Hands On Comparison Ariens RapidTrak 28 and Troy Bilt Storm 2860
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ย. 2024
- In this video, I am comparing a "typical" residential snow blower - the Troy-Bilt 2860 with the commercial grade Ariens RapidTrak 28 Hydro Pro snow blower. This is not a competition - just a quick comparison of what you get when you spend about $800 or $3000.
Please subscribe!
Please visit movingsnow.com to read more. I can help you find the best snow blower for you!
By the way, Ariens is letting me borrow this snow blower this season. Troy-Bilt is also letting me use this snow blower. They do not pay me for making these reviews and Ariens, Troy-Bilt, their associates or their dealers do not compensate me in any way, shape or form. All opinions are my own.
I'm not very good at making TH-cam videos but this is what I'm using to make the process as painless as possible.
Feel free to leave a comment below. (I do moderate the comments so it may not show up right away) Thanks for watching and please Subscribe!
If you would like to see more tools and equipment I recommend please visit my Amazon Shop. www.amazon.com...
As an Amazon Influencer, I earn a commision from qualifying purchases.
Software: VSDC Free Video editor www.videosoftde...
Equipment:
PANASONIC LUMIX FZ2500 amzn.to/2DqiEuk
Rode VideoMicro On-Camera Microphone amzn.to/2FwX5ZR
Takama Flip-Zip Tripod Monopod Kit amzn.to/2DpIDC5
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Please watch: "Toro 60 volt and Snow Joe 100 volt cordless snowblower in wet heavy snow!"
• Toro 60 volt and Snow ...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
This has been an amazing year. Thank you so much for watching my videos and supporting through comments, likes, and shares. I especially would like to thank you, my subscribers, for supporting what I do here. Feel free to leave a comment below. (I do moderate the comments so it may not show up right away) Thanks for watching and please Subscribe!
Thanks for this amazing video Paul! I'm watching this in 2023, as a first time snowblower buyer who knows nothing about them. This is very helpful
I bought an Ariens 28" Commercial model several years ago, around $2K with chains and some extras. Electric start is a BIG plus on a very cold morning and a huge headlight for night time blowing. Hand warmers, and zero turn system, or whatever they call it. Don't have to fight and wrestle the thing to turn it around at the end of the driveway. Has everything I would ever want or need on a snowblower and am very pleased with it. This is only my second machine in 40+ years and both have been Ariens. Thanks for the vid.
Would you say it performs well in really cold conditions?
@@jonbeck5546 Yes.....absolutelly.
2nd comment : I see that the Ariens not only covers one lap of the driveway in 2/3 the time but there is never any excess build-up in front of the auger. What a huge difference in these two machines. But with the Ariens at $3300 and the Troy at $1100 I can see what the extra money buys.
That ariens is a real beast. Ate up the wet plow snow like a piece of cake. Impressive!
In 2001 I purchased the biggest Arien's I could afford. It was the 28" deluxe. What a machine. Very powerful, very dependable, and plows 30" of snow. We typically get about 60" each year. Only maintenance was grease, fluids, belts, and a drive wheel. Was able to do all the maintenance myself. Still runs strong. Of course given my rural long gravel U driveway I had to replace several impeller break away bolts over the years mostly due to branches under the snow.
Three years ago I purchased a brand new Ariens Hydro-Pro 30 with hydrostatic drive (no belts) for $1299. I've always owned twin track Cub Cadets before (928STE & 1028STE) but the Ariens was $300 cheaper so I thought I'd give it a try. It's been a great snow blower and I do commercial work with it,( about 300 hours per year) and I've never put a wrench on it. With the Cub Cadets the belts would get wet in deep snow and then slip. My hydrostatic Ariens just blows right through it,no problem.
Allen Frisch hydrostatic drive is surely a good idea with these! just like a tractor with a snow blower/ you get unlimited control of the speed and torque.
That Troy Built was impressive for the size and cost. I have a Troy Built 2410 2 stage with only a 183CC engine and I can't believe how well it does.
The Rapid Trax is a beast. Powerful
I see that. Nice video. I have a 357 12 hp Craftsman. Always, over the years, have had craftsman. Never any trouble in these Minnesota snows. The current 12 horse has electric start, but I haven't needed it yet. Prime it and starts on first or second pull. I modified the high speed impeller with rubber flaps to close the gap between the housing and the impeller. Throws farther, although it threw fine before, and "slush" will not clog it.
My 28" MTD is probably the same thing with the 357 cc Powermore engine. I was skeptical about the Chinese engine but after 6 years, I'm still happy with it.
I got a troybuilt 24” 550 bucks at Lowe’s, 10 years old doing a 150 foot drive plus extras, it’s still working but I’m getting tired of pushing it in the deep or wet snow. Much easier to get my neighbors JD 4310 with the bucket. If I get a new one it will be an Arens.
I own an Ariens Deluxe with the bigger engine and I love it. I DID look at a comparable Honda and, although it is a good machine, there was a big price difference. Honda make good equipment but you do pay or the name. My Ariens, compared to a similar Honda, was nearly $1,000 less costly.
I have a 1979 toro 7/24 it won’t die 👍
Gotta love the rocks as they go through the next door neighbors front windows
Hi Dave, That sounds like rocks but it's actually ice chunks. I live on an Ambulance route so the snow plows start when there is a 1/2 inch of snow. I always end up with a frozen mess out by the road.
that's what windows are for ...lol
Ariens, Like is said, king of the snow. Quality built equipment. Steel construction what makes the unit last. Other brands use plastic on the dash board and the entire dischard chute. Less chance of breaking in the cold tempetures.
