Review of self-propelled gasoline snow blowers for summer cottages

Cleaning the summer cottage in winter is a dubious pleasure. If earlier it was necessary to carry out all the work manually with the help of a shovel, today it is possible to use technical assistants - snow plows. There are two types of these cars: electric and gasoline.

Snow blowers are different. There are models that still involve the use of manual labor. These are electropaths, for example. But by choosing a self-propelled gasoline snow blower for a summer cottage, you will greatly facilitate your life. Although they need to be controlled, the process is still much easier and more enjoyable than clearing large areas of snow by hand.

Since at the dacha you have to remove snow from a large area, a powerful snow blower is also needed. Therefore, it is recommended to use only gasoline models.

• They are more mobile. You do not need to connect them to the mains, and then pull the cord for an unknown distance.
• Their engine is more powerful. So far, no such electric motor has been invented that would be comparable in power to gasoline internal combustion engines, so electric snow blowers can clear a narrow path or a small area of ​​freshly fallen snow, while a gasoline one will cope not only with clearing the site, but also with cleaning the road.
• Gasoline self-propelled snow removal equipment easily removes all types of snow: compacted, wet, ice, not to mention freshly fallen snow masses.

All self-propelled gasoline-powered snow blowers are made up of roughly the same parts.

• There is a device body with a motor inside. All other parts are connected to the body.
• A bucket for collecting snow is located at the front.
• Inside the bucket there is a snow auger or a brush. The brushes are used to sweep the remaining snow off the paving stones, off the asphalt, and so on. In everyday life, brushes are practically not used, preferring to do only with cleaning with a screw.
• On the sides are wheels or tracks (depending on what the model is moving with).
• A pipe is attached to the top through which snow is thrown out. As a rule, any modern snow blower is equipped with an adjustment function for this pipe.
• Behind - handles and control panel on a special frame.

The principle of operation is that the snow removal equipment moves forward at a low speed (usually no more than 4-6 km / h). Snow is collected in the bucket, which is "ground" with the help of the auger. It also moves the crushed snow mass back and the snow is thrown out through the pipe.

Some of the advantages of self-propelled gasoline snow blowers have already been mentioned in passing, but repetition is never superfluous. So, the pros are as follows.

• Great power. Thanks to this, snow can be collected from large areas, and the snow can even be dense or icy.
• Snow throw range great due to the fact that the machine is powerful.
• High mobility. No need to carry a cord or battery. All you need to do is fill up with gasoline and oil.
• High performance. The amount of work that took two hours when using a simple shovel can now be completed in 40 minutes.
• Long working time. As a rule, a full tank is enough for 3 hours of engine operation.

There are also disadvantages.

• Gas engine - is always bad for the environment.
• The cars are noisy. Some manufacturers are trying to neutralize this disadvantage.
• The need for constant maintenance. Of course, any equipment needs this, but some snow blowers are so complex that it is not possible to maintain and adjust them at home.
• High price. The price of self-propelled gasoline snow blowers can range from 30,000 to 100,000 rubles. There are prices and higher - it all depends on the motor. Not everyone is ready to shell out that kind of money for summer cottages.

Today, a huge number of models of snow removal equipment are presented on the market. There are tracked and wheeled, machines for cleaning large and small areas, low-power and units with high power. They all differ from each other, and it is necessary to make ratings taking into account each of the specific features.

Since it is not possible to consider all the variety of differences (for this one would have to write a separate book), it is best to turn to the experience of those who have already successfully used snow blowers for summer cottages. Their opinion is unbiased and the reviews reflect real-life advantages and disadvantages of different models.

Ordinary users identify several companies that produce trustworthy equipment:

• Craftsman;
• Daewoo;
• Honda;
• Husqvarna;
• Huter;
• MTD;
• Interskol.

The most logical thing is to choose the most popular model for each of the brands and briefly talk about its features.

This snow blower is positioned as a summer cottage technique. The capture width is 61 cm, height - 53 cm. The augers (there are two of them in this model) are made of metal. On the one hand, this is a plus - iron augers crush ice better. But on the other hand, after each use the auger will need to be cleaned, as snow adheres to the metal.

The snow discharge chute is made of plastic. There is a possibility of adjustment: the pipe can be turned 180 degrees. The engine is low-power - only 3 kW. When recalculated, this is 4 liters. with. This power is enough to clean a small area, but it is not enough to clean the area around the cottage. Accordingly, the capacity of the fuel tank is also small - 1.9 liters.

The self-propelled snow blower has seven gears: five forward and two reverse. The wheels are not very wide therefore, it is not recommended to use the unit in deep snow. Its weight is 77 kg. The average retail price is about 65,000 rubles.

This snow blower differs from the previous one, first of all, in materials. Here, both the auger and the snow chute are made of metal. Snow coverage is 61 cm.There is no reliable data on the capture height, but it can be assumed that it is at the standard level and is 45-50 cm.It is worth noting that for most snow removal equipment, the recommended snowdrift height should not exceed 20-25 cm.

