Walk-behind leaf blower vs. pull behind vacuum chipper

[Shiny Frieda]

We just moved to a 3-acre property (lawn+ gardens around the house), surrounded by woods. Now I have twigs, branches and acorns mixed with leaves to clean up. My Echo TC770 backpack blower has done a good job cleaning nooks and crannies, but it's a lot of dust all over and the backpack just doesn't perform that well when I get to the open field. In 4 hours, I must have cleaned half of the lawn. First I thought of getting a push leaf blower, since my lawn is flat (no inclination) and I can send all leaves and other debris into the woods. But would the push blower be efficient when it comes to removing acorns? I keep thinking a pull behind vacuum/chipper may do a better job and it would take care of the twigs. What do you guys think? Thanks!

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

Either one wont do much for acorns. The problem with acorns is theres no mass and there heavy. So they dont blow well. I had a push leaf vac and it does ok on the twigs it will pick up a few acorns but not enough to invest in it just for that.

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[CHEESE2009]

I don't understand those wheeled blowers. I just find them to be so limited.

Upgrade to a better backpack blower, or try out Stihl's blower attachment for their KM90 engine. Apparently it's stronger than ALL of their backpack blowers.



I'll be the first one to say, that old man sucks at his job...

[Von Bobbeh]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

I don't understand those wheeled blowers. I just find them to be so limited.

Upgrade to a better backpack blower, or try out Stihl's blower attachment for their KM90 engine. Apparently it's stronger than ALL of their backpack blowers.



I'll be the first one to say, that old man sucks at his job...

I used one of those helping another lawn guy with a cleanup, awkward and NOT as powerful as a backpack blower. touchy trigger too; there is no real medium speed.

[avetslawncare]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

I'll be the first one to say, that old man sucks at his job...

I don't think he sucks, I was thinking he blows.... just my thought.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Von Bobbeh

I used one of those helping another lawn guy with a cleanup, awkward and NOT as powerful as a backpack blower. touchy trigger too; there is no real medium speed.

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?

[krzys666]

if you got the money get a walk behind blower.
the 18 hp self propelled fradan is as far as i am concerned the best one out there. at least here i can go straight to the manufacter and get whatever i need right away including engines, hydros ect.
no they do not break easily but ours get used about 40 hours a week now, or about 10 - 15 hours when leaves are not falling.

they are built extremely well, durable, and can be hit and thrown around on the trucks. they run us about 2600 each. we have 7 of them and some smaller ones also.

for a large property as you have it is the best blower. it will take the larger twigs.

use the backpack for the smaller twigs and acorns.

another possibility you have is using a mower with a vacuum attached to it.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by krzys666

they run us about 2600 each.

That's a pretty reasonable price.

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


It'd be cool the have both!

[Shiny Frieda]

Thank you, all, for your ideas and expertise.

I thought of upgrading my backpack blower, but I don't think I can carry much more than what I already am. Unfortunately I'm not that strong. I used my backpack for 6 hours and it felt like somebody beat me up. I think eventually I'll get used to it.

Regarding the push behind blowers, gosh the 18hp Fradan blower is a monster!!

I was thinking of getting a Little Wonder LB390HSP Self Propelled Blower, which is $2k and has a Honda 400cc engine - more than 3 times more powerful than my backpack.

Would I be better off investing on a Fradan? I don't know if Little Wonder is a good brand...

[Cashin H&P]

Originally Posted by Shiny Frieda

Thank you, all, for your ideas and expertise.

I thought of upgrading my backpack blower, but I don't think I can carry much more than what I already am. Unfortunately I'm not that strong. I used my backpack for 6 hours and it felt like somebody beat me up. I think eventually I'll get used to it.

Regarding the push behind blowers, gosh the 18hp Fradan blower is a monster!!

I was thinking of getting a Little Wonder LB390HSP Self Propelled Blower, which is $2k and has a Honda 400cc engine - more than 3 times more powerful than my backpack.

Would I be better off investing on a Fradan? I don't know if Little Wonder is a good brand...

I have a Little Wounder with and 8hp Brigs and Straton. The thing is awosome, a back pack blower and a walk behind blower can move damn near ANYTHING!