18 Track Drive Snowblowers Compared
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- This video takes a look at and compares all the track drive snowblowers Made in the U.S.
Ariens Compact 24 RapidTrak
Ariens Platinum 28 RapidTrak
Ariens Pro 28 RapidTrak Hydro
Ariens Pro Alpine Edition 28 Hydro EFI RapidTrak
Ariens Pro Mountaineering 32 Hydro EFI RapidTrak
Ariens Pro Kraken 32 Hydro EFI RapidTrak
Cub Cadet 2X 26" TRAC INTELLIPOWER™ Snow Blower
Cub Cadet 3X 26" TRAC Snow Blower
Cub Cadet 3X 30" TRAC Snow Blower
Honda HSS724AT / HSS724ATD
Honda HSS928AT / HSS928ATD
Honda HSS1332AT / HSS1332ATD
Husqvarna ST 424T
Husqvarna ST 427T
Husqvarna ST 430T
Toro 28" (71 cm) Power TRX HD Commercial Snow Blower 1428 OHXE (38890)
Toro 32" (81 cm) Power TRX HD Commercial Snow Blower 1432 OHXE (38891)
Troy-Bilt Storm Tracker 2890 Snow Blower
0:00 Introduction
4:00 How each one throws snow
7:30 Track Drives
16:45 Chutes and Chute Capacity
24:00 Snow Capacity
30:20 Engines
39:10 Slid Shoes
41:03 Operator Controls
49:17 Lighting
50:24 Please Subscribe! - Jak na to + styl
Feel free to leave a comment below. (I do moderate the comments so it may not show up right away) Thanks for watching and please Subscribe!
Paul I have a new Husqvarna 430 snowblower even in high speed it doesn’t move very fast does it require brake in time or is it something else?
Wheeled or track? If it's wheeled, try adjusting the rod from the speed control down to the transmission. There is a threaded portion up under the dash. Spin the connector two turns to make the rod "longer." Reassemble and try it out. Don't change it too much or you will change your neutral position and how fast the reverse is.
The top speed on the track version is about a "normal" walking pace. It is the slowest of all the track snowblowers. You can try adjusting the transmission rod but it won't make much of a difference.
Finally, If it is slower than when you bought it - take it back to the dealer and have them check the tranny. It may be going bad...
Hey Paul after watching your videos last year I bought Ariens rapid trak pro but track isn’t staying in track or drive mode . It seems as though the pin isn’t locking in the way it should . I’ve seen people talking about this same issue in other forums . Do you have any idea about this ? I’d be willing to pay for phone consult if necessary !
Follow the cable from the hand lever down to the track locking mechanism. The flat finger the cable is attached to locks into slots for the different positions. That finger may be sticking (a shot of WD-40 should lube it) or the spring that pulls the finger into the slot may be out of adjustment, loose or broken.
If you can't figure it out I suggest taking it back to the dealer and have a mechanic look at it. If you've only had it a year it will be under warranty.
@@PaulSikkema thanks will give it a try . I ordered it through Lowes online not sure if they do any service work ?
Some of the best and easy to understand SB machine content on the tube! Thanks!
Paul I really enjoy your videos and knowledge of the machines. Thank you for taking the time to put these together, they are enjoyable to watch even just for leisure! Best - Joe
Your vidios are great down to earth easy to understand, including your new vidio on this new toro power max 24,as I just recevied mine 2day,can't wait to use it,here in the north, sudbuy Ont lots of snow 10 to 20cm average,thanks again keep on trucking.
Paul I just wanted to say thank you so much for your insight, dedication, and hard work put into all these videos. After watching all your snowblower videos I ended up buying an Ariens alpine edition 28” rapidtrak. You were a key part of helping me make my decision. As you said in another one of your videos, the auto turn is amazing. All the best to you and I wish you all the best
Great video’s! I bought the platinum 30” Ariens and returned it the next day to put a down payment Ariens Kraken. So excited.
What an amazingly edifying video. I can't imagine how much research went into making this, and you seemed to regurgitate the spec details - much in the way these machines throw snow - and without the benefit of notes! Thank you so much, Paul. New subscriber here, for sure!
Thank you! I've had a lot of brilliant engineers teach me everything about their snowblowers over the last 20 years. I did forget to mention a few things. For example, the Ariens EFI special edition engines and the fact that they automatically adjust the fuel mixture for high altitudes.
Wow, nice collection Paul.
Thank you for another Great video Paul. Your videos have sold me on the Airens rapid track, professional series, EFI, Kraken. Would love to see you review the Kraken.
I won't get a chance this year but I do have a walk-around of the Kraken with Ariens snow manager here:
It starts about the 18 minute mark. czcams.com/video/M_S9pqb77gI/video.html
Love videos like this thank you!!
I started using an ariens last year. I used it more in wheel mode more than track in regular snow and when I had to dig into packed tall drifts. But for smaller drifts, the track drive just ate right through it. I am still learning coming from using a wheel drive.
Thanks for the info👍
The two machines on the end are the best
I have the Made In USA Briggs & Stratton 420cc Polar Force 2018 engine.
I think it is better than the Vietnam engine
I did the impeller mod, added a rpm/hr meter, & put LED lights
on each side with a bridge rectifier, capacitor, & an On/Off switch on the dashboard.
The rpm is continuously variable & has been tweaked up a little…
… in case I want to show off.
The rpm/hr meter is “Runleader” and is lighted
& turns flashing red when I reach 4000+ rpms 😳..wait.. I think I set it at 3800 rpm, but the engine will go to 4k+.
So, without mentioning the brand-> you know what it is.
