single stage snow blower concern

[Beans]

Have never owned a snow blower. My friend across the street used to drop by each snowfall and do our driveway. I'd hand him a hot buttered rum over the fence and off he'd go. Yep, gonna miss that guy. I'm curious about the difficulty to push a single stage thrower or does it kinda pull itself along? I will put out for a self-propelled if necessary.
A lotta push needed for single stage?
Thanks.

We are 2"-4+" at a time, maybe 3-4 times each winter. Just don't want to build up on our skinny little driveway going down the side of this 1907 house.

 

[bbrins]

They pretty much pull themselves along as long as the paddles aren't worn down. You just give it a bit of upward pressure on the handle to make the paddles come in contact to the ground and away she goes.

 

[vssjim]

I have had a two stage Snapper branded snow blower for over fifteen years and it works great my boss has both two and single stage units and they both work. His single stage unit really spins up where the two stage is much smoother and not as violent if it ***** up something . The last thing is the two stage will work in higher snow than the single stage.

 

[mishkaya]

If that is all the more snow you get, I would definitely recommend a good single stage over a two stage. Cheaper to purchase and maintain, much quicker to clear the snow over a bulky two stage. I have both, but the two stage only comes out for the huge snowfalls, which we seldom get any more.

 

[bbrins]

The last thing is the two stage will work in higher snow than the single stage.

But the single stage one will work better on the smaller snows.

 

[CJM8515]

I dont bother with single stage unless its a yamaha or honda, they work well. Otherwise 2 stage and a good one is worth it depending on how much snow you get. Homeowner grade garbage they sell at the big box store will not last


Considering how little snow you get a single stage might be ok. Buy the best one you can afford.

 

[GaryM909]

I have had a single stage blower for 4 years now. It works great for about 200' of sidewalk. We mostly get fairly dry snow here and it handles it pretty good.

 

[Super Mech]

I have a single stage Honda and two two stage blowers. Craftsman and Snapper. The single stage gets the most use. It’s light, throws snow very far , and works well is wet heavy snow without clogging. It pulls itself along and goes fairly quick.
Like CJM8515 said, get a Honda single stage. They are dry well built and reliable. Somewhat pricey but you really get what you pay for.

 

[kctyphoon]

I think it mostly depends on where you are, and what kinda of snowfall you CAN get - not just what you commonly get. Also what kinda of driveway you have, asphalt/gravel/dirt.. and lastly how much area you need to clear.. in my mind, this would determine what to get. Keep in mind too - those single stages are worth **** when it comes to heavy wet, frozen snow, and ice.. they do however do a better job cleaning down to the ground, and in most light to medium snowfalls can be ideal.

Ive had a couple different machines. What i have now is an old tracked Yamaha from the 80’s i think. 6hp model - but itll throw some snow as high as the roof in my house. I’m on a corner property next to a main road in the neighborhood, so i have a lot of sidewalk to do. The sidewalk on the side of my house will always get covered from what the snowplows push off the street.

 

[Skin]

Single stages actually do great in a few inches of heavy wet snow like a few inches that turns to drizzle. I prefer it over the 2-stage for that kind of storm. Run it into a puddle and they'll throw the water. They just fail at deep snow falls and compact drifts.

The newer Toro SnowMasters combine paddles with a drive setup of a 2-stage. I don't think I've read a bad thing about them performance wise. Probably a good option for an in-between.

 

[RKA]

You’ll be fine with the single stage if your driveway is level. If it’s a steep slope, they are a PITA. I have one of each like super mech. The little Honda gets used for 90% of the storms. It does fine with 6” of heavy stuff and well over that if it’s powder. It’s very easy to handle and because of that I can zip through my driveway pretty quick despite only a 20” width. But every now and again we get 12+ of wet snow and the plows leave me a gift at the end of the driveway. The big boy only comes out for those.

 

[iagsxr]

I have a Toro single-stage. It'll eat through 4" of snow no problem.

 

[Beans]

Appreciate the effort in responding.
Our snow is normally dry so if you get it before it packs you're good.
My only other issue is that I will have to throw a lot in front of me, little room to sides from garage to street (narrow drive front to back, 1907 house), so I'll be building the amount somewhat. Some kind of electric start.
No interest in pulling cords in those temps at my age.
If it's ez I'll probly do it. If not I probly won't.

Researching Honda HS720SAS, Toro Power Clear, Ariens 938025.
Also saw a Toro Snow Master which looks like a bigger 2-stage but is a single, +$100 or so.
I would bet reliability is the second of 2 main concerns so not afraid to throw a little more dough at it if needed.

 

[Peoria Man]

I have a Toro single-stage. It'll eat through 4" of snow no problem.

That's probably what I have too. Toro CCR-1000 if my memory is correct; it'll be 21 years old in a couple months. It works great for almost all snowfalls but once in a great while we'll get a certain kind of snowfall that bogs it down. Not deep, but wet.... It might be just two inches of snow but it gets clustered in the chute and won't come out and then the snowblower just spits it out the front. Probably happens once every couple of years; otherwise its fine no matter how deep the snow is.

 

[Super Mech]

Appreciate the effort in responding.
Our snow is normally dry so if you get it before it packs you're good.
My only other issue is that I will have to throw a lot in front of me, little room to sides from garage to street (narrow drive front to back, 1907 house), so I'll be building the amount somewhat. Some kind of electric start.
No interest in pulling cords in those temps at my age.
If it's ez I'll probly do it. If not I probly won't.

