Tired of shoveling snow by hand? Would you like to buy yourself the best snowblower but you can’t decide which one to get – the Toro vs Ariens snowblower?
First of all, you are on the right track! You can’t go wrong with either of these brands. Both Toro and Ariens make top-notch snowblowers that can be used for home and professional work. If you buy from them, you are guaranteed to get a good snowblower.
But one has to be better, right?
I will determine which brand makes better snowblowers by comparing two of their popular models, the Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE and the Ariens Crossover 20.
My conclusion? The Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE is overall a better choice for those who prioritize power over anything else. But you should pick the Ariens Crossover 20 or Ariens Deluxe 28 if you prefer to own a more durable snowblower.
But that is not all! Keep on reading! You can find the whole comparison below.
Contents
Toro Vs Ariens Snowblower: Up Close
Toro Snowblower: Review
Toro is a reputable global company with roots dating back to 1914. The company has built their brand on the tradition of quality and caring relationships. Now, they manufacture and sell powered outdoor equipment for professional and home use in over 125 countries.
They sell almost everything, from heavy-duty construction machines to lawn and landscaping equipment. You may even have one or two of their tools already in your garage.
Today I will focus on their snowblowers, especially the Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE. Let’s take a look at some of its features.
Design And Build
No products found.Toro is well known for making sturdy snowblowers. Their housing and parts are made of steel and plastic. The SnowMaster 724 QXE, in particular, has a metal intake housing but a plastic engine cover and a plastic snow chute. Plastic parts can be found on the handlebar, as well.
I don’t mind seeing plastic on my snowblower, but if you do, pick an Ariens snowblower. It has less plastic in its design.
Luckily, the Toro Snowmaster features pneumatic tires measuring 11 inches in diameter. The tires have large threads, which ensure good traction with the ground. They make Toro snowblowers ready for different turf and terrain.
A design feature that makes Toro snowblower stand out from the competition is the Quick Stick®. This is a joystick controller that changes the direction and pitch of the snow chute remotely, so you no longer have to adjust it manually! You can find the Quick Stick® at the handlebars.
Power And Clearance Capacity
Toro snow blowers are well recognized for their power and performance. In fact, they are so good, many professionals prefer to use them over any other brand.
But most of us are looking for a solid snowblower for home use, like the SnowMaster 724 QXE or even the Toro Single-Stage Thrower if you don’t get lots of snow in your area.
The SnowMaster 724 QXE is equipped with a powerful Toro Premium 212cc OHV 4-cycle gasoline engine. The engine has the power to throw snow up to 40 feet away.
Most importantly, the engine has the strength to rotate a heavy 10-inch auger with metal blades. Exposed metal blades ensure the snowblower can cut through packed snow better. The Ariens Crossover 21 doesn’t have this feature.
The SnowMaster 724 QXE clears 24 inches wide and 18 inches high. If that is not enough for the size of your property, I recommend you check the Toro 826. It has a 26-inch clearance width and a 20-inch intake height.
Don’t like either of these Toro snowblowers? Read my best snowblowers reviews! You are bound to find one for yourself!
Watch this video to see Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE in action:
Ease Of Use
Toro snow blowers feel good and safe to use, no matter which type you pick – a single-stage, two-stage, gas, or battery-powered model.
Almost all Toro Snowblowers, including the SnowMaster 724 QXE, feature the Quick Stick® chute control. It lets you control the direction of the chute and deflector automatically. You never have to leave the operator’s handlebar during work again.
The patented Anti-Clogging System® is another feature that ensures smooth and stress-free operation. It minimizes clogging by routing heavy snow away from the chute and back into the auger.
Toro snow blowers also have a self-propelled Personal Pace® system. It is a speed adjustment system that lets you control how fast or slow you want to go through the push of a handlebar. The stronger you push, the faster your snowblower will go. Pretty convenient!
