The World of Toro Snow Blowers

Let’s introduce you to the world of Toro Snow Blowers.

Toro is based out of Minneapolis, so it’s safe to say they know snow.  They are one of the few snow blower manufacturers that produce the 3 main styles of snow blowers – electric, single stage, and two-stage.  While their two stage models are quality machines, they are best known for their electric and single stage models.

 

Toro Electric Snow Blower

Toro electric snow blowers come in three sizes, the 12” Power Shovel, the 15” Power Curve, and the 18” Power Curve.  The Toro Power Shovel is a great tool to have if you only receive very light snowfalls, or for use on stairs, porches, and decks.  The 1500 & 1800 Power Curve models handle more snow than the Power Shovel, and can move between 500-700 pounds of snow per minute.  These models are all suitable for snowfalls of 4 inches & less.  The Toro 1800 Power Curve is the most popular of these models.

Toro Single Stage

Toro single stage snow blowers are gas powered and can handle more snow than their electric powered counterparts.  They come in 18” & 21” sizes, each size with a few options for electric start & chute styles.  They have slightly redesigned the single stage line up for 2014-2015 to feature larger engines.  In years past, the model numbers looked like “418ZE” & “621QZR” – the models have simply migrated to the larger engine sizes, so “418ZE” is now “518ZE”, and the “621QZR” is now “721QZR.”  The perennial pick in this lineup is the Toro 518ZE (formerly 418ZE).

Toro 2-Stage

If you’re looking for a little more power to help you conquer the snow, consider a two-stage Toro snowblower.  With features like an anti-clogging system to regulate snow intake, commercial gear case to withstand stress & eliminate need for shear pins, as well as power steering, these snow blowers are built tough for harsh winters.

Snow Blower Styles

Snow blowers come in all shapes and sizes, but which one is right for you?  There are a few basic types of snow blowers, each serving their own purpose.  On the smaller side, you have electric and single stage gas powered models.  Two-stage and three-stage snow blowers cover the larger options.

Toro 1800 Power Clear

Electric snow blowers are good for light, fluffy snowfalls and are very easy to use and maneuver.  They require no gas or oil, just a long, outdoor rated extension cord.  New to the market are cordless snow blowers from Snow Joe, which are equipped with lithium ion batteries and can run up to 40 minutes on a single charge.  However, if you typically receive snowfalls of more than a few inches, or have wet, heavy snow, you’ll probably want to move up to a single stage gas powered unit.

Toro 518ZE

A single stage snow blower can handle heavier snowfalls than electric models, typically up to 6 inches.  While not great at handling really wet & heavy snow, they will be able to handle the majority of moderate snowfalls.  Toro snow blowers are very popular in the single stage category, and have a wide range of options to meet your needs, including electric start, quick chute and the Power Propel drive system.

Ariens Deluxe 28+

2-stage snow blowers can handle the heavy stuff.  They feature metal augers capable of powering through heavy, wet snowfalls up to 18 inches.  Ariens snow blowers are the leaders in the 2-stage category, and offer one of the largest selections on the market.  They cover everything from basic models with just the necessities, to professional grade models with all the bells & whistles.

Cub Cadet 3526SWE

3-stage snow blowers are capable of grinding through the compacted snow & ice left at the end of the driveway by city plows.  They feature an extra forward facing auger for drilling through the tough stuff.  Cub Cadet snow blowers are the only 3 stage models on the market, and produce a few different sizes that even include a track drive model for 2014-2015.