I have an opportunity to buy an Ariens pro hydro rapid track M#926078 for $1000. The pictures of it look great. It is only a few years old . The owner said it is like new & only used a few times & that he does not need it anymore. The problem is it is located 4 hours away from me. It it worth to drive all that way to purchase it? Your input would be appreciated.

The snowblower sold for $3199 - a new 2022 model will be over $3500. In my opinion, go look at it, bring cash and if the engine runs, if the hydro goes forward/backwards, and doesn't have any major dents - bring it home. Next fall if you don't like it you can easily get $2500 out of it.

@@PaulSikkema Thanks Paul. I did purchase the snowblower. It looked brand new & everything operated great. It was worth the drive. I watched your videos on the machine & that's what convinced me to purchase. Your videos are so informative & I really enjoy them. Thank you so much!!!

Now that's funny!

Frozen towels aren't as much fun as frozen wet newspapers in the plastic bags. They sometimes make it past the augers into the impellor housing and jam the impellor against the housing. Fastest cure is to remove the chute and use a 2 by 4 to drive the impellor backwards and release the jam. Sad to say I have had lots of practice perfecting the technique. I buy my shear pins by the half dozen for routine jams.

I'd love to but I have NO snow. I've gotten less than 6 inches so far this winter and most of that is now gone. The RapidTrack is still the same inside. Here is a video that shows you all that detail. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sMV1ebV8zJmXeI0.html

I can't wait to replace the Areins The auto steer is a bear to turn. I will get a Toro with triggers

While you are waiting watch this video to make sure your Ariens is adjusted correctly. The Toro automatic steer and the Ariens AutoTurn are set up the same way.

Yes, plenty of room. In addition I have 4 other houses and a farm I can go play on. If we get a blizzard I'll take these out to the farm and see how they work in 4-6 foot drifts.

Oh that sounds like fun! Hopefully we get a good blizzard this year!

@@PaulSikkema Be careful. Don't get lost. ;-)

At GIE-EXPO I spent so time in the Ariens booth and they do have two EFI RapidTraks this year. The one you are probably interested in is the PROFESSIONAL ALPINE EDITION - 28 HYDRO EFI Model 926080 Yes, the Rapidtrak is very easy to use and control. In fact, in wheel mode, it's arguably the easiest snowblower to use on the market. The choice between tracks and tires is really what types of area you have to clear. Wheeled units work well for hard surfaces like driveways, frozen gravel, and even Frozen turf. They whimp out when the snow is packed down like a deep snowplow drift and generally don't work well going up slopes. RapidTrak or track drive. I very seldom recommend tracks. They are slow and in general much harder to use than a wheeled unit. BUT, the RapidTrak is so much different. You get all the ease of use benefits of a wheeled unit and all the traction of a track drive. In my opinion, it is actually easier to use than either one.

The Ariens Platinum 28 RapidTrack is a residential machine - like the Toro 1232. Both will last you years and years and years doing your own home and few of the neighbors. The Ariens Pro 28 Hydro RapidTrak is a commercial machine (and the Toro Power Max HD 1432 OHXE) These are designed to clear dozens of properties a day, every day, all winter long, and last years. In other words - as a homeowner, you don't "need" the Pro version. The Platinum model is the last one you'll have to buy.

@@PaulSikkema Well, to throw a curve ball ( or snow ball ), I purchased the Toro HD 1030. I was able to purchase it for a very low price. I will update the performance once it snows. Thanks again for all your help and excellent reviews.

This is a new, 2020 model. Ariens wanted me to use a brand new one when I did the comparison video. Ariens usually takes them back when I'm done with them.

Yes! It's that easy!

Were you still able to find a new RapidTrak with the B & S motor ??? Or is it a used machine you're picking up ??? I know the B & S motor hasn't been sold on that unit in two years.

Yes, I've used this one enough that I never stop. I can move the speed control from forward to reverse and then back to forward without stopping the snowblower. It makes cleanup very fast. Yes, EFI is worth it. Like the EFI in your car EFI doesn't care about stale gas, etc. It automatically adjusts the fuel mixture to compensate. It's especially useful for higher elevations because it automatically adjusts for higher altitudes. Because its electronically controlled the engine has more available power.