I have a 2005 Troy built 24” 5.5 hp still runs great . I bought it without knowing how snow it would throw the snow.. I have to do the middle of my 3 car driveway first then clean up the sides ..
Yea, I get a lot of snow plow snow at the end of my driveway. My Ariens does it with ease, too.
Looks like roughly a 88 second return pass for the Troy-Bilt and a 44 second return pass for the Aries i.e., the Ariens was twice as fast in this small test. That said, the Troy-Bilt would be perfectly fine for that small driveway.
I have an 1995 Yardman 10.5 HP 30" snowblower. The biggest problem I find is that when we have deep snow (15" or more) it cannot keep up with the amount of snow going into it, and I believe it's due to the speed. The first gear is to fast for deep snow. I have looked at slowing it down by using a smaller gear or pulley, but there just is no room for it.
I have found that the HP is great because the power is there to push out wet snow that wants to clog the chute. Everything considered, this machine has done it's job over all the years, and it did not cost me and arm and a leg, and the only parts I have had to replace is one drive belt, and a driving disc, and I have never broken a shear pin.
I've heard a lot of people complaining about how fast the first forward gear is, and how slow both reverse speeds are on all of the MTD products. They have to listen to their customers. I know that you can make adjustments yourself, but why should you? That's something that needs to be done at the factory.
I think every snow blower has some trouble when it comes to the junk plowed into front of driveway as well as wet heavier snow that's why you have various speeds.
My ariens deluxe 28 has no problem with the heavy plow piles.
Nice to see that you do get what you pay for in most cases. That being said the Toro would be fine for many residential users. As always thanks for posting this Paul!
I agree the SnowMaster or the Toro Power Max® 826 OXE (37797) 26 inch, 252 cc engine, automatic steering are good alternatives to the Troy-Bilt in this video.
I thought this neighborhood looked familia, I live right next to you lol. Thanks for sharing this video. I am purchasing the Ariens 28 Rapid Track this fall.
This one is going back to Barstow Street Auto if you want a slightly used, demo....
yes Ariens seems to be better.
The neighbors across a thinking that crazy Paul is doing another comparison. I'm thinking I want the Rapid Track. It might be best for me weather it's 2" or 2 '. Then im ready for it all. Thanks! Hope you have a great rest of the winter.
You may want to test rapid track before purchase. They sell the same machine with wheels. Rapid tracks are not pleasant to turn...kind of gimmicky...sure parts are way more too. Have used them both and the wheels are way faster to get things done.
Hope this helps.
Hope you enjoy whatever you end up with.
Have a great day.
Not gimmicky at all. Much faster and easier to use if you have lots of pavement and condo driveways to clear. It's just like a wheel snowblower in the wheel mode and will push through the biggest snow plow drifts when in track mode.
@@PaulSikkema Interesting...I have used them in the past...maybe not long enough to be good with them. ??? Seamed way slower for me...and also wondered how expensive replacement parts would be.
I ended up with tried and true wheel version.
Great videos. Thank you.
i have a 1987 826 john deer still runs like a deer i will never part with it im going to add to the fleet this spring with a ariens 28 pro havent decided on the wheel or track thank you for all youre videos
Great video. Very helpful! Looking forward to seeing your next one like this. Thanks again.
Wow I have never seen such a wide sidewalk. Glad you ditched the shovel and got a snow blower.
Hmm, now I wonder if I should have gone tracked. I have a 500 foot drive in NH and I have a Husqvarna ST-330P. So far this year we have only had 6" of snow a couple of times and it clears that at a fast walking pace without ever sounding like its working. The powder snow is thrown at least thirty or forty feet. Heavier snow from the plow seems to fly further. The only time the engine note changed and it sounded like it was doing something was slinging the plowed snow from the end of the drive into the forest.
The ST330P is a good snow blower and it is a lot faster than the ST330T. The Husqvarna ST330T is slow. So don't think too hard about switching. This Ariens on the other hand is a lot faster that your ST330P and you could save some time using it. This Ariens will blow snow as fast as you can walk.
ariens is a beast
Those track models still look a pain for maneuvering but on a long straight or driveway on a hill they probably have there place. Mine being about 60'×60' I'll stick with wheels.
Hi Go Ahead, It's hard to see in the video but when you want to turn just push down on the handles about 1 1/2 inches and then let the handles back up. What happens is the rear of the tracks lock off the ground. With the rear of the tracks off the ground, this model turns just like a wheeled unit. Check out this page on the Ariens site: www.ariens.com/en-us/snow-products/snow-blowers/rapidtrak
I've got a Honda tracked model. A beast to turn.
Hello again From 🇺🇸Harrisburg Pennsylvania 🇺🇸enjoy watching your videos ☃️❄️☃️ Love my wheel 28 DELUXE Ariens snow blower but this RapidTrak Looks very nice 😎🤩😎
Tony Parker hello neighbor from Dover,Pennsylvania! 👋
VicJackpotRider hello just got my 32in RapidTrak delivered this morning th-cam.com/video/TNBk3CqfKes/w-d-xo.html
Great video Paul, thanks. For the amount of snow you were moving I think the Troy Built was fine. The Ariens definitely had more power but it wasn't needed nor was the extra traction for the circumstances.
Exactly. The Troy-Bilt is a great snow blower for people that get around 60 inches average a year.
How much power is needed, and how that may relate to potential blowback from snow that has been aerosolized into a cloud .
It seems manufacturers want to avoid head to head comparisons.
The blowback is based on the type of snow much more than the power of the machine. Put the deflector in the fully open position and they will all have blowback when the discharge is pointed into the wind.
