Let’s be honest:
Shoveling snow from a gravel driveway is no child’s play. If snow is thick, you’ll spend a lot of time on the job. And if too cold outside, you won’t stand up long enough to the arctic temperature to clear the driveway.
Sadly, snow and ice are things you’ll have to deal with if you live in arctic region. And without the right tool for clearance, scooping the ice isn’t going to be as easy.
The right approach is to use the best snow blower for gravel driveway. It’ll make your work easier and make the process less strenuous.
To be clear:
There’s no good or bad snow blower, and the best one (the one that can get the job done) doesn’t have to be expensive.
In other words:
Once you find a snow blower you’re confident can get the job done fast, you’re good to get started. The following are some options to consider.
| Brand | Note | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna ST224 Snow Blower | Editor’s Pick | ||
| Poulan Pro PR241 Electric Start | Best Budget | ||
| Husqvarna ST224P Two Stage Gas Snow Blower | Best Value |
Best Snow Blower for Gravel Driveway
1. Husqvarna ST224 2 Stage Electric Start Snow Blower
Lightweight and easy to maneuver, with a metal mouth that cuts through snow like butter, the Husqvarna ST224 is a handy blower to bring home if you’re tired of using a shovel to clear snow from a gravel driveway.
We recommend this snow blower because of its built-in electric start, which makes it easy for you to start the machine. You simply push a button and you’re good to get started. That sounds easy, and it really is. Besides, who doesn’t need a convenient way to remove snow barriers from a path they use on a daily basis? Husqvarna even includes a pull cord as a backup if the electric start doesn’t work for whatever reason.
Because it can cut through snow as high as 12 inches from a 24-inch wide path, the Husqvarna ST224 suffice in clearing a lot of snow from the driveway within a short time. The skid shoes on both sides of the blower ensure the metal mouth doesn’t make contact with the floor, so your gravel stays put no matter how fast you scoop the snow.
With its 208cc engine power, the Husqvarna ST224 can throw snow as far as 50 feet away, so it never draws back to the driveway. At 240 pounds, the Husqvarna ST224 is somewhat on the heavy side. But even then, it’s a self-propelled machine, with 15-inch tires that easily grip ice and snow, so movement should be a breeze.
Using the Husqvarna ST224 2 Stage Snow Blower in dim light is not a big deal at all. That’s because it features high-powered headlights that lets you see clearly even when clear visibility is an issue, particularly early mornings and in the evening immediately after sunset.
The chutes work perfectly fine, allowing you to throw snow in any direction. Since the chute is adjustable, you can set it to a level that’s more convenient for you so you can throw away the ice as easily.
Pros
- The skid shoes are easy to adjust
- Powerful enough so scoop and throw ice as far as 50 feet away
- Can dig up snow that’s as high as 12 inches or more
- Includes bright headlight for clear visibility
Cons
- It has a very short warranty
- Some people may find it challenging to maneuver at first
2. Poulan Pro PR241 Electric Start Snow Blower
Wonderful. Powerful. Nicely made. These are the words that firsthand users have actually used to describe this snow blower. But does it live to the hype when thrown to gravel driveway? Or it is just another blower seeking a piece of the market share?
As it turns out, the Poulan Pro PR241, a two-stage electric start blower powered by a 208cc gas engine, with a fuel tank of 0.7 gallons is a decent pick to consider. And seriously, if you’re on a budget and interested in a blower that doesn’t suck, this model is worthwhile.
One of the best things about Poulan Pro PR241 is the electric start mechanism, which enhances the convenience of firing up and running the machine. To be precise, the electric start technology lets you turn the blower n with a simple push of a button. And when you’re ready to get started, use the disc drive system 6 forward speed and 1 reverse speed to maneuver the blower.
Poulan Pro PR241 has 13-inch wheels that provide better traction and stability even in extremely snowy conditions. With a tread profile that provides a solid grip and enough traction, you never have to worry about the blower going down with you.
The first stage of the Poulan Pro PR241 is where its 12-inch auger blades break the snow as you work on the gravel drive way. In the second stage, the blower uses 12-inch impeller blades to expel the snow out of the chute. The chute rotates to about 180 degrees and it’s very easy to control.
Pros
- While it doesn’t come assembled, you don’t have to be a techie to put the parts together. Use the manual for guidance
- The electric start mechanism makes this snow blower easy to start. It also includes a pull start handle as backup
Cons
- This one doesn’t have headlights, so you can only use it during the day
- Takes time to assemble
- The reverse speed is very slow, which can be very frustrating for some people
3. Husqvarna ST224P Two Stage Gas Snow Blower
As if the original ST224 Electric Start snow bower for gravel driveway wasn’t enough, Husqvarna went ahead to release a gas power model this time dubbed the ST224P. Generally, it features a gas engine and an electric start, and performs the exact same way as the original.
One of the best things about Husqvarna ST224P is its overall weight. At 198 pounds, it’s around 42 pounds less the weight of the ST224, which makes it an ideal option to consider if you want a bit more mobility.
The traction isn’t that badly off, so you aren’t going to fall over with this if the snow gets a bit messy. With a track drive system that even allows you to propel the machine up a hill, it shouldn’t be difficult to maneuver this blower on an incline.
Pros
- Includes headlight for easy visibility
- This machine can handle frozen ice and snow
Cons
- It has a small gas tank
- You’ll need to replace the auger belt occasionally
4. Ariens 225621 Two-Stage Snow Blower
When it’s time to power through thick snow and ice, you aren’t going to get the job done with a shovel. You need Ariens 22621 two-stage snow blower to get the job done fast. Thoughtfully built, with most parts screaming an ergonomic build, you’ll find this blower straightforward to sue and easy to maneuver. What’s obvious is that it’s compact, so even if you’re limited on space, you can still find a perfect spot for it in your garage.
Made of stainless steel and coated with an effective finish, this machine is element resistant enough to stand up to the most unforgiving weather. Compact as it may be, its engine isn’t a miniature by any mean. In fact, its 208cc Ax208 engine supplies sufficient power to speed up the three-blade impeller, which breaks down and packs snow ready for discharge.
It’s the same engine that has the power to throw the snow up to 40 feet away from the gravel driveway, so it’s not that badly off.
The traction you get from this machine is so rock solid that you don’t even have to buy tire chains. Not only are the tries five and a half inches, they also have snow track treads for better grip. And that means it doesn’t matter the thickness of the snow, because as long as the blower is at work and the wheels offer their stability, the system isn’t going to go down.
The Disc-O-Matic transmission driver is another impressive feature of this snow blower. Use it to shift the machine in any direction of your choice as well as control the speed.
A good snow blower should have a flexible chute to perform well, and it’s good to note that the Ariens 225621 doesn’t disappoint in that area. For this one, the chute can rotate up to 250-degrees. Simply scoop the snow, adjust the chute to a desirable angle, and blow it as far as 40 feet away from you.
Pros
- Compact, so it takes up minimal space in a garage
- Good for small to medium size residential gravel driveways that are subject to frequent snowfalls
- Can throw snow at a rate of about 58 tons an hour
- Features handlebar that easily folds down for compact storage
- The chute can turn up to 250-degrees, so you can throw snow where you deem fit
Cons
- Not easy to direct as it doesn’t have an auto-turn steering option
- The reverse speed of this snow blower isn’t that great
- The headlights of this blower isn’t of good quality