The Auto-Turn is the easiest to use. Most of the people who complain either want it to act just like their old trigger steer or they don't have enough experience with 2-stage snowblowers to know that snowdrifts and rough pavement will push any snowblower around. It really steers just like a shopping cart. Hold the handles and point it where you want it to go. But - just like a shopping cart if you let go of the handles or stop steering the shopping cart goes all over the place on rough ground. If the front hits something you have to hold the handles to keep it going straight. To answer your question specifically the Auto-Turn works all the time but just like a trigger steer on tracks it will be harder to turn with the tracks locked down. (It's an auto-locking differential - not an automatic power steering system) Myself I can easily make a course correction when clearing something like your driveway with it in track mode but when I want to turn 90 or 180 degrees I just pull the trigger under the handle to release the tracks, push down on the handles and the tracks lock up in wheel mode. Then I can turn easily. This whole process takes 2 seconds and after 30 minutes it will be natural for you.

@@PaulSikkema Thank you for the detailed explanation that all makes sense. One more question. I just saw at my local dealer a 2020 Ariens Professional 28 Hydro RapidTrak 926060 with the Polar Force Pro by Briggs & Stratton. Any reliability issues with this engine? I know Ariens now puts their own engines in the newest models.

The B&S is a commercial engine and has a great reputation. You can't go wrong with it. A few readers have mentioned that their local dealer is discounting that model wit the Briggs about $500 because it is now two years old. (No changes to the new Rapidtraks - they just need to move inventory)

@@PaulSikkema Ok sounds good. My dealer only has it marked down about $100 for the current model. But good to know I may be able to talk him down.

The Platinum is a residential machine - the Pro is commercial. So, the Pro has heavier steel and internal transmission gears. It has a larger motor. It has a commercial grade hydro - the Platinum has a residential grade friction disk tranny. Even the handles are a lot heavier-duty - 1 1/4 inch square tube.

@@PaulSikkema thank you so much. It is the pro for me and I'll wait till I find one. In Canada I'm looking in Saskatchewan and Alberta but there is nothing. One dealer has some coming in March. Hopefully a pro.

I have John Deere possibly the same year. TRX 26 . Love it. Looks like new. Caterpillar tracks. Tag on it says made in Canada.

This snow blower uses a hydro (hydrostatic) transmission so it does not freewheel. You have to start the engine and then drive it off the ramps. (there is a freewheel lever you can release when the engine is off but even then the snowblower is very hard to move - it won't fly down a ramp) I have a porch with four steps and I regularly drive this snowblower up on it. I can also back it down the steps or drive it down the steps and it has plenty of traction so it never slips. Ariens offers a heavy-duty poly skid shoes if you have a lot of pavers and don't want to scratch them. Also with the snowblower in the "wheel mode" it's almost balanced on the tracks so it doesn't have any weight on the front end. In other words even with the cast iron skid shoes it won't scratch your brick pavers. I have a 50 feet sidewalk with street bricks (old Purington Pavers) and it's never left a scratch.

@@PaulSikkema Thank you because i looked at honda and the honda does clog on wet snow they made a new chute for them and even honda says on their website that around the boston mass area snow more people have problems with it clogging in the chute. I also tried the husky at the dealer to drive up ramps with their hydro ran great coming down the steep ramps on a tiny hydro amount applied as soon as i hit the steep ramp grade it flew down like it was a old style wheel snowblower. So I will go check this model out thanks again.

It's the same snowblower with a different engine. The model you are looking at has a Professional Series Briggs & Stratton. The new models have the Ariens AX Professional series. There is nothing wrong with the Briggs, in fact it's one of the best horizontal shaft engines on the market. At $1000 off you are getting a deal!

Yes, this would be a great snowblower for your driveway! It has the power to handle any snow and throw it a long way from your driveway. The RapidTrak gives it more than enough traction to go up and down your slopes. Plus, with the tracks up it's great for working around the buildings and other tight areas.

@@PaulSikkema Thank you for the reply, bring on the winter.Should I buy the 24 inch or the 28.

