Read about your 'sweetheart'' here and in your introduction with understanding; much the same situation here with a hundred yards to clear before she takes off (on call 24/7/365). Fun fun... 😎

What I find a great benefit is having a machine wide enough that one pass up and another back down makes a hole wide enough to squeeze through, follow-up/further cleanup later on once the sun shines. With a drive 300ft that saves a lot of time, two passes vs. the otherwise inevitable four.

 

What I find a great benefit is having a machine wide enough that one pass up and another back down makes a hole wide enough to squeeze through, follow-up/further cleanup later on once the sun shines. With a drive 300ft that saves a lot of time, two passes vs. the otherwise inevitable four.

Measure how wide the car is and add a little for wiggle room.

How wide is your blower? Ie, the one that lets you clear a path wide enough for a car in 2 passes?

I ask because a) a typical single-width driveway is typically 10-12 feet wide. And according to this site, "the average width of a car is around 6 to 6.5 feet."

If that's true, you'd need a ~40" blower to be able to clear a car's width in 2 passes. If you go with a 28" blower, you'd need a car that wasn't more than about 4 feet wide.

Am I missing something here?

 

Good point. Get her out the door and clean up later. So what's wide enough for two passes? And per my point about physically demanding, my impression from the threads was that the 28" SHO would chew through the same amount as a wider machine in about the same time but with less fatigue from muscling around a bigger machine.

 

...So what's wide enough for two passes?...

Measure how wide the car is and add a little for wiggle room.

 

I found this thread just minutes after posting. Looks somewhat similar to my situation but I think my slope is shorter without about half the yearly snowfall to deal with. I think I'll grab a photo of my drive in the daylight tomorrow and post here as it seems to really help the experienced folks to visualize the situation.

 

That's my thread! See you went with the 28" tracks. Good call! I did similar (but Honda because that is the dealer I have.) We JUST had a wet snowfall of 5-6" and it handled the uphill well! I'm not certain if tires would've made it in today's slippy wet snow. Think you'll be very happy with it.

 

Thanks for doing your home work and providing good information.

I am about your age, your driveway is about 50 feet longer than my gravel drive, I get at least double your annual snow fall, my driveway is fairly flat.

I have a Deluxe28 SHO and it works very well for me, definitely no issues handling deep heavy snow falls, easy to steer and has good traction.

A photo of the slope of your driveway will help us get an idea if it will present a traction issue.

If you can increase your budget for the Rapid Track 28 SHO, give it serious consideration, more power and better traction. Also consider 32" machines including Hondas if you can stretch your budget even further.
For my situation, I could have stretched my budget and got a tracked beast of a machine, but didn't feel I needed it and I prefer the simplicity of a wheeled machine. I am happy with my decision I think the 28 SHO is one of the best bang for your buck machines on the market.

Do you have any Toro or Honda dealers that are close enough to check out their machines as well?

I am not familiar with that model of Troy Bilt machine, but they are not in the same league as Ariens, Toro, Simplicity or Honda IMHO. Maybe someone who has that machine will chime in with their opinion.

Have you been checking ads for good used machines in your area?

You need to have a good dependable machine bought in the very near future or you will be in a pickle, so I would make your decision as soon as you can, before dealers run out of stock of the machine you want.

Good luck with your search.

 

I added photos to my original post. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

 

Does the driveway ever develop a layer of ice or icy patched in the wintertime? That could be a consideration between wheels and tracks.

 

This will be my first winter here, so I'm not sure about icing. My guess is yes, especially with intermittent unusually warm winter days that have been popping up the past few years. So I guess that's a wheels with chains vs track debate.

 

This is probably the best post I have ever seen on this topic.
A BIG THANK YOU!

I have both wheeled and tracked Honda's. Both work excellent. No chains on wheeled unit but it does have problems with EOD with tires spinning. ( end of driveway berms left from Plows.)
agree that a wider bucket would be beneficial, preferably a NEW blower since they are more user friendly with steering assists etc.
May disagree with your budget for a bigger machine than 28 incher. not sure.

Honda is probably out of the question because of cost and unfortunately that brand is the only one i am familiar with. Lots of experts here on other brands and costs.
You are in good hands here.

good luck and look forward to an update.

( my meds must be working.......this is an inside joke for the regulars here )

 

Depends on which way that hill faces... to the south and it may even dry off once cleared. More to the north and you may well get iced.

The sun is a powerful friend.

 

Depends on which way that hill faces... to the south and it may even dry off once cleared. More to the north and you may well get iced.

Good point (again). The slope is facing south, curving west at the bottom, on the west side of the house. Will get plenty of sun most days (but not in the morning for roughly the upper third of the slope as it's shaded by the house). The photos were taken about 10am this morning. So you get a pretty good idea of sun on the slope.

 

I also have a three hundred foot gravel driveway with a slope and and decent incline at the entrance...two car garage..two car parking..and a turn around equaling two to three more parking places...I also clean out an area for the dogs to do thier thing .
I use a 24 inch wheel model...granted I get less snow...I am finished in less than an hour easy though.
Blowing the snow while it's fresh is key.
I bought some armor skids to help stay on top of the rock.

