You guys have any recommendations on snow blowers? Looking for a walk behind. Drive way is not real big. Maybe 60′ long and about the same wide. It is on a hill so looking for one that’s self propelled. Also need it to be able to get through the ridge of crap the snow plow continues to push across my drive way.
Time to go brand new. Have learned my lesson on getting older used snow blowers. People in the upper midwest do not get rid of a snow blower because it works to well.
Thanks.
I have had good luck with my Toro, neighbor had a Ariens which seems to work very well for him and has never complained about anything. My mom as another brand that can steer for you as well but cannot remember the name. After using them all I think a snow blower is a snow blower, just depends what price you find for size you want.
And its snowing again.
I settled on a 28″ Ariens. I was looking for one still made out of steel. Only plastic is gas tank, some belt covers/ engine cowlings, gas tank and control lever knobs.
I have only had it for 2 years now, no problems yet. I launches rocks real well with nothing broken yet… 
Ariens or a toro would be my choice if I were to get a new one. I have a Troy built but it has some features that i think could be improved.
Good luck finding one this time of year with all the snow we had, Home depot is sold out in Blaine. Get one with a 26-28″ cut. They will run about $1000 for a good one Ariens or Toro. I use a 26″ Ariens my self and love it.
Let us know what you get.
When I was in the market for a snow blower (first time buyer); I was told to buy a machine with a Tecumseh engine. 16 years and the thing still starts on the first pull. I bought a Yard Man 5.5 H.P. I believe they are made by MTD. Not sure about the width, but it works well for my driveway and getting through the plowed pile at the end of the drive. I replaced the belts and another plastic part this season. The broken plastic part was my fault.
Anyway, I would buy another.
Totally agree, Mike, of all the machines that I own, the one I REALLY want to work when I pull the cord is the snow blower.
Personally, I like the American brands and the ones that use real, brand-name engines. There are a LOT of Chinese knockoff engines out there now, they LOOK like Briggs and Honda, but good luck getting a carb kit in 10 years for an engine made by the Wang Dong Engine and Cell Phone Company.
The gold plated solution is to get a Honda. The prices are obscene, however. Easily 20% higher than any other reputable brand and IMO the 20% is all in the name. I’ve had no more problems with my Snapper than my dad has had with his Honda. The other “so you know” issue with Honda is every part has to come straight from Honda. There is no auto parts store equivalent for the belts, you have to pay $50-$70 each for a genuine Honda.
I’ve had great service from both Ariens and Simplicity for commercial use and I have a Snapper now. All were great machines, start with 1 pull, and if needed, parts are widely available and won’t break the bank.
Grouse
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Totally agree, Mike, of all the machines that I own, the one I REALLY want to work when I pull the cord is the snow blower.
Personally, I like the American brands and the ones that use real, brand-name engines. There are a LOT of Chinese knockoff engines out there now, they LOOK like Briggs and Honda, but good luck getting a carb kit in 10 years for an engine made by the Wang Dong Engine and Cell Phone Company.
The gold plated solution is to get a Honda. The prices are obscene, however. Easily 20% higher than any other reputable brand and IMO the 20% is all in the name. I’ve had no more problems with my Snapper than my dad has had with his Honda. The other “so you know” issue with Honda is every part has to come straight from Honda. There is no auto parts store equivalent for the belts, you have to pay $50-$70 each for a genuine Honda.
I’ve had great service from both Ariens and Simplicity for commercial use and I have a Snapper now. All were great machines, start with 1 pull, and if needed, parts are widely available and won’t break the bank.
Grouse
I love me my Honda. 
Ariens would be my recommendation.
I have a Snapper and the damn thing leaks snow out he shute and freezes on the machine, I spoke with the dealer and Snapper sent a plastics sticky to place on the shute and it still leaks snow on the machine.
Pretty poor engineering to say the least.
Good luck
I bought an Ariens 28 inch blower during the off season, and I couldn’t be happier. Starts on the first pull every time and throws about 40-50 feet.
I got a good deal on mine at Home Depot just before the season started. the only other brands I even considered were Toro and Cub Cadet, but Ariens was a much better deal.
Ariens also makes the SnoTek models, which I hear are good, but I wanted the American made motor, versus the Chinese motor on the SnoTek.
Don’t try to go too small, because the bigger models will throw 2 inches of snow as well as they throw 12 inches. You’ll be kicking yourself in the rear end if you go too small, and we get one of the wet, heavy 15 inch spring storms we seem to be getting more often the past few years.