Thanks again Paul, for your reviews & your info was part of my decision to buy it.
Very informative. Thanks
the screws on my MTD made snowblower , i replaced the self taping screws that attach the handle bar to main body of the snowblower with stainless steel bolts with and nylon locking nuts because these the screws were always coming loose .
I ended up with The ariens 28'' SHO Platinum. Hoping i like the rapid track system. Im coming from an old MTD trigger steer track drive that i loved. Steering 1 handed to turn around was so nice. Worried the Ariens will require lots of force manipulating around, but your speaking highly of it gives me hope its not a huge workout.
Thanks for the video. Helps a lot.
Update?
Thanks Paul!
Nice snowblower love it ty Paul I have Arien 414cc Sho Platinum 2019 love it (ty Ron Kapuskasing
Good presentation Paul. There's one specification that no one mentions (manufacturers or reviewers) that I find pretty important ... and that's the chassis ground clearance (body between the tracks). I've got 2 tracked machines and this definitely plays a role in how well the machines perform 'off the driveway'. More clearance here really helps when clearing out deep drifts; for example - spring cleanup between houses. It would be great if you added this bit of info in your comparisons. Thanks.
Yes, I didn't talk about the clearance on all the machines. The Husqvarna is the only one I mentioned.
Husqvarna is the worst. I've had it stuck in the back yard a lot.
Honda has the next lowest clearance though no one complains about it getting stuck.
Troy-Bilt/Cub Cadet have the same clearance as their wheeled units.
The Ariens RapidTraks have plenty of clearance for any area you want to clear. Because of the way the tracks work it is the ONLY tracked snowblower that will climb steps. (Or up a steep ramp into your pickup)
The Toro has the most clearance. It beats the Ariens RapidTrak by 1/2 inch.
@@PaulSikkema Awesome info. Thanks!
Very thorough review, thanks. One statistic that I always try to get from the manufacturer is the range of ground speeds available. I adjust my speed to just below where the machine starts to snow plow. That seems to be the sweet spot for making the snow go somewhere else the fastest. What that speed is depends largely on how deep, wet and packed the snow is. The deeper the snow the slower the speed. Maintaining auger and impeller speed is key.
Very good explanation! Better than mine. There is a big difference in the capacity of the snowblowers in this video. The Toro and Ariens have the most capacity and it's very hard to get them to "snowplow."
@@PaulSikkema It's a balancing act. You want enough power to keep the impeller turning at its maximum RPM for any load. That means snow is thrown the furthest. Extra horsepower past that doesn't buy you much since the RPM doesn't increase and we already assumed what we have is enough for the load. Since the impeller is at maximum RPM the maximum volume it can make go away is essentially constant and related to the volume that is swept by the paddles. If the machine's forward motion feeds too much snow into the augers than the impeller can process then since it has to go somewhere else it generally goes out the front.
I've toyed with the idea of changing the pulley diameters so that the maximum impeller RPM is higher but that would cause premature wear on the whole mechanism. Like I said, it's a balancing act.
I suspect Honda is pretty close to the sweet spot for "normal" to "heavy" snow loads whereas Ariens Pos are overpowered for anything but snowmagedon conditions. I like both but tend to prefer tracks for everything but turning and "roading" speed. I can live without electric chute control and heated hand grips but I do notice when they are missing.
Your logic is sound but remember - the Pro Ariens, Toro, and Honda units are designed for commercial work. When you have to clear a lot of snow such as areas of ski resorts, city/school sidewalks, commercial parking lot, etc., the extra HP really speeds up the process.
When you have the HP to clear 12-20 inches as fast as you can walk it makes a BIG difference over 8=10 hours of use.
In regards to your last sentence the Ariens RapidTrak is the best for turning and roading speed. The large drive wheel really makes a difference in speed and the ability to lift the back of the tracks makes it just as maneuverable as a wheeled unit. With the AutoTurn steering it will "zero-turn" at the end of a run.
@@PaulSikkema Commercial units do tend to be more robust. The extra horsepower may not buy you much in terms of immediate performance but in terms of lasting a long time a lower stressed engine is the way to go, within reason.
Yes, Toro chute control is the best, Have an Toro power max 828 OXE whell 2011 just love it Have adjust ed the motor to 3600rpm to get the Extra snow throw
I love the Toro shoot controller
Thanks to my neighbors I had a chance to try a Rapidtrack in January, and it was.. interesting. The thing is unstoppable, but the nature of my back injuries and their sensitivity to side forces would mean I'd have to tip toe a little until I got used to driving without trigger steering. Not a surprise that trying to muscle against the autosteer/track drive is a bad idea though. I did confirm that the lifting forces required to lock the track in the dig in position are borderline high enough to aggravate my back, so wheels may be my only option, as I'm not quite ready to go full Kraken and have it all be electric!
One of my other neighbors has a new Deluxe 30 wheeled unit that he let me try around the same time; it also throws really well, although I must say my impeller modded Troy Bilt can throw almost as far as a STOCK Ariens, but the Ariens clears snow from the auger/impeller SO much faster and more efficiently. After driving both I'm actually pondering going with the Great Lakes 24" EFI for the lighter weight, as my wife and I aren't getting any younger or less broken. I don't like giving up the width, but it might be the smart play for the long term? I think net/net the ability of an Ariens to take fuller cuts without bogging down might make it sixes in terms of how long I'd be out there.
Side Note: I just got back from a trip to central Wisconsin for a wedding, and managed to fit in a trip to the Ariens museum. It was charming, and I even got a picture of me in the giant snow globe. ;-> I did try to wrangle a factory tour, but they were retooling for the 24/25 models, and were under a veil of secrecy. If you are in the area it's worth going over for an hour to check it out.
