Getting the Right Tool for the Job
February 7th, 2008
We’ve had a record-breaking winter this year. I’ve spent a lot of time digging out from major storms and cursing the hill we live on. I knew going in that our driveway would be a challenge, but I figured our existing snowblower was up to the challenge. I was mistaken.
At our old house, we had a retro driveway with a grass median and two concrete strips. To deal with that driveway, I purchased a 20″ wide, 5 horsepower machine because the larger machines were too wide for the driveway; the runners and scrapers would be damaged the first trip down one of the strips. The little machine did a great job and we never really had a major winter except the first one we were in that house. After that first winter, I bought the snowblower and we jinxed the snow gods.
This year we’ve been dumped on and the little 5HP (seen in action here) just doesn’t cut the driveway needs. Because we have a steep driveway, I have to move all the snow in the street out of the way in order to get in the driveway with any kind of vehicle. The snow at the bottom of the driveway is often slushy and wet thanks to the snowplows. The 5HP machine was an exercise in frustration. It would take anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours (longer in one storm) to clean the walks and driveway. We don’t have that much sidewalk and the driveway is not that big.
Awhile back, I linked to a badass Honda that I was jokingly thinking I needed. It was their top of the line, 11 horsepower machine and it was 32 inches wide. While that might be a great machine, it’s too damn big to store on the property. When we got back from San Diego, I called around on a lark and when I got somebody on the phone, they all assured me that I wouldn’t find anything this time of year and they had been out of stock for some time. Most machines are ordered the previous year and whatever a dealer gets for that season is all they can get. I knew this, but wanted to try just the same. A storm was on its way and shops had been flooded with customers. I left a couple of voicemail messages at other shops (who were too busy helping customers to answer the phone) the day after we got back from our doomed trip, figuring no one would return my call. The next morning, I got a call from a shop. They had three Honda track drive 928s. Three. I said, “I’ll be down shortly.”
I got to the shop and there was a guy eyeing the machines pretty heavily. The sales guy fired up one of them right there in the shop and started showing off what Honda calls a “Hydrostatic” transmission. Basically, you can engage the drive and then move a free-flowing lever back and forth randomly to get just the right forward or reverse speed. This feature is exactly what I need for the driveway. My jaw began to go slack and I started to drool.
It was a little much for me. I asked if they had any deals going, knowing full well that I was damn lucky to find any kind of machine, much less the exact model I wanted and that any kind of deal would be a pipe dream. Sales guy says, “Honda has a 12 month same as cash promotion. No fees, no early payment penalties.”
No sooner had the words “same as cash” left his mouth than I had the phone out and Heather on speed dial to tell her that her two hour waits for me to finish the walks were OVER. She resignedly gave the approval and I filled out the paperwork. Several hours later, the machine was delivered. After it was lowered off the truck, the delivery guy fired it up and showed me a quick demo on some melting ice in the driveway. I tipped him and took the machine around back for some private time as the adrenaline rose. This is a prosumer machine that is flat out awesome. I hit a patch of sidewalk that I hadn’t touched with the other machine and snow was thrown and blown like nothing I’ve experienced.
It has snowed three or four times (and is snowing as I write this), including a couple of storms that dropped 8 or more inches. Machine didn’t even flinch. I’ve had to slow it down to control it, but not because it wasn’t moving snow so fast and far that I feel my middle finger rising to Mother Nature every time I run it.
This tool has changed my life. Was it expensive? Yes. Was it worth it? Without question. Are we broke? Just about. o
Tags: giving mother nature the finger, snow, snow removal, snowblower, snowthrower
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February 7th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Send snow to Texas!
Anyway, now that you’ve got it, the snow gods will probably smile upon you and give you an easy rest of winter.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I am in total agreement about the right tool for the right job; alleviates SO much frustration in life. And sometimes (most times) the money spent is completely worth it. My husband & I are lucky to have the best neighbors ever, who have been kind enough to snow-blow our driveway & clear out the berms before we come home from work. I think next year though, especially with our first baby on the way & life about to get more complicated, we’ll be investing in a snowblower. Alaska winters can be hit or miss with the amount of snow we get ~ last year we got over 200 inches), so it’s hard to rationalize spending that kind of money on a snowblower. Especially when, as you say, it’s just tempting the gods to not snow heavily.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Jon - This is some great blogging lately. It’s nice to be reminded that there are two gifted writers in the family. Your mirth is fun. Keep writing.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Not to be a party pooper, but for that kind of money, why not just hire a service? You’d probably get 8-10 years worth of snow removal service for the same price.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I really, REALLY hope you buy one more thing. One of those hats that holds 2 beer cans with straws. Combine that hat with that snowblower and 2 feet of fresh show on the driveway, and YOU ARE LIVING A DREAM.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Congrats. I can imagine you spinning around the block.