Yes, the manufacturers don't really care for side by side competitions because so much of that is subjective. That is why I try to always stay with a comparison simply because I know the snow blower that is best for me is not always going to be the best snow blower for you. In other words, the number one snow blower on a top 10 list is never going to be the best snow blower for you.
I find it hard to know how much snow we will have in order to estimate. Also there’s the dreaded pile at the end of the driveway. I rather have too much blower than not enough.
I like the Ariens
When you ran the Troy, I liked that you didn’t blow snow over already cleared area on the return pass. I also noticed when you tried lowering the chute angle, the snow force immediately pushed it back up. That tells me this blower was not assembled well by the seller. First the belt was loose and now the chute won’t stay where you put it.
The deflector uses a wingnut to set the tension - just like most single stage snowthrowers. It's something you adjust when needed. I should have tightened it more so it didn't ride up.
Great video I'm debating on which one to buy I've got a Sears Craftsman and seems like every year something's breaking
I am partial to Ariens, BUT the Troybilt has half the power and half the cost did quite well!
If the Troybilt had a larger engine, which it should have, it would have even been better than what was shown here.
Hello Paul ! Snowplow drifts , a necessary Evil they are seems Your well Armed to deal with them at Your place, the Poor Sod Whom only has a Shovel will be an hour or more just clearing the end of that driveway, those blowers both of them alone its less than ten minutes and hardly raise a sweat : ) You could do the Neigbourhood in the time saved just the worst of it and leave the twidly bits for Them to finish, I have Cub Cadet 102 with a QA 36 thrower on it and an Ariens 8/24, the cub is seven years younger than I or so and I have owned it for thirty years + and have probably moved a million tons with it, the Ariens is a recent purchase this December ( used ) a backup You could say it is in good working order and does the job it is nimble and does things I can only dream of with the Cub! Lots more to go awry the fancier the drive system gets, 3000 $ that is pricey are You planning on keeping that Ariens it is a Beauty for sure and does eat more snow with less User input or so it seems from watching You use it! Cheers!!! Rick Armstrong Aurora Ontario Canada
it looked like the troy built was pushing snow out in front. i was really impressed with that ariens. it sucked up all the snow. they use a SHO impeller, (super high output). they are shaped more like scoops. and not flat with a bent end and no sides to prevent snow from rolling off. i read where snow blower impellers not only blow snow but they also work like a fan. ariens said if you have snow pushing out the front of the auger to install a baffle bar inside the top of the auger housing. they claim it will prevent that line of snow pushing out to the side due to the fan blowing air. i have an older craftsman. and it does the same thing. having to go back over to get it blown clean. I'm going to fabricate this baffle thing and see if its true. i also have read a lot about that autotrac steering being a problem. i'm not buying a 3,000 dollar honda. i hear the track models don't push so well. they ride up on top and slip. i do like that large / small track system on your ariens. it seems to really have good traction. there are so many. two stage, 3 stage, its pathetic choosing one. the 3 stage i researched doesn't perform like one would think. not having used one. i think it looks kind of funky to me. like somebody tried reinventing the wheel. only thing left is to put drone blades to make it fly. lol. my motto is. if it ain't broke don't fix it! great video. we need more like that. somebody needs to go buy every snowblower and do a 24 hr video testing all of them at once. considering a $600 million lottery win just to afford it. thanks again. it really sheds light on what is what. BRAVO! now you only have another 998 to go.
When the snow is too deep or too heavy the best impeller designs have a way of "off-loading" the snow so you can keep the engine RPM up - so the snowblower continues to throw the snow a long way or doesn't slow down and clog. Toro uses the ACS (hump on the top of the auger housing). Ariens off-loads it to the left of the impeller. All the new high-output Ariens models have the deflector you are talking about already installed. That allows the snow to be off-loaded back inside the left part of the auger housing instead of blowing out the side.
In other words, if you are blowing snow out the left side just slow down a little and it will quit doing that.
Very nice comparison.
The ariens looks like the clear winner
Here a word of advice. I know the first pass had to be the full width of the snowblower. However, if you took only half of the width of your snowblower for every other passes, you would not have had to constantly stop in order to let the machine do its work. Mark my word, it will not be any slower if you do that and it will probably be easier on the belts. Good job comparing those 2 models!
Exactly, I did that when I used to live in Syracuse NY
Of course it will be slower. You're only moving half the snow in each pass. Unless you're able to put it in a higher gear and move faster.
great videos paul.so how do you like the trak ariens machine?better than wheels?is it worth the extra dough
The Ariens RapidTrack is like nothing else on the market. It is SO much easier than using a wheeled machine and it will run circles around any other tracked machine with the trigger steer. Watch some of the other videos I've done and read the comments - you'll quickly realize it's worth the extra money.
By the way - I have over a dozen snowblowers sitting in my shed - when I have to clear my own snow I ALWAYS grab the RapidTrack!
At about 1:03 you say the snow blower doesn't have the capacity for the amount of snow. It might have the capacity if you plow at a slower speed.
Hi tri 5ford, Yes, that does make sense. In this video starting about 4:00 I was running it in the lowest (1st) gear.
neat job right down to the ground
ariens are very strong beasts!!
Did Ariens at some point start putting smaller engines on this model? Some reviews say it's a 420cc engine and others say it's a 369cc engine?
Ariens has six different RapidTrak models. This one is the Professional 28 RapidTrak Hydro.