Pros
- Easy electric start
- Strong engine
- Quick Stick® chute control
- Personal Pace® speed control
- Exposed metal blades on the auger
- 24-inch clearance width
- 18-inch intake height
- 40 ft discharge
- Terrain-ready pneumatic tires
- 3 year limited warranty
Cons
- Parts made of plastic
- Doesn’t clear snow down to the ground
- Not a two-stage blower
- Some replacement parts are hard to get
Ariens Snowblower: Review
Ariens is a family business that succeeds on a global level. The company started in 1933 when Henry Ariens and his three sons developed the first American-made rotary tiller.
Since then, the company has been passed down, son to son, for four generations. The company now employs over 1,500 people across the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway.
Ariens describes itself as “The King of Snow.” Since 1960, they have produced over 4 million snow blowers. Let’s see if they live up to this title!
Design And Build
Ariens snow blowers have a simple yet effective design that doesn’t take rocket science to operate. That’s why so many people love to use them.
Unlike Toro snowblowers, the Ariens Crossover 20 is made almost entirely out of lightweight steel. It has less plastic than most of the units sold on the market today. That’s why Ariens snow blowers are more durable and can last for generations. Pick the Ariens Crossover 20 if you want a snow blower that you can pass down to your grandkids.
The Ariens Crossover 20 can be recognized by its big 19-inch intake housing that has an 11-inch auger attached to it.
The 14-inch wheels are located right behind the housing. Those are made of solid plastic and have shallow threads. This can be seen as a disadvantage, but they make the snowblower lightweight and more maneuverable.
It can be a perfect model for you if you are looking for a machine that’s easy to operate. What to learn more about such snowblowers? Take a look at our post about snowblowers for women and models suitable for elderly.
The Ariens Crossover 20 doesn’t have a remote chute rotation system, like the Toro. It requires manual rotation of the chute. But the snow chute can turn 205 degrees and lets you shoot snow practically in any direction you want.
Click here if you want to know the difference between Ariens vs Husqvarna snowblowers!
Power And Clearance Capacity
Ariens snow blowers are known for having reliable engines that can support long snow clearing jobs. The Crossover 20, in particular, has an Ariens AX® 4-cycle 179cc gas engine with an electric start.
This engine is strong enough to blow snow up to 35 ft away. It supports a maximum clearance of 52 tons of snow per hour. Pretty impressive!
We have to give some credit to the 11-inch auger and 10-inch impeller, as well. They give this snowblower the ability to cut 20 inches wide and 19 inches high.
The auger blades are covered with rubber padding. They aid in the auger propel system but make cutting through iced snow more difficult.
Watch this video to see how Ariens Crossover compares to Toro SnowMaster:
Ease Of Use
The Ariens Crossover 20 snowblower is a two-stage snowblower, unlike the Toro SnowMaster. In addition to the auger, it also features an impeller with 3 blades. It takes on the role of blowing snow through the discharge chute.
Two-stage snow blowers are generally better because they can clear all types of snow, light and fluffy or heavy and packed. Having a snowblower that can handle any snow makes life easier. You never know what each winter has in store.
The Ariens Crossover 20 uses an auger to propel itself forward. The rubber padding on the auger gives added traction for better mobility. This Ariens model is technically not self-propelled, like the Toro SnowMaster, which uses a drivetrain to move.
Unfortunately, the Ariens Crossover doesn’t have speed control either. It only has one forward speed, which immediately limits your operation.
On top of that, the Ariens Crossover 20 doesn’t have a remote control for the snow chute. It has to be rotated manually. If you would like a remote deflector control, dual belt drive, and auto-turn steering, look into the Ariens Deluxe series. It has a better clearance capacity too!
Pros
- Quick electric start
- Reliable engine
- Two-stage design
- Durable steel construction
- 3 blade steel impeller
- 20-inch clearance width
- 19-inch intake height
- 35 ft discharge
- 3-year consumer warranty
Cons
- No remote chute control
- Plastic wheels with poor traction
- Not self-propelled
Toro Vs Ariens: Features Face To Face
Clearance Capacity
Clearance capacity is usually the first feature people look at when buying a new snowblower. No wonder! A snowblower with small intake housing will be useless in most settings.
