Welcome aboard, glad to have you at SBF. 🍻

Lots of guys here with experience on both, I'm sure you'll get some good feedback.

 

Welcome. IMO, tracks are great if you have traction issues. Anything greater than a gentle slope on the driveway, gravel, frequent ice under the snow, and on turf you can’t beat it. It’s nice with a huge EOD pile, but with the weight 0f the Platinums being around 300 lbs, they do pretty well on gentle slopes, and EOD. I have a 24” Platinum SHO, that has over the top power, and it is more than sufficient for my needs here in SE Wi. Just wondering why you’re looking at the hydro, as the pro is a lot more expensive than the Platinum SHO30”. You’d have 2” more clearing with the 30SHO and it’s available in non-EFI (which is what I’d opt for at this time) and would be much more maneuverable in the light snows. Maybe you have some unique physical or environmental need for tge hydro, and the tracks? It just seems to me you’d be happy with a 24 or 30”” SHO, and have $1300-1500 at the end in your pocket. Have you gone to a dealer and tried a 28 Pro, and a Pkatinum SHO? Once you handle them both, you may answer your own question. Either way, you’re going yo end up with a great machine! I have some videos of my 2019 SHO in action if you want to take a look. Let me know if you’d like me to send you the link.

 

I have a wheeled 2015 Platinum 30 SHO and a 2022 Pro 28 RapidTrak 926084 (carbureted engine). I don't need tracks but I wanted to experience a tracked machine. In 2015 the Ariens tracked machines were slow, even with hydro transmissions and with disc transmissions much slower. RapidTrak changed all that. The RapidTrak is very fast and at top speed (for transport) it is very uncomfortable for me to keep up at a jogging pace. It is much faster than my Platinum in transport and operating speed. The Pro has much heavier grade steel and extra gusseting for strength and ball bearing bearings for most of the load carrying parts. The tracks ride on a subframe which rotates around the drive axle on ball bearing bearings, and an additional pair of ball bearings support the drive axle itself. I notice that the Pro does not flex as much as the Platinum (which is not much) and shows up in allowing the shave plate to ride closer to the pavement. The skid shoes help too since they are cast iron and have a better curve to ride over uneven surfaces. The handlebars are very sturdy and do not flex at all when manhandling the 380 lbs of machine (with AGM 12 volt battery added by my dealer for 12 volt electric starting).

The hydro system is very strong to drive the machine through all types of snow and EOD conditions so even on the flat surfaces it is much better than the wheel and disc drive. The hydro locks the trans so it will not move at all when the drive clutch is disengaged. There is a push/pull lever that will disengage the drive so the machine can be moved with the engine turned off, but it is not that easy for me at 78 with a slope. Moving the machine with engine off is much harder than a wheeled machine. The lever that controls the hydro has infinite positions for forward and reverse which I do not find useful. I prefer the distinct gear positions so I can use the gear best suited to the conditions. In operation you cannot pull back the machine, you have to select reverse. While this seemed a disadvantage at first I found it better since I did not slip on slippery surfaces.

The 3 positions of the track aid versatility, but I only use wheel mode and track mode. Dig-in mode I never use. The wheel mode allows very smooth and silent maneuvering and very good and straight snow blowing with easy turns at end of driveway. The track mode has the full track length on the ground and will not allow turns or rising up on snow. It is the mode I use most of the time and release it to turn at EOD.

My Pro model comes with electric chute and deflector control through a small toggle at the right handlebar that you operate with the thumb while holding the handlebar. I do 5 driveways (6 for this coming winter) and so do a lot of chute turning and deflector movements (for wind effects). I like it a lot since it is almost as fast as the Platinum manual controls but you reach the control with your thumb much faster so overall the electric system is faster and easier to use. The motors to drive the chute and deflector are mounted away from snow (deflector motor is under dash while chute control is at the top of the chute support).

I would recommend the Pro 28 RapidTrack as better overall than the excellent Platinum. Regardless of whether you have a flat of steeply pitched "driveway" to clear. The tires on the Platinum are very good for traction in most all conditions but the Tracks are just better in all conditions.

