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Briggs & Stratton 1024
- High value for cost
- High-quality features
- Large snow-blowing capacity
Honda HSS1332ATD
- Humungous machine
- Super-far throw distance
- Comes with premium features
Husqvarna ST224P
- Easy to put together
- Maneuvers beautifully
- Heavy-duty residential-grade snow blower
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It’s winter time! For many homeowners, this means having to shovel hundreds of pounds of snow off of driveways every single day.
The worst thing to happen to those with gravel driveways is accidentally picking up and tossing bits of gravel across your yard.
In today’s guide, we’ll show you our number-one pick of the best snow blower for gravel driveway after analyzing over 30 different models.
Best Snow Blower for Gravel Driveway – Briggs & Stratton 1024
The overall best snow blower for gravel driveways—the one that outperforms over 30 models in its class-is the Briggs & Stratton 1024.
This handy-dandy two-stage snow blower comes with all the right features and parts needed to throw tons of snow off gravel driveways in hardly any time at all.
Below, you’ll find a brief list of the 1024’s key specifications—
- 208cc Engine
- 24 x 20-inch Intake
- 30-foot Throw Distance
- Friction Disc Drive
The 1024 is a heavy-duty, two-stage monster that can literally pull in and discharge 1,000 pounds of snow off concrete and gravel driveways every minute.
The 20-inch-tall intake makes certain that the 1024 can swallow large snowbanks in a single pass, while the serrated augers and high-speed impeller fan demolish chunks of snow and ice effortlessly.
You can lift or lower the gearbox at will with the locking handle to accommodate plowing on uneven terrain.
With adjustable skid shoes, you can lift the gearbox at will, keeping it from picking up gravel and scraping against concrete.
Learn how to set up this two-stage beast in this video.
Pros
- High value for cost
- High-quality features
- Heavy-duty construction
- Large snow-blowing capacity
Cons
- Could work better on wet snow
The Briggs & Stratton 1024 is a beast; the skid shoes keep the underside of the gearbox up and off the ground for reliable performance on uneven/gravelly surfaces.
Top Snow Blower for Gravel Driveway Compared
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall - Briggs & Stratton 1024 |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best Premium - Honda HSS1332ATD |
| Check Today's Price |
| Best Budget - Husqvarna ST224P |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Briggs & Stratton S1227 |
| Check Today's Price |
 | YARDMAX YB6770 |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of Best Snow Blower for Gravel Driveway
Best Premium - Honda HSS1332ATD
Key Specifications
- 389cc Engine
- 32 x 22-inch Intake
- 56-foot Throw Distance
- Track Drive
The Honda HSS1332ATD is the beefiest, mightiest, most powerful two-stage snow blower available.
This beast of a snow blower sports a massive 389cc engine, drives two 16-inch-wide serrated augers and tosses the dismembered remains of snow mounds and ice chunks up to 56 feet away.
This machine doesn’t come with skid shoes, so you’ll need to pick them up separately before attempting to roll it over gravelly surfaces.
It sits atop a pair of tank-like tracks that not only keep it standing straight at all times but also add much-needed traction for working on slippery patches of ice.
Take a quick look at the HSS1332ATD’s snow-grinding performance in this short demo video.
Pros
- Humungous machine
- Super-far throw distance
- Comes with premium features
- Uses tracks instead of wheels
Cons
- Could come with skid shoes
Overall, the Honda HSS1332ATD is a professional’s dream. It tackles the toughest snow-removal jobs easily and can toss the obliterated remains of compacted snow onto your home’s roof!
Best Budget - Husqvarna ST224P
Key Specifications
- 208cc Engine
- 24 x 23-inch Intake
- 35-foot Throw Distance
- Power Steering
Next, we have a two-stage snow blower that many of you might have seen before—the Husky ST224P.
It’s slightly heavier than more 24-inch two-stage machines (255 pounds), but the weight adds stability while it rolls gracefully across uneven terrain.
The 23-inch-tall intake swallows humungous snowbanks in a single gulp before the impeller fan shreds and tosses the powdery residue 35 feet into the distance.
This unit comes with super-sensitive power steering that directs the gearbox exactly where you want it to.
With almost-zero-radius turning, you won’t have to go into reverse every time you need to turn around, but there’s a possibility that the wheels will dig into the ground and pull gravel up.
Pros
- Easy to put together
- Maneuvers beautifully on ice and snow
- Heavy-duty residential-grade snow blower
- Durable with accessible after-sales services
Cons
- Sharp turns might pick up gravel
Despite the incredibly minor issue of picking up gravel, the ST224P is still one of the best-performing two-stagers for gravel driveways.
Briggs & Stratton S1227
Key Specifications
- 250cc Engine
- 27 x 20-inch Intake
- 30-foot Throw Distance
- Free Hand Controls
We have another Briggs & Stratton two-stage work of art for you—the S1227.
If there’s one thing you should know about the S1227, it’s that this heavy-duty, all-steel beast is made to last.
Like many other models on this list, the S1227’s gearbox sits atop adjustable skid shoes that provide a bit of clearance from the ground to avoid gravel bits from clashing into the impeller fan.
