[Uncle Albert]

Looking for a snow-blower? something small or light enough to get off a pickup-truck with ramps( with ease) yet good enough for walks and walkways. Simplicity makes one but its two-cycle..... and i'm not willing to find out in a snow-storm that its a joke, or should we stick to gas. and which one?

[Pelican]

Don't write off the 2 stroke blowers! I've got a Toro I use for just the reasons you specify, it's light and easy to throw on and off the truck. It's no joke!! This machine will throw the snow 30 feet! Wet heavy stuff not so far, but it does clear the walk in any event. I'll have to get the model number for you. My machine is older so it doesn't have all the "idiot proof" safety devices on it. I'd never part with it!

[Nebraska]

We have a bunch of Toro 3650's, 2 cycle. Perform like a champ in all snow from 1" up to 14". One man can lift them in and out of a truck with relative ease.

[Uncle Albert]

so should i stick with Toro.. or ?what about the rear wheels.

[Nebraska]

Not sure what you mean about the rear wheels...?? (the snow is cleared before the wheels go over)

One thing that we do is use Heat for 2 cycle engines (comes in a red bottle)... keeps the carb from freezing up. Without it if it gets to 10 degrees or less you will have them freezing up.

We have spare scraping edges and flaps....these wear out with use.

[cutntrim]

If you're after 4-stroke, the Hondas are good machines. I've got two of their lightweight single-stage units and they can be lifted by one man. Being Hondas, the engines are very reliable.

[Nebraska]

Keep in mind that we get about 10 snow events per season here(12 max!)..... I bet Cutntrim gets that during the month of December!

[Uncle Albert]

Thanks, have you heard or Simplicity?

[GLAN]

Yes, heard of and seen Simplicity.....The equipment shop I deal with in fact had two in for preseason repairs......problem was they do not stock parts.....engines are engines so they have those parts.......but anything to do with the machine they had to out source the parts.

Something you may want to consider.


I have an Ariens and a Toro 2 stage, 4 cycle throwers for when the snow thick.........other than that......we use the smallest Toro 2 cycle, single stage throwers.......Can easily throw one on top of the salt spreader bungy it down and away we go. I have a guy come in to do walks at a church property and residentials on my own street, He does it alone or brings in someone to help him.....what ever the conditions are.....They prefer the small Toro no matter how much snow has fallen......

The small toro is so easy to use and throw around.............Me personaly.......I prefer the larger machines......maybe that is just cause I know how to use them better.......my guys try maneuvering them like a walk behind mower and find it difficult........lol.

[Uncle Albert]

So if i get a small blower make it Toro,and it should kick butt!!!? Now the Big ? on charging for walk-way snow service????

[cutntrim]

Well, you can charge; per season, per event, per event/per inch, or per hour. Easiest way (esp. for the customer) is a flat seasonal amount usually invoiced monthly (e.g. Dec-Mar). Figure an hourly rate you wish to achieve x how many hours to complete the job x the average number of plow events per season for your area. ( e.g. $50/hr x 1.25hrs x 12 = $750 which divided by 4 can be rounded to $190/mo.)

There is no right or wrong way to price the job, but once you've priced it out, your stuck with that pricing for the entire winter (good or bad), so try to be as accurate on your estimate as you can.

[Bill Schwab]

We ran those little Snapper brand two stroke blowers in the pick up truck we plowed with. We had some wetter snows, and the guys fought them somewhat, but 85% of the time they worked well. then we converteda couple hydro drive walk behind mower to walk behind plows. Those kicked butt.

[Pelican]

I calculate the time times the truck rate for the sidewalks. I do my residential work by myself so when I'm blowing, I could have been plowing instead, so I apply the truck rate for sidewalks.

If you have a dedicated sidewalk crew you could come up with a specific rate for them and use that. You'll have to get some time clearing the walks under your belt to get an idea of the time required. Most of my residential walks take about 5 minutes total, including loading and unloading the blower.

[Uncle Albert]

thanks-alot!