Snow Blower - 1 Stage or Two?

[Getanet]

Looking to get a new snow blower this year. Live in the Twin Cities and have a pretty average driveway in terms of length and width. My current snow blower was a gift purchased at an auction, so I've never shopped for one before.

I've had my eye on the Toro single stage snow blowers, but I'm wondering if a single stage is enough horsepower or if you need to go two-stage? My neighbor worked for Toro, and appeared to have the single-stage type. It looked so light and fast that clearing his driveway almost seemed fun. Unfortunately, he moved before I could ask him what type his was.

Anyone have a recommendation in terms of single-stage versus two-stage?

[Luke_M]

A 2 stage will do a lot better in heavy snow and the pile you get at the end of the driveway when the plow goes by. A single stage will clear the 2-4 inch snowfalls faster so its a trade off on what's more important to you. If you are looking into a single stage you should take a look at the Honda one too. They seem to have more power than the average single stage.

[Hoey]

I suggest 7 hp or more and two stage. All snows are not created equal. You want to be able to handle the heavy stuff from the plow and the wet stuff from the sky.

[Luke_M]

Another thing to consider is if you have a concrete driveway it tends to chew up the plastic and rubber components of a single stage very quickly.

[nofishfisherman]

My mother in law has a single stage Snapper and I have an older Snapper 2 stage. I've done alot of snow blowing for her the last couple years using her snow blower and I was fairly impressed.

If the snow is under 6 inches I think the single stage did the job much faster and had plenty of power to throw the snow. The down side is when it comes to really heavy snow falls and the snow left by the plow. At minimum you'll need to break up the plow pile with a shovel first or just shovel it by hand. For the real big snows you might have to get out mid storm to clear the driveway so it doesn't pile up too high on you. Doing the driveway twice with a single stage might still be a little faster than doing it once with a two stage if the snow is fairly deep.

My issue with the single stage snapper I used was the gears used to rotate the snow chute are all plastic and have become hard to turn. I still need to rip into it to see what the issue is but I didn't like seeing plastic parts in there. You will also have the maintenance of having to replace the rubber paddle at some point but that seems like a fairly easy DYI thing.

Otherwise I've been impressed with the single stage. For all but the biggest snows it does the job better and faster than the 2 stage.

[loadmaster]

I have a two stage that was not running up to par so pulled the plug and bought a new one. Checked all the brands and after reading up I got the Cub Cadet 3 stage. Yup I said three stage. A little pricey but it was worth it. The thing throws snow across the street from the snow plow pile. I would check them out. Should be able to get a deal this fall

[drewbop]

I used to move snow for a side gig for a few years. Our crews would have a 2 stage and a 1 stage on each truck. The 1 stage was awesome for those light snows and for snow under 6". Anything above, it was pretty worthless and we'd run the 2 stage.

Like previous posters have said, 1 stages are nice but can't handle a big storm or uneven ground well. It all depends on whether you don't mind clearing snow a few times in a big storm and what kind of landscaping you have.

Personally, I've just always used a 2 stage at home. I know it can handle everything I need, plus I have a gravel parking spot that a 1 stage wouldn't be able to handle well...

[DTro]

I've used both. After using the 2 stage, I've never wished i had a single stage. I can't say that the other way around though.

[TR21HP]

Two stage if you can afford it but personally I've had a Toro single stage 6.5 h.p. for 5 years now and I've never had a problem with any snowfall including last years events.

[NoWiser]

I have a single stage Toro and wouldn't trade it for a 2 stage. The last couple of winters have been anything but mild and there hasn't been a storm yet that it couldn't handle. For 90% of the snows we get I can clear my driveway in 1/2 the time the neighbors do theirs with their 2 stages. If there is a big snow I do have to stay on top of it because once it hits about 8" it's more of a struggle. When the plowed snow gets hard I sometimes have to take a shovel and chip it away as I clear it but it's no big deal. The bonus is I can easily throw it in the back of my truck to take it to work to clear the sidewalks or help my folks out at their place. I've even carried it up onto a few flat roofs to clear snow for people.

For a big or long driveway I'd probably think about a 2 stage but for the average city driveway I'll take the single stage for sure.

[Getanet]

Thanks for the input guys. As with most things in life, budget does come into play, which is why I'm considering the one-stage. I do get a large wall of snow after the plow comes by, but I don't mind shoveling that out too much if the rest of the job goes faster and easier than using the old tank I've been using.

[Powerstroke]

I own a large 2-stage and I don't regret it at all. If its a light snow or just a couple inches, I clear the driveway with a shovel anyway. I keep the big blower for when its a heavy snow in weight or volume. If I know we are gonna get 6+ inches, I just let it fall and blow it out all at one time.

