Walk-behind leaf blower vs. pull behind vacuum chipper

[Lopes Lawn Care]

I have a walk behind blower it's an old 8hp little wonder. The thing starts up first pull every year and is a beast at blowing big piles. Although I rarely use it now. Most of my yards go a lot quicker if we just tarp the leaves once we have a big pile and get it out and near the truck for vacuuming. I can see the walk behind being useful if your doing big properties and maybe moving the leaves into the woods or something. Although I still think the tarp and move method goes the quickest. For me at least.

[Martywdx]

Lawn care business tips

that should move some acorns http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMkLA7v1xY

[krzys666]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

That's a pretty reasonable price.

Really good backpack blowers range from $800-$1000.


It'd be cool the have both!

i was referring to the fradan blower costing $2600
our dealer gets the redmax 8500 out the door for 550 with tax.

and yes we do larger properties over an acre with very few being under an acre

[stevef1201]

I saw on a website, where I dont remember, a blower that looks like a jet engine, blowing leaves across a park. I think it was a city park, and they were moving piles about 60 feet at a time.

Now that is a blower! It was mounted a large tractor, and the nozzle was turnable to either side. It was really neat. I cannot remember what the asking price was but it was north of 30 grand

[Grass Doctor]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

I was lied too than

I was going to pick one up but I had my doubts - now I can rest easy at night.

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I don't think much can beat a back pack blower in terms of its usefulness, just being able to aim it how you please can be a big advantage! The only thing I hate, is how I get pinned to the house behind bushes sometimes, man that sucks!

hahahaha!

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Also, a backpack blower can do big tasks, but you really have to be in the mind set, sometimes I'm not and I have to snap into gear... I see some guys expecting the blower to do everything, but they (sometimes me) should get more involved and do some constant thinking. Physics!!!

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I wish I had a rolling blower, I could try out all these types of gear and put them against each other.

I think the rolling blower is limited, because it's trying to push a massive pile slowly, and there is a lot of resistance with taller piles. With a backback blower, you can break up the front of the pile and work your way back, pushing the leaves where you want.


This is all theory, I've never used a rolling blower - but my brain tells me that's exactly how it will perform againts a backpack blower.

ALSO I'm assuming the rolling blowers cost. If you're looking for something around the same price range, then a backpack blower is probably best - but there are heavy duty rolling blowers like this that probably cost quite a lot!


I'm still not impressed, how about you?

what a mess. luv the song.

[Shiny Frieda]

Hi all, thank you so much for your ideas and for taking the time to help me. I am so grateful I have found you. You are so generous with information. Thank you!

I decided on a self-propelled Fradan Vortex 14hp and got it at a dealer close to my home for $2199. I was able to clean most of the mess in my yard in 4 hours with it, and it did a pretty good job moving twigs and acorns too.

I am sure that next year, by cleaning weekly and not letting this ginormous pile of leaves sit in the yard for so long, I will clean our property very quickly.

Again, thank you so much, guys!! Best of luck to you all in your projects and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.