@@nicholassanzari9603 I bought the compact track 24 and it is a beast of a machine. If your driveway is very large I would recommend the larger one. If you have something like mine which is 3 cars wide, the 24 is great.

The problem with track drives is most of the manufactures are only putting tracks on the most expensive, Pro models. That said, A wheeled snowblower that's well balanced will have great traction and the Toro and Ariens models have optional tire chains if that';s not enough. Watch my videos on the Ariens Deluxe 28, Toro 828, Ariens Deluxe SHO and Toro 928. For that small of drive also look at the Ariens Compact and the Toro 826 OAE

Yes, after living in Chippewa Falls, WI for 15 years I moved to Clinton, IA this summer.

Personally, I don't use dig-in mode unless I absolutely have to. I have old blacktop and rough concrete and it wants to catch that really abrasive stuff. Instead, if I have some tough snow to clear I'll take 1/4 or half-passes with it in normal track mode. That said, 1. Make sure you have 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap under the scraper bar. 2. Some owners have switched to poly shoes and they state it pushes easier in dig-in mode. 3. When you put your snowblower in dig-in mode the whole machine is "humped" in the middle. The front tracks are off the ground and the back of the skids shoes are also off the ground. I suggest adjusting the skid shoes by putting 1/4 inch plywood under the scraper bar, put the machine into dig-in mode, loosen the skid shoes and make sure they are level with the pavement. Then tighten the shoes. The shoes will now be level and they won't dig in as quickly. That should help a lot.

@@PaulSikkema thanks appreciate the feedback will try it. Never adjusted the skid shoes just left it how it came from the dealer

Need help brand new rapid track and the auger lever doesn’t stay down any reason why

Do you meant the auger interlock is not working? When you have both levers down and you let go of the right hand lever it doesn't stay down? Check out this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/itmal9qbrN3Sknk.html

@@PaulSikkema yes one of the pins fell out don’t know how I just ordered a new part thanks for getting back to me

And I think standon ZTR's are the only mower you should buy. Our opinion doesn't matter unless we are the one's buying it.

@@PaulSikkema I had a top of the line Honda 7/24 track snowblower. It cost me $4,500.00 Canadian in 2007. It was awkward to maneuver with the track and the chute kept getting plugged. I sold it. I will never buy another Honda snowblower. Overpriced and overrated. I drove snowmobiles for 8 years from 1966 to 1973 inclusive. Yes, we all have varying opinions. After looking at the very expensive track snowblowers, I can appreciate the wheeled snowblowers. Just add chains if needed. I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and we had various types and brands of snowblowers. We even had a snowblower on a small tracked machine. The best snowblower back then (Mid-70's) was an Ariens 8 HP two stage with chained wheels. It blew the snow over the power lines and it would keep burrowing into a 7 foot snow bank. It was unstoppable. My dad sold it when we moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1979. I wish that he had kept it. As for lawnmowers, I have had top of the line mowers as well. I had an Ariens Professional with a 5 HP Briggs and Stratton Commercial engine. The best gas mower that I have owned. It lasted from 1993 to 2012. The crankshaft bearing went. I had a top of the line Honda Commercial mower. It was very expensive, heavy, awkward to maneuver and the quality of cut wasn't that great. I sold it to a landscape company. So far, I have a Toro Personal Pace 60 volt lawnmower. It is lightweight and does a nice job on the lawn. I had an EGO Select Cut. Pure crap! It left uncut blades everywhere. I sold it before people realized how bad they were. I am selling the remainder of my EGO lawn tools. I went with an ECHO gas blower vac, and a Makita 18 volt multi-system. I don't know if Ariens is still good, but it is hard to get out west. There is Toro. Toro is good so far. I have the gas QXE 824 with Personal Pace. It goes through almost anything and it is light enough that I can lift it onto our deck or my truck. I also have a brand new Polaris Sportsman 570 Ride Command Edition with plow/power angle, and custom made drift cutters. I don't do videos, but I have experience with different brands. Like cars, it comes down to brand preference, quality and job performance. Everybody is different. I like Ariens and Toro. I have read complaints about the tracked snowblowers. If you get a rock/branch or anything caught in the track/cog, it could cause a problem. Wheeled snowblowers have stood the test of time. They have been around before we were born.