The 250cc engine sends the augers crashing through compacted snow and ice at 11.5 foot-pounds of torque, leaving nothing intact in its wake.
Like our best overall pick, the S1227 has an upgraded dashboard that offers maximum speed control and one-handed operation to make your snow-plowing journey more enjoyable.
Pros
- Beefy 250cc engine
- Huge torque delivery
- Single-handed operation
- Multi-speed self-propelled
Cons
- Engine could be quieter
With great power comes great noise output, but it’s more than tolerable compared to the S1227’s snow-and-ice-crushing performance.
YARDMAX YB6770
Key Specifications
- 208cc Engine
- 26 x 21-inch Intake
- 20-foot Throw Distance
- Upgraded Dashboard
Last up, we have the YARDMAX YB6770, an incredibly user-friendly two-stage snow blower that tackles tall piles of snow easily, thanks to its high-speed augers.
Driven by a 208cc engine, the YB6770 is self-propelling, has a max throwing distance of 20 feet, and can throw slightly more than 700 pounds every minute.
The solid-steel gearbox rests on top of two durable skid shoes that provide a bit of lift to keep the auger away from gravelly bits.
We especially love that the unit is well-balanced and maintains an upright position while traveling on slippery ice patches. We have the five forward speeds to thank for that!
Watch how simple it is to use the YB6770 in this short video.
Pros
- Comprehensive dashboard
- Easy-to-adjust skid shoes
- Comes with electric starter
- Serrated augers chop snow and ice
Cons
- Assembly could be easier
The YB6770 performs admirably on all sorts of terrains, but it’s perfect for flat, even surfaces.
Snow Blower for Gravel Driveway Buying Guide
This short guide will help clear any misconceptions about snow blowers and gravel driveways.
Why the Snow Blower for Graven Driveways Matters
As you can see from our list, not all snow blowers are made the same. First, they come in various stages (single, two, and three) and come with a wide difference in specs and performance ratings.
The optimal snow blower for gravel driveways is one that leaves a bit of clearance between the metallic gearbox and the gravelly surface.
Gravel bits can easily get picked up by the machine’s auger, which can then wreak all sorts of havoc on the impeller fan.
With about an inch of clearance, all of the bits of gravel are left hidden beneath the snow where they belong.
Can I Use My Single-Stage Snow Blower?
Our list contains no single-stage snow blowers for a very good reason: they’re not fit for the job.
Single-stage snow blowers deliver a super-close “shave” on the plowed surface.
The lack of skid shoes means that the snow blower will accidentally pick up whatever loose bits are hidden beneath the layer of snow, including grass and gravel.
You could technically manually push the handlebar downward and create the clearance needed to avoid picking up gravel with a single-stage snow blower, but you’d end up doing more work than is needed.
If you have a gravel driveway, do yourself a favor and invest in a two- or three-stage snow blower.
Features to Look for in a Snow Blower for Gravel Driveways
Here’s a quick list of important features for a snow blower to clean gravel driveways.
Two or three-stage snow blower
- Comes with or is compatible with skid shoes
- Gearbox lift mechanism (manual or electric)
- Intake size
- Chute clearing tool
FAQ’s
Here, we’ll spend some time answering a couple of FAQs about snow blowers for gravel driveways.
When it comes to cleaning snow off of gravel driveways, yes, they are. Tracks offer stability on uneven terrain, as well as traction on slippery and sloped surfaces. That said, you can see the majority of snow blowers listed above rest on heavy-treaded wheels. These wheels also work well at keeping the tool upright at all times, but they can easily pull gravel and bits of grass off the ground while making sharp turns.
When you receive your snow blower, its default setting it to have as little clearance between the gearbox and plowed surface as possible. Installing or adjusting the height of skid shoes will add some clearance to it, or you can use the locking mechanism to keep the gearbox up and out of the way. Make sure you adjust the position whenever you transition from uneven to flat surfaces for a cleaner look.
All sorts of problems can occur. First, the auger can become cogged down by a mixture of snow and gravel and render the tool incapable of removing snow until you’ve cleaned the auger. Second, if any bits of gravel find their way into the chute, it becomes a missile that can crack windows and injure passersby. Please, for your safety and those around you, don’t use a single-stage snow blower on gravel driveways.
The fuel source isn’t an issue; as long as it’s a two- or three-stage machine that comes with adjustable skid shoes or a gearbox locking mechanism, it should be fine on gravel driveways. This list doesn’t contain a single electric snow blower because they aren’t as reliable on gravel surfaces. If you’re interested in purchasing a two-stage electric snow blower, we have a list on the best electric snow blower you can check out.
Summary
Today, we’ve shown you what the best snow blower for gravel driveways is—the Briggs & Stratton 1024.
This is a heavy-duty machine that comes with most premium features, including skid shoes and a gearbox locking system.
We’ve also included several more options that outperform over 30 models we’ve researched closely.
If you’re uncertain of which snowblower model to get, we’d be more than happy to help in the comment sections.