Recommendations snowblower for steep driveway

[Sean2202]

Greetings,

Looking at the possibility of upgrading my snow blower. I have an old MTD Tecumseh 26" powered blower that has done its time. I have a very steep driveway which I just had repaved over the summer that was very $$$. I used to use chains on my old Tecumseh blower on the old driveway but I do not want to risk damaging the new pavement with digging in the tires spinning going up the hill. So I removed the chains on the blower. Now the blower will not climb the hill at all and just spins the tires. The storm we just had was about a foot which I did a lot of shoveling.

I am looking at a track model for better traction. I had a old Cub cadet track model (MTD)a few years back which was OK but slow as molasses. It would also get hung up on the undercarriage when going in reverse with just a little snow underneath. I traded it for another piece of machinery.

I am primarily looking at Honda or Ariens. Honda HSS1332AT / HSS1332ATD or Ariens model 926079. Both 32". My driveway is about 100 feet long with a large parking area at the top so lots of snow to move. It would be nice if it could "dig in" and not just ride above the top of the snow leaving me a glaze to clear with a shovel that turns to ice. I would like the blower to be wide but not big enough where it is hard to control. Anyone have any experience with these two or any other recommendations? The prices of these two are similar and I do have a contact with Ariens that I may be able to get a small discount with that one.

Thanks for any input
Sean

 

[CobyRupert]

When you say “damaging the new pavement”, do you mean it will leave scuff marks on the surface of it?
I wonder if the plastic or runner type “chains” or “grips” would work?
Regarding riding above or digging in, isn’t this how you adjust the shoes vs the cutting edge?
Something with a heavier weight will be better traction sans chains.

 

[PILOON]

Had friends that owned a small engine repair facility.
From observing many repair projects I'd strongly urge the Honda machines over others.
Honda's don't jamb up while others tend to have the wheel sprockets rust solid onto the shafts.
Honda provided lubrication possibilities.
Oh, had a Honda and U could even walk them up stairs so traction is awesome.

Seem to recall that you could adjust the angle of attack on Honda to accommodate the 'bite' or adjust for snow conditions.

 

[Sean2202]

I was thinking that spinning the tires with chains would scuff the surface of the new asphalt or dig chunks or divots out of it. I would have a hard time explaining that to my wife. Can you enlighten me on plastic runner chains or grips? The shoes are adjusted and the cutting edge brand new and flat to the asphalt but it still will climb up on the snow as it moves forward. Maybe it was the snow this time but it was the first time I used the old girl without chains.

The tracked cub cadet I traded did have a down pressure in the front and had tracks similar to the Honda. I used to climb stairs with the cub cadet to do a deck.

 

[CobyRupert]

I doubt a snowblower will dig chunks out of asphalt.
Not hard to explain, like this: “The tire chains left some scuffs.” See? Easy-peasy.
If it’s a problem, welcome her to do a better job without making scuffs or without chains.
Or just send her out there with a few buckets of sealer in the spring to cover them up if they bother her too much.

I don’t know how well these work or your snowblowers tire size, but things like these exist

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VQE5IRO/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_ZKu3FbCS13SHF?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[fishhead]

I've had both a big honda and a big ariens for a rental property i own that gets probably 250-300 plus inches a year- they both work great but i think that the treads might be a issue on a really steep drive, particularly if there is ice underneath. I really wouldn't worry about chains marking a drive- its a drive. We use studded tires and delivery trucks here use chains all the time. My circa 5k lb tractor has them on all four and yes it leaves a bit of a mark but that's better than going off the road- i always figure that the part of the sealer that's important is between and around the aggregate not on the top. I think another outside the box idea is a two wheeled tractor like a BCS. I once had a large Gravely- can't remember the horsepower but i think it was the most, mounted on it was an adapted 48" blower from a Gravely lawn tractor. It was stunning in performance. I once helped reopen a road using it after a 40 inch storm, slow but was surprisingly capable.