I researched snowblowers a few years back when I replaced my 1998 toro 622. The toro was a good unit, but it started needing things to keep it going. Nothing big, but annoyances all the time. From reading, and talking to many people I had it down to simplicity pro series and honda. I decided that the Honda hydro drive was a little more than I needed and wanted to pay for and I bought a simplicity pro. Simplicity make two grades of snowblower. The pro series is a big step up from their basic snowblower. I can tell you that I have never been more satisfied with any purchase I have made. I live close to you, and if you want to come and test my blower out you are welcome to try it. You can make a few passes through my back yard. I was told Ariens also makes a good snowblower, but if I remember they also had two different grades to choose from.
I have the Deluxe 24″ Ariens. It has a clearing height of 21″ and clears a path of 24″ wide. Beware of what some of the big box stores are actually selling. When I went tro price these out, I noticed that some of them had thin gauge metal and a bit more plastic. Some also were 24″ wide, but they were not nearly as tall. And since you mentioned the end of the driveway crap from the snowplows, this will make a difference. I have only had mine for three seasons, but the first season was the year we didn’t get any snow.
If your drive is really steep, you might want to consider something with tracks. It can make a world of difference.
FDR
I ran into a sweet deal on a hus qua Vusqua and I’ve been very pleased. Throws snow well into the neighbors yard, starts easily and still has some weight. Not light by any means. But it stays down and doesn’t rise up over the snow like the plastic ones
I was going to ask this same question yesterday. I think I am going to go with a single stage toro 721 Rc if I can find one.
I like The Deluxe 24 from Ariens. It works well for me. My father in law has a husqvarna snow blower. And I love his. it’s all steel and it goes through everything. $1200 dollars but man I love it. I wish I’d have bought his. He has thins one. http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/snow-throwers/1830hv/
The city of Minneapolis bought the deluxe simplicity snowblowers for all 19 fire stations. In talking to the mechanic, they have been bullet proof. If I was in the market for one, simplicity would be the choice.
Have an Ariens,you wont be disappointed. Had one 22 years old and gave it to my kid when he moved to CO and bought another Ariens. 
Think you guys have proven my point. Lots of good new snow blower out there. I keep picking up so called good used ones. No one gets rid of a good working snow blower.
Got a john deer place just down the road from me that Im going to go look at. They carry ariens. Might have to go look at pats in east bethel to. Fixed some water lines for him a few years back. Guess he does a pretty good on line business selling blowers.
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I love me my Honda.
And there’s certainly a lot to love about a Honda. My father has had one for 15 years. Great machines, as I said the problem is not in the machine itself it’s the availability and cost of replacement parts.
Personally, with my Snapper, I change belts every 3-4 years and I keep the old belts as spares. Nothing worse than tearing up a belt in the middle of doing the driveway after an 8 inch dump and then being told you need to wait a week to have a belt mail-ordered.
Honda’s are good, no doubt about it. Weather they are $200-800 better than the equivalent Toro, Simplicity, or Airens is a different story.
Grouse
I guess im in the minority here I wouldn’t consider buying a new snowbler here in minnèsota in the land of 1000000 snowblowers especially at there insane prices the get.
I have 3 machines 2 were giving to me and 1 the neighbor was tossing out and all it needed was a primer bold for 4 bucks.
It doesn’t take much to fix or keep a simple snowblower running with proper care and minimal maintain.
Im happy with my simplicity.
Mike I have a 28 inch 8 horse Toro. The next time we get dumped on you’re welcome to come over and blow out my driveway to see if you like the machine 
Ariens for me . I got a 1972 8hp model my dad bought new. Even got electric start. Almost wish it for give up the ghost so I could get a new one. Jeez I thought it was old ,but realized I am within a year of its age
I have a 2000 Ariens 24 and all I’ve had to do this whole time is change scrapper blade and runners. I use Stabil after the season. My dad has the Ariens 36 and loves it but he has a larger driveway.
This is my second winter using a 26″ Toro. My choice came down to Ariens and Toro. I heard a lot about the metal in Ariens vs the plastic in Toro, but that was never an issue since I was replacing a 30 year old Toro 521 that has a plastic chute (and still runs great, just needed more power). The clincher for me was the joy stick chute control on the Toro. It is a VAST improvement over the ‘ol crank. I also did not like the placement of the crank on the Ariens…on the left side…I am right handed. So far the Toro has done a great job and just like my 521 starts on the first pull EVERY time.
I prefer spending as little time outside as possible. I chose Bobcat.
winner
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I prefer spending as little time outside as possible. I chose Bobcat.
I grew up with a mid 70s Simplicity that was a tank. Worked well. In fact, my sister has it now! My dad has a Toro 521 that’s been a great machine. I bought an Ariens with a Briggs motor a couple years ago that has been flawless. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy any of them.
I have a 25 year old snapper, never had anything happen to it other than the regular maintenance.
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