The metal chute is adjustable, but adjustment can only be done manually. In the control panel, you can only change gears. Engine power is 5.5 liters. with. This means that with the help of a snow blower, you can clean up a larger area - for example, a football field.

There are eight gears: six forward and two reverse. The diameter of the wheels is 13 cm. The weight is 86 kg. The average cost is 63,500 rubles.

This model belongs to the line of professional, but at the same time it is ideal for household use. The HSS655ET is highly maneuverable and lightweight compared to other Honda professional snow blowers.

Snow collection is carried out at a width of 55 cm, however, the capture height is higher than that of other analogues, and is 50 cm.The unit itself is not wheeled, but tracked, which allows you to work with it even with a deep layer of freshly fallen snow.

The choice of speeds is not so wide: there are only two forward and one rear. However, in this case, it does not really matter, since the device cleans snow and ice well even after one "penetration". For convenience, a headlight is installed. With short winter days, the ability to work at dusk is a great advantage.

Snow throwing range is 14 m. Engine power - 6 HP. with. At the same time, the engine is economical. On the other hand, the machine does not have an electric starter, and it is also noisy. This makes users wonder if it's worth paying that kind of money for it. The average retail price is 144,200 rubles.

The manufacturer notes that this tracked snow blower has an increased cross-country ability and copes with its task perfectly even in cases where the terrain is completely problematic. High engine power of 11 hp. with. allows you to process large areas for a long time. The model has an electric starter, which makes it easier to start at low temperatures.

The snow chute is adjustable and can be adjusted using a special lever on the control panel. There are eight speeds: six forward and two reverse. The metal auger can grip snow 70 cm wide. The heated grips are provided for greater comfort.

The weight of the device is 133 kg, however, the caterpillar track allows you to work with it even in loose deep snow. There is a headlight, so you can work with the snow blower in the dark.

Husqvarna's American machinery is trusted because it uses high quality parts. However, recently it has become too expensive for the vast majority of summer residents, so the demand for it has dropped noticeably. To date, the average retail price is 105,000 rubles.

The maximum snow throwing distance is 10 m - an average for such technical devices. The working width is 61 cm, and the working height is 58 cm. The technique allows you to remove snowdrifts up to 58 cm high. This figure is the highest among the models.

The ST 224 is driven by wheels, not tracks. However, X-Trac tires are used here - a special development for snow removal equipment. They provide the best grip. Wheels with a diameter of 15 inches (approximately 38 cm) do not fall into loose snow.

Model weight - 90 kg. There are seven gears: six forward and only one reverse. For functionality, this is not important, because in practice, reverse gears are rarely used.

This model is popular primarily due to its good price-performance ratio. Powerful 6.5 liter engine. with. allows you to clean both the summer cottage and a small nearby area. However, please note: you can work with SMB-650E only on hard surfaces. A dirt road, just like areas with grass or an earthen layer on the territory of the dacha, should not be cleared. A stone caught in the auger can completely disable the equipment, and expensive repairs will be required in the future.

The width and height of the grip are 57 and 53 cm, respectively. There is an electric start system. The average retail price is 35,000 rubles.

Daewoo appliances are from South Korea. The Dast 7565 model is in great demand, as it allows you to clear hard-to-reach places on the site. The car is small and nimble, so its maneuverability is much higher than that of the rest.

There are five gears: four forward and one reverse.

Working width 65 cm, height 51 cm. The ST 7565 is not economical. The volume of the tank is 3.6 liters, and it takes about 3-4 hours to work. The body and the snow discharge pipe are made of metal. Adjustment of the angle and distance of snow throwing is carried out from the control panel. The device has a headlight for more comfortable work.

The snow blower weighs 64 kg. The average retail price is 56,000 rubles.

There are several guidelines for how to choose the most suitable self-propelled gasoline snow blower for a summer residence and at the same time not overpay for unnecessary bells and whistles.

1. Focus on the area you need to clear. For example, cleaning a football field is not the same as a summer cottage of a couple of acres. It makes no sense to pay for a more powerful machine if a low-power unit can cope with your requests.
2. Consider whether you need to clear driveways. It is much more difficult to work with snow, which has already been trampled by pedestrians and crushed by other cars, and here you should not save on engine power.
3. Read reviews. In them, the owners of the equipment always write about the pitfalls that you may encounter using this or that unit. There are also recommendations on whether this or that model is suitable for a country house or is it better to choose something more powerful.
4. Choose a technique with a headlamp. In the vast majority of cases, you will have to use a snow blower at dusk, and in order not to feel like a miner, when looking for and putting on a headlamp, take care of the light source ahead of time.

An overview of two popular brands of self-propelled petrol-powered crawler snow blowers awaits you below.