TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:46 pm

My trusty old Bobcat snowblower is dead and I'm sick of fixin it. I need a new 8-10hp snowblower and wondered if anyone had any thoughts on reliability and cost. I have a pretty big gravel driveway and it will get a fair amount of use.. What with "Global Warming" and all. :?

Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:19 pm

Want to know how to make a snowblower out of your dishwasher? Its really easy, just buy your wife/ girlfriend a shovel. :lol: :lol:

Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:25 pm

Many snowblowers (as well as most garden-type machinery) are just a pattern design with some manufacturers decals placed on it. Same frame, same engine, etc. As long as you don't buy some POS with a chinese engine and parts made in Ukraine, you'll basically do ok.

Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:57 pm

Man up!!! :lol:

http://www.v8snowblowers.com/id6.html

Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:58 pm

Grasshopper

Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:24 pm

did someone say.... gravel!? :lol:

Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:27 pm

Triple Obsession wrote: Man up!!! :lol:

http://www.v8snowblowers.com/id6.html

Needs a turbo...

Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:38 pm

I would recommend an Ariens. The majority of the components are USA made and assembled here.

The sheet metal is much thicker than the decal models you see and they are made to last. I've had mine for 7 years and my Dad has had his for 25 years.

You pay a little more but well worth it.

Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:07 pm

Paul D wrote: I would recommend an Ariens. The majority of the components are USA made and assembled here.

The sheet metal is much thicker than the decal models you see and they are made to last. I've had mine for 7 years and my Dad has had his for 25 years.

You pay a little more but well worth it.

i have an ariens as well but i also have a toro.
the toro is far superior. the controls are nicer, it has a joystick style control that works the shoot. also, the axles (i forget how to explain this properly) are different than the ariens...... the ariens uses sheer pins (which break) when the blades are put under any kind of stress. you need to have those pins on hand if you wanna continue snow throwin. the toro uses a different (better) design that does away with this. i use mine commercially and the toro kicks ass.

Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:32 pm

My family has an older Ariens (92-95ish) with a 3.5hp Briggs.
IMO get something with a Briggs engine... They are VERY tough engines.
My Mom hates the smell of gas so when she smelt it... GO PUT THE SNOWBLOWER OUTSIDE (The door between the garage and house doesn't seal that good so smells tends to travel in.) So the snowblower had been sitting outside for about 4 days. We got 4-6 inches of snow last night so when I got up to go use the snowblower I had to dig it out of the snow... With most of the snow still on it and once I got the pullstart un-froze it started on the 5th pull!!!! It ran perfectly the whole time!
Just my $.02