hey cliff, i just had better luck with the old gilsons myself. i know parts are a problem to find, but got a couple up here. i have never once had a problem with the tranny on them and with friction disc drive i have tried them and usualy go through a friction disc about every 2 years on it. not just one snowblower but on 3 diffrent ones. what we blow was considered heavy duty.. the driveway was 1/4 mile and parents refused to buy a plowtruck.lol

 

I got tired of shoveling snow and treated myself to a snowblower. 8hp Murray Blizzard. $699 at Menards. I got it because it has all the controls up on the handlebars.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow......

 

I got the Honda HS724 last winter and love it. It was a bit pricey but when the dealer told me they had 12months same as cash I couldn't refuse. Plus with the tank like treads there is a certain 'coolness' factor. Not enough snow this year yet so I'm bummed!

 

I got an older Snapper 2-stage last year, and it didn't do too bad with the dirt/gravel mess on our driveway. Not much more raking than when we shovelled, since I pointed the chute downward. If you are going to be maneuvering a lot (walkway etc.) I would recommend one with clutches for each wheel to make turning easier.

 

dito on racking off rocks and gravel.. mine is a toro powershift now 17 years old still runs like a top throws dry snow around 30 feet. total cost in repairs over that time about 100 dollars plus oil changes

 

My driveway is about 250 feet of dirt and rocks. I first had a 5 hp blower. It worked but took awhile. Then when it went bad I bought an 8 hp Ariens. I put the plastic cab on it too. Works great. Last winter I fractured my knee, so I can't walk far. I bought a 25 hp Craftsman tractor with a 48" blower. I put a cab on that too. Works great. It would be an overkill for a small driveway though. Keep a supply of shear pins. I break them alot.

 

I chucked it all and moved to sunny Florida ! No more snow blower , shovels rock salt , sand , gettin' stuck , gettin' COLD ........ MAN I HATED WINTER !!

 

We use two Gravely two-wheel tractors with the old-style snowblowers. We have a 28" two-stage paried up to a 1979 10hp and a 34" two-stage paired up to a 1975 12hp. If you don't mind paying for it, there isn't a better machine around for clearing snow. The new ones have aluminum engines, but the older models (up to 1992 or so I think) were all cast iron. The older ones have everything done up in cast iron, and the trannies are planetary, so you have instant forward/reverse, with two speeds in both directions. Couple that with a two-speed axle and you've got four both ways. These things will throw snow up to sixty feet if you want it to, and run well over a foot deep if you take it slow. We used them in PA and now up in the mountains on occasion. It is a sight to behold.

The only drawback is that running off the edge will hurt the lawn. You can adjust the skids, though, and the newer blowers have a remotely adjustable chute. New blowers do couple up to old tractors. People swear by these things, and I'm one of them. I think they got bought out by Ariens, though, so they might not be built anymore. I'm sure they're all over Ebay. You can hook them up to mowers, generators, and all kinds of other stuff. They even have a rotary plow and a bulldozer blade for them.

My usual approach to winter is to stick in Wickenburg. I have been known to head up north into the mountains for Christmas, though, for old times sake.

 

move far enough south so when you ask that question you get laughed at. LOL,LOL,LOL