Berco vs Kioti

[nards444]

Looking at getting a Kioti 2510, I want the front blower but Kioti wants 6600 for it, kind of crazy. Anyway I found Berco makes one that fits, price is 4600.

I dont know anything about Berco and Id bet Kioti doesnt make theirs so have no idea on that one.

Spec wise the Berco is 2in wider but is 200lbs lighters, which tells me the Kioti is probably heavier duty. With that all said I will be doing about 250ft of driveway in a non commercial use.

I don't want to skimp now, but also dont want over pay. Looking back I used to use a craftsman belt driven blower on this same driveway for 5 years with no issue in terms of it breaking, now belt driven wasnt as strong

Any comments or reviews of either piece of equipment.

 

[leonz]

How far are you from the Canadian border????

Would you consider a Yamaha 1332 track drive snow blower? It would let you buy a disposable lawn tractor every few years.

Belt drive for snow front mount blowers is a royal pain just as the mid mount drive system for a 2 stage snow thrower is as you need an underbelly mounting frame and you need a reverser gearbox or a reversing roller chain drive for the snow.

A rear mount snow blower like a pronovost TRC 800 with the kioti would work well for anyone in the snow belt and would be usable on a new mule if and when you want a bigger mule.

Many of the members have much larger and longer driveways than yours and use the smallest Kubota sub compact and a rear mount snow thrower and use mirrors and drive in reverse or sit side saddle in the seat while clearing snow.

Having a track driven 2 stage like the Yamaha 1332 or the honda 1332 will provide you with many years of dependable snow removal and plenty of power for the job.

You have to keep in mind that you need adhesion to clear snow and a track drive snow blower with steering brakes is a wise investment for any size driveway.


Sadly, you have to look at the wallet and a separate track drive snow blower will always be a good investment as you could buy a big box lawn mower every couple of years and you will be money ahead having a large track drive snow blower as it will cost you less to own.

 

[RickB]

How far are you from the Canadian border????

Would you consider a Yamaha 1332 track drive snow blower? It would let you buy a disposable lawn tractor every few years.

Belt drive for snow front mount blowers is a royal pain just as the mid mount drive system for a 2 stage snow thrower is as you need an underbelly mounting frame and you need a reverser gearbox or a reversing roller chain drive for the snow.

A rear mount snow blower like a pronovost TRC 800 with the kioti would work well for anyone in the snow belt and would be usable on a new mule if and when you want a bigger mule.

Many of the members have much larger and longer driveways than yours and use the smallest Kubota sub compact and a rear mount snow thrower and use mirrors and drive in reverse or sit side saddle in the seat while clearing snow.

Having a track driven 2 stage like the Yamaha 1332 or the honda 1332 will provide you with many years of dependable snow removal and plenty of power for the job.

You have to keep in mind that you need adhesion to clear snow and a track drive snow blower with steering brakes is a wise investment for any size driveway.


Sadly, you have to look at the wallet and a separate track drive snow blower will always be a good investment as you could buy a big box lawn mower every couple of years and you will be money ahead having a large track drive snow blower as it will cost you less to own.

As if following a walk behind blower for 1/4 mile every time it snows would not be a ‘royal pain’.
Gotta be one of the worst suggestions I ever read here.

 

[Citydude]

For a 250 foot driveway, a rear mount blower would be my choice. I have a 1600 foot driveway and have a rear mount. The concern of looking backwards is overblown (no pun intended) in my opinion. You just have to glance back, not stare at the blower during the snow clearing.

 

[leonz]

I agree with you citydude,



About a track drive walk behind snow blower; you should see how a powerful track drive snow blower is easy to use and to see how well they clear snow I would not say its a bad suggestion.

You should see how many brands of medium and large water cooled walk behind track drive snow blowers like Yanmar, Yamaha and others that are used for much longer distances and deeper snows on the northern end of the main Island of Honshu and Hokkaido Island in Japan. The same goes for the 2 models of Zaugg track drive snow blowers sold in Europe being the smaller snow bulldog or larger dual cross auger snow beast.

Some folks up in the great white north use a roll up kiddee sled tied to a track drive snow blower to stand on while they clear their long driveways so there is more than one way to clear snow and get rid of the END OF DRIVEWAY MONSTER.

 

[RickB]

I suppose you have one.

 

[Citydude]

I agree with you citydude,



About a track drive walk behind snow blower; you should see how a powerful track drive snow blower is easy to use and to see how well they clear snow I would not say its a bad suggestion.

You should see how many brands of medium and large water cooled walk behind track drive snow blowers like Yanmar, Yamaha and others that are used for much longer distances and deeper snows on the northern end of the main Island of Honshu and Hokkaido Island in Japan. The same goes for the 2 models of Zaugg track drive snow blowers sold in Europe being the smaller snow bulldog or larger dual cross auger snow beast.

Some folks up in the great white north use a roll up kiddee sled tied to a track drive snow blower to stand on while they clear their long driveways so there is more than one way to clear snow and get rid of the END OF DRIVEWAY MONSTER.

Well, I have no experience with a track drive walk behind, only a wheel drive. With the OP getting a tractor, buying another motorized piece of machinery seems a bit on the non-cost effective side.

 

[paulfun9]

More cost, more fuel, more maintenance.
Owning a tractor and then purchasing a walk behind snow blower sounds like a waste unless you have lots of places the tractor won’t be able to go.

 

[Oldoak]

More cost, more fuel, more maintenance.
Owning a tractor and then purchasing a walk behind snow blower sounds like a waste unless you have lots of places the tractor won’t be able to go.

Yep, depends on the circumstances. No different than owning a lawnmower and having a weed wacker/trimmer to get around the edges and other obstacles to finish the job.

But I think less motorized machinery with more attachments is the best way to go. Less maintenance, less upkeep costs, and more free time.

 

[jaydee325]

I don't have direct experience with the Kioti, but I do recall looking at a Berco snowblower for my John Deere garden tractor. I ended up going with the Deere blower because the Berco required a separate bracket that had to be bolted on to mount the blower. This bracket could not remain installed with the mower deck. The Deere blower quick attach setup did not interfere with other attachments (in addition to the blower, and mower deck, I also have the rear tiller). It only takes me a few minutes to swap between attachments.

So, just make sure the mounting system for the Berco is something you can live with if you are swapping attachments.

Looking at getting a Kioti 2510, I want the front blower but Kioti wants 6600 for it, kind of crazy. Anyway I found Berco makes one that fits, price is 4600.

I dont know anything about Berco and Id bet Kioti doesnt make theirs so have no idea on that one.

Spec wise the Berco is 2in wider but is 200lbs lighters, which tells me the Kioti is probably heavier duty. With that all said I will be doing about 250ft of driveway in a non commercial use.

I don't want to skimp now, but also dont want over pay. Looking back I used to use a craftsman belt driven blower on this same driveway for 5 years with no issue in terms of it breaking, now belt driven wasnt as strong

Any comments or reviews of either piece of equipment.