Hi Guys,

I was looking over the forum for general info and decided to signup and ask directly.

First house and in need of a first snowblower.

Hopefully you can all make some suggestions.

Here are the specs so to speak.

Location: North East New Jersey
Area: 2 car driveway approximately 30ftx30ft. 230 feet of sidewak. 2 paths (front and back doors)
No inclines. Driveway and paths are pavers. Plenty of area to pile snow.

My goal is to get something that is just enough for my needs without being overkill. I have been to various stores and it seems the price ranges are from about $550-$1200+ for 2 stage blowers (I assume I want a 2 stage)

The least expensive option seemed to be something like this on sale for about $550: Craftsman 24" 179cc Dual-Stage Snowblower
A similar size (24") that I read about here was this one for $899: Ariens Compact 24 in. 2-Stage Electric Start Gas Snow Blower

Somewhere in the middle seemed to be the Toro and Husqvarna blowers.

So any suggestions on what I should consider?

Price wise the Ariens is at the top of what I want to spend. If I don't need that type/caliber of machine I would like to spend less.
However I don't want to save $200 and get a machine that is built poorly either.

Thanks,
iso

What's the max amount of snow u would receive in a storm? On average



-efisher-

Clay pavers or concrete pavers ?
Set in mortar ?
Are the pavers all sitting flat ? Any areas where the pavers are sticking up due to tree roots or other problems ?
Clay pavers are much stronger than concrete pavers although they can be prone to chipping at the corners/edges.
Do you know what the prior homeowners used for snow removal ?

I am guessing 12". Bigger storms (maybe twice a year 18" - 24"). The smaller storms are in the 2"-8" range.
It say's my areas average annual snowfall is 35".

I assume they are concrete pavers. They are not set in mortar except the edges that are reinforced with mortar.
They are all pretty flat. I don't know what the prior owners used.

My father weighed in on the subject and he suggested a craftsman is all he ever needed.
He has a 15-20 year old 20" craftsman track snowblower that still works very well.
I don't know how those older craftsmans were vs todays quality.

iso

Todays craftsmans are not the same machine. From your list , i would spend the xtra and get the 24" ariens.......from a dealer if possible.

Im from jersey too. Right here is what you need. TRUST me you don't need a 2 stage. This Toro will throw snow faster and easier then any 2 stage. Oh and even though it says this Toro snowmaster is a two stage, its is really a 1.5 stage Its a transmissions wheel powered single stage and its an amazing machine

https://www.google.com/shopping/prod...FY5LDQodbcQELQ

Thats listed at $749. Is it a better value than a 2 stage Ariens at $899. Thats a difference of $150.

Thanks
iso

May I suggest a Toro Snowmaster 826 QXE. It has good reviews. It thinks it's a two stage but is a single stage.

I have virutally the same question as iso, so this was a good thread to find.

Would like to be in the $700-1200 range. I'm in Maryland and have similar snowfall as him. Paved 2 car driveway and some sidewalks with bricks set in concrete. Want something that will be reliable over the years and is easy enough for my wife to use.

I see the last recommendation for the SnowMaster which completely conflicts with another thread on this forum slamming it as small and cheaply built. ? On the other hand, if it works, it seems easy to operate.

I'm open to suggestions. Little overwhelmed with all the options out there and am not sure what reviews to believe...
Thanks in advance for any tips.