This winter’s heavy snow has caught out many schools, colleges and businesses and we’re not out of the woods yet as the wind settles in from the north to blast us with Arctic air.
Snow blowers can keep commercial and local authority premises up and running and if you buy now you’ll be better prepared for next winter when snows will certainly return.
For schools and business: Stiga Snow Fox Snow Blower
Stiga make excellent machines and one suitable for smaller businesses is the Snow Fox Dual-Stage Petrol Self-Propelled Snow Blower.
This machine has a Briggs & Stratton 205 cc engine designed for operating when it’s bitterly cold with both recoil and electric start.
It has six forward and two reverse gears and is easy to drive enabling the user to get close to path edges and walls.
Augers drag snow and ice into the main hood where an impellor breaks it down further and blasts it up to 12 metres away through a chute which rotates through 190 degrees and is adjustable by a single control.
Deep tread tyres give excellent grip.
It costs £1089 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £1189, has a one year manufacturer’s guarantee and is delivered free the next working day.
Great machine: Stiga Snow Power
The Stiga Snow Power Dual-Stage Self-Propelled Petrol Snow Blower is a really sturdy machine made to clear large areas with maximum efficiency.
The clearing width is 84 cm and the intake height of the front hood is 61 cm, so it can clear large areas of heavy snow very quickly.
This has the same mechanism with a revolving front auger and impellor which can throw the snow up to 12 metres away through the chute.
A Briggs & Stratton 305 cc engine is at the heart of this snow blower and there is a variomatic drive with six forward and two reverse gears. This transmission makes it much easier to control speed precisely.
The chute rotates through 200 degrees and direction and pitch are controlled from the dashboard.
Both electric and recoil start are fitted and snow shoes enables height adjustment as they are adjustable.
A headlight is fitted to help working when it’s murky and 16 in wheels and chunky tyres give great grip.
It costs £2059, £300 off the maker’s recommended price, comes delivered free the next working day and has a one year manufacturer’s warranty.
For major tasks: Stiga Commercial Snow Blower
And the Stiga Pro 1581 HST Commercial Dual-Stage Snow Blower is a machine built for large areas capable of clearing long drives and forecourts and car parks quickly and cleanly.
This is a really powerful model with a 420 cc Briggs & Stratton engine which is specifically engineered for use in freezing conditions. And there is a 6.7 litre fuel tank for longer working.
The working width is 81 cm and it can handle snow falls up to 50 cm deep and again the front auger and impellor work in partnership to blast the snow into the distance.
Adjustable skid shoes mean you can clean down to any type of surface from gravel to tarmac.
Hydrostatic transmission through six forward and two reverse gears make driving simple.
Controls are easy to use and the handles are adjustable. This one has a weatherproof cover included.
It costs £3069 compared with the maker’s recommended retail price of £3379, comes delivered free the next working day and has a one year manufacturer’s guarantee.