The Great Lakes 24" EFI actually has more capacity than the Deluxe 30. 73 tons per hour verses 71 for the Deluxe 30.
If you get a lot of snow the narrower width will not make that much difference in how fast you get done.
Yes, the Ariens museum is worth the trip. I've had many Gravely mowers/tractors and Gravely tillers over the years so it's always fun to see which ones are on display.
Paul,
I discovered your channel recently, and want to compliment you on some very thorough and helpful work! I was hoping to get a recommendation on a new snow thrower, and you’ve tested all the models I’d be likely to choose from, so here goes.
I’m currently on season 7 using a TroyBilt XP3090 Storm. It’s given me good service, but there are some areas that could be improved for my needs here in the Utah mountains.
They are:
I need more throw distance and height. In the big years it’s not uncommon for the banks alongside the driveway to get so tall and steep that the 3090 can no longer throw high and far enough to clear them, causing a lot of extra work. I should mention that I’ve done the impeller mod where I’ve added rubber flaps to get a tighter seal to the housing, and that has helped a LOT, especially with wet snow, but it’s still not enough.
I’d like it to run cleaner. I’m living at 5000’ and my impression is the 3090 is running a little fat, even though the plug doesn’t look too bad. Sucking down less fumes would be nice.
Our concrete driveway isn’t particularly steep, but it is sealed and slippery, meaning the uphill direction can be a wrestling match. I’m not getting any younger, so both me and my vertically challenged but very feisty Wisconsin raised wife would benefit if the machine took less herding/wrestling.
The 3090 does tend to porpoise in many conditions, again, making for more effort and opportunity to aggravate my aging back. This is especially true when trying to clear the mountain the plow leaves on the apron. I normally have to just inch through that and make numerous little bites before I finally break through and can start making full passes.
It would be nice if it cleared snow faster so I could spend less time out there. On the big days I often have to clear twice or even three times a day to keep up, so a machine with more clearing capability would reduce the time in the elements. We love winter, but would like to have more of the upper hand! Again, in a big year we might get several feet of snow, and have banks 4-6’ high next to the drive on both sides. The driveway is roughly 80’ long by 30’ wide at the widest, and at that wide point I can only throw in one direction away from the garage for the full width of two stalls. There again, having the arm for the deep ball would save me moving the snow twice.
The machine must be able to cope with ingesting some gravel, as our parking strip is gravel and the landscaping is lava rock. I make every effort to avoid both, but some is unavoidable. Prior to the impeller mod the 3090 would jam fairly often, but now it’s pretty bulletproof in that regard. I don’t want to go backwards there, as stopping in the middle of the job to chisel a jammed rock out is not acceptable.
I really like the joystick chute control, and would like to keep that. The 3090 has had some reliability issues in that regard as I’ve replaced the controller once and after working for a year it’s acting up again, but when it works it will spoil you in a hurry. It’s definitely a time saver when you can arc the turns and run the chute into position as you come to bear on the next pass.
The 3090 is a bit pokey in reverse, so bonus if the new machine is a little faster there. I never run out of forward speed, but that is just as much due to porpoising under load as it is that I can’t move any faster.
While I don’t plan on clearing a large paver area, I may run over some small sections of same, and I don’t want the machine to dig in and mar/damage those.
Extra points if the machine would allow me to clear out our nearby fire hydrant that is 25’ from the road and usually gets snowed/plowed in quite badly. It’s unimproved terrain that is far from flat, so the ability to ride a little high would be beneficial. This is NOT job 1 for this machine, so I don’t want to compromise in other areas to get this. I’d rather hire it out and make my life easier everywhere else.
We have Lowes and Home Depot nearby, as well as an actual dealer for power equipment that carries Ariens, Honda, and Toro.
Thoughts?
Thank you!
Jim
If you want a snowblower to throw the snow a long way the Toro, Ariens and Honda are the best choices. All three of these brands will last you the rest of your life.
1. The Ariens RapidTrak will throw snow 50-55 feet and has all the traction you'll ever need. The RapidTrak Pro is also the fastest tracked snowblower on the market - it's as fast as a wheeled unit. The three special edition Pro units all have EFI engines so automatically adjust the fuel mixture to your altitude.
2. The 1428/1432 Toro will throw snow 50-60 feet, but they only come in a wheeled version. They are heavier than your Troy-Bilt so they will have better traction. (Toro does make a tracked unit but it is awkward and slow)
2. The Honda 28 and 32-inch snowblowers will also throw snow 50-60 feet but don't have the Toro or Ariens Pro capacity. Honda owners love their snowblowers - until they use a RapidTrak. My biggest issue with Honda right now is they can't make up their mind if they are going to continue building snowblowers. They stopped building them for almost two years and in most areas of the county they are impossible to get.
I looked at the local dealer, and the only pro model they had on the floor was the Kraken. Very cool, but massive and maybe would appear I was compensating for something. ;-> If I got that I"d have to go all in on a Team Ariens coat, Kraken parking only sign above the third garage bay, maybe a tattoo... However, on the off chance they were anxious to move one, I donate a kidney, and I could get the CFO to sign off on it (doubtful on several counts, but you never know) how is the effort to use compare between the 28" Pro Hydro Edition Vs the Kraken? I'm in no rush, and can wait for a 28" even until next season, but it's good to have options, right? @@PaulSikkema
You may tempt the CFO by showing her how easy it is to use. czcams.com/video/g9V9LG22Ejg/video.html
If you want to work at night or throw snow over your neighbors garage. It even has lights shining down at your feet. czcams.com/video/KBmyNT5tXIY/video.html
I have the 28 inch Pro RapidTrak and have used the Kraken up at the Ariens factory - They both handle a lot easier than the other tracked machines.