Okay, now suppose you ran that thing in concentric circles around your buddy’s car. Yeah. Bring a camera. That’d make a nice post pic.
BTW, groundhog predictions aside, I’m now fairly sure that there will be no more snowfall for the next, say, decade.
Also, do call Ron at the Green Ant because twice now Heather has linked to his dysfunctional site — great props going to waste — and he’d probably work out some kinda killer trades of code for hookups to Modernica. Hermann Miller, Knoll, etc. — the kind of stuff that could make Heather’s head spin with delight. Considering that Leta’s college fund is out blowing snow….
February 7th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Damn. Your system resolves two hyphens to an em-dash and three periods to an ellipses. Noice.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I clicked all of yours and Heather’s ads to help pay for that new baby. It is definitely a necessity; not a luxury.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
“Hydrostatic”!! “12 month same as cash”!!!
How could you not pull the trigger?
I’m envious. I want one too, even though I don’t have a driveway or snow.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Holy Cow Jon! Don’t you guys have snowplows for hire in Utah? We pay $200/ year to have our driveway plowed. We used to do it ourselves too, and then the blower broke, but I figure for $200 a year it will be 12 years before we would pay for a blower. And man, is it EVER nice not to have to dig ourselves out at 6:15am when we’re leaving for work!
It IS an awesome machine though … and I am quite sure well worth it’s monen in FUN
February 7th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Yes! A service! We have that too! Costs next to nothing and they just show up. And we live in Denver which is just as snowy and has to be more expensive than SLC.
Of course you’re broke — too many new shiny things.
Truse me, it feels good to put 5k into your child’s 529 or into your Roth IRA. Try it! “Same as cash” is why America is in so much frickin’ debt.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I’m sorry… but are you people giving Jon a hard time for spending HIS money how HE wants to solve HIS problems?
Can’t we all just get back to complaining about too many dog pictures? Or is it too many pictures of the wrong dog? I can’t keep it straight which noses are in whose business any more.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
You and your snowblowing ways are tempting me. I’ve been a purist about using a shovel, because it does a much better job than a snow-blower.
But this winter in UT has killed me. SO MUCH SNOW this season! I gave up last week and we are just gunning the engines and trying to point the cars in the right direction. The tires spin and spin and spin, but at some point they burn through and hit driveway.
Eventually, it will all melt, right?
Please tell me it will all melt…
February 7th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Ohhhhhh, that is a beauty Jon. Congratulations. You have now extended your life expectancy. Your heart and back thank you.
February 7th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
AWESOME! snow removal at it’s finest.
Please post pics of your progress.
February 7th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Can’t believe you did it! But congrats, here’s to many snowy winters.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
suh-weeeet!!!
BLURB FTW!!11!
i sure hope it has external speakers so you can blast Ride of the Valkyries!
^___^
February 7th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
eh look at it this way, it’s WAY cheaper than a condo in los angeles where you wouldn’t need to worry about snow.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
awesome machine, I’m sure your penis is at least 3 inches longer now. I’d buy one if I had the scratch, and the list of $2000 wants so long already.
For the record, the snow pushing service only works for so long. We went that route this year and my guy informed me last week that he was out of places to push it. I live up Weber Canyon in Utah and we have just been pounded, I have had as much as 4 standing feet of snow in my yard, not to mention the piles of pushed snow that are over 6 feet. It is ridiculous. I have two huge mountains of snow blocking access to my 3rd car garage and basically a tunnel leading out of the main garage. I’ve been borrowing a neighbors machine when not shoveling by hand, but have been very tempted to throw down for a machine. I just know that as soon as I do global warming will finally hit Utah.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I can hear the “Tim-the-Tool-Man-Taylor’s” grunt all the way over here in PA. Don’t you just love new toys?
February 7th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Total departure from this post but…
DUUUDDEE….this is so cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo
February 7th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
In a couple of years Leta can clear driveways and put the proceeds in her college fund. It’s all in how you look at it — anything that generates returns is capital, not consumption.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
You must be so excited! Congratulations.
I like the no beard by the way.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:19 am
WOW. I know we get ’some’ snow in the UK but I have NEVER seen anyone buy their own snowblower, or hire a snowplough. My word.
Great deal you got - Honda are unbelievably awesome. Brilliant products. Their cars I ADORE (I have the UK 2006 Accord Exec CDTi), their adverts/commercials I am in love with, and if they sold children I’d buy one. (5-yr warranty?) I’d probably buy the snowblower too, even though we don’t really get any
February 8th, 2008 at 5:54 am
For two mornings in a row, I’ve been faced with a foot or more of snow to clear from the driveway.
I’ve resisted the urge to buy a snowblower - I’m pretty handy with a shovel and snow scoop - but today my aching shoulders and arms are very jealous of your Honda.