COMPACT 24 RAPIDTRAK: 24 inch 223cc Friction Drive
PLATINUM 28 RAPIDTRAK SHO: 28 inch 369cc Friction Drive
PROFESSIONAL 28 RAPIDTRAK HYDRO: 420cc
PROFESSIONAL ALPINE EDITION - 28 HYDRO EFI RAPIDTRAK: 420cc
PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAINEERING EDITION - 32 HYDRO EFI RAPIDTRAK 420cc Battery Start
PROFESSIONAL KRAKEN - 32 HYDRO EFI RAPIDTRAK 420cc Battery start
www.ariens.com/en-us/power-equipment/snow-products/snow-blowers/track#models
Looks like that Ariens could handle much faster travel speed through that depth of snow, if you wanted it to.
You're correct. This RapidTrak will handle anything you throw at it. Check out the snowblower race I did last year: th-cam.com/video/XReNrugAjG8/w-d-xo.html
Ariens is definitely the king of snow.
Look at Simplicity and Honda... I think you would change your mind about Ariens
@@dackerson5 you have a Simplicity?
The arians seemed to to throw better but great vid. Ive had good success with my cub cadet 2x
Same here, yes my 2018 Cub Cadet 2X has also been great .. smooth working at fifteen inches deep in first gear .. and great throw distance.
Great video. I would prefer Ariens. Seems to be more powerful. How much snow was there, and also, was it heavy snow
I'm also uploading a Deluxe 30 EFI and Troy-Bilt 2860 Comparison soon.
About a foot of snow. It was "normal" but the end-of-driveway stuff was really wet.
@@PaulSikkema ariens is better quality i have an ariens from 1971 and one from 1980's they work sooo well
Paul thanks for sharing the video. Feom what I can seen it looks like the track drive is as fast as the wheels drive, would you say so?
Yes, It travels just as fast as the heavy duty snow blowers with 16 inch tires and I feel it's faster than a wheeled unit because you have so much more traction. Turning this snow blower is just as easy as a wheeled unit. Anyone can push down on the handles about 2 inches and the rear of the tracks automatically raise up. Make your turn, do your cleanup etc. and then just pull one trigger on the handle and the tracks drop down again. It's an extremely simple and robust system.
Nice job Mr
The Troy-built appears to be a better snowblower for this driveway. besides ,Ariens cost way-to-much
Exactly, depending on where you live and how much snow you get the mid-priced Troy-Bilt works very well. You don't always need the biggest, baddest snowblower.
I will take the ariens any day , more power and don’t pile up
Holy shit that Ariens is nasty potent. I have the Troy bilt 253cc i think it’s a 2610? Works really well here in NH but if the plow pile is slush it don’t throw very far. Curious what you adjusted on the TB.
You adjust the tension by moving the pulley down by the transmission. I cut out the walk up to the garage to get the wrench and adjusting it out by the road.
Ariens for the win, no surprise. Now lets put this same Ariens up against the The Troy-bilt 3-stage ,26inch 357cc residential.
I don't have one of those this year. I do have the Arctic Storm 34. It's 45 degrees out today so my snow is quickly melting but- if I do get more snow it's on my list to compare that with the Ariens RapidTrak. The Arctic Storm is a 2-stage, 420cc, 14-inch auger, 14-inch impeller. It's Troy-Bilt's best and CR rated it very well.
How do you like your arctic storm 34? I have the craftsman pro series 34 the twin brother of the troy built and it has been a great machine so far
I'm really glad Troy-Bilt and Craftsman stuck with the 2 -stage system. It has plenty of capacity and I have not been able to get it to plug. I hope to make a video comparing it to the Ariens Pro soon.
I would still put my money on the Ariens. Wait 10 years down the road I have no doubt the Ariens Pro will hold up better than a 3-stage MTD built Troy or HD Cub all things being equal. Additionally the vid was to show the capabilities of 2 very different machines more so than it was a battle of which one is better. The vid showed what you can get on the budget friendly end of the spectrum a Troy-Bilt that would be fine for many residential users or a high end Pro-model at nearly 4 times the cost but with much better build quality and performance.
I agree. The Troy Built should be fine for residential use. But even comparing that Troy Built against my smaller Ariens Compact 24, I would take my Compact 24. If only for the reason that the Compact 24 is made out of steel. I dislike that the Troy Built has a plastic chute and a plastic dash/control panel. Plastic is cheap and is not made for longevity/durability.
Did you ever notice none of these "comparisons" want to go against Honda or Yamaha.
I'm not here to tell you which one is the best - I'm here to help you decide which one is best for you. I also know that just like your favorite hockey team, Honda has a rabid following. That said. Far North, I've done a lot of testing, research, etc. and I can't justify spending the money on a Honda - just to show you how poor it is compared to the Ariens RapidTrak Pro. The Ariens throws any snow farther, has over 30% more capacity and will throw 12-14 inches of wet heavy stuff as fast as you can walk. The Honda can't even go that fast running without snow. Of course the Ariens can clear much deeper drifts. One last item, this Ariens doesn't clog on heavy/wet snow. There are no "modifications" that you have to do to it so that it won't plug. Don't get me wrong - the Honda is a quality machine - it's just not in the same league as this Ariens RapidTrak Pro. I'm not the only one who feels this way, check out Consumer Reports and see where they list this snow blower in relation to the Honda.
By the way, I live in the U.S.A. and Yamaha hasn't sold a snowblower down here for over 30 years.
@@PaulSikkema This comment was really helpful. I've been trying to decide between the Ariens and Honda. I have a 33 year old Toro 824 that's working well, but it's always been kind of scary on a hill, and it doesn't handle the slushy and wet stuff well at all. I recently bought a Honda lawnmower, and I love it, so I was thinking about a track driven Honda snowblower. But it seems like the Ariens RapidTrak would be a lot better for me.
