[Nero]

I have the opportunity to purchase a GX345, 48" deck with low hours and a single stage snow blower at a good price. I know it will be great for cutting the lawn I have, however I am a bit concerned about the single stage snow blower.

I have a 600' driveway, and live in the great white north of Minnesota. We typically dont get huge snow storms like upstate NY, but a 16-20" storm happens often enough that deep snow is a concern.

The fellow selling the tractor says that it can handle MN snow storms easily, even with my very long driveway. (that being said, he is upgrading to a new x7 series with a 2-stage blower which makes me think...)

My neighbor, who has a driveway the same length as mine, has a JD 318 with a 2-stage blower. He says he wouldn't even think about going with a single stage blower. That the single stage will get bogged down in the larger storms and will be a headache.

So who is right here? Is a single stage blower sufficient? Or should I keep looking?

 

[jim335]

I've used a single stage blower on my tractors for 30 years, and haven't met a storm it couldn't handle, and I live in upstate NY, south-east of Lake Ontario. I started with a 214 with the 37A blower to my now GX335 with 42" blower, which is similar to what your looking at, mine is air cooled where the GX345 is liquid cooled. You shouldn't worry, if it's a good deal GET IT!

 

[Mike Michaels]

I think a SS with the rubber paddle modification is a better all around thrower than a standard two stage. My two stage struggles with wet, heavy March snow which a SS can handle easily. If your 600' is single lane wide the 345 with a SS will do fine 98% of the time. The other 2% will just take twice as long.