Snow Blower Manufacturers

Posted by hibb on October 25, 2009, 11:15 am

Howdy again folks.

Looks like I am going to purchase a snow blower pretty soon. I am
thinking of doing it now because I am afraid that prices will go up
when the snow starts. It's likely I won't even need it here in
Southern Michigan until late December or even in January.

The two manufacturers I have notices so far are the Poulands they sell
at the Farm, Home and Family store and the Troy-Bilt at Lowes. The
prices on both seem pretty close and I will make sure to double check
but they all seemed to be similarly powered and sturdy build.

The ones I am looking at are the 24" to 28" that would cost between
about $600 to $900.

My driveway is about 50' long and we really only get a few serious
snow storms a year. I can't even remember when I last ditched my
tennis shoes for a pair of boots unless I was going out into the woods
in the winter. But when we do get a good snow storm it is too much for
me to try to shovel.

Anyway, if any of you have anything good or bad to say about those two
manufacturers, or recommend others, please do so.

Thanks, David

Posted by Van Chocstraw on October 25, 2009, 11:53 am

hibb wrote:

> Howdy again folks.
>
> Looks like I am going to purchase a snow blower pretty soon. I am
> thinking of doing it now because I am afraid that prices will go up
> when the snow starts. It's likely I won't even need it here in
> Southern Michigan until late December or even in January.
>
> The two manufacturers I have notices so far are the Poulands they sell
> at the Farm, Home and Family store and the Troy-Bilt at Lowes. The
> prices on both seem pretty close and I will make sure to double check
> but they all seemed to be similarly powered and sturdy build.
>
> The ones I am looking at are the 24" to 28" that would cost between
> about $600 to $900.
>
> My driveway is about 50' long and we really only get a few serious
> snow storms a year. I can't even remember when I last ditched my
> tennis shoes for a pair of boots unless I was going out into the woods
> in the winter. But when we do get a good snow storm it is too much for
> me to try to shovel.
>
> Anyway, if any of you have anything good or bad to say about those two
> manufacturers, or recommend others, please do so.
>
> Thanks, David
>
>

I would buy a used one in the spring if I were you.
Probably get one for $100 or $200 at that time. If you are gonna use it
3 time a year and new one is a bad investment. It will be used next year
anyway.

Posted by EXT on October 25, 2009, 12:50 pm

> hibb wrote:

> > Howdy again folks.
> > Looks like I am going to purchase a snow blower pretty soon. I am
> > thinking of doing it now because I am afraid that prices will go up
> > when the snow starts. It's likely I won't even need it here in
> > Southern Michigan until late December or even in January.
> > The two manufacturers I have notices so far are the Poulands they
> > sell at the Farm, Home and Family store and the Troy-Bilt at Lowes.
> > The prices on both seem pretty close and I will make sure to double
> > check but they all seemed to be similarly powered and sturdy build.
> > The ones I am looking at are the 24" to 28" that would cost between
> > about $600 to $900.
> > My driveway is about 50' long and we really only get a few serious
> > snow storms a year. I can't even remember when I last ditched my
> > tennis shoes for a pair of boots unless I was going out into the
> > woods in the winter. But when we do get a good snow storm it is too
> > much for me to try to shovel.
> > Anyway, if any of you have anything good or bad to say about those
> > two manufacturers, or recommend others, please do so.
> > Thanks, David

> I would buy a used one in the spring if I were you.
> Probably get one for $100 or $200 at that time. If you are gonna use
> it 3 time a year and new one is a bad investment. It will be used
> next year anyway.

Do some research, you may find that both are made by the same company, the
one I am thinking of makes most private brands and a number of their own
brands. Built for price not quality nor longivity. Buy used and you may end
up with it at the end of the machine's life.

Check on a mower/landscape equipment dealer for the brands they carry.
Airens is one that comes to mind, there are a few others that make quality
equipment. Don't buy a cheap one, there is nothing worse than having to
repair a poorly built unit in 10 degrees below weather while the snow piles
up, requiring you to hand shovel your way out to get parts. Been there and
done that, never again.

Posted by aemeijers on October 25, 2009, 1:07 pm

Van Chocstraw wrote:

> hibb wrote:

>> Howdy again folks.
>> Looks like I am going to purchase a snow blower pretty soon. I am
>> thinking of doing it now because I am afraid that prices will go up
>> when the snow starts. It's likely I won't even need it here in
>> Southern Michigan until late December or even in January.
>> The two manufacturers I have notices so far are the Poulands they sell
>> at the Farm, Home and Family store and the Troy-Bilt at Lowes. The
>> prices on both seem pretty close and I will make sure to double check
>> but they all seemed to be similarly powered and sturdy build.
>> The ones I am looking at are the 24" to 28" that would cost between
>> about $600 to $900.
>> My driveway is about 50' long and we really only get a few serious
>> snow storms a year. I can't even remember when I last ditched my
>> tennis shoes for a pair of boots unless I was going out into the woods
>> in the winter. But when we do get a good snow storm it is too much for
>> me to try to shovel.
>> Anyway, if any of you have anything good or bad to say about those two
>> manufacturers, or recommend others, please do so.
>> Thanks, David

>
> I would buy a used one in the spring if I were you.
> Probably get one for $100 or $200 at that time. If you are gonna use it
> 3 time a year and new one is a bad investment. It will be used next year
> anyway.

