[City Guy997S]

This looks like an interesting option:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmDN72CBhXc

[GeoffD]

I suppose if you had a completely flat paved driveway with no obstructions, you might be able to get away with a light plow on the receiver hitch of a unibody car. You'd destroy the car if you ever hit an icy snowbank or a curb. I doubt it could handle a gravel driveway. The blade would want to dig in all the time.

[Sierrajeff]

Originally Posted by City Guy997S

This looks like an interesting option:

More LOL than anything - at 2:45, I was just about expecting him to back over the bank...

[irman]

Originally Posted by joe moving

It's hard packed gravel. I don't think there's a lot of drifts but I'm not sure yet.

I am about 10 foot short of your driveway, and use a snowblower somewhat as depicted.

Snowblowers work OK, with certain kinds of snow. Dry ... , no problem.
Wet snow ... , you end up stopping every so many feet and clearing the chute.
But ...
You get used to that after a few years of doing it.
There has got to be a way to make the chute more *slippery* ???

Now the ground condition ...
You mentioned hard packed gravel !
The first thing to do is remove the skid pads on both sides of the blower front, and replace with wheels that then will raise the bottom of the scraper about 3/4 inch above the ground.
The scraper is 3/4 inch above the hard drive way, then when on the snow on the gravel packed road, the wheels sink in a bit, but still above the surface just a hair. No rocks being picked up, but (happened to me once ...) it does pick up the newspaper and it took a lot of work to remove that thing !!!
Driving, walking, on a very small amount of snow is usually no problem !!

Since snowblowers do have *speeds* (mine has four forward and two reverse), it is important to learn what speed to use to get the job done.
Sadly, you never know how good the blower really is until you buy one.
Mine was *advertised* as so many feet snow blowing distance.
They claim about 15 feet !! I think the majority of the snow falls about 8 feet away !!

Last but not least, Do have spare bolts that lock the auger !!
They break at the most inopportune time !!!

[harpoonalt]

I have the same snowblower. Ariens makes one of the best. I also have a Kubota RTV with plow. The Ariens is mainly for making paths for the dog in the winter. I probably blow a 5 foot wide path a couple of hundred feet long around the property. Works great. The blower also is good for moving the banks back in big snow years. I wouldn't be without one.

[BerkMTB]

You have the right machine. I do 900 feet but have a 6 foot blower mounted on a 35 HP tractor. Love it.

Consider putting chains on the wheels unless it is completely flat.

The nice thing about a snow blower is that you dont have to "plow with the storm". You can wait until its done and then take your time and complete it in one shot.

[joe moving]

Been reading some reviews and seems like the Toro's are considered better than the Ariens. Any input there? the 928 and 1028 are a bit more expensive than Ariens.

[harpoonalt]

Depends on the reviews I guess. I know people with both brands and they both do the job well.You won't go wrong with either one. I use mine more than I thought I would and If I could do it over I'd still choose Ariens, but would go bigger just to make things go quicker.Grab a can of Fluid Film while you're at it and spray the chute and snow won't stick.
This is more fun though!

[joe moving]

I ended up getting an Ariens Deluxe 28" SHO from Tucker Machine in Barre - it comes in a few weeks.

There is a place in New Haven that has the Toros but not the high end ones. The one they wanted to sell me didn't seem beefy enough which was the 826 non-HD model for $999. Toros are generally more expensive than Ariens for comparable models - i.e. Toro 928 $1600 compares to Ariens Deluxe SHO 28" $1300

There's all sorts of this stuff on the internet but by the time you pay for a lift gate and assemble it yourself (and who wants to do that) you can buy it from a local shop and they will even deliver it.

The Kubota looks fun but probably above my budget

[harpoonalt]

Joe,

You'll be very happy with that one. Good choice.