The 28 Pro wheeled is also balanced well so it's easy to use.
One more: The Pro will throw like this one. czcams.com/video/9b-luYHjMWI/video.html
I think these are amazing snow blowers how ever they are way to much machine for me. When I do move back to Montana I will probably trade in my little 824 Power Max for a 1030 HD OHAE. Where I live right now my 824 is a beast for my driveway and we don't get that much snow gut a few feet.
Love your reviews of these machines, thanks Paul. I’m looking to purchase an Ariens Pro Mountaineering machine and am wondering if you have any insight as to what if any new features would be for the next release of this model. I know there a few machines from last year still available but not sure to buy now or wait to see what’s new. Thank you.
There will be no changes to the Mountaineering machine this fall. Ariens will be offering some new "tech" but they won't introduce that until Mid-Oct.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul, looks like just a price increase for this year from Ariens website and a purchase of last years machine will be in the works!
Hey Paul.
Your reviews have been a huge help. I'm here in Ontario Canada.
I am struggling to make a decision between a Platinum 30 SHO vs a professional 28 Alpine edition. The difference is about 1000.Cad. I wasn't thinking the Professional 28… because it's only a 200.00 difference to the alpine at my local dealer. I was considering track, but decided it wasn't needed as there are no major hills. Our house sits low on the property, so getting snow away from the house is the goal, for the spring melt. I'm going from a 600.00 Lowe's intro snowblower, to this. So it's seems to be a bigger decision.
Just having trouble decideding if the alpine is worth it. There isn't much out there on the Alpine model that I can find.
Interesting - there is a $1500 price difference down here.
The Alpine is a commercial snowblower - the Platinum is a residential grade.
Upgrades include.
Commercial engine. More torque - longer life.
EFI. Beside easy starting the EFI engines have more power and an electronic governor so they have more available power.
Commercial grade components. Frame, square tube handles, one inch axle, commercial grade Auto-Turn, commercial grade hydrostatic transmission. Commercial skid shoes.
Commercial Impeller and front auger. The Alpine will throw snow 60 feet!
Alpine upgrades. Front light, electric chute control (I really like Ariens electric chute)
You may not "need" the RapidTrak but you'll quickly learn to really like it. With the trak in wheel mode the snowblower is perfectly balanced so it's very easy to turn. In the normal mode it's just as fast as a wheeled unit and I think you can go faster with it than a wheeled snowblower. The dig-in mode is really great for cutting back snow piles that have been sitting for a while. It just powers right through them.
If you have the money to spend the Alpine is a good value. $600 upgrade for the RapidTrak, $300 for the commercial EFI engine. Commercial frame, handles, electric chute, impeller, front light, and AutoTurn all add up to a lot more.
@@PaulSikkema Thanks so much Paul. The dealer said they are having trouble moving the alpine. Which was 5600 tax in. They discounted it and have no tax so it's at 4800 all in.
Really appreciate the quick feed back. I'm picking it up today!
Great video Paul! Appreciate all the information and comments you provide in your videos and website. I am looking for a new 24" snow blower that is easy to handle and works good for hard pack snow. Leaning towards the Ariens 24" Platinum for the power and capacity for end of driveway and clearing backyard snow. I am in North Dakota and snow drifts in hard and the snow plow leave a very hard ridge. The Ariens Compact 24" with RapidTrak is same price and looks like it may work better but I am concerned that smaller capacity would not keep up to the additional traction in hard snow. Would there be any suggestions or information out there? Thank you.
If you get a lot of hard packed drifts I would recommend the 24 inch Platinum mainly because it has the capacity to move a lot more snow than the Compact.
It is a heavier machine than the Compact so it should do well with your drifts. But, If you do have traction issues you can take half-passes through the hard-pack, and/or Ariens does offer chains for the Platinum.
@@PaulSikkema - Thank you for the fast response. I appreciate your recommendation and sharing all of your knowledge.
Paul I very much appreciate the time and detail that go into all of your videos and on your website!! I will be buying a Toro or Ariens Commercial / Pro 28" model in the next year. I not only blow my driveway but also a back parking / driveway in my back yard. The autosteer vs trigger. Does one perform better on un even terrain. I am leaning towards a wheeled Toro 1428 or the Rapid track Ariens unit as you mentioned the Toro TRX would dig into the grass. I have heard the autosteer is harder to get used to on bumpy surfaces which my yard is. Have you found this true? I currently have a 1989 Simplicity pro model that has fully locked differential. It works pretty good but is getting tired. Thanks!!
I really enjoy using the AutoTurn on turf because 1. The snowblower is balanced so it just floats over the grass. 2. With the RapidTrak it really goes straight (or in any direction you want it to go) without a struggle on your part.
Here is a video for you to watch. Both the Arien RapidTrak and the Toro wheeled unit has the automatic steering. (Toro uses the same auto-locking differential) The Husqvarna uses trigger steering. czcams.com/video/XReNrugAjG8/video.html
The Toro is also balanced well so it goes exactly where you point it. No struggles keeping it going straight.
The only time you may have to hang onto the AutoTurn more if you have a wheeled unit and you are trying to clear frozen snow up against a curb or there are large frozen chunks of snow frozen to your driveway. Otherwise, they are easy to use and they go EXACTLY where you point them.
