Wheels or tracks?

I had the 36" professional ariens. I pull the machine around in neutral all the time. Can't imagine doing that with tracks. I'm thinking that tracks would mean you'd always have to run the machine under power and not just pull it around when needed.

I'd go with the wheels. I bet the track version is to have an answer to the competition who has tracks. Just because they sell it doesn't make it a good idea for every situation.

Possibly the tracks could be useful with a steep driveway that has troubles getting up it. I agree that chains could get you over that situation and would be less of an anchor than those tracks.

A track machine is nice for solid bases like hot top,plenty of tracksion. But on soft bases once it spins it reeaallly digs and theres not much clearence and I was always pulling and tuging on it. (at least my power pro, kmart special by mtd) I now have a craftsman thats an mtd built with tires, much better in my opion. Also the tracked one i've seen and the one I had have power steering like most all newer blowers, pull back both levers at once and you have nuetral and is ezyer to push/pull. All in all when it all comes down to it, tracks vr. tires they both have pros and cons

jinjimbob said:

Was looking here at snow blowers for the coming winter.
http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/brand/ariens.php

Are models with tracks better to get than wheels?
The smallest they offer with tracks is this one, http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-921014/p3490.html

I just need a small one to clear the sidewalks around the house, will use a blade for the driveway/road. I think this one would be big enough. http://www.snowblowersdirect.com/Ariens-920007/p3238.html

Click to expand...

Well...take your sidewalk width divide it by 2 and that number is really all you need for your snow blower width...one pass down the sidewalk and one pass back and your sidewalk should be clean...

I've never tried a track machine. I have a gravel driveway so I set the skids lower to not pick up stones so that leaves a little snow behind for the lugs to bite into. If you are scraping right down to pavement, it might be a different story.

I wonder if the track machines pivot up and down or tend to hold the front down. I had to bolt weights to the front of mine to hold it down. The torque on the wheels made it pop wheelies and lifting the handles to put down pressure on the front caused the tires to lose traction. I'm thinking about wheel weights too.

Tracks are good im sure, but i had a large OLD areins snowblower that had TURF TIRES! It had a locking diff though. Whenever i used the locking diff it was unstopable even with the crappy tires. That thing would walk right through the deepest drifts like nothing. But if ya didnt have the diff locked you could just forget about that. It was a little harder to steer with the diff locked, but not impossible. Im sure the tracks are worse yet.

I have a tracked Honda HS 928 and is a fine machine. I would not want to move it a whole lot not under power. It can be disengaged (hydro) and free Wheeled (tracked) OK but I'm not going to lie it's no where near as easy as a wheeled unit. But on the other hand it goes through snow of all kinds excellent whereas wheeled units will often ride up on top of some types of snow. I have different pitch settings I can use depending on conditions.
Overall the tracks as superior. I can drive mine up/down my basement bulkhead stairs (storage) with no help. Nice feature as I like to keep my shed clear in the spring/summer/early fall months.

MU