Most of the smaller (24" to about 30") two stage units seem to be about the same from brand to brand. Most seem to have engines built in some other country, most seem to have multiple speeds, and most seem to be about 5-10 HP. I've been looking at Craftsman, Toro, Troy Bilt, Cub Cadet, etc., and most seem to be priced right around the same. Is there anything about any brand that makes it a better, or worse choice than any other brand? I see little differences in any of them...
Snowblowers - any differences between brands?
- Thread starter grampi
- Start date
There isn't really any great difference in any that you have mentioned.
I'd tend to focus on makes where there are dealers/service/parts networks available.
You are more apt to find that with Toro/Cub Cadet/ Ariens.
Not so much with "Big Box" units like Craftsman or Troy Bilt.
I'd tend to focus on makes where there are dealers/service/parts networks available.
You are more apt to find that with Toro/Cub Cadet/ Ariens.
Not so much with "Big Box" units like Craftsman or Troy Bilt.
At one time (and it may still be the case) Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, and a slew of other names, were all MTD products. I have an MTD made snowblower which is 23+ years old, and works great. Of course it's been maintained, and sacrificial parts are replaced as needed.
Ariens and Honda are well regarded.
Most of my snow clearing is relegated to a plow I put on my Dually during the winter.
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I had a 24'' MTD Yard Machines circa 99-00 with a 5hp Tecumseh ran like a complete champ year after year and seen no maintenance for 15 years of its life until I got it from my dad. left it behind when I moved south. was a great machine. I used all kinds of machines when I worked for the school district I always preferred my home machine over what the district would purchase.
They make "Pro lines"-- Ariens and Husqvarna, maybe more. You'll find them at a legit OPE store, not Lowes Depot. They'll have thicker steel in the stampings, a step up in engine construction (not ratings or ccs but how-its-made), wheel bearings instead of bushings, etc. Like most nice things you'll pay 2x more for not 2x more product.
I believe that many of the brands you mention are made by MTD and differ mostly in terms of paint colors. Ariens is in another class compared to these machines. All you need do to figure that out is have a look at the auger gear. The auger gear on the MTD brands is rather small, sealed and designed to run until failure. The cost of that assembly is such that no-one is ever going to replace one. The auger gear on an Ariens machine is much larger and it has an oil fill plug, meaning that it designed to be serviced.
