machine you can get.. or hire a plow service.

[Rosco61]

For a driveway that big 32 is nice.
For that kind of coin you may want to consider Simplicity Blowers also.
Two Stage Commercial Snow Blower | Simplicity Snowblowers

[Garandman]

Hi Guys
Appreciate all the imput.

I am thinking something like this
Ariens Professional Snow Blower - 32" - 420cc

Looks like a good choice. 21 ft lbs of torque is impressive!

I tried my Ariens Pro on the driveway in NH (768' gravel) and it wasn't as bad as I thought, other than machine gunning the woods because the gravel wasn't frozen down. After you take the first full-width swath down the middle you can go as fast as you can walk in anything but the heaviest snow. Snow throwers have the big benefit of making square edges, instead of what plows leave.

Of course, you will find that the wind is blowing from whatever direction you want to throw it. I wear full foul weather gear and tall boots and you can still look like a snow man. The heated grips help reduce the misery. I don't find pushing the snow with the tractor to be any more comfortable, although it is faster in snow light enough to push.

BTW you can sometimes find used Ariens Pro 1336 for sale: most home owners can't use one that big so they don't sell as fast as the smaller models.

Of course, if you are feeling flush Honda has a 13hp, 36" tracked Hybrid machine (electric track drove) for $8,000. The Honda 1332 track is a lot more competitive at $3,189 MSRP.

[BostonSVkid]

Thanks all. I am going to avoid a plowing service as I don't want to fix my green space every year (yes I know you can stake the edges but its never perfect. As for the blower I am thinking 4 passes in lighter snow should do it no problem. Heavier snow I know will take a while.

Lets just put it this way. I currently have to dig myself out of parking spots which can take 30-35 mins per car on the street. Plus I need to clean my sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe. I figure I will need 45-1 hr to do this driveway with a 32". Maybe I will find a used 36" instead.

[OneCheekRider]

If you have a long driveway/street I suggest a SnowSport Snow Plow. It uses a front hitch (which is useful for things besides plowing) and doesn't have any mechanical parts so it lasts. Snow Plow & Plows | Snowplow & Snowplows | SNOWSPORT® Snow Plows I bought mine used for not much money and used it to clear a long driveway, a private street, and my neighbors houses when the plow service they hired wouldn't show up promptly to get them out. It was on the front of my 2wd E250. I have a youtube video somewhere lol

I now have an Ariens. Works great. I enjoy the electric start.

[BostonSVkid]

I own a Honda Pilot and a VW Jetta that may not work haha.

If you have a long driveway/street I suggest a SnowSport Snow Plow. It uses a front hitch (which is useful for things besides plowing) and doesn't have any mechanical parts so it lasts. Snow Plow & Plows | Snowplow & Snowplows | SNOWSPORT® Snow Plows I bought mine used for not much money and used it to clear a long driveway, a private street, and my neighbors houses when the plow service they hired wouldn't show up promptly to get them out. It was on the front of my 2wd E250. I have a youtube video somewhere lol

I now have an Ariens. Works great. I enjoy the electric start.

[sedanman]

The issue with wide snowblowers is that the impeller is usually the same one used on the smallest "pro grade" models. 2 stage snow throwers gather (stage 1) and throw (stage 2). It doesn't matter how much snow you can feed to the impeller if it can't keep up. Snow blowers on tractors generally suck balls in my opinion.

[jwm2k3]

Another vote for Honda. The Hydrostatic drive is the tits for clearing the berm at the end of the driveway.

[RandyO]

What brand snowblower is "plow on a 4wheeler"?

That is one hell of a driveway to snowblow.....

yes, but a wise choice, slopes are uphill from the driveway surface, limiting how far you can push snow banks back with a plow

[OneCheekRider]

I own a Honda Pilot and a VW Jetta that may not work haha.

it will work with the Pilot. you can be like this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4xSsrDUdr0 (different plow in video)

[nhbubba]

I figure I will need 45-1 hr to do this driveway with a 32". Maybe I will find a used 36" instead.

I think you are underestimating. This is my driveway. It takes me 1-1.5 hours to clear a 4-8" snow with a 30" machine. Your driveway sure looks longer.



Don't forget you'll spend a good 10-15 min just cleaning up the end of the driveway mess alone.

When you need to get up at 3:30 in the morning to start clearing your driveway so you can leave for work at a reasonable hour, you are going to be thinking "fuck the lawn" and calling the plow guy.

What did the previous owners do?

[TheIglu]

For not a whole lot more than a new snowblower, I could just sell you this:




One pass, done.

[typeone]

I figure I will need 45-1 hr to do this driveway with a 32". Maybe I will find a used 36" instead.

I think you are underestimating. It takes me 1-1.5 hours to clear a 4-8" snow with a 30" machine.

+1 no way you can clear that in an hour if the storm is decent. my driveway is more like bubba's and i'm in the same time range, prob more towards 1.5+ because i have a side drive as well. makes it tough to throw beyond the paved portion in most storms. awkward shape.

a thrower definitely makes for neater work and less yard damage, but it is not quick by any means. that last T-Day storm with ~10" of wet stuff sucked. huge time sink.

[RandyO]

For not a whole lot more than a new snowblower, I could just sell you this:




One pass, done.

that does not look like a 12' blade to me

[BostonSVkid]

I am rethinking that plow showed above

[Garandman]

OK, it's winter, this is NESR, so.

[TheIglu]

that does not look like a 12' blade to me

Might be a 10'. Sorry to disappoint. But still would work with one trip because you have to come back after going to the end of the driveway.

[RandyO]

Might be a 10'.

odd size, 9' is common, I wanna see a tape measure on the 10' claim

[BostonSVkid]

I have a bobcat dealer 2 mins from my house. If I am going that route I would get one of those first. Thanks!

[e30addict]

odd size, 9' is common, I wanna see a tape measure on the 10' claim

It's the internet. Men typically overstate size......

How come no one has suggested a clapped out pickup with a plow to keep in the yard?

Cost can be the same and the job goes much quicker.

[BostonSVkid]

Your driveway is easily as long or longer than mine. its somewhat deceiving.

I think you are underestimating. This is my driveway. It takes me 1-1.5 hours to clear a 4-8" snow with a 30" machine. Your driveway sure looks longer.



Don't forget you'll spend a good 10-15 min just cleaning up the end of the driveway mess alone.

When you need to get up at 3:30 in the morning to start clearing your driveway so you can leave for work at a reasonable hour, you are going to be thinking "fuck the lawn" and calling the plow guy.

What did the previous owners do?

[nhbubba]

Your driveway is easily as long or longer than mine. its somewhat deceiving.

Yes, my photo is deceptive as it was taken with a very wide angle lens. My driveway is also quite level and nicely sheltered near the end by pines.

[Falko]

I've got driveway envy, well, not when it comes to snow removal.

Go buy a decent used snowblower. If you find snowblowing is inadequate, sell it for what you bought it for and get a tractor/ATV/plow truck/talented reindeer/BF shovel, whatever gets your rocks off. Oh, and I'd avoid a bobcat for snow removal, there are better choices.

[burnham]

I've got driveway envy, well, not when it comes to snow removal.

Go buy a decent used snowblower. If you find snowblowing is inadequate, sell it for what you bought it for and get a tractor/ATV/plow truck/talented reindeer/BF shovel, whatever gets your rocks off. Oh, and I'd avoid a bobcat for snow removal, there are better choices.

This. I found a mint Honda 11-32 track snowblower for $1500 a few years ago. It was this time of year, there are some deals out there if you're patient.