Finally Bought a Snowblower

[Northern NH Mike]

I finally broke down and bought a snowblower yesterday. For the past 19 years I have relied on the big blue scoop to clear out our modest 500 sq ft driveway and space in frnt of the garage and mudroom entrance. In light snow, which is what we ususally receive here in northern NH, it worked just fine. If we had a wetter snowfall or I needed to get the scoop up a bank it did a number on my back and shoulders. I'm also pretty cheap and New England winters are not the same as they were so I rolled the dice every year and pretty much won. Looked out the kitchen window yesterday morning after the Thanksgiving storm and said to hell with that; had a Hsqvarna 24" self-propelled delivered and ran it late yesterday. Here's hoping we get hammered withs now this winter.

 

[thewoodlands]

I finally broke down and bought a snowblower yesterday. For the past 19 years I have relied on the big blue scoop to clear out our modest 500 sq ft driveway and space in frnt of the garage and mudroom entrance. In light snow, which is what we ususally receive here in northern NH, it worked just fine. If we had a wetter snowfall or I needed to get the scoop up a bank it did a number on my back and shoulders. I'm also pretty cheap and New England winters are not the same as they were so I rolled the dice every year and pretty much won. Looked out the kitchen window yesterday morning after the Thanksgiving storm and said to hell with that; had a Hsqvarna 24" self-propelled delivered and ran it late yesterday. Here's hoping we get hammered withs now this winter.

Nice purchase, there's always a use for a snowblower.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Sweet! Now we’re not going to get more than 2 inches at a time! Thank you! *big grin*

 

[xman23]

500' is nothing you should be doing by hand. If it's paved it should work well, except in wet snow.

 

[stoveliker]

500' is nothing you should be doing by hand. If it's paved it should work well, except in wet snow.

It's equivalent to a square of 22 ft on a side.

I have no issue with someone having or preferring a blower but it's perfectly doable by hand - as he has done for years.

 

[PaulOinMA]

I bought a snowblower about six years after moving to MA.

Grew up in CT. Hand shoveling and the plow on my dad's 1966, 8-h.p. Wheel Horse 856 were always enough.

Also had a plow for my garden tractor in NJ. Only wished I had a blower once when we received three feet of snow in the late 1990s.

Moved here in 2003. Get a lot more snow here than in CT and NJ. Finally bought a snowblower in 2009 or so.

120" total about 10 years ago.

Barely used it the last five years. Only once last winter.

 

[xman23]

It's equivalent to a square of 22 ft on a side.

I have no issue with someone having or preferring a blower but it's perfectly doable by hand - as he has done for years.

Oh I should read more carefully. I was thinking 500' long driveway. Still a blower is nice when I'm clearing out 3' of snow at the street.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Isn’t that 3’ at the end of the driveway why we have kids? They need to earn their keep!

 

[Dataman]

I just send the Wife out for the Big Snow Removal. I do the Sidewalk around the house and path to shop. Keeps her happy on her John Deer (2032r). We tried Snowblower on Tractor. Not much use with 1000ft of driveway. Replaced it with 6ft Plow on Front with 3rd Function. One side up and one side down and it's done. Old Rig was getting tired. Blower we had to leave 4" of snow to keep rocks out of Blower. We used to use blower on Driveway. Chore for 90 minutes I did not love!

 

[EatenByLimestone]

The right tool makes a difference!

 

[Northern NH Mike]

Had to adjust the scraper height, handle height and fix the chute assembly; wasn't centered correctly and wouldn't turn to the right. Light snowfall all week made for a few inchesto try it out.

 

[GG Woody]

I have over 300 yards of driveway, 200 yards of it is tight with very little room for snow on each side (bush/forest/creek) big snowfalls I blow it away and it's gone (Ariens 12hp, 36") Smaller snowfalls my best strategy is to plow it into the middle with the quad and then blow it away. I tried plowing for the first year here, snowblower is the right tool for the job most of the time. We have a little 24" 5hp which is great on the patio and around the house on bigger snow falls as well. Bought used, cheap investment.