I have lived in Orlando since I was 17 years old. While I grew up in Cincinnati, we were rather poor, so a snow blower was never even an option. And it's not like Cincinnati snow is really that bad anyway.

But I was watching the news this morning and they were showing clips from the NorthEast somewhere, maybe Boston. And there were 3-4 people digging their cars out with snow shovels and the snow was up to the handles of their doors.

All I could think was, "It's going to take them forever to dig out those cars, cause they have to do 3 of the 4 sides. And if they live in an area where that much snow is possible, why the hell do they not own a snow blower?"

These cars were parked on the street, in front of what appeared to be brownstones, so I could see if space limitations played a part in this scene. I could also see living in KY, OH or other areas of similar latitude and getting by without one. But if you live in the NorthEast, MI, MN, SD, ND, MT, etc, shouldn't a snow blower be standard operating procedure?

You are correct by using the plural form. One is not enough, as it will break at the most inopportune time, and the repair shops will be backlogged seven weeks for repairs.

Id say close to 100% of homeowners/property owners here own at least one…renters…who knows?

I live in a 8 unit subdivision where each home is on 5 acres. We are 5 miles out of town. In my little subdivision, there are 6 Kubota/John Deere Tractors, one Honda sidexside with a front mounted gas powered snowblower to clear snow. Personally, I have a 30hp Kubota tractor with a 63" front mount snowblower. I also have a Toro walk behind snowblower for my front and back walks.

We're prepared for that snowmageddon crap - bring it on.

Mike

A former client described a snow blower as "One of the greatest labor saving devices ever invented by man" during a discussion over the necessity of same. I've had one for the last 25 years (in southwest Michigan). Started out with a little 2 stroke single stage, eventually went to a 4 stroke 2 stage. Glad we have it, as we're looking at 9-16" of snow in the next few days. And I'm not getting any younger

Getting out of the drive shouldn't be a problem either way- we have a 4Runner with snow tires.

Around here in Southeastern PA they seem to be growing in ownership over the past 10-20 years. before that I think they were considered a luxury and not everyone could afford one but now after a major snowstorm it's common to see half or more of the residents on the block I live on using one.

Growing up as a kid in the 1980's we never had one, our asses shoveled that snow.

I have a side by side with a plow and chains that does the heavy lifting. I also have a snowblower and shovels everywhere. Plowing with the side by side allows me to help a couple elderly neighbors out as well. I go up to my sons house with it about a mile away. I have stopped and plowed peoples driveway whom I don't even know on the way up to plow his house. Anything can be fun if you have the right equipment.

A snow blower doesn’t really help if the snow is that deep. It also doesn’t help when the snow is wet. Even when conditions are perfect for snow blowing, you still end up grabbing the shovel.

Mines an F-250 with a 9’ Boss V.

In my area I would say it is only 1 out of 10 people who have a snowblower. At my house we have gotten about 20" - 22" of snow in the last 2 weeks. I think I may be the only one on my entire street who has one, and who does my driveway and sidewalk. My two teenage boys have to walk to/from school and it is a pain in the ass for them to have to walk in the street because there is some much snow on the sidewalks

When I was in the city we didn’t have one. In the suburbs everyone has one.

I grew up in the city (Buffalo) and we only had a driveway big enough for one car so I grew up shoveling. Bought my house with a 125 foot driveway and a 3 car parking area so I have a snowblower. Two actually. One small one that fits through the man doors to get out to the back patio so I can get to the chicken coop and doubles as an emergency backup. 2 is 1.

In SW MO they are still rare for residents in traditional neighborhoods. Shovels are mostly it. Rural tho, it's just another implement for the tractor, so they are around. A lot of guys make a buck with a plow on the front of their 3/4 ton if they aren't dragging a skid steer around cleaning off parking lots.

We don't get too many deep snows, maybe every other year over 6". There's a disadvantage to having a snowblower tho - if you have one, you have no excuse not to get your butt to work.

After the 20" in 2011 I decided I was going to call in from then on. Especially since they got word to me a mile from work they were closing - it meant I wasn't going to get two hours showup pay. . .

That store manager was a legendary skinflint. Not like there wasn't 3 days warnins out it was going to be a major snowfall.

He let a hot water faucet drip for 18 months to avoid a demerit on his petty cash expenses.

Ok yeah I know 20" is nothing for folks who live north of the MO border, but 20" here is like 6" in Atlanta, serious news. At least our town of 4,500 has more snow plows than Atlanta.

I have a side by side with a hydraulic plow. I also have an ariens snowblower (30 platinum), but its been broken for a few years. Runs great, chute mechanism is beyond stupid and so far, unrepairable. I'll probably go honda next time.

My Landlord has one. Mounted on a Bobcat.

Growing up - my parents had 3 boys. No need for a snowblower.

My Tim The Toolman walk behind. 13 HP Predator engine replacing the 6HP Tecumseh on a 28 inch blower. Discovered Sunday that I need to upgrade the belts, the engine overpowers the stock belts pretty quickly. Going from "B" section to "A" section belts should fix that.



Then for the REAL snow...

I live on a corner and have a huge lot for being in Chicago. I bought a Crapsman snow blower when we moved in. It was the biggest one they had. What a POS. I always had to repair it before, during , and after I used it. If snow was wet, forget about it.
I eventually went with a plow to attach to my garden tractor, that worked better than the blower unless you run out of room to plow the snow to.
I now have a Kubota BX23S tractor. I use the front bucket, works well except for last winter when the small fuel filters iced up and the tractor was a no go. Lucky I have great neighbors and they bailed me out with there snowblowers.
EVERYBODY here uses a snowblower or a plow.

Two houses ago, no snow blower but had two teenage sons at home.

Previous house, had a big Toro walk behind two stage snow blower.

Present house came with a big garden tractor with front mounted snow blower. Big piece of junk. It would pitch the drive belt for the blower when processing deep snow.

Bought a Kubota diesel powered shovel. Not as fast as a snow blower, but it works in every kind of snow or sleet. Bought a pair of Edge Tamers that protect the blacktop driveway.

It takes a bit longer using the front bucket compared to a snow blower, but I'm retired and have zero complaints with the Kubota using the front bucket.

9494 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

9495 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

9492 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

This snow shown was 48" (December 2020) and required about eight hours seat time. I have a BIG driveway.

Edge tamers: Greatest tractor bucket add-on since sliced bread! About $100 a pair for a smallish tractor. Zero blacktop and/or lawn turf damage.

IMG_20191022_120820902 by cee_Kamp 32ACP, on Flickr

Just out of curiosity, do you all get in trouble if you blow/throw the snow into the street?

My brothers live in the Denver suburbs and mentioned that can be a $500 fine if they get caught.

First they clear their driveways and sidewalks (because it's a fine if they don't keep the cities' sidewalks clear) then the cities' snow plows com through and push the street's snow back onto the sidewalk (which by then, my brothers are at work). When they come home, there's a nice nasty note on the door because the sidewalks are not clear. If/when the street's snow is blown back onto the street - bam , ticket a coming.