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Check out his Yanmar machine in his avatar, it's big enough

 

Yeah, so I went through the thread linked in his sig line; the machine is 38" wide, so the "bucket" won't be wider than that:

Ronin's Yanmar

The condensed history and ongoing saga of my junk is here. In the beginning, there was a couple of problems with winter life at the Hill. Here is Mrs. and the big cat pretending to shovel out after I'd already, you know... shoveled out. Her fresh tire tracks/toasty warm ride evidence...

www.snowblowerforum.com

Is someone gonna recommend a 38"+ blower to the OP? Can one even find a 38" blower in his budget range?

 

Yeah, so I went through the thread linked in his sig line; the machine is 38" wide, so the "bucket" won't be wider than that:

Yep she clears about 38", and with a tad slop in the overlap (lack of) it'll get 'er done one up/one down. I suspect our vehicles are slightly smaller than the standard USDM ride though, so yeah... they're also 4WD (we launch uphill instead of down).

So in that market and with large vehicles maybe it's not an option.

 

I would need about 80" for the CRV plus wiggle room. 38+" blower is not under consideration, so it looks like three passes minimum for me regardless.

My partner is pushing for a track model. I'm not convinced we need it but I called around and it looks like the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO 921057 ($2699) and the Honda 32" HSS1332ATD (quote at $3500 - maybe last year's model?) are in stock a couple hours away. Otherwise I'm still drawn to the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO 921048.

We are planning to make the drive to Duluth tomorrow and have a look, possibly take one home. Any further thoughts about these specific machines is welcome.

 

I called around and it looks like the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO 921057 ($2699) and the Honda 32" HSS1332ATD (quote at $3500 - maybe last year's model?) are in stock a couple hours away. Otherwise I'm still drawn to the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO 921048.

I don't think you'll go wrong with any of those machines. I have zero experience with the Ariens tracked model, but I played with a smaller Honda tracked machine a couple of weeks ago. The ability to adjust the bucket height off the ground with the press of a button would be, I think, really useful for an uneven surface like a gravel driveway. I didn't walk away with the Honda, though - I couldn't stomach the cost. If I had a driveway like yours though, I'd seriously consider it.

As for the Deluxe 28 SHO, I generally agree with Ziggy; it's a LOT of machine for the money. I was one of two machines I recently considered when looking to upgrade (the other being the Platinum 24" SHO). My driveway is shorter than yours, though, paved and flat, so the need is slightly different.

 

Check them all out, get hands on them and see what the various dealers recommend for your driveway situation and go with what your gut tells you.

I think all of those machines are great choices and will get the job done for you.

MTD makes several different brands of 45" machines, but I wouldn't recommend any of them, too cumbersome and components and housing are the same lighter duty quality as their 24" machines.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/troy-bilt-420-cc-45-in-ohv-snowblower-0603737p.html

 

Thanks to all who welcomed me on the introduction thread!

I'm looking to buy my first snowblower.

Per the READ THIS BEFORE YOU POST instructions:
1. I live in Grand Marais, Minnesota
2. Elevation approx 700ft.
3. Annual snowfall 45-60"
4. Snow can be dry powder or wet, varying depths. Used to be you could count on dry, deep powder most of the winter, but temps are fluctuating wildly in recent years with a trend toward warmer, wetter intervals.
5. Approx 300ft driveway with a 3-4 car parking area.
6. Driveway is mixed gravel of various sized rocks (small to a several inches), mostly tightly packed, but some do get kicked loose.
7. Gravel is uneven in places, with grass between wheel tracks in part of the drive. None of it is soft. Additionally, there is a sloped section of 40-50ft that rises maybe 10-12ft. The calculator tells me that is a 20+ degree grade. Other than the slope section, it should be fairly straightforward. One 90 degree turn just before the slope starts rising.
8. I'm in my late 50s. Decent shape but getting slower. I did have surgery on both shoulders a couple years ago, but no problems with them since.
9. Male (but she might have to pitch in)
10. Was hoping to keep it under $2k US, but we can stretch if needed.
11. Fairly handy with basic mechanics. I have tools but don't (yet) have a garage.
12. Looking to buy soon, probably new.

I've been reading threads for hours on end over the last two days. Based on that, I had been leaning toward a new Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO 921048 -- partly because there seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm among owners (though some dislike the auto-turn) and partly because I can get one. There ain't much up here and the nearest Ariens dealer is 2 hours away. But at least they have them and it's doable. Plus it's in our preferred price range. I plan to get the ArmorSkids (if available) and drop them about an inch until snowpack builds. I would probably wait on chains to see if I need them, as I only saw one person posting about having trouble on a slope with this model. Others said the stock 16" tires should be able to do the job.

I wasn't really considering a track model because of the extra expense (the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO 921057 is $1200 more than the 921048). But my partner has me reconsidering. She thinks it's worth it if it means I have to fight the machine less. I'm not getting any younger. We could spend more if it means I end up with more time and energy for other things after getting up in the middle of the night to clear out the driveway so she can get to work at 6am.