I’ve got both an Ariens and a Honda on tracks the Ariens works circles around the Honda for 1/2 the cost.
Ariens is the best!
For commercial its hands down.
Ariens destroyed the other blower.
Thanks for the video. Are any ariens self propelled? We have an inclined long driveway. Looking for the best option.
All Ariens 2-stage snowblowers are self-propelled. The RapidTrak in this video has a infinitely variable speed hydrostatic transmission. The Platinum RapidTrak has a 6 speed tranny.
How did you adjust the tension on the Troy Bilt Storm 2860 to make it throw the snow further ?
The belt tension needed adjusting. Your operators manual has the procedure.
Paul, I have the Ariens 28 Deluxe. It is a real bear in turns; especially when trying to turn it left. And at times the traction leaves a lot to be desired; it struggles for traction. The right wheel always seems to turn at a higher rate of speed than the left wheel. Is there an adjustment I can make to remedy this. I've notice this since it was new and have owned going for 7 years. It is so much work to use this snow blower that it is a work out to use it. Any help you can provide would be most appreciated. P.S. I have added the ploy skids to it which have helped only minimally. Thanks for your reply!
1. Check the tire pressure and make sure they are the same.
2. Tip it up on it's nose and remove the right wheel. When you pull it off there is supposed to be a square key that keeps the wheel from turning on the rim. Make sure that is in place and not sheared off. You can watch this video to see what I'm talking about th-cam.com/video/TcT-cdugH_I/w-d-xo.html
3. If that is OK, Then continue watching the video. Take the bottom cover off and inspect the AutoTurn. I talk about it specifically starting at about 14:00 in the video. There are at least 50,000 of these AutoTurn gearboxes out and working in snowblowers. They don't break but I have heard of a couple that went bad (or were bad from the factory)
If your autoturn doesn't work the way I show in the video it may be bad. I suggest taking it into an Authorized Ariens Dealer and have them fix it. Unfortunately, because you have had it so long, it won't be under warrenty
Let me know what you find.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you for the fast reply Paul. I will check out the things that you have outlined to see if I can find where the problem is. Thank you for your help. I'll let you know what I find.
All depends what you're clearing, do you work for a college in the city of boston doing miles of sidewalk? Or doing a quick driveway? The price reflects this, almost what 3200 for the rabid track? Then maybe Maybe 700 for the troy?
The Troy-Bilt 2860 is going for $899 this year.
What do you think about the Troy Bilt Storm Tracker 2890? Looking for a cheaper/smaller alternative to the RapidTrak, but people say the TroyBilt are cheaply made these days.
And those same people will tell you a Craftsman or Cub Cadet is better even though they are all made in the same factory from the same parts...
The Truth is the Troy-Bilt snow blowers really have not changed in the last 10 years. They still have the same quality and in my opinion, it's one of the better "value-priced" brands. With the recommended maintenance they will last you a long time.
They have made improvements. 1. They added the hanging chute. It works so much better than the old-style chute that rests on the auger housing. 2. They got away from the 4-way joystick. The chute and deflector controls are now very easy to use. 3. The 243-272cc Troy-Bilt engine has a good reputation and it matches the snowblower well.
The RapidTrak is a commercial machine. It's designed to do multiple driveways and miles of sidewalks every day for years. The Storm Tracker is a residential machine. It's designed to clear your residential property and last years.
If you have a steep driveway up to 300 feet long. If you need to clear turf, gravel and other "off-road" areas and don't get more than 80 inches of snow a year - it is a good choice.
Paul Sikkema thank you so much for your time & expertise! I appreciate the guidance.
Hi Paul. Deciding I wasn't going to get a plow, I bought impulsively a Simplicity Select 1227. I have since read through at least a thousand comments. I called dealers in two different states and visited two others here (besides selling dealer.) In NE Ohio not tons of snow...but what if? Really looked at heavy construction of Signature series at other dealer. It's like stamped mower deck vs fabricated. Aluminum vs cast iron gear box. Selling dealer also has Ariens but got the Chinese engine reveal. I plan to take care of possibly 6-12 customers, transporting on cargo carrier. Got 1227 for call it a thousand. Could get 1528 Signature from other dealer for 1599. Have not taken delivery of 1227 yet. Any thoughts not limited to Simplicity, but in that price range would be greatly appreciated. I of course want to buy once.
You are aware that the engine on that Simplicity is also made in China? All Briggs horizontal shaft engines are made overseas.
Just like Briggs , the company that makes the engine on the Ariens is a U.S. company. Unlike Briggs, LCT owns its own plant in China whereas Briggs does not own its own plant there.
I'm a little confused - The Simplicity 1227 has an aluminum gearbox - the Ariens has a cast-iron one. The Ariens is a "top-load" box so it will never leak - the Simplicity has a split gearbox that will leak over time. The 1728 Simplicity has the cast-iron split gearbox.
The 1728 is a decent snowblower and the price is what it should be for it.
@@PaulSikkema oh, that's a revelation. I did not know anything, of course, about the gearbox is being split or what that might even mean. Thank you for that. I know that you are a big Ariens guy but I also know that you know what you're talkin about. Would you be steering me away from the Simplicity and advise to go with the Ariens? Regardless of the China deal? Because apparently it doesn't matter like so many people believe regarding China. Which Ariens would you recommend that is perfectly adequate?
The Simplicity Select series is not built as strong or as well as all the other U.S. made brands. The Ariens Deluxe 28 is the same size and power but it will last you many years. I'd also recommend the Ariens Deluxe 28 Pro, the Toro Power Max HD 828 and 928.