 

I have a wheeled 2015 Platinum 30 SHO and a 2022 Pro 28 RapidTrak 926084 (carbureted engine). I don't need tracks but I wanted to experience a tracked machine. In 2015 the Ariens tracked machines were slow, even with hydro transmissions and with disc transmissions much slower. RapidTrak changed all that. The RapidTrak is very fast and at top speed (for transport) it is very uncomfortable for me to keep up at a jogging pace. It is much faster than my Platinum in transport and operating speed. The Pro has much heavier grade steel and extra gusseting for strength and ball bearing bearings for most of the load carrying parts. The tracks ride on a subframe which rotates around the drive axle on ball bearing bearings, and an additional pair of ball bearings support the drive axle itself. I notice that the Pro does not flex as much as the Platinum (which is not much) and shows up in allowing the shave plate to ride closer to the pavement. The skid shoes help too since they are cast iron and have a better curve to ride over uneven surfaces. The handlebars are very sturdy and do not flex at all when manhandling the 380 lbs of machine (with AGM 12 volt battery added by my dealer for 12 volt electric starting).

The hydro system is very strong to drive the machine through all types of snow and EOD conditions so even on the flat surfaces it is much better than the wheel and disc drive. The hydro locks the trans so it will not move at all when the drive clutch is disengaged. There is a push/pull lever that will disengage the drive so the machine can be moved with the engine turned off, but it is not that easy for me at 78 with a slope. Moving the machine with engine off is much harder than a wheeled machine. The lever that controls the hydro has infinite positions for forward and reverse which I do not find useful. I prefer the distinct gear positions so I can use the gear best suited to the conditions. In operation you cannot pull back the machine, you have to select reverse. While this seemed a disadvantage at first I found it better since I did not slip on slippery surfaces.

The 3 positions of the track aid versatility, but I only use wheel mode and track mode. Dig-in mode I never use. The wheel mode allows very smooth and silent maneuvering and very good and straight snow blowing with easy turns at end of driveway. The track mode has the full track length on the ground and will not allow turns or rising up on snow. It is the mode I use most of the time and release it to turn at EOD.

My Pro model comes with electric chute and deflector control through a small toggle at the right handlebar that you operate with the thumb while holding the handlebar. I do 5 driveways (6 for this coming winter) and so do a lot of chute turning and deflector movements (for wind effects). I like it a lot since it is almost as fast as the Platinum manual controls but you reach the control with your thumb much faster so overall the electric system is faster and easier to use. The motors to drive the chute and deflector are mounted away from snow (deflector motor is under dash while chute control is at the top of the chute support).

I would recommend the Pro 28 RapidTrack as better overall than the excellent Platinum. Regardless of whether you have a flat of steeply pitched "driveway" to clear. The tires on the Platinum are very good for traction in most all conditions but the Tracks are just better in al

Town, you wouldn’t have any video of your tracked machine tackling the EOD pile, and your wheeled machine handling the same storm? That would probably be very helpful for

I echo what everyone else is been saying in here. But for just a straightforward answer to your question, my RapidTrak machine is faster than all my wheeled machines.

 

Test drive a rapidtrac in the parking lot. They are pretty amazing.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Keeping in mind that you only have a 3 car driveway and sidewalk to clear, any machine from the Deluxe to the Pro series will be an improvement over your Compact machine.
If it was me, I would seriously consider the smaller 24" Platinum SHO, plenty of power and traction for your needs.
If money is not an issue the Pro Rapid Trak is a beast of a machine, heavier duty and with both wheel and track mode. Keep in mind there is probably a little more time and complexity involved in the yearly servicing of the Rapid Trak machines.
Visit a local Ariens dealer and get hands and eyes on the different machines, run them around the show room/parking lot. Ask the dealer what he recommends for your driveway size and local snow conditions.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Keeping in mind that you only have a 3 car driveway and sidewalk to clear, any machine from the Deluxe to the Pro series will be an improvement over your Compact machine.
If it was me, I would seriously consider the smaller 24" Platinum SHO, plenty of power and traction for your needs.
If money is not an issue the Pro Rapid Trak is a beast of a machine, heavier duty and with both wheel and track mode. Keep in mind there is probably a little more time and complexity involved in the yearly servicing of the Rapid Trak machines.
Visit a local Ariens dealer and get hands and eyes on the different machines, run them around the show room/parking lot. Ask the dealer what he recommends for your driveway size and local snow conditions.