I use the Honda for years never had one issue with that machine
Awesome review bud. The only thing not answered for my needs is , can you push down on the handles , drive ahead while raising the bucket to get up a 5 inch vertical rise from my walkway elevation up to my driveway as my old wheeled blower can.
The Ariens RapidTrak will go up and down stairs like a goat. It's easier than a wheeled unit.
The Toro Power TRX will go up and down but you have to really push down on the handles to get the front up high enough.
Honda, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt really won't go up stairs or a ramp. It's to hard to push down and get the bucket high enough.
Picked up a used 28 sho today.thankz for all your info. One question. What lube do you use for all moving parts and do you wait a certain time to cover those lubed parts with wd-40 or other coating to keep ice and h20 out?
Don't worry about ice and moisture - Ariens snowblowers are designed to work in harsh conditions.
The only spot you may want to lube every few years is two spots inside the transmission case. I cover where to lube with axle grease in this video starting around minute 51:00 czcams.com/video/KxXuNZWDLYg/video.html
Thanks Paul. Awesome video. My house has a 500 ft driveway but in western MD we don’t get many big snows. Sometimes a foot but rarely more and usually 6-8 inches is an event. I’m thinking for that reason a fast machine might be better than one with giant capacity. Thoughts on a good electric start model under $3-4k?
Ariens Deluxe 30 EFI, Ariens Platinum 30, Toro Power Max HD 1030, Toro Power Max HD 1232.
All are a little wider than most and will quickly clear your long driveway.
Light fluffy snow ❄️ come out to the inter mountain west we have some of the best power snow in the world.
Very interesting and comprehensive review of these machines, thank you for providing this report. I do have a question, what is your opinion of the Cub Cadet 3X system. Is the three stage setup really and advantage over the two stage machines?
No, Too many moving parts.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you for the quick reply Paul. Much appreciated.
@@PaulSikkemaI completely agree . I’m not sold on there 3 stage set up
My 30 year old Toro Powershift 1132's transmission finally died today. I've been looking at the wheeled Ariens machines but have seen many complaints that Auto-steering is too sensitive, and on anything other than virgin snow the owners are continuously fighting to keep their machines going in a straight line. My driveways always have bumps and icy spots. What's your thoughts in regards to this issue they bring up?
The Ariens AutoTurn is arguably the most popular snowblower in the 28-33 inch size on the market right now.
I suggest that you look closely at the "many complaints." 1. Most of the complaints come from one or two people and the Internet amplified those concerns because those few people had large CZcams Channels. 2. If you trace the complaints back to the source most of them come from around 2015. The AutoTurn was new and different so a lot of the complaints came from people who liked the old trigger-steer system.
Plain and simple - spend an hour with the Ariens AutoTurn (or Toro's automatic steering) and then spend an hour with a trigger steer snowblower the same size. I bet you will buy the Auto-Turn. It is so easy to use and once you get a little practice you'll come back and tell me it's the best snowblower you've ever owned.
Finally, go to snowblowerforum.com and ask the Ariens owners how they like their AutoTurn. You'll hear the same thing from them you just read from me.
Nice video Paul. I'm looking for a recommendation. I have a remote property in Northern WI (2 miles from the U.P. border). Big snow country. Driveway is grass (with a tiny bit of gravel) and is 125 feet long and is fairly steep. When I go up to the property, I will need to clear the driveway and clear a few other paths (to the outhouse and fire pit, etc). The shed where I will be storing the snow blower has a doorway entry of 30" wide. I am off grid (no power for a plug-in electric start). I don't need to blow the snow very far (10 feet max). I'm looking for a machine that will be a good fit for my situation and it has to be super reliable. Thanks in advance!!!
Since you don't clear the snow everytime it snows the snow will pack and get a lot harder to push through. 12 inches of snow will act like you are pushing through 20 inches. Clearing on grass snowblowers with wheels will have a lot of issues trying to get enough traction.
So, I would recommend a heavy snowblower with tracks.
My first choice is the Ariens RapidTrak 28 Pro. With the wingnuts that hold the drift cutters on removed it will go through a 30 inch door. It has a fuel shut off so you can turn the fuel off when you are done with it and let it run until the carb is empty. That will insure the snowblower will start the next time you want to use it - even if it's been six months or more. I know it's expensive but you may also want to use TruFuel which has a shelf life of two years.
(Ariens does have two models with on board 12 volt electric start but they need a 36 inch door.)
If you can't spend that much money Ariens also has the Ariens Platinum RapidTrak 28 SHO. It's a lighter machine with a smaller engine so it will get the job done - it will just take a little longer...
Check out these snowblowers here: www.ariens.com/en-us/power-equipment/snow-products/snow-blowers/track
@@PaulSikkema Thank you, Paul. When you say "Ariens RapidTrak 28 Pro", are you referring to the "Professional 28 Hydro Rapidtrak" or just the "Professional 28"? I just want to make sure I'm looking at the right one. If that is the one, yes, I see the black wing nuts on the side. So you think with those removed it will go through a 30" door? Alternatively, sounds like I could save $900 and go with the Ariens Platinum RapidTrak 28 SHO. Does that model also have the fuel shut off feature?
Yes, I'm recommending the Professional 28 Hydro Rapidtrak. You need the tracks for the steep part of your drive and clearing packed down snow on grass.
The auger housing is 28 inches and the skid shoes are 3/4 inch each. It will be tight and I assuming you can open the door completely so it doesn't block the door.
The Ariens Platinum RapidTrak 28 SHO will save you money but it is not as heavy so it won't push through that settled snow as easily as the Pro model.