@@PaulSikkema thanks. I paid for it but didn't take delivery. I even went back the next day and voiced my concerns. He assured I'd be fine, and that if I felt it wasn't enough, I could upgrade with no additional cost. I'd rather not mess with that and just upgrade now. I hope he doesn't have a problem with it. Having not taken delivery I imagine I should be okay, right? That's rhetorical.
Ariens is the best
Is the Rapid Track Arien 24 good for a sloped driveway?
Yes, that's what is is designed for. A compact snowblower that easy to use and can go anywhere. It will even go up and down steps and steep ramps with a little practice!
@@PaulSikkema Funny Paul!!Thanks
good job!
I hate the plastic chute and the fact it doesn’t stay adjusted
I tend to lock the deflector in one position and never change it.
Paul - thanks for the video. I'm considering the Ariens RapidTrak 28 Hydro for next winter to replace my 25 year old Honda HS828. I've also looked at the current Honda machines, but in many ways I like the more straight forward Ariens (manual chute control) and available amenities (heated grips). My one concern is with turning while in track mode. In this video you suggest that turning in track mode is OK, but very easy in wheeled mode. With more use did any of these perceptions change? Obviously my 25 year old track Honda has no turning assist at all, so anything should be better than that. With that said, I think I'd find it a deal breaker if the Ariens RapidTrak turns so much easier in wheel mode that you'd switch to wheel mode almost every turn, and then go back to track. What are your more long term observations on this concern?
Hi Larry, This is hard to explain in writing but I'll give it a try.
1. When you have the snow blower in track mode the majority of the weight is on the large front cog wheel. The tracks assist you but they don't really interfere with making course corrections and small turns. That combined with the AutoTurn allows you to do those types of turns much easier than your HS828. Your HS828 has the weight balanced on both wheels so all the weight of the snow blower is spread across the bottom of the tracks making it harder to turn.
2. When I want to make a 180 degree turn with any snow blower I normally push down on the handles and raise the front end of the snow blower up. I make the turn with the front raised and put it back down when the turn is done. When you do that with the RapidTrak the back of the tracks automatically locks in the raised position making it very easy to turn - just like a wheeled snow blower. After you make that turn just lightly pull the lever on the bottom of the right handle and the tracks drop back down. That lever is easier to pull than the steering levers on the trigger steer snow blowers and even better, you don't have to remember which trigger to pull to turn the machine! The process is very intuitive and it won't take you long to realize how simple and intuitive it is to turn the snow blower.
3. To answer your question, "With more use did any of these perceptions change?" I have an old Craftsman with the locked axle tracks like your HS828 and two 30 inch tracked snow blowers with the "conventional" trigger steer. After using the RapidTrak I've decided to turn the Craftsman into a lawn ornament because even though the Craftsman is a third of the weight of the RapidTrak is a lot harder to turn :)
The other two 30 inch tracked snow blowers are big, high capacity snow blowers but compared to the RapidTrack they are just horribly slow and are even more horribly harder to use. I have to keep them and use them for comparison purposes but I'll never use them as my "Daily Driver." They just wear me out compared to the RapidTrak or a wheeled unit.
When you purchase the RapiTrak go into using it with a positive attitude and you will quickly see it is the best snow blower on the market for easy of use and high capacity, high production snow clearing.
@@PaulSikkema Thank you for the quick reply. I understand what you're say and it makes perfect sense. It should become second nature in short order. I guess you forget all the little tricks you develop with any machine once you've had it for a while.
One more question... I see in your videos that you often clear across grass. I do a similar thing to get to our wood pile. With the HS828 I just leave the machine in the un-sprung position and can easily clear a path over the grass leaving a bit of snow. Practically the only feature of the new Honda HSS928/1332 that I like is the easily adjustable auger height. To what extent can the Ariens RapidTrak simulate something similar in the wheel position?
I have no idea why TH-cam is posting my replies four times. Sorry, if you are seeing them also..
There is one other "feature" of the Ariens Deluxe/Platinum/Pro that most people don't realize. The way the snow blower is balanced, the design of the auger housing/auger/impeller allows the snow blower to easily ride over turf and not get stuck in it. But, it also will not ride up in deep snow and it will clear right down to pavement when you want it to. (Toro Power Max HD's also will do this)
What that means is you don't have to hold up the front of the snow blower for it to clear turf. It also doesn't dig into the turf and rip chunks out of it.
I cut my lawn at 4 inches so with other brands they have a hard time clearing spots for my dogs. They either get stuck or tear out the grass. The Ariens doesn't.
With the other two track drive snow blowers I mentioned in the previous comment I do have to raise the front up or they get stuck or take half the lawn with them.
Be aware: If you put the RapidTrak in the 3rd mode - "dig-in" the front will tear up your turf. That position is only for cleaning hard packed, driven on snow off of pavement.
Watch this other video: th-cam.com/video/ev3pD9I1vFQ/w-d-xo.html Almost the entire video is shot clearing turf and especially after the 6 minute mark.
Hello Sir!! I have been doing research to replace my current troy-bilt track snowblower which is 11 years old now. I have been looking at Cub Cadet, Ariens and Husqvarna. I have finally narrowed it down to the platinum 28 rapidtrak from Ariens and the ST 427T from Husqvarna. I was wondering what your thoughts are on those two machines.
Thank you,
Jim
I've had both of them here and both are very good snow blowers.
