Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Top 10 Snowblowers of All Time

In a recent blog we attempted to compile a list of the top 10 lawnmowers of all time.  For the most part our readers agreed on our selections, but we also discovered that we left out some great machines. The feedback and discussion that followed was awesome!

As the snow continues to fall this winter, we figured it was the perfect time to roll out our next top 10 list… The Top-10 Snowblowers of All Time!

Our list was compiled using an informal survey of parts and sales experts with over 50 years of experience. We judged based on durability, cost, and some we thought were cool!


10 – Kai Grundt’s V8 Snowblower – A 412 horsepower snowblower that throws snow 50 ft at 3500rpm. Not a useful snowblower for most at nearly 1000 pounds, but what do you expect from a 454 cubic inch big block?






     9 - Zaugg, Snow Beast – If you don’t mind giving up a spot in your garage and driving your neighbors crazy, you could own the most intense walk behind snowblower we could find! The
beast has a 54hp Kubota Diesel, nearly 4 ft (width and height) clearing area, and at just shy of 3000lbs, you could save a few dollars and forgo tire chains!






8 – Granite State “Snow Cloud” – Our company (ProParts Direct) is based in New Hampshire, The Granite State – so the Snow Cloud automatically lands on our list! A machine shop in Hinsdale, NH was building this blower which was sold by Montgomery Ward under model 5662.









7– Ariens Model 10M- Built in 1960, this machine is one of the first snowblowers and helped put Ariens on the map. It was built using a 2-speed gear transmission drive system before switching to a friction disk in 1961. The bucket on the 10M used a half round shape allowing the auger to extend in front of the machine…something that probably makes safety officials hair stand on end today!





6 – Jari Jaw – This monster is unique in that it has two augers – and a mean looking guy painted on the side. Although there are plenty of moving parts to break – the machine is built like a tank. Built in the 1960’s its time has passed – you are likely to find one buried in an old garage.  It is worth nothing that Cub Cadet is producing a 3-stage snowblower – making the Jari Jaw a distant relative.





5 – Toro Snow Pup – You would be hard pressed to find a landscape or snow removal crew that did not have this single stage blower. Lightweight and powerful, it is the perfect tool to clear walkways and easy to lift into the back of the plow truck.

4 – Exmark Rotary Broom- While technically it’s not a “snowblower,” the machine can move snow! The rotary broom has a price point that makes it more appropriate for commercial and municipal applications, but its ability to move compacted snow when salt won’t work is impressive!  Here is a quick video of the Exmark Rotary Broom in action:


Watch on YouTube




3- Honda HS1132 – Everyone can agree that Honda makes a great product, from generator to snowblower, the unit is built to last. The snowblower can throw snow for miles, will start with a couple pulls, and if properly cared for – will last forever. The most apparent downside on these machines are the cost. For most homeowners, spending $3000 isn’t an option.







2 - Simplicity 870 (Late 90’s)- The look of a Simplicity snowblower has always been a little different. Its c-
channel steel handles use a better quality, thicker steel to create one of the strongest chassis around. The late 1990’s was also when Simplicity stopped using the Tecumseh flat head engines, one of the most reliable, powerful, and easy to repair engines available. It’s rare to find an engine today that could kick as hard while under load.




1 – Ariens 924050 – This snowblower was repeatedly mentioned as one of the best. It’s durability alone sets it apart! If you have an older Ariens, chances are it’s the 924050! Released in the early 90’s, it featured 8” tires which was a major upgrade over the 6". There is a very good chance there are a couple of these in your neighborhood today!And the best part?!? Ariens still makes parts to service this snowblower!


What do you think? What snowblower are you running? Share your thoughts with us! Join the discussion on Facebook or Twitter


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