Snowblower

hochpt21

We moved last December to a larger house with a larger driveway. I had a Toro single stage ($400 new) that worked well for the old house, but I tried to use it for the end of the winter last year at the new house and it didn't quite measure up. So I sold the Toro at the end of last season.

Having procrastinated to the point of Wisconsin winter looming, I need to buy one, and probably will tomorrow. The one I am seriously considering is an Ariens 2-stage 24" compact for $799.

I've considered all options from buying used, to contracting a plow service to buying a riding lawnmower with a plow. Basically, I have decided on a new snowblower and thought that a top-quality brand would serve me well when I need it, and if I ever need to sell it...would maintain it's value.

I need input....hit me with it.

Thanks,
Paul

Nightfall

Priced a lot higher but Honda's are super reliable, check this thing out.



The ones on tracks are $2800 - $8k but guaranteed to move some snow and it'd last the rest of your life.

tonyb

Look for a top quality brand but buy used, around half price. You can tell who takes care of them when you see it. The cheaper models are a pain and usually don't last too long if moving a lot of snow is asked of them.

hochpt21

I found a couple Ariens for about half price, but they were around 10 years old. That still may be a good route.

I just need it to last me about 10 years. At that point, all I'll need is a couple shovels and my boys will take care of it!!!

WilliamM2

I've had a few over the years, Finally spent the money on an Ariens 3 years ago. Has a Subaru engine with electric start. I never bother to plug it in to start it, it's not worth the trouble, since it always starts on the first pull. Throws snow so far I have to make sure I don't get any in the neighbors driveway, which is over 40 ft. away!

dkg999

I have an Ariens 22" with the Robins-Subaru Snow King engine. It will plow a tunnel through deep drifts with only the spout sticking up through the top of the drift. The thing is unstoppable!

heartystatue

I too have the 24 inch ariens. I was cutting a path in 12 inch deep snow for my pooch to do his biz and it was putting snow on the roof of my next door neighbors 3 story house. Pretty awesome machine.

Nightfall

Watch between 35 and 40 second mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE4Ke2OFg3E

hochpt21

That's crazy!

But I'd rather spend $800 on a new Ariens and $2,000 on some of the gear floating around here.

Unfortunately, I only have about $800 total, so it's either never clear snow from my driveway on the way to half of a new pre amp...or clear the snow and listen to the damn gear I got...(for now, muhuhuaaaaa)

Nightfall

hochpt21 wrote: »

But I'd rather spend $800 on a new Ariens and $2,000 on some of the gear floating around here.

I hear that. I couldn't even afford $800.

boston1450

Ive seen Ariens go strong for 30 plus year old models if maintained properly.good investment

mrbiron

Don't waste your time with a 22" or 24". Get an Ariens 28" and don't look back. Ask your wife, every inch counts and they are just a tad over your budget.
I've had my Ariens Pro 28" for 2 years now and can't imagine her being less than stellar for this entire winter.

HHStuart

I've had a 24" Ariens for almost 14 years now. I change the oil every year and I put a new spark plug in it last year. Never had it in the shop. Hand starts easily - never needs the electric starter. We only average 4 feet of snow in our area (west of Boston) so you might want to step up to a bigger machine if you get more than that.

hochpt21

Well I'm pretty happy with how things went today.

First, I stopped by Home Depot, and (this is not a knock on HD) I was not comfortable with the level of confidence that the employee who was assembling them had, nor with the answers I was getting regarding the different options etc.

I then went to a small engine shop about 30 minutes from my house. I bought my last snowblower from him, because I lived in that town at the time and he offered free delivery. I paid slightly more than a big box store at the time, but felt good about buying local, and it ended up paying off because there was a recall on the carb after 6 months of owning it and they picked it up, fixed it and dropped it off for free.

Basically, I know that I'll pay a little more, but have the comfort level of them taking care of me. Well, in this case, I now live a town away so it's not so convenient, but decided to go talk to him anyway.

Long story short...with my budget set at $800, I ended up getting a 2008 Ariens 1130DLE for $695! Best of all, he still said he'd drop it off for free. Talk about taking care of your customers.

Anyway, here is a picture I found online, but is about the same condition as the one I bought. The thing hardly looks used. mrbiron mentioned size...well I'm going from an 18" Toro single stage to a 30" Ariens two stage...I feel like Tim the Tool Man Taylor.