I've been enjoying your snow blower reviews. Do you do these reviews as a hobby? Did you used to sell them?
Just a hobby. I did own a landscape company in Northern Illinois in the 90's.
can you use the transport mode and do a gravel driveway?
Transport mode will leave 1-2 inches of snow. It's better to adjust the skid shoes so you have 1/8-1/4 inch clearance under the scraper bar. Once the driveway is frozen you won't pick up any rocks.
Under what conditions or for what kind of user do you recommend a hydro drive? It seems like a neat to have kind of feature but I don’t need the other features on the hydro drive machines. Also, I’ve always been able to find an acceptable speed with the standard ground drives. Thanks. Great vids.
Hydro units are typically for commercial operators. They are maintenance free and last many years. You can change your speed without stopping to change gears. That said,
If you get 80 plus inches a year and want the biggest, baddest snowblower with a large engine most of the heavy duty pro units only come with a hydro.
Specifically, a very nice advantage of the Ariens RapidTrak Pro Hydro is when you have areas to clear that require you to turn the machine a lot. The combination of the AutoTurn and hydro allow you to never stop the unit to change the speed, into reverse and back into forward (with a little practice :)
I understood most of that from your videos, although I’m having difficulty invisioning turning around without stopping. I guess I should have asked when it’s valuable to have infinite speeds as I’ve always been able to find a good speed with the standard transmission. If it’s more for long life with no service, that I can understand for a commercial operation.
Infinite speed is great for commercial areas that have drifts/bare spots/driven on snow. You can change your speed without stopping.
@@matthewbono3273 Turning without stopping can be done with either type of transmission. Its more a matter of how easy it is to turn the machine and how hard is it to change the discharge chute direction. The optimal is to have the chute facing right ( due to the impeller rotation throwing right is a bit better on most machines), go down the centre of the area to be cleared and turn counter clockwise at the end of each swath. Turns become less frantic as you progress and you don't have to change the chute.
If conditions are such that you can't do that then it becomes harder to do and being able to change speed or even direction "on the fly" become nicer.
Being able to get the speed "just right" is more a measure of how finicky I am. The last two machines I got were a Honda with hydrostatic and an Ariens with belt, in that order. I prefer the hydrostatic for the reasons above. I prefer belts due to more efficient energy transmission, the lower initial cost and easier DIY maintenance. Both work very well and have given no problems. Local dealer support can also be a concern. I have worn out belts in the past with other blowers but not yet with the Ariens. I have not worn out a hydrostatic transmission but am still working on both.
Which is best for long, steep concrete driveway?
The Ariens RapidTrak
Paul. For about $700 more, I can get the Ariens Platinum Rapidtrak 28". Is that worth the extra amount? I live in PA, so not a crazy amount of snow, but my driveway is 200 ft with 23% grade. 4 car garage. Thanks
You'll love the Platinum RapidTrak. It's a good fit for your driveway
@@PaulSikkema thanks Paul. Was worried the Ariens was too overkill for my area. $700 is not chump change but not too crazy.
What do you think of the hyndai HS7080E 375cc
Chinese junk. They don't have a dealer network and it will take months to get parts.
Great video! I would like your opinion on which is a better choice for my 500 foot gravel and sloped driveway near Deer Park, WA. My budget can afford either the Ariens Compact 24 RapidTrak or the Cub Cadet 2X 26" TRAC INTELLIPOWER™ Snow Blower. I'm 62 years old and in fairly good shape, but not getting any younger, so factor that in. We normally get about 8-18" of snow in a heavy event (obviously it can exceed that and drift much higher, but that's about the norm). Our snow varies from powder to slush depending on the conditions. Right now, my concern between these two choices are performance on sloped gravel (about 10 percent grade), turning, and features that come with each. It seems like the Cadet comes with more luxuries like hand warmers, but your reviews make me think that the Ariens is probably superior in performance. Which would you choose?
Capacity-wise the Ariens Compact and Cub Cadet are about the same. The Ariens is easier to use - the Cub Cadet does have more features. That said, for your long driveway and the amount of snow you can get I actually recommend the Ariens Platinum RapidTrak 28. With more power and wider width it will save you 20-30% in time over the ones you picked.
@@PaulSikkema unfortunately the Ariens Platinum RapidTrak 28 costs about $1,000 more than I can get the Compact 24 for. I can't really justify the additional expense to get the job done faster, particularly since I'm retired and have all the time that I need :)
Do you really need a track? The PLATINUM 24 SHO has all the power you will ever need and the capacity to handle any snow you get. It's about the same price as the Compact RapidTrak The Platinum is balanced so that all the weight is on the axle so it has very good traction for a wheeled snowblower.
@@PaulSikkema Yes, because my driveway has a fairly steep slope. Several people I know say that a tracked snowblower functions much better than wheeled snowblowers on steep slopes like mine.
How can you say that the Toros do not clog? I have an 824 In wet snow it clogs up a lot. So much so that it is unusable.
When your snowblower is clogging do your neighbors have even more issues with their machines? I ask because your snowblower is the best in its size/price area and something may be wrong with it.
1 With the engine off find the tension spring on the impeller cable. It follows the handles down and is right by the rear case of the transmission.
2. Push down on the impeller handle, the cable will tighten and then that spring will expand about 3/8 inch. If the cable doesn't tighten and/or the spring doesn't expand shorten the cable by loosening the nut at the top of the spring.
3. If you can't get the cable spring to tighten you probably need a new impeller belt. See your local Toro dealer for help with that.
