Looking for snow blower advice. My driveway is right at 100 yards long and gravel. It has a slight slope in one spot but pretty level for the most part. We don't get a ton of snow, but the past couple years we've gotten enough that I've gotten snowed in for a day or 2. My drive gets almost zero sunlight, so even a little snow hangs around.

What's a reasonable budget for one to use a couple times a year? I want something that will last, but I don't need to make a living with it. Looking online they range from $500 up to $2,000. I don't really care if it takes a few hours, I just can't do it with a shovel and have no other way.

I bought a mid level Ariens several years ago, hasn't snowed enough to use but once since, lol....worth the money!

But it IS a nice blower, plenty strong, easy enough to operate and has good reviews. You can adjust the skids to avoid most of the gravel...

My first blower was a push type Toro, I think, I spent many hours ramming that thing into 3 foot drifts, less fun than you'd think....One thing I do now is erect a snow fence up wind if they're calling for a blizzard, helps with the drifting across my driveway...

Friend of mine has a tractor 3 point blower on his Kubota.... supposed to operate it on the 600 rpm setting, nope, 1500 sounds better! has the skids set all the way up, on a stony driveway....I've seen him launch softball sized rocks out the chute like a cannon....

Don't do what he does, lol....

It makes more financial sense to just pay someone to clear your driveway the two or so times a year it needs done.

Keith

Ariens we are happy with. Picked up used. With a manual you can service and order part's if needed.

5 horse walk behind on wheels will do what you need.

Park it indoors, add some Red Heet to the gas can, it will fire right up and melt out when done.

You don't need lights, electric start, chains. The lighter the better on wheels not tracks.

Having an extra sheer pin on hand is good.

Not all snow is created equal when it comes to snow blowing. I have snow here at times I could not move with an eight horse walk behind unless I chopped it up with a shovel. It pack in so hard from wind the blower would not cut it. I have also see powder that a five horse would move fine. They don't like wet heavy snow too. Dry light snow is a piece of cake. Some of the snow I get is not. The bare ground in the first picture is from the wind. Wind packed snow drifts are even hard to move with a bucket on the skid or a tractor. Talk to someone that uses one in your area.

I'm very happy with the Ariens I bought 2 years ago. Too bad I've only gotten the chance to use it a total of 2-1/2 hours in 2 years. Maybe this year.

Walk behind most around here like ariens, on a tractor I’ve liked the looks of a Schulte blower, but no matter what on a tractor mount a double auger is best.

Check craigslist and Facebook marketplace. Have a Husquavarna 3 stage that does well.

My old neighbor, (in Alaska), bought a new Ariens and was very happy. Last year my Brother-In-Law bought one, up in the Idaho panhandle, and loves it as well.
For a few decades while in Alaska I had 2 Troy-Built's, and they were alright, but just not big and powerful enough when the snow got heavy. The other decade, I used a shovel.
If I were looking for one now, I would certainly give a hard look at Ariens.

Ariens hands down. Picked ours up from an elderly neighbor and it's been great. We get a lot of snow from dry powder to heavy wet mess. With warmer weather and mushy snow it does plug up but is an easy fix.
Hope to have my 4 wheeler back and will have a blade on it for pushing what I need to then use the blower.
I use a bunch of different models at work and then used a couple different brands for the church and pastor house. My kids and I just haul mine down and use it and leave the churches alone.

Always had an Ariens when we lived up north, best snowblower I’ve ever had. Work horse of a machine

I was wondering about if they would work in all snow or not. I thought the boys could use one and get more snow removal jobs this winter if we get snow but thay brought up thay didn't thank they would work well with wet heavy packed snow and would not be worth the money.

Sounds like thay may have been corect.

Ariens

I bought a Briggs & Stratton several years ago at Menards. Do not remember the horsepower but it does the job. Drive is gravel so adjust the skids fairly high. Sits outside but the electric start (110 volt) works well. We have every type of snow you can think of here in Nebraska.
I do the walks and around the buildings with it. Neighbor takes the drive with a 4-wheel drive John Deer.