I'm also in southern MI, however I have a sloped driveway, so driving
over even small snows is not an option for me. (AMHIKT- it was a very
expensive lesson involving a fried transmission.)

Anyway, I bought mine off CraigsList in January, winter before last,
after using hand shovel, leaf blower, and abusing the transmission the
first 2.5 winters here. My back is much happier, and so is my
transmission. The one I bought is the same Troy-Bilt Lowes sells, in 24"
It had been used like twice by a little fellow that was scared of it.
Even still had the tags hanging on it. I would have paid the $600 Lowes
wanted at that point, but all of them in the area were sold out. So when
I found this one 40 miles away for 100 bucks cheaper, I was quite happy.
No problems at all so far. It clearly isn't pro-grade, so it probably
would not hold up doing driveways for money, but for one house I expect
to get 10-15 years out of it easy.

A couple of closing thoughts- although last winter was a somewhat normal
winter, after the recent mild winters we have been spoiled by here, the
stores got scared and cut back the amount of blowers they stocked so
they would not have to deep-discount them in spring. And second, around
here at least, a lot of the big-box entry level models are made by MTD,
no matter what brand name is on them. (like at Tractor Supply and Sears
and Lowes). So pay attention to the stamped metal parts when you are out
shopping- you may find one brand can be had cheaper, for the same machine.

--
aem sends...

Posted by on October 25, 2009, 2:15 pm

wrote:

>Van Chocstraw wrote:

>> hibb wrote:

>>> Howdy again folks.
>>> Looks like I am going to purchase a snow blower pretty soon. I am
>>> thinking of doing it now because I am afraid that prices will go up
>>> when the snow starts. It's likely I won't even need it here in
>>> Southern Michigan until late December or even in January.
>>> The two manufacturers I have notices so far are the Poulands they sell
>>> at the Farm, Home and Family store and the Troy-Bilt at Lowes. The
>>> prices on both seem pretty close and I will make sure to double check
>>> but they all seemed to be similarly powered and sturdy build.
>>> The ones I am looking at are the 24" to 28" that would cost between
>>> about $600 to $900.
>>> My driveway is about 50' long and we really only get a few serious
>>> snow storms a year. I can't even remember when I last ditched my
>>> tennis shoes for a pair of boots unless I was going out into the woods
>>> in the winter. But when we do get a good snow storm it is too much for
>>> me to try to shovel.
>>> Anyway, if any of you have anything good or bad to say about those two
>>> manufacturers, or recommend others, please do so.
>>> Thanks, David

>>
>> I would buy a used one in the spring if I were you.
>> Probably get one for $100 or $200 at that time. If you are gonna use it
>> 3 time a year and new one is a bad investment. It will be used next year
>> anyway.

>I'm also in southern MI, however I have a sloped driveway, so driving
>over even small snows is not an option for me. (AMHIKT- it was a very
>expensive lesson involving a fried transmission.)
>Anyway, I bought mine off CraigsList in January, winter before last,
>after using hand shovel, leaf blower, and abusing the transmission the
>first 2.5 winters here. My back is much happier, and so is my
>transmission. The one I bought is the same Troy-Bilt Lowes sells, in 24"
>It had been used like twice by a little fellow that was scared of it.
>Even still had the tags hanging on it. I would have paid the $600 Lowes
>wanted at that point, but all of them in the area were sold out. So when
>I found this one 40 miles away for 100 bucks cheaper, I was quite happy.
>No problems at all so far. It clearly isn't pro-grade, so it probably
>would not hold up doing driveways for money, but for one house I expect
>to get 10-15 years out of it easy.
>A couple of closing thoughts- although last winter was a somewhat normal
>winter, after the recent mild winters we have been spoiled by here, the
>stores got scared and cut back the amount of blowers they stocked so
>they would not have to deep-discount them in spring. And second, around
>here at least, a lot of the big-box entry level models are made by MTD,
>no matter what brand name is on them. (like at Tractor Supply and Sears
>and Lowes). So pay attention to the stamped metal parts when you are out
>shopping- you may find one brand can be had cheaper, for the same machine.

Whatch what engine you get.

Tecunseh is no more - so now you have Honda, Subaru/Robin, Briggs,
Coleman (powermate) and all the chinese crap (snowFoforce etc). In
about that order of desireability.

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