Also, here are some specs if anyone is interested...
http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-1130DLE-Snow-Thrower/p781.html

EndersShadow

Paul, buying something like that local from a specialty shop is ALWAYS the way to go. The local shops will treat you better as they actually care about your opinion and experience as their income and existence depends on it.

Glad they took care of you. Even though I am in an apartment I am debating getting a very small one myself as the complex doenst do the best clearing things out, and with my wife and small child last thing I need is her to fall carrying her.

That and here the snow gets taller than my dogs, and they dont like it when their junk touches snow.....

mrbiron

Atta boy!!!!
18"!!...wtf is that?
Good luck with your big boy toy. ;-) Your lady will be impressed with the size of your unit. She'll even enjoy how far you can sling the white stuff. Happy blowing! :-P

hochpt21

Lol...we had a small driveway at the last house.

hochpt21

Found a video...

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7o6ZHUTWpHA?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

WilliamM2

You'll love the Ariens. I paid the same for a new 24" at Home Depot, but I took it in the box and assembled it myself. I wasn't confident in their abilities either after lookinfg at some of the floor models.

That way it comes with the three year warranty, and any authorized Ariens dealer will service it. The HD here outsources any work to local shops anyways, they don't have a service dept. Not sure any of them do.

Derm

WilliamM2 wrote: »

I took it in the box and assembled it myself. I wasn't confident in their abilities either after lookinfg at some of the floor models.

^^Exactly what I do as well. I've never bought a snow blower new that I didn't insist on taking in the box and assembling myself.


Good luck with your Ariens, two stage is the way to go.
Do an oil change right away (unless the dealer did before he sold it to you).

michael1947

Think Smaller. My first blower over 40 years ago was a monster 2 stage and would move mountains of snow...but it was a space hog and here in Michigan along the lake we get steady snow but not over 3-5 a day during the lake effect season. In '91 I sold the monster as it was taking up enough of the garage that it made it difficult to park the cars and for the usual amount of snow it was over kill. I got a little red Honda HS-5/21. It's light weight easy to start and takes no prisoners. This January it has it's 23rd birthday and I expect it will do as it always has, an excellent job. A couple of years back I replaced the scraper bar and rubber flappers, got them on e-bay for something less than 100, still has the like new performance. If we get the big dumper with a foot or so, I just call the plow guy. Best of luck.

nspindel

My Ariens rocks. Highly recommended.

jbooker82

I am thinking about trying this out for porches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Giw3LFGqYWw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

zingo

dromunds

Way to go, buy local. F the big boxes.

WilliamM2

michael1947 wrote: »

Think Smaller. My first blower over 40 years ago was a monster 2 stage and would move mountains of snow...but it was a space hog and here in Michigan along the lake we get steady snow but not over 3-5 a day during the lake effect season. In '91 I sold the monster as it was taking up enough of the garage that it made it difficult to park the cars and for the usual amount of snow it was over kill. I got a little red Honda HS-5/21. It's light weight easy to start and takes no prisoners. This January it has it's 23rd birthday and I expect it will do as it always has, an excellent job. A couple of years back I replaced the scraper bar and rubber flappers, got them on e-bay for something less than 100, still has the like new performance. If we get the big dumper with a foot or so, I just call the plow guy. Best of luck.

I'm in Michigan as well, west coast. We easily get 12 inches a few times a winter. And wet heavy snow quite often as well. No way a single stage blower would get the job done. And a 24" snowblower is only 24" wide. No issue parking cars at all.

Dabutcher

My John Deere 826 is a two stage monster. I love it. Goes through anything and has been to the shop never in twenty years. A mans unit for sure. Not for the timid! Good luck. D

hochpt21

Used the blower today for the first time. Only had about 4 inches and it was pretty light stuff, but man it was fun. Shaved about 15 minutes off the total time...down to about half hour.

It's only been one use, but very happy with my purchase so far.

4xoddic

Congratulations!

I bought a new Husky 11524E back in Oct 2011, after the 5-6 6" snows we had in 2009-10.
Never used in the winter of 2011-12.
Used twice in the winter of 2012-13.

Used the snow shovel twice this year (~ 1" each time).

At 24", it will drag this one-eyed-guy as it fills the sky with snow. Has "diff" lock & other features I've yet to comprehend. It does bust thru the drift the township piles across my driveway.

I clear the back patio by hand, as the dogs will pack it down to ice; it lasts until nature raises the temps. The wife does the same IF I don't get the driveway clear before she backs out of the garage.