Identifying the right snow blower specifications

A snow blower is a significant investment, so you want to make sure that you’re getting a machine that suits all of your needs. The Cub Cadet® X-Series has a snow blower for every extreme, but you first need to identify what your extreme is. 

Start by researching how much snow your area gets annually. The more snow you project to be clearing on a regular basis, the more you’ll need out of your snow blower — a bigger engine, larger clearing width and more stages. Cub Cadet® single-stage models are ideal for up to 6” of snowfall, 2-stage units work for up to 12” and 3-stage units are ideal for up to 18.” For the most extreme conditions, the 2-stage or 3-stage MAX can clear up to 23” of snow. You can learn more about the various snow blower stages here. 

Units with larger engines have more power and can plow through deeper snow conditions. They also support faster drive systems and easier maneuvering. However, it’s not always a good idea to get a bigger unit/engine for an average driveway. Be sure to pair the right sized engine with your area’s annual snowfall and driveway size. 

Second, look at the conditions you’ll be clearing snow in. You may not get a lot of snow, but if you’re regularly clearing snow over stone or gravel driveways, or want to avoid damaging stamped concrete, consider a model that features adjustable skid shoes and shave plate. All Cub Cadet® 2-stage and 3-stage units are designed with the ability to adjust the height of the auger housing depending on the type of surface you’re clearing snow from. This lifts the scraper bar above the gravel and stone, preventing it from scraping against the surface or picking up debris. 

Traction also is an important factor to consider when clearing uneven surfaces or inclines, and units with a track drive provide the most reliable traction, allowing you to steadily clear your driveway. 

Finally, throwing distance is an important specification to consider. A shorter distance works for a small driveway, but you’ll need to throw snow further to move it away from the clearing area if you have a wider driveway to avoid making more passes. Cub Cadet’s single-stage snow blower throws snow up to 30-feet, the 2-stage and 3-stage units throw snow up to 40-feet and MAX models can throw snow up to 65-feet. 

The Ultimate Snow Blower Buying and Maintenance Guide can help further narrow down your search, and don’t forget to take into account helpful features that can make your job even easier. Once you’ve identified the specifications you can use our Cub Cadet Snow Blower Finder to help pair you with your ideal snow blower. Because whatever your extreme, Cub Cadet has a snow blower that can handle it.