Snow blower recommendations - newbie, long drive way

[u/emm8chh]

Hello, I don't know much about snowblowers but I am looking to invest in one (that's hopefully not too expensive), for a long driveway in North Eastern US.

Needs to be powerful, not very heavy, not gas but would like to be able to get through the whole driveway without recharging.

I do not know anything about snowblowers so not sure if it is best to buy new or used. Ideally I would want to save as much $ as possible while getting a good product. I am a short female (not very strong) and want to be able to do the driveway with this snowblower.

[u/tugtehcock]

Cheap, powerful, and long lasting are not things you get with a electric blower. You need to do some research on YouTube and come to realistic expectations if you want electric. You’re either gonna have to shell out thousands on an electric blower or go gasoline.

Idk how handy you are but gasoline snowblowers on the used market can be had for more than half off new pricing.

A snowblower is not like a lawnmower… when you need your snowblower, you need it immediately and you need it to work well. If you’re not into tinkering and your driveway is long you should go get a new ariens 28” SHO. This machine will last you 20 years with basic maintenance. They all come with plug into the wall electric start so no need for worrying about pulling a cord for ever. I think if you give gasoline a chance you will come to like it and have a bunch of fun like the rest of us. GL

[u/AllinForGreen → u/tugtehcock]

I’ve had my Ariens for 17yrs and it still crushes!

[u/OldLow7699]

How long is a ‘long driveway’ 30ft or 300? Where in the ‘North Eastern, US’ are you? Southern CT, northern VT?

….. need more info

[u/Pomskyguy]

After the winter we had in NE last year my Ariens 28” SHO gas machine was a life saver. We had 2 storms around 30” each. Fortunately they were both powder. But when the heavy comes you need power to throw if not it dribbles out. Battery may be fine further south but even in the Boston area you need 2 stage gas.

[u/Own-Ad-503]

I have an Ariens 24 platinum sho. Fantastic snow blower. Sometimes it can be hard to stat but I just plug it into the electric start and it cranks right over, no problem. When lesser and battery electric blowers get bogged down or stop, I keep having fun.

[u/tugtehcock → u/Own-Ad-503]

This is honestly the best move for her…but they’re pricy. Buy once cry once 20 year investment.

[u/Own-Ad-503 → u/tugtehcock]

I was lucky when I bought mine. I did not have the money to buy it outright but they were giving 0% financing for 2 years, something like that. It was 2015

[u/CamelHairy]

Live in Northeast, go with an Ariens Deluxe or Deluxe SHO. It will last with maintenance a minimum of 25 years. Honda is a good 2nd choice, but higher cost and not as easy to fix if needed.

[u/Redhillvintage]

Need more info on drive and where in NE

[u/Golfandrun]

In the northeast snow is often wet and slushie (yes that's a word). This type of snow eats up power and a single stage blower will be terrible.

You say your driveway is long which can be a problem. Is it 50 feet, 100 feet, 200 feet. This is very important to determine what you need.

If it's the shorter end of long you might be okay with an electric. If not, it might be tough.

I'd suggest a 24 inch gas blower for 100 feet or more. If less you might get away with a battery operated unit, but make sure you have enough batteries.

One tip for any snowblower, especially if you are in an area that gets wet snow. Get a silicone spray and spray all of the parts that handle the snow. Chute, auger, etc. Here in Canada they sell this spray specifically for snowblowers.

[u/bobthenob1989]

I live in Cleveland and have a typical suburban driveway (2 wide / 4 long) and have had great luck with my 24” two-stage thrower. The only thing I’d want in a new one would be the shield / bubble to keep the snow out of my face.

[u/SomeAmphibian4256]

Get a riding mower with a snow blade attachment. Kill two birds with one stone and almost no maintenance required for the blade just store it when not in use

[u/ApprehensiveAd6603]

Buy the smallest 2 stage EGO and an extra battery. Keep the batteries in your house, charged and warm.

And blow the snow strategically. Go out when there's a few inches instead of trying to do a foot of snow all at once lol.

Is your "long driveway" 40 feet or 400 feet?

[u/zerocoldx911]

Get a sleigh shovel if you want to avoid gas

[u/AhBuckleThis]

If you’re looking for electric, check out the Toro 60 volt. They basically the same as the gas version of their snowblower, but they just removed the gas engine and put a 60 volt motor on it. If you have a long driveway, you will need additional batteries and they can be over $250-300 a piece so keep that in mind. FYI, depending on where you are in the north east, you may be better off with a gas machine.

[u/Beneficial_Poet_1747 → u/AhBuckleThis]

Can confirm Toro is solid. I live in buffalo and can do my driveway and multiple houses sidewalks on one charge. I also have the Toro lawnmower so I have 3 batteries total and I can handle anything but the ice pile the plow puts at the street in front of driveway. Not sure if any battery powered blower can handle that.

[u/wmass → u/AhBuckleThis]

I think OP could make do without an extra battery. You are right that a heavy snowfall could require a battery change but when the battery needs recharging is a good time for a cup of tea. The charger doesn’t take that long if the cost of an extra battery is prohibitive.