The RapidTrak is very fast and very easy to use. With the trak in the "up position", it acts just like a wheeled unit - meaning you can turn it easily. Drop the trak to the "normal" position and it has considerably more traction than a wheeled snow blower. Lock the trak into the "lock Mode" and it has the traction of a snow blower like the ST 427T and will push right through the heaviest snowplow snow at the end of your driveway. I really like where the hydro lever is located and how easy it is to use. It's right by your right hand and with a little practice, you can drive the RapiTrak forwards and backward without stopping. It has a huge capacity and is one of the few snow blowers I've ever used that can clear 18-20 inches of snow at a fast walking pace without the snow building up in front of the snowblower. It's a commercial machine built for commercial use.
The ST427T is a great choice if you are also seriously looking at the Honda HSS28 or 32. It beats the Honda's in every way. It has a lot more power than the Honda's and is very well balanced so it has great traction all the time. It's a conventional track drive so you can lock the front of the snowblower up off the ground - if that's your thing. I like the EFI engine and onboard electric start a lot. After sitting 4 months - I walked up to it the other day and turned the key - it started immediately at idle. no choke, no primer bulb - just turn the key like your car and it starts. The new wraparound dash makes it feel big and massive but with the trigger steering and well-balanced weight, it's easy to drive. It will easily handle up to 18 inches at a time at a decent walking pace.
@@PaulSikkema thank you Sir! I appreciate the reply and feel good about going with the Ariens now.
I called my dealer shortly after I read your message and it should land in the next 3-4 days.
I really appreciate you taking time out to answer my questions.
Thanks again!!
Jim
That areins throw snow further than the troy but I would buy the troy due to cost
Thanks for the comparison. What's your opinion on the Ariens RapidTrak "DIG-IN" Mode ? Have you experienced a noticeable benefit ? I'm shopping for a track snowblower, and I have a steep gravel driveway at the cottage. Traction is critical. I'm trying to decide on a self propelled track snowblower, or a snowblower mounted to my ATV.
The dig in mode works very well on pavement but your gravel HAS to be frozen to use it there. The snow blower actually forces the front housing down so it will dig into loose gravel. That said, I've used it on frozen turf, frozen dirt and frozen gravel and it has the best traction of anything on the market. Even in the "float" mode it has plenty of traction to push through deep drifts and it does not ride up like a lot of the other brands.
@@PaulSikkema Good to know. Thanks for the quick reply.
Compare them to the Honda 32 inch Hyddrostatic drive?
I can't afford to buy a Honda for show-and-tell but I will tell you the facts.
1. The Ariens 32 inch Pro RapidTrak has a capacity of 90 tons per hour - the Honda is around 70 tons.
2. The Ariens will also throw the snow farther - all the time - up to 60 feet.
3. The Ariens won't clog on heavy/wet snow. It does much better than the Honda on the really wet stuff. The impeller is larger, cupped and the chute is bigger. That's what helps it throw the wet stuff better.
4. The Ariens is as fast as a wheeled snow blower. In my opinion, it will clear 6-12 inches almost twice as fast as the old-style track drive on the Honda. In fact, the Ariens will clear 12 inches as fast as you can walk.
5. The hydro lever on the Ariens is conveniently located right next to the handle. It's shorter and very easy to move. With a little practice you can change speed and direction without ever stopping the snow blower or taking your hand off the handle. That one little feature really speeds up the work.
I got one. Compare a big Honda to the Toro 1432. Honda is a fine piece of equipment, but I bet it won’t come out ahead vs Toro.
😀
that rapid track is super nice thanks dude
Is that Aries you were using a 3 stage ?
No, This is a 2-stage with a 14 inch impeller and auger. Here is a 3-stage www.cubcadet.com/en_US/snow-blowers/three-stage-snow-blowers
Thank you for the quick response.
The Ariens did a better job
Really stupid question. The only time I need a snow blower is when we get the occasional dump of snow. We might get 3-4 of these in a year or we might not get one for 3-4 years. The light fluffy 6-8 inches of snow are not a problem to shovel. I have a driveway that is 11 degree slope as measured by my iPhone so take that for what it is worth. The driveways are about 60 feet long and 30 feet wide. I am the youngest person on my street at 56 years old so I will often do 6 or so of these driveways with a shovel. We get Thunder snow storms which I love, the lightening flashing as the snow dumps from the sky with the snow muffling the thunder. The downside is 8-16 inches of wet heavy snow. The End Of Driveway with the wide streets is a mound that is a couple of feet high of wet slushy snow. So to clear those snows that I need it for it seems like I need a beast of a snow blower. However because we don't get much snow everyone recommends the smaller 2 stage or a single stage that I don't think will clear the bad shows that are to much to shovel. Am I missing something? It seems like you only need a snow blower when things are bad. Anything a single stage can handle can be done with a shovel. Again I come back to needing a beast with the slope and the heavy wet snows, the light fluffy snow I can do with a shovel. Am I missing something or am I crazy?
No questions about snow blowers are stupid. If you were just clearing your driveway a small 2-stage or even a single stage may work but - with your slope the single stage will be hard to push up the slope and the small (cheap) 2-stage machines may also have traction issues.
So, I'm going to recommend three mid-priced snow blowers that are heavier. They will handle any snow you get including the "Thunder Snow" and the big end-of-driveway snowplow piles. All the weight is balanced over the wheels so they have excellent traction for your slope.
1. The Ariens Deluxe 28 (home depot link: homedepot.sjv.io/5bx3) It's wider than what the others I suggest but you can get your neighbors and your driveways cleared quickly.
2. The Ariens Deluxe 24 (home Depot Link: homedepot.sjv.io/Qg19) Same size as the "small" 2-stage snow blowers but can handle any snow you get.
