Snow blower question

[davemchine]

I've been using a Toro 1800 Power Curve Snow Blower for several years and I really like it. No gasoline to store and it's so light I can hang it on the wall when I'm done. It does a great job up to around 5" of snow as long as it isn't too slushy. The last two years we have had heavier snow and my little snow blower is struggling. I also moved to a house with a larger driveway and I need more throw. So I'm soliciting advice on what to get.

This is what I have
https://www.amazon.com/Toro-38381-18-Inc..._1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486240227&sr=8-1&keywords=toro+1800+snow+blower

[jdc]

[OWC Jamie]

as in you're ready to upgrade to a two stage gas unit ?

[rgG]

I hope to NEVER be able to help you answer that question.

[modelamac]

It would be more helpful to see a pic of your driveway - straight or curved, how much slope, barriers on the side, etc.

[mrlynn]

Well, if I had my druthers, and deep pockets, I'd get one like this



But it would be overkill. My 7 HP Ariens with a Briggs and Stratton engine does a pretty good job. This was the first year I had to use the electric starter; up to now, just one yank on the cord was enough. Can't remember when I bought it; maybe seven years ago? It's probably due for a new sparkplug.

/Mr Lynn

[davemchine]

This is probably the best pic I have of the driveway. It is flat and rather large. I have a three car garage and the driveway is probably 3 cars deep. Plus the curved driveway leading to the road. Plus the side of the house were the boat is kept.

http://colquhoun.info/public/house%20with%20trees.png

[max]

What is this snow you speaketh of?...

[Robert M]

Dave,

One thing for certain is to buy a model that doesn't require a gas/oil mix for fuel. You want it to use off-the-shelf fuel. That said, at my office for our big honkin' beast of a Toro snow blower, I use special gas that remains stable for multiple years. But, I do that by choice, not because it's necessary. The snow blower was designed for plain ol' gas and runs fine on it. the other stuff is just better.

Robert

P.S. The office snow blower is a very nice two-stage. Our last Toro lasted over 35 years. Hopefully this one has even some of its longevity.

[Speedy]

Looks like a fairly big area. You might want to consider one like mine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMNJ9ht95Yc

Uses Diesel; goes and goes.

If you can, avoid any blower that uses belts. Once the belt slips, you're done. Heavy wet snow can stop a belt drive blower dead. When we have heavy (as in: deep) wet snow my neighbors don't even bring out their belt drive blowers, they just wait for me to come around. Or they shovel.