I don't think you need hydro but honestly I've never use one either. You get like 6 gears on the Ariens and plenty of speed selection. Its not like its a lawn mower or tractor. JMHO I would not pay the extra money for it.
I took over my parents Ariens that was 27 years old. Used it for 5 years and sold it for $150 and it still ran. I bought a 7.5HP 24" wide one then (7 years ago) and I don't believe they had the hydro back then yet. So I'm 7 years removed from the market and can't help much more. I am a huge Honda fan in whatever they build but I feel you should go with Ariens as that is their specialty for a long long time. Yeah they make lawn mowers and other stuff but snowblowers are what that company was founded on and what keeps it going.
Thanks, Brad, I'm leaning more that way (if I don't convince myself to just buy an ATV and a plow...it may be hard to hide from the wife, though).
I can only give you feed back on what I have always owned, Ariens. I bought mine back in 1984, a smaller one, 5HP, 24" cut with electric start and chains on the tires. Throughout the years I have had to get a few tune ups, it is going for one this year as we speak, I have replaced a few belts, and the front auger gears once, and the chains once, wore them plain out !!! but this thing gets a workout here in Wisconsin in the winter, some repairs are to be expected, but this thing just keep on going with a little maintenance. Not bad for a 30 year old machine,. !!!
I've got an old Ariens. No idea what year it is (got it from my father in law) but that thing is a beast for sure.
I would recommend the Ariens model 28 SHO. I bought one last year and it is a beast! It threw wet heavy snow an easy 25-30 feet. But beware if you have a gravel drive, it will spit the stones that far also. I could run it in 4th or 5th gear in the wet stuff and 5th and 6th in dry. Compare Ariens 14 inch auger/impeller to other brands 12 inch and you can see that this thing should toss snow. Ariens claims 55 feet. My results were pretty good and I was very impressed with the machine.
Late to the party, but Ariens would be the top of my list for sure. My mom had an Ariens lawn mower she ran for 25 years. When it finally died, she brought it in to the dealer so they could look at it. They asked her when she had last changed the oil on it. She said, "What oil?". That poor thing outlasted all competition on it's original dose of oil....
I have a troy-bilt that is going on season 11 in Massachusetts. I've changed the oil a couple times and took it for a complete tune-up this year. Runs like a beast! And half the price of some other name brands. Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
It does take a little bit to get used to it. Early in the year, we had wet snow and the gravel in the drive never really froze like normal. When a tire would hit a soft spot, it wanted to turn the machine. Once the drive did freeze, that tendency seemed to fade away. Or maybe I was just used to it by then. It does turn VERY nicely at the end of a run though. I think if this were run on pavement, there would be very little issue with the auto turn feature.
I need this thread. Lol. My driveway is long and I have a big car port. I am sick of shoveling snow when it gets above a foot. Cripples my back for about a week. Snow blower it is this year. I am buying one soon.
Like Matt, I'm just here to taunt. For the one or two snow storms we have a year, my kids shovel... In seriousness, seems like this was covered a year or two ago...in addition to a snow blower some previously suggested a box blade or plow (for truck, ute or even mowers) as alternatives.