3. The Toro Power Max 826 OAE. (Home Depot Link: homedepot.sjv.io/4nbML) This snow blower weighs a little less than the Ariens but it will still handle your snow and slope well.
Scott Wilcox. You're an animal. It sounds like any snow blower will just slow you down. Have a great day. Treat yourself to an Ariens you won't be disappointed.
You can now remove the tags from your hat.... hahahahahaha priceless !
Two years and you're the first to comment! Just trying to keep Minnie Pearl's legacy alive...
@@PaulSikkema First time out this season the other day and the $2 price tag just fell off my flourescent orange Cousin Eddy(Elmer Fudd) hat after two years of snowblowing in NH. I'm bummed but no biggie, I have lots of hats with tags, great ice breaker anywhere. My friend Kat and I have many, many matching hats with tags. We too are just trying to keep Minnie's legacy alive and her name is the comment we hear most often. It's working Paul, long live Minnie Pearl!
I have a shovel. It works well. I like my shovel.
I have an excellent snow shovel myself. It works great - but I don't work that well anymore....
Had Blower, died. Now shovel only, cannot handle thick snow. Looking for reliable blower.
It"s safe, I won"t be stealing that.
👍
All MTD's can not handle end of the driveway snow. They Clog. PERIOD! Great machines for clearing snow fast...but if it is wet like at the end of a drive you are doomed.
Ariens and Honda the only two that cut through
Ariens and Toro Power Max HD. Honda's require a chute mod to handle wet snow.
@@PaulSikkema What chute mod? Thanks for the perfect video/comparison.
The vintage snow bird .. will destroy both of them. But nice machines.
Do you mean this one? th-cam.com/video/oX2PZcCSu1M/w-d-xo.html. On the other hand an old Gravely 2 wheel tractor with a snow blower could throw as far as the RapidTrak - just not as fast.
If he is talking about the one in the link you provided I'm not impressed. Looks like a piece of crap to me.
Everyone has their own "favorite." Mine was a 1960's Gravely. It would throw snow 70 feet! But it was so big and awkward to use. You had to be a farm kid or wrestler just to use it. It only had a 6 HP engine and that was a rope start. New models like the RapidTrak move more snow faster and are so much easier to use.
you're comparing an 8 hp to a 14 hp......not a good comparison i think you had more of an issue with coordination then anything else
That is exactly the point of this video. Comparing the "average" big box store version to a Pro version.
@@PaulSikkema with that size of driveway.... i would recommend any thing over 300cc= 10hp the driveway NOT being the issue...... BUT THE SNOWPLOW SURPRISE AT THE ENTRANCE
Question Pauly this is not a comparrison video. Why were you stopping the Toro when there was no snow build up in front of it??? How much did you pay for your Airens. I got a 357 Toro 26 in. and will make short work of your Airens but for Airens your machine is pretty good and the big motor is why. You didn't even drive the 243 like you should have Next time try not look so Obvious.
Hi Judge, I assume you meant the Troy-Bilt. Yes, this is comparison video and no, I don't EVER tilt these videos to make one look better than the other because the video was not a competition - just a comparison between an $800 snow blower and a $3000 snow blower. I pushed the Troy-Bilt as hard as it would go so when I stopped it was because of snow building up in front. This video really was not a fair comparison. Why? This was the right amount of snow to test the Troy-Bilt but not near enough snow to really test the RapidTrak. Here is another video where there's more snow: th-cam.com/video/CFngXklovEM/w-d-xo.html.
Yes, 357cc is a lot of engine on a 26-inch snow blower. I'll bet it does very well! The current Toro 26 inch has a 252cc engine.
By the way, this year I'll be using the new Toro 928 and compare it with the Troy-Bilt. The 928 has a 265cc, the 1028 a 302cc and the Pro 1428 a 420cc.
The Ariens RapidTrak Hydro is $3099.
At least compare to like size motors and size smh
The point of this video was to show you an inexpensive snowblower and compare it to a much more expensive one. In other words, a $1000 machine gets the job done but there are many reasons why the $3000 snowblower may be a better choice. i.e., time savings, speed for long driveways, throwing distance, ease of use, able to handle heavy/wet snow, etc.
Never buy a snowblower with a plastic chute. It will always break. A steel chute will not break. Simple.
Just to clarify. The current poly chutes from Toro, Cub Cadet, and other U.S. brands are not plastic and are made to handle the stress and also the low temperatures of winter.
Chutes made 20 years ago did have issues. I also won't trust the cheap snow blower chutes made overseas.
@@PaulSikkema Tell that to my neighbor, his chute breaks every winter. Craftsman junk.
I'll bet he has a 24 inch Craftsman with the chute that clips on the housing and the chute crank that looks like a spring on the end? That's a chute design from "20 years" ago. It's still around not because it works but because Craftsman and a few other brands still are chasing that customer who ONLY buys the cheapest snow blower they can find.
I'm not saying it's best, but the plastic-looking chute on my 2013 MTD has been holding up well to the extreme North Dakota temps. It's going on its 7th season. Thinking of upgrading to this Ariens RapidTrak again.
ya nieghbor across the raod has left his lights on ...lol
What are you doing to adjust the tension on the Troy bilt?
I used the operator's manual's instructions to adjust the engagement cable tension. That's all it needed.
I used the operator's manual's instructions to adjust the engagement cable tension. That's all it needed.
I used the operator's manual's instructions to adjust the engagement cable tension. That's all it needed.
I used the operator's manual's instructions to adjust the engagement cable tension. That's all it needed.
I used the operator's manual's instructions to adjust the engagement cable tension. That's all it needed.