Is 'Useful electric snow blower" an oxymoron?

[Moserkr]

I live where theres more serious snow than what you get. But theres many city people who have moved up here into the mtns and they are already programmed (CA) to go for electric everything. It's funny in a sad way to watch them struggle and fail. Im not opposed to electric once the batteries can last a lot longer both per charge and lifetime.

If it were me Id get a gas one with electric start. My red craftsman is pushing 15 years old and just hums along. It struggles on our worst days with 3-4' of snow, but a foot is easy. It will always be worth something to resell, cant say that about anything electric yet. That said, you have a gas one for the worst days already, just not electric start. Maybe add a corded electric to the quiver for the lesser snow days?

Sadly I probably still shovel more snow than most people snow-blow in a year. See my truck?? Hahaha

 

[thusby]

I always find the shovel to be a good way to get exercise in midwinter.

 

[winmag]

A single stage "snow thrower" is perfect for that (up to 15" of snow). Something like the Toro that was mentioned previously. They're light and maneuverable, and mine cranks first pull every time. It has an electric start but I've never needed it. I'll never go back to shoveling. It's just so much faster and efficient than shoveling.

The only thing it won't do is throw wet snow twice. It will clear snow from the middle of the driveway off to the side, but if you're doing a big square area where you'd need to throw it farther than about 12' then it struggles to re-throw packed wet snow from the first pass.

I've got the single stage snow thrower and end up doing 5-6 houses every snow [lots of old people on my block]. A neighbor has a big heavy 2 stage which will throw anything but it's a pain to crank and run. Then another neighbor has an electric and it's useless; he always ends up shoveling.

 

[elkduds]

I always find the shovel to be a good way to get exercise in midwinter.

Would you still if you were facing full replacement of both shoulders and a chronic herniated disc @ L4-L5? Dr. says snow shovel is my worst enemy.

 

[Moserkr]

Would you still if you were facing full replacement of both shoulders and a chronic herniated disc @ L4-L5? Dr. says snow shovel is my worst enemy.

Nope. But if you must shovel, get the back saver shovel with the bent handle.

 

[pabearhunter]

If they don't have a cord coming out of the machine than it is a BATTERY not electric BLOWER !

 

[nrpate05]

I got an electric last year. I think it works well although I have never owned a snowblower in my life. It does struggle with wet heavy snow (battery life mainly), but here in SE Idaho, it is mostly on the dryer side. I didn't want to deal with the hassle that came with a gas snowblower.

 

[elkduds]

Nope. But if you must shovel, get the back saver shovel with the bent handle.

I have that, it helps.

 

[FREAK]

Had an electric, it was alright. Going back to gas. Somehow they multiplied and had offspring.

Bought a used one then two free ones came up from a guy in Bigsky. He said if you want one you have to take both cause they both need work. A 100 dollars later and some elbow grease and they’re purring like kittens. One of them had a bum wheel and the belt slipped off. The other needed a plug and some work on the carb. Shovel plates are in good shape. I’ll try them all out, keep one and sell the rest.

My wife’s thrilled with all my projects .

 

[Irrelevant]

When an electric can handle this….im in.
View attachment 349617

Our biggest single night dump. Without a tractor it would have taken days.

 

[VikingsGuy]

For nearly as long as we have lived in our present home, I've used a large gas blower for most of the work, and a small 2 cycle gas blower for the deck. We have about a 70 yard gravel driveway.

The large blower is likely out of a job, since I purchased a Kubota L2502 tractor this past spring. I intend to use the front end loader and box blade for most of snow removal.

I don't see an electric snow blower in my future.

You may want to invest in a front quick-attach snow box/pusher. It will be much more efficient than either a FEL bucket or rear box blade

 

[406dn]

You may want to invest in a front quick-attach snow box/pusher. It will be much more efficient than either a FEL bucket or rear box blade

We just don't get enough snow, most of the time, to justify a snow pusher. I agree it would be the more efficient tool for the job.

 

[brocksw]

Our biggest single night dump. Without a tractor it would have taken days.
View attachment 352622

**satire

Fargo Man Arrested For Clearing Snow With Flamethrower

Fargo, ND - Local resident Todd Fox has been detained for "reckless endangerment" and "illegal use of high-powered fire-breathing weaponry" for attacking sn

fmobserver.com

Fox stated that he was simply “fed up with battling the elements” and that he did not possess the willpower necessary to move “four billion tons of white bull shit.”

 

[Hem]

You may want to invest in a front quick-attach snow box/pusher. It will be much more efficient than either a FEL bucket or rear box blade

After a lifetime of shoveling, I cried uncle. Had enough of shoveling driveway, only for it to blow in over night.
Next year upgrade to an angle plow, or something.
Pretty excited for it to snow now, imagine that.

 

[JDH]

I have a big gas (as distinct from big-ass) snow blower, pull start, which I don't use because it takes longer to start and with more effort than shoveling. Are any of the electrics worth having? Here in Canon City we rarely get more than 8" overnight, so I need one that can move a foot of dry to medium wet snow. Shoveling walks and double wide driveway. Or is electric start gas blower a better option? Thanks in advance.

For some reason this statement made me wonder if your snowblower motor has an optional add on electric starter? Similar to small outboards and mowers that have the same motor but are pull start vs electric start.

 

[VikingsGuy]

After a lifetime of shoveling, I cried uncle. Had enough of shoveling driveway, only for it to blow in over night.
Next year upgrade to an angle plow, or something.
Pretty excited for it to snow now, imagine that.View attachment 352669

Our cabin has a quarter mile drive in and big driveway “yard” area around it and the pole barn. Got a LX310 with front snowblower a few years back. I get excited whenever we are up there and get over 2 inches.

 

[Hem]

Our cabin has a quarter mile drive in and big driveway “yard” area around it and the pole barn. Got a LX310 with front snowblower a few years back. I get excited whenever we are up there and get over 2 inches.

Per usual in the high plains when it snows the wind takes all the snow off my front field and creates massive drifts on the driveway/ around the house. 6" of snow usually turns in to 4'-5' drifts.
Bring it!!

 

[TOGIE]

i get such a kick out of suburban folks buying any type of snow blower living on the front range of colorado.

 

[johnp]

A battery powered sno-go is a no-go.

 

[elkduds]

For some reason this statement made me wonder if your snowblower motor has an optional add on electric starter? Similar to small outboards and mowers that have the same motor but are pull start vs electric start.

It does but the cost is more than the machine is worth. I changed the spark plug and figured out through trial and error how to get it going with 3-5 pulls on the cord. Yesterday my Snapper snow blower team did sidewalks and my gravel driveway. No shoulder or back pain today!.