I'm hoping to hear more from those of you who have experience with both wheel and track blowers (especially if you're not 24 and run 10 miles a day). Would the track provide that much more advantage for the slope section of our drive (and somewhat uneven terrain)? Assuming 28" width machine and varying snow conditions, would either likely to be significantly more demanding physically?

And if a track system would in fact be a better choice for us, what about the Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2690XP as recommended by Paul Sikkema (if I can find one)?

Flat part of driveway to road. Looks like an incline in this photo, but it is flat:

View attachment 181784

Slope up to house, standing in same spot as previous photo:

View attachment 181785

Different view of same slope:

View attachment 181786

Parking area:

View attachment 181787

You need power and weight and with the weight of the 1428 track drive unit you will gain very high traction/adhesion when clearing snow.

With your driveway/lane you will need a Toro 1428 track drive machine with a snow cab and machine cover to protect it. The snow cab will reduce fatigue as you will be out of the wind and it will reduce the amount of snow dust you will have to deal with.

The patented Toro anticlog system will help you with heavy deep snows and the END OF DRIVEWAY MONSTER, especially if they use rock salt in your area.

The standard steering brakes and standard hydrostatic transmission will be a very pleasant addition for the spouse to use.

The hydrostatic transmission in the 1248 has been used for a long time in other machines as well. It has a serpentine automotive belt to provide power to the impeller and cross augers.

 

We drove home today with the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO. Now I gotta learn how to use it and wait for snow. Thanks for all the input. Consensus is not really a thing here, but I have learned a lot by listening to all the different perspectives and experiences. I'll keep ya'll posted as to how it goes.

 

We drove home today with the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO.

Glad you made a decision.

Consensus is not really a thing here...

That's about right. But...

My partner is pushing for a track model.

...you came to consensus with the person whose opinion should matter more than any of ours.

Enjoy the machine and let us know how things go once the snow arrives!

 

Thanks for the report, looking forward to updates.

 

Enjoy your new machine ......

 

I am jealous.

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Thanks for the update.

Great choice, those are awesome machines. Let us know how you like it later this winter, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

If you don't mind sharing, what were the key factors in your decision to choose the Rapid Track?

 

et voilà !

 

Deciding factors:

• Tracked for theoretically better traction on slope
• Thought it might be more manageable than a larger machine for my better half to pitch in when needed.
• $1000 less than the Honda.
• After much research and teeth-gnashing, my brain said get the Honda, but my gut said get the Ariens. I went with my gut.

 

Congrats, This should meet your needs just fine and it will likely be fun to operate.

I got the Honda hss928CTD last winter and the difference compared the Platinum Rapid track SHO 28 was under a grand. I wanted to try the Hydro tranny and just stick with tracks.

Not having an electric chute will save you money in the long run. Hydrostatic transmissions cost a lot more to service as well.

 

Glad ya went with the tracked model! Wheels can handle gravel, but tracks do it MUCH better. On pavement I prefer wheels, but they really suck for gravel, there's no way to prevent the skids from digging in and throwing rocks theough your chute, chipping paint, denting it and drastically shortening the life of your machine.. I have a half gravel drive here, and went with wheels, and regret it.

 

That's an impressive looking machine knyfe. Pic 2 of the dashboard is cool, like a cockpit!

 

One thing I've done (and nothing to do with this specific scenario) is I purchased ski goggles. Nothing worse than getting that blast of snow in your face when the wind shifts. With the double layer of plastic, the lens does not fog/freeze when the snow hits your face. I bought a tinted pair; now need un-tinted ones for working at dusk. My 2 cents...

 

One thing I've done (and nothing to do with this specific scenario) is I purchased ski goggles. Nothing worse than getting that blast of snow in your face when the wind shifts.

Ooooh, I love that idea. I've not (yet) had to blow snow in the middle of a storm, but I've had the wind shift while I'm blowing and ended up with a face full. 🥶

 

Good call on the Rapidtrack. I have the Pro32, Ariens beats the snot out of the Hondas, at least for me. I use a comparable power tracked 28" Honda at work. Ariens has higher travel speeds, less bogging, handlebars that are at the proper height for a full size human, way better throwing distance... but the Honda has that slick gas strut height adjustment for the bucket. The only thing I don't like about the Ariens is the track adjustment, but I do like that it can go into full on wheel mode. Maybe some day I'll fabri-cobble a gas strut onto it.

You'll be stoked with the Ariens.

 

Good call on the Rapidtrack. I have the Pro32, Ariens beats the snot out of the Hondas, at least for me. I use a comparable power tracked 28" Honda at work. Ariens has higher travel speeds, less bogging, handlebars that are at the proper height for a full size human, way better throwing distance... but the Honda has that slick gas strut height adjustment for the bucket. The only thing I don't like about the Ariens is the track adjustment, but I do like that it can go into full on wheel mode. Maybe some day I'll fabri-cobble a gas strut onto it.

You'll be stoked with the Ariens.

What Honda machine are you using? Great that you like your Ariens but some major generalizations. My Honda can throw snow across the road, has a normal bar height and didn’t clog or bog down the few times I got it out in wet snow last winter.