In this video - 13:00 mark I show you how to adjust the spring and cable. czcams.com/video/bPt0giwWcWw/video.html
I will use premium just to get no ethanol fuel in my equipment.
What is the difference between the Alpine Rapidtrak and the Professional Rapidtrak?
The Alpine edition has all the features of the Pro and adds an EFI engine and a six inch front light bar.
If you live and use the snowblower at higher elevations it is a great choice because the engine automatically adjusts the fuel mixture for the higher altitude.
At lower elevations the EFI is more responsive to heavy loads and your will see an improvement in blowing heavy snow over the conventional carb'd engine.
@@PaulSikkema thank you very much for replying so quickly and thoroughly. I think your videos are excellent and very informative. I live in NY near the border with VT & MA about 1500ft elevation.
I use a platinum SHO 28 track (921052 bought in 2017) to clear my 350 ft gravel driveway. The half near the house is flat and about 2 cars wide. The other half slopes down to the road and is a bit over 1 car wide.
The SHO 28 does great for the first 4 or 5 storms but eventually reverse gears stop working unless I pull on it to help get it going. This past Saturday none of the gears would work. I tried adjusting the traction drive clutch and the speed selector lever but it didn't help.
I had my dealer pick it up yesterday to fix it. They service it before each winter.
I'm wondering if a hydrostatic drive would be more reliable and get me through the entire winter. I worry each year about drive issues leaving me stuck. I have an old storm tracker 1130 as backup. Together they usually get me thru winter but I broke the drive cable on it Saturday too. It was only 6 inches of snow but it was wet and heavy.
Do you think the pro 28 hydro rapidtrak, or the toro power TRX HD would fit my needs better? Or should I save some money and go with the platinum Rapidtrak?
The auto turn on my platinum SHO isn't as smooth as in your videos. I hope it works better on the newer models.
I apologize for the long message. I understand if it is too much to respond to. Thanks again, you really are super! Best!
Ariens uses a commercial grade hydro and it is pretty-much bulletproof. I've not seen or heard any issues with it over the last five years. They use the same hydro on all their commercial machines - from the 28 Pro all the way to the 32/36 inch machines.
Everyone else, including the Toro TRX uses two smaller hydros - one for each wheel.
@@PaulSikkema thank you so much for taking the time to reply and for sharing your expertise. I really appreciate it. Hopefully I can afford to buy the 28 hydro rapidtrak next fall. Have a great week. I hope you aren't going to get hit by this Noreaster storm.
You are welcome. I live in Iowa now and I've had less than 6 inches of snow all year!
I would live a track machine but the wheeled is easier to store and move around
How about the 3 honda tracked snowblower models the small but very good hss724, the best value hss928 and the absolute monter hss 1332? They should be there. No?
Did you watch/listen to the video? They are there...
@@PaulSikkema yes but completely as i probably skipped most of the virtual comparison since the real hondas snowblowers were not visible in your comparison... personnally i own 4 snowblowers to use and my favourite one is my 14 years old honda hs 928 tcd. Over the toro 721e and even my repowered ariens 1136 with a 420 cc lifan clone of 1983 era and my back up ariens pro rapidtrack 28 that you have in your latest comparison
@@PaulSikkema here in quebec city canada we average easily 10 feet of annual snowfall (3,5 meters) or 120 inches of snow from late october till mid april even had a 15 feet (180 inches) record winter in 2008. Will try to send you a picture of what my honda can do in an afteroon if i m able to send it to you
I am torn between the Honda HSS928 and Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak Sho. The Ariens has more power, 14" auger compared to the 12", and does not have electronic shoot control meaning less can go wrong with the Ariens. It also has heated handles, and allows you to go into "dig in" mode by tilting the front of blower down into hard wet snow packs with the tracks. I was surprised to hear you say that the more expensive Honda had a smaller diameter auger compared to the Ariens.
With the Honda, it is more expensive but has the hydrostatic transmission, which I heard tends to last longer than Ariens' Disco O-Matic, but I am not sure how true that is. Does one drive system last longer than the other? And it looks like Honda finally added a gas strut to its tracks, but does that allow it dig in as well as the Ariens? It looks like Ariens' dig in mode is quite severe in the angle meaning more downward force. Please let me know your thoughts, thanks!
- The Honda hydrostatic trannys either work or they don't - you have to replace the tranny if it fails. (read very expensive)
- The Ariens Disk O-Matic will periodically need a new friction wheel - usually every 10 years or so. Parts are individually replaceable so any maintenance will be much less expensive.
- For a homeowner, the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO is a very capable and dependable snowblower. It will last you many, many years.
For about the same price as the Honda Ariens offers the Pro 28 RapidTrak Hydro. It uses a Commercial grade hydro transmission, a huge engine, and is built much stronger than the Honda. (one-inch axles, 2-inch square tube handle, etc.) It's a lot faster and easier to use than the Honda (Honda uses trigger steering) It also has a very unique electric chute control that is very fast and the controller is located right by your right thumb.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you so much for getting back to me! Sounds like the Ariens Platinum 28 Rapidtrak SHO is a good answer for me especially since it is much cheaper than the pro version or the Honda HS928.
I have an Ariens 24" with with compact wheels that was bought in 2011, but with all this wet snow and my older sorer body, I am ready for an upgrade.
Hmm ,Honda finally added gas struts to its track... Well I have a Honda Hs970 tracked version and its a2002 model and it has the gas strut.. so its not exactly new to the Honda lineup..😅 Its for keeping the blower dig into the ground and it works great,saves your back from back ache. A typical wheeled blower you will constantly push the handle upwards to keep it dig into the ground,... The B&S motors are a pain in the arse to start when getting old, My Honda is a one pull start even after 20 yrs and many many hours on it.. Cant beat a Honda motor..