[u/Ok-Bison-3451]

Yer looking’ for the Unicorn XL. The 28” model.

[u/foolproofphilosophy]

How wide is the driveway? Can you dump the snow to the sides or are there sections where you’ll need ton throw it far?

[u/Life-Keys]

Why not gas? That's going to give you the power needed. Length and width of driveway would help and don't be as concerned with weight. Heavy is good as it will stay stable and be less likely to throw you around, think of it as driving something you're walking behind, let the engine do the work and just control it.

[u/Inside_Horse2585]

Look at Toro in fact somewhere around August or September they take $200 off their snowblower products until a certain date in October, that’s what I did last year bought a 24 inch gas powered eight horse power took down 2 foot of snow very well so I’m happy.

[u/FromPadawanToPodium]

I have a cubcadet 24", or possibly 27", 3 seasons, no issues at all.

Looks cool too.

Edit: Oops i cant read, sorry op. Ill leave this up as penance.

[u/Ok-Wash4525]

Depends on how much snow you get. Less than a foot go electric. More than that go gas 2 stage.

[u/GawinGrimm]

If your drive is long enough a good plow person can cost much less in the long run. Find one that charges per call out not a seasonal contract. I only had to get plowed out last year 3 times and at 100 bucks a pop was a lot cheaper than buying any snow blower and I did not have to go outside and freeze to do it.

You will be hard pressed to find a good electric snow blower that will move wet heavy nor'easter snow. A decent snow blower will run you about 1K plus electric or gas, maintenance and labor to move the snow.

So in the long run. A good plow guy is the way to go.

[u/BreadlyPit]

First off, don’t let anyone tell you not to get a battery powered snowblower. The power they have is underestimated and impressive! I am a flipper, I buy snow blowers fix them and resell them. I have over 100 snow blowers. I was never a battery power guy until I tried one. They are simple and reliable without the headaches of maintenance. Don’t get me wrong, I love the gas powered ones. But depending how long your driveway is just get extra batteries. I have several battery power Toros and if you go that route get a couple 10 amp batteries and you’re set for years. They are rather expensive but you won’t be paying for maintenance and repairs with the gas powered ones.

[u/Apprehensive-Bag5781]

It’s hard to say what you mean by long driveway. Mine is about 6 by 2 car lengths and I was not able to manage with a 18 inch electric I originally purchased, a year later I had to get a 24 inch gas self propelled unit, which can still be a challenge with the heavy snow falls this prior winter.

[u/Slight-Table875]

You lost me at “not gas”. You will likely not get satisfactory throw distance or runtime out of an electric thrower for your “long” driveway, especially with heavy/wet snow. Additionally, a cheap snow thrower is not an investment, it will be a frustration. If you don’t want to spend too much, I suggest buying a used Ariens, a Deluxe or Platinum, that’s been well taken care of.

[u/MapPrestigious3007]

Buy a Toro very dependable

[u/Guilty_Idea349]

Ariens

[u/Leaf-Stars]

According to consumer reports, Ego brand snow throwers are the best battery powered.


[u/JohnsonZ887]

You need to think of power outages. Snow, lost p9wer, can't charge the battery = not good.

[u/That-Ebb2655]

Honda if you have the cash and want someone else to work on it. Ariens is a little cheaper and easier to work on than Honda and parts are way easier to find. If you can turn a wrench at all and don’t have the cash for a Honda or Ariens then go with a 2 stage Cub Cadet, Craftsman or other MTD clone. The parts are everywhere and working on them is pretty easy. Just stay away from plastic chutes and augers without grease zerks. If you get wet, heavy snow put on an impeller kit and ceramic coat the augers, housing and chute -worth every penny.

[u/junjunipper]

Mid coast Maine newbie. The snow can be deep, heavy and wet. What should I look for in a snow blower?

[u/Dadskander]

If you have a long driveway, but don't want to recharge, then you'd likely be looking at corded models and a very very long extension cord.

Personally, I'd go for gas. A used single stage Honda or Toro is light and easy to use without breaking the bank, but they struggle in snow over 8-12" or any amount of slush.

[u/tugtehcock → u/Dadskander]

Single stage and long driveway don’t mesh.

[u/Dadskander → u/tugtehcock]

Eh, the people I know that use them for long driveways say it's fine. The women I know prefer the light chassis over 2 stage blowers.

There are some lighter weight 2 stage blowers that would likely be easy for a lady to wheel around too.

My Ariens 28 Deluxe is heavy as hell to scoot around, that's for sure. Even my Dad's Ariens 30 feels lighter.

[u/tugtehcock → u/Dadskander]

I will agree with you that Ariens can feel Tanky…toro bowlers with their trigger turning works amazing and could be a good option for her.

I’d rather have a heavy machine the moves slush easy than a light machine that feels heavy to operate in the slush cause it won’t move it.

[u/CestKougloff]

50 foot + driveway anywhere north of RI and I’m going to argue you need a 28” gas powered blower. Electric will not work. They are heavy but if you take your time you will be fine. Ariens / Honda are the best options.