Anyone own a electric snow thrower

[chefwong]

Thinking about one for Pops. He just doesn't have the ooomph to maneuver anything larger.

Toro makes a electric unit - Power Curve 1800. Seems to have favorable reviews.

I'm sure it will be fine for the powdery stuff. My only concern is wet heavy snow...and will it be able to move anything heavier than fresh powder...

 

[Paul2007]

I had one of them. Not bad, really. Just have to look at it and remember, only 3-4 inches at a time. Just like using a broom, you have to go out every 45 minutes or so to move what's fallen. You may want to get Pops an extension cord with a GFCI built into it. Less "shocking" that way ;-)

 

[LS2JSTS]

Your gut is right. They are completely useless in anything that really needs shoveling.

They are only good in light weight dry snow at heights that are very easy to shovel anyway, almost fun.

If he does try to move heavy wet and deep snow it will involve a lot of back and forth motion. Repeated stabs at the snow with his arms, likely more work than using the proper sized machine. How fit is he? Is he in general good health, does he mow his own lawn?
I ask because if he does, he can likely handle a full size two stage blower. Look at one with power forward and reverse(almost all of them have it), maybe even a track model, as its easier to handle. Even the bigger Toros have always struck me as too much work in any REAL snow. You have to work too hard to get the snow fed into the things, they dony have weight that pulls the machine into the snow and eat it up. As an "older" man, I'd say get the bigger more capable machine and he will actually work less.


Forgot the most important question....How much space does he need to clear?

 

[chefwong]

There is like 300+++ feedback on Amazon but then again, I take it with a grain of salt, for the type of machine it is.

Landscsapers do the summer gig.

Kids who come around and shovel are useless......

And a 2 stage ariens exist. I'm just looking at considerbly lighter weight machines for a person of older age.

But I guess it's 2 handed equation on heavy machine=power and you do need that for *snow*

 

[mva]

Anything that is 110v electric is a maximum of 2 hp.

Think about that when you compare to a 24" 8hp or a 10.5 hp 33" snowblower like mine. I can't imagine a 2hp being very useful.

My father-in-law has been running his 24" snowblower up until last winter; he is now 80. The 24" is easy to handle. I would not recommend a larger machine unless you have a big driveway. Most snowblowers are available with electric start.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Originally Posted By: chefwong
There is like 300+++ feedback on Amazon but then again, I take it with a grain of salt, for the type of machine it is.

Landscsapers do the summer gig.

Kids who come around and shovel are useless......

And a 2 stage ariens exist. I'm just looking at considerbly lighter weight machines for a person of older age.

But I guess it's 2 handed equation on heavy machine=power and you do need that for *snow*


For what it is, I'm sure it's fine. But like the other guy said. If you get 8 inches your dad is gonna have to be out in the snow three total times to do the job. Being out in the cold is half the problem at his age.

The Ariens you have? Maybe you could hire a dependable person to come by and use that if he's no longer able to use it.

 

[olddognewtrks]

I had NO spare cash when I lived in Madison, WI ten years ago, and made do with an electric "snow broom" I inherited, about 8' high by 14' wide. My make do solution for the frequent 12-14 inches was to balance it half-sideways on one wheel, and take slices out of the snow. NOT FUN, and it took forever, not to mention the looks I got from passers-by

. Surprised I never burned it up, cuz I put LOTS of hours on it.

You need something real. Don't put yourself in my (former) shoes.

 

[Nick R]

Non-self propelled electric snowthrower that can only move a few inches at a time probably isn't the best choice. Try a self Propelled small gas-powered 2 stage from Sears, or Home Depot.

 

[HM12460]

yup, i owned one, a real pos. hire a neighbor kid to take care of the snow if pops can't handle it any more.