Thanks, not all wheeled snowblowers want to ride up. The most common problem they ride up is you have a broken shear pin. The second most common problem is you are not spending enough money on a good, high capacity snow blower. Ariens Deluxe, Platinum, Pro and Toro Power Max HD snowblowers have the capacity so they don't ride up.
I have had my Toro Commercial model now for three winters and had a lot of problems, after three seasons there is alot of rust and had a lot of trouble with the belts last year. usually belts are not in stock being a Commercial model, had to wait two weeks in winter, I would not buy a Toro again. commercial model engine is a beast but issues with the unit makes it a pain in the ass to service even with a 5 year warranty.
Interesting. I don't ever hear of the Toro Power Max having belt issues. Do you have an early serial number Power TRX? Did you get the update? That will fix the belt issue.
Rust is always an issue if you run a lot of gravel through it that chips the paint or if you store it outside all year.
I guess no Yamaha's down there expensive but good.
Craftsman also offers a track drive snow blower as does Yamaha
The Craftsman is the same snowblower as the Cub Cadet 2X 26" TRAC with a smaller engine.
I typically only discuss snowblowers sold here in the U.S. Although Yamaha makes a full line of walk-behind snowblowers they are not available in the U.S. And - like the Honda HSM1336i most of them are priced way out the average consumer's pocketbook.
If you are interested in the Yamaha line-up for Canada you can check it out here: www.yamaha-motor.ca/en/power-equipment/snowblower?tenant~model-year=2017&view=LIST
@@PaulSikkema you make a good point on the price point on the Honda and Yamaha....although after seeing what both of them can do, I would say they are worth the $$ if one can afford it.
Have you noticed no one is willing to put their 28/32 inch Honda HSS up against the Ariens 28/32 Pro or the Toro 1428/1432.
The Yamaha's are too rare so I don't expect to ever see one compared side-by-side.
Bottom line. If you have the money just get the Honda unless you want something with the reliability of a BMW
Where is the Honda track drive?
I talk about it in the video. If I could find one to borrow I would have had it there.
The tracks alone, forget the rest of the machine and features.
Are tracks really that much better than standard tires?
If you have a relatively flat driveway, snow plow berms that aren't waist high, don't clear paths out to your sheds over turf, Don't try to clear 12 inches plus 4-5 days after a storm and don't get Sierra SnowCrete you really don't need tracks.
If you have a steep driveway, get 2 feet plus of heavy wet snow, clear a lot of paths, or have a lot of sidewalks that get plowed shut by the city snowplow, the extra traction and weight of the track drives makes a huge difference.
The Ariens RapidTrak is the perfect compromise. It gives you the speed of a wheeled snowblower AND the traction of a tracked snowblower when you need it.
@@PaulSikkema probably would of helped a few weeks ago!
I had snow drifts in my back yard two stores high and about 8ft in my driveway
Honda looks to have ceased production, not sure what is going on but I looked at a lot of sources and none had any listed. Our local ACE a forever Honda dealer now has Ariens only. That is a real shame though a used Honda would be a great option.
Honda is not telling us what's going on. A few retailers are stating the snowblowers will be available next fall (2023)
My guess is they are changing it to be more competitive with the Ariens and Toro tracked snowblowers.
I heard Honda is making no more gas blowers next year.
Are you sure? I heard it was lawn mowers
Yes, they are not going to sell gas lawnmowers in the U.S. anymore. I'm not sure what's going on with the snowblowers and I could not find anyone to clarify that at the EQUIP EXPO in October. Most retailers are stating there will be no new snowblower stock until Sept 2023. But, some people are saying the dealers have plenty. So, I don't know if Honda overbuilt and they just have a lot of stock laying around, if they are not going to build more, or if they are redesigning and will come out with new models next fall.
Yes I got it from I thought a reputable source.
time will tell
Every track snowblower is from USA, I find that hard to believe
There are other tracked snowblowers made in other countries. In fact, there are easily 300 manufactures in China who would build you a shipping container full - with the name of your choosing - and send them over. Cost? about $450 each for a container full.
About 5-7 years ago a few well-know brands tried to get into the snow blower market with the made in China snowblowers. They quickly realized the workmanship was vastly inferior to the U.S. made machines and all of them dropped back out of the market within a year or two.
All the Ohio snowblowers in this video are made in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and South Carolina
I bought myself a Honda HSS760A ETD last year (European model comparable with HSS724 ATD) and haven't regretted that choice.
Has Toro fixed the traction issues with their track drive snowblowers?
I found this videos when I was trying to decide which snowblower to buy.
czcams.com/video/Ucm_DXT7Zx0/video.html
Yes, Toro had the issue fixed and the service bulletin sent by March 2021. It was just a belt tension issue (and an assembly line issue)
Why can't we get a made in USA Honda now? A harbinger of things to come! Getting what we need is going to get harder and harder. Just look at California.
I tried to find someone from Honda at GIE-EXPO last fall to answer that question and no one had anything to say.
The market is very competitive and you already heard they will no longer sell their walk-behind mowers. They left the riding mower market years ago.
There are rumors that there is still a lot of snowblowers still in stock sitting around the U.S. and Canada and they just decided to let those excess snowblowers sell off before they built more.
The Honda factory also makes the European models and their engines did not meet European emissions standards so they may just be waiting for the new engines to be made.
@@PaulSikkema I bought a new Ariens. I do not play corporate games. Ariens will do just fine. Thanks for your comment!