As @Ziggy65 says there are cheaper machines available than the Pro and some have the RapidTrak system. Most all will do the job you want but the Pro RapidTrak will feel so much nicer to use.

There is more work to do in maintaining the RapidTrak, compared to the Platinum 30/24 SHO models. The extra work is mainly removal of the underpan to access the transmission components. The RapidTrak mode adjustment parts need to be removed in part to remove the underpan. You have less components to lubricate though, just a couple of chains and the idler gear and differential gear teeth. There is no disc drive to maintain. The grease nipple on the right chassis panel that lubricates the enclosed bearings of the "idler shaft" is best done with the wheel/track removed for access. I lubricate the wheel hub and axle on the Platinum quite easily every year. For the RapidTrack the drive wheel steel fitting inside the plastic wheel and the steel large axle end must be greased frequently, so for me an annual job too. Track removal and drive wheel removal are actually quite easy, and re-tensioning the track is also quite easy. Changing the engine oil has a little glitch on RapidTrak compared to the Platinum, the nicely located drain plug sits over the track adjustment mechanism, a sloping plate is under the drain plug. I used a funnel for the 5 hour oil change and the annual (or every 40 hours) change. Next time I will try the sloping plate as my funnel and see how that works. The oil drain pipe and surrounding flywheel are modified to allow a 12mm wrench to fit the machined flats on the pipe while unscrewing the cap. Nice change but I don't know when it was made and to what machines other than the 2022 Pro models.

Here is what I did to put my Pro RapidTrack away for the summer: Putting my RapidTrak away for summer

Here is what is involved in setting the track tension to Ariens spec: RapidTrak track tension

Good luck with your choice.

 

I echo what everyone else is been saying in here. But for just a straightforward answer to your question, my RapidTrak machine is faster than all my wheeled machines.

 

🤦🤫😏😂🤣

 

That's Fine, buy whatever makes just do not buy an Ariens! have you looked at the simplicity signature pro? I have two of these, but I am biased.

 

Simplicity makes a solid machine. I have a 90’s machine and my daughter has a little newer one both with Techumse snow king 8hp engines. Very reliable, and we’ve thrown alot of snow with them. When I looked at Simplicity early on, they were like the Cub C, and had trigger steering and I felt the autoturn was much easier to use. Another really good machine is the Toro. No triggers to fiddle with, and a slick joy stick chute control. Too much plastic for my liking on the dash area, as I keep machines for a long time, but excellent at clearing snow.

 

I’ve read a few times about simplicity. They look well built. The nearest dealer is over 3 hours away from me. I don’t really want to have to deal with that when I need a warranty repair, hopefully wouldn’t happen. When you live in a smaller town it helps to use the brands people are familiar with.

I have always had good luck with Ariens. My dad had an Ariens growing up and I’ve ran my last one for 7-8 years and it’s run great (Even when I was young and didn’t do proper maintenance).

I do think Toro has nice machines, but as Smokie1 pointed out I’m not a huge fan of all the plastic.
We will see what my local dealer has/if anything on the floor this weekend. Otherwise a trip to the next bigger dealer to test drive the platinum and pro line out.

 

Thought this video on rapidtrack was worth sharing:

 

Moving snow is cautious about simplicity. No one knows if they will be around. I like the simplicity pro series. 24”, massive engine, stout build quality. It’s the bankruptcy thing.

also wondering how simplicity lists a 420cc engine that only has 17.5lbs of torque? Everyone else is 21. 369cc is 17.5?

 

It's a detuned 420cc. I believe there is a restrictor plate in the intake? Maybe somebody else knows exactly what the difference is. The Simplicity Signature Pro are great machines. All the other Simplicity machines are Murray's that have been rebranded. I have many hours running both Ariens and Simplicity. Of the two I prefer Ariens.

 

The old track system is nothing like a Rapidtrac. When you spin a Rapidtrac one track turns forward and the other turns backwards with very little effort even without the motor running. It really has to be test driven to to believe how easy it handles. You don't even need to start it. Some of the advice previously is based on experience from the former track system and they don't know how different the Rapidtrac is.