Researching Honda HS720SAS, Toro Power Clear, Ariens 938025.
Also saw a Toro Snow Master which looks like a bigger 2-stage but is a single, +$100 or so.
I would bet reliability is the second of 2 main concerns so not afraid to throw a little more dough at it if needed.

I’ve got the Honda HS720 for a couple of seasons now. It’s really been a great machine. I use it for commercial purposes and it has been flawless.

 

[bobcatdan]

For 2-4", a single stage will be fine. Might struggle a bit at the end of the driveway after the plow goes through, but with a little patience it should move it.

 

[RKA]

Appreciate the effort in responding.
Our snow is normally dry so if you get it before it packs you're good.
My only other issue is that I will have to throw a lot in front of me, little room to sides from garage to street (narrow drive front to back, 1907 house), so I'll be building the amount somewhat. Some kind of electric start.
No interest in pulling cords in those temps at my age.
If it's ez I'll probly do it. If not I probly won't.

Researching Honda HS720SAS, Toro Power Clear, Ariens 938025.
Also saw a Toro Snow Master which looks like a bigger 2-stage but is a single, +$100 or so.
I would bet reliability is the second of 2 main concerns so not afraid to throw a little more dough at it if needed.

I'm not following what you're saying, so I'll just add this. Powdery snow will get tossed 30 ft, so as long as you have somewhere to land it that far out, you're fine. However, it packs down pretty well when it lands. Moving it a second time after it packs down like that is a royal PITA and not something I would advise. Even with a 2 stage this is a PITA, but it's usually doable. With a single stage, I've been very unhappy anytime I've tried to move the snow in two successive moves.

As far as the electric start, at least with the Honda's, they are so easy a 5 year old could do it. If you have shoulder problems or a disability that prevents you from pulling the cord, get the electric start. But, if you have the range of motion in your arm, you'll find you need very little oooomph to pull start the Honda's. I have a two stage Ariens and I refuse to pull start that beast. If it runs out of gas at the end of the sidewalk, I'll roll it 150 feet back to the house and plug it in to start it (or better, check the gas before I go out 150 feet away from the garage).

 

[bochnak]

I have a toro powerlite 2 stroke single stage.

For 2-4" of dry snow, the thing will be perfect. It weighs only 30lbs and if you lift the handle it is self propelled and I have to chase it.

For wet snow it kinda lags. I bought a bigger single stage and will see how that works this year.

I don't want to store a big 2 stage.

 

[MoonRise]

Pffft, go for a V8 powered two stage.

And not just -any- V8, but a big block 454 Chevy.

https://theawesomer.com/v8-snowblower/9019/





The whirling paddles will -usually- help to pull a single-stage machine along.

Your call as to whether a single-stage machine will be 'enough', or if you want/need to go to a bigger (and usually more powerful) two-stage machine.

 

[buckwheat_la]

As someone who is in the industry I can tell you a Toro power clear will handle up to a ft of snow with relative ease providing it isn't packed or wet. Packed wet stuff takes a 2 stage and even then it often struggles.

 

[rlitman]

As someone who is in the industry I can tell you a Toro power clear will handle up to a ft of snow with relative ease providing it isn't packed or wet. Packed wet stuff takes a 2 stage and even then it often struggles.

Agreed. Remember that the OP's 4" snowfall will be a foot deep at the foot of the driveway as he's blowing the rear of the driveway's snow forwards in his path. Still, I think a single-stage is his best way to go.

 

[kctyphoon]

Ill just throw this out there - but dont be afraid to buy a used one from the right kind of seller if its a really good brand. Like i said - my machine is from the 80’s i think, and $800 (i actually bought it from the original yahama dealer that imported it, otherwise it would have been cheaper) got me something extremely reliable that would have likely cost me over $3000 if i bought a new honda in a comparable model.

Just to make a point - notice how a few of the guys that own single stages ALSO own a 2 stage? one bad storm can make you regret a purchase. If youre older, if you have back problems (like me), take that into consideration.

I had a nice old beast 9hp 2 stage craftsman - sold it to buy something new from lowes - a smaller, cheaper, but new - 2 stage Troy Bilt. Used it once - said ‘what the **** did i do’ - sold it to the neighbor, and bought an old tracked 2 stage Yamaha. Happy days were here again...

If you dont mind having to dig yourself out a bit WHEN the big snow hits, or it sits overnight and freezes that one time every year or two - then yea, get a single. Its more convenient esp if you have a garage to keep it in, and you just need to open a door. But if the machine needs to travel from a shed far away, or if your mindset is “i dont wanna touch a shovel” - then consider something bigger as your only machine. Its that, or commit yourself to going out while its still snowing to clear out the driveway halfway through the big storm with a smaller one. just my 2 cents.

Its not like singles stages wont clear a big storm. You’d just have to do it twice. Cause reality is a single will not always do what a 2 stage can. Only you will be the best judge though.

As some of the neighbors are pushing and pulling and pushing again, trying to get their single stage go through something heavy, or what the plows gifted them in the driveway, i walk by with one hand holding down one lever...

 

[Alxhastngs]

Do you get plows that touch the end of your driveway or any drifting from wind?

If either are a remote possibility I would recommend a used two stage as well.

A single stage will likely be fine for most of your needs until a big storm, or your gone for a long weekend and come home to 3 day old snow semi melted and compacted and then your in for a bad time.

Compacted snow from the plow will also be a complete no go with the single.

 

[Beans]

Looks like a single stage does the job for me.
Sounds like they are semi self-propelled as well.
Good news.
Good info.
Thank you.