Who doesn't love the sound of that blower grinding out a foot of snow and throwing it into the neighbors yard? I say 2-stage, but thats because I shovel it if its too little snow for the blower.

[huntnfish]

I bought a 2 stroke Toro single stage 6 years ago and there has only been 2 times I wished I had a big 2 stage. One was a giant plow ridge and the other was when I was out of town and we got a foot of snow. There have been a couple time where I blew snow more than once to stay ahead of a storm but even then it was only 45 minutes each time. I have a small driveway and I always finish long before the neighbors plus mine takes it right down to the concrete. If I had more driveway I would maybe think about a bigger blower but I'm not sure I'd switch.

I was always skeptical about the single stages until I helped a friend with his snow removal jobs. They're so light and quick that when I get done doing snow I'm not exhausted. One other benefit is in the summer the handle folds down and takes the lawnmowers place under the shelf in the garage.

[BoxMN]

I have both right now, a smaller Toro, and big (29" width) 9 hp. They both work well, but I gotta say, the only thing I use the snowthrower for anymore is, well, nothing... It just doesn't blow the snow far enough where I am, so basically I am blowing it twice if I use that, even in the same session.

The snowthrower is nice for lifting and maybe cleaning steps, but I gotta say even with my wide one, I can get right next to steps, garage door, etc. and it just plains throws snow a LONG way, and that works great for for my 50' long, 36' wide drive. I also do my 36' of plow crust and a few neighbors crust and it just eats through it like butter.

One thing I don't have, since my blower is pretty old (17 years?...) is that joystick chute control. I have been thinking how to retrofit mine, but it just won't work. Next one will have one for sure.

My brother swore his larger single stage was the greatest thing... but after about 6 years he got a larger two stage and then gave the single to my neighbor

Whether talking an adequate scissors jack versus an somewhat oversized floor jack for a trailer on a long trip, or a snowblower in MN, you have choices, but I vote for going loaded for bear (floor jack / large two stage), because you will rarely wish you had smaller when the chit hits hard... Good luck!

[Drail1313]

I work at one of the big box stores and sell snow-blowers all the time, and the one thing I will tell you is that I have NEVER had a 2 stage buyer bring back their blower to downsize to a single stage. Customers have returned their single stage back to upgrade to a two stage ALOT. (Been selling them for 13 years now.)

I watch my fellow nabs go out during a storm and do their driveway to KEEP up with the storm and I sit back and drink a beer and enjoy the view, then go out after it stops snowing and snow-blow with my 2 stage one time and be done.

To each their own I guess.

Have a more tec ?s just ask.

[delcecchi]

Too bad the new 2 stages don't throw like the old ones. I am thinking there is a safety regulation involved, or an evil lawyer.

[highlife4me]

Too bad the new 2 stages don't throw like the old ones. I am thinking there is a safety regulation involved, or an evil lawyer.

I know what you mean. Back in the mid 70's my dad bought a Hahn Eclipse snow blower. That thing was a snow eating machine!! 5 HP and 24" cut and it would easily thow snow 50'+, the machines made today are just gadgets compared to the ones made years ago.

[Whoaru99]

Too bad the new 2 stages don't throw like the old ones. I am thinking there is a safety regulation involved, or an evil lawyer.

My Toro 824 will move a LOT of snow and throws it pretty good. It won't cut though hardened snowplow piles like the old ones though because the feed auger doesn't stick out past the shroud/intake.

[Whoaru99]

FWIW, I have both a single stage and a two-stage. Depends on the year which gets used more. A two-stage will pretty much do it all, but they're (at least mine is) a lot more to move around just for a few inches of snow.

[aanderud]

I'd buy a used two stage before a new single stage. Same budget, 10 times the quality and durability. Slightly heavier, yes, but they are self-propelled, so it's not like it's work to push it around.

Operational Tip Of The Day: When (if) you run over an extension cord (christmas lights) or just get some landscaping rocks stuck, be sure to check the shear pin(s) on the feed auger. They work much better with that single stage actually being fully operational

[laker1]

O'kay Cub Cadet,aeriens or Huskavarba,toro or what is your favorite?

Minimum cc engine you would get?

[Whoaru99]

Despite self-propelled, there can still be a fair amount of work involved in maneuvering (yes, still less work than shoveling but that's not the point of this reply). Of course this depends a lot on the area to be worked.

On some units you can disengage one drive wheel for easier tight turns, but then you only have "one wheel wonder" for traction.

I'm glad I have both types. Picked up the single stage for next to nothing.