Luckily, both Toro and Ariens are well aware of how important clearance capacity is. It can either make or break the machine.
Despite their similarities, the Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE and Ariens Crossover 20 have different clearances.
The SnowMaster 724 QXE clears 24 inches wide and 18 inches high. It can blow snow up to 40 ft away. The Ariens Crossover 20 cuts 20 inches wide and has an intake height of 19-inches. Its discharge can reach a distance of up to 35 ft.
The clear winner of this comparison is the Toro snowblower. It clears more snow at a time and can throw it further away.
Winner. Toro
Engine Power
The whole operation of the snowblower relies on the engine, so you better make sure the unit you are buying has a good one! You want an engine that can handle the workload and harsh winter conditions.
Both Toro and Ariens take pride in their gasoline engines. They employ engines of different calibers across their snowblower line and some are better than others.
The engine of the Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE and Ariens Crossover 20 are not nearly the same. The SnowMaster 724 QXE has a 212cc 4-cycle gasoline engine. The Crossover 20 has a 4-cycle 179cc gas engine. The difference between the two is oblivious.
Two-stage snowblowers are usually bigger and can accommodate bigger engines with better displacement. Not in this case! The clear winner is the Toro snowblower. It has a stronger engine with better displacement.
Winner: Toro
Durability
Try to find a snowblower that will last you for years to come. You don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a flimsy machine that will break after the first or second use.
What often ends up happening is people throw away or sell their broken snowblowers because they can’t find replacement parts. I have already mentioned that Toro replacement parts are hard to find.
You most likely won’t run into this problem if you buy an Ariens snowblower. They are almost entirely made of steel. Toro snowblower has more plastic parts, so they are more likely to break when you accidentally bump the machine or suck in a rock or two.
The winner of this battle is the Ariens snowblower. It has a sturdier and more durable construction that feels heavy-duty.
Winner: Ariens
Toro And Ariens: Stand-Out Features
Through my research, I have found out that Toro and Ariens snowblowers each have a couple of unique features. I have decided to put a spotlight on these stand-out qualities.
Let’s take a look:
Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE snowblower:
- Quick Stick®: A joystick snow chute control that lets you change the chute and deflector direction with a single smooth motion.
- Personal Pace®: A self-propel system that lets you control how fast or slow you go.
- Automatic steering: A system that lets you make tight turns without the need to pull a trigger or lever. The machine detects when you make a slight turn and automatically disengages one wheel to allow the pivoting.
Ariens Crossover 20 snowblower:
- Impeller: Part that makes the snowblower two-stage. It is responsible for blowing snow through the discharge chute.
FAQs
Are Ariens snow blowers good?
Ariens snow blowers are good because of their high quality and performance. Their snow blowers are dependable, strong, and have good clearance capacity. They are ideal for cleaning 2-car driveways and sidewalks.
Are Toro snow blowers any good?
Toro snow blowers are good because they have incredible performance and strength. They can be used for home and professional work. They have good clearance, amazing discharge, and even better engine power.
Deciding Between Toro And Ariens – The Final Word
Deciding between Toro and Ariens sure isn’t easy. The good news is that you can’t go wrong with either of these brands. Both make high-grade snowblowers that don’t disappoint.
If you still can’t decide between the Toro vs Ariens snowblower, follow these last guidelines:
Buy the Toro SnowMaster 724 QXE if:
- You want more power.
- You don’t like adjusting the snow chute manually.
- You would like a self-propelling machine.
- You can afford it.
Buy the Ariens Crossover 20 if:
- You would like a durable snowblower.
- You need a two-stage machine.
- You want a simple design.
- You don’t mind rotating the snow chute manually.
- You are on a budget.
About The Author
Last update on 2024-04-26 at 03:40 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You should show the correct model of the Toro snow blower you are comparing.
the photos of the one you showed almost made me not look through this comparison.