Hi Dave, The model listed on home depot’s website is the XP. Model # Arctic Storm 30″. The XP is black and it’s biggest feature is the electric chute. If the model you are looking at in the store is painted red it may be miss-labeled and is actually the Troy-Bilt Storm 30 in. The Storm has a smaller impeller and has less capacity and will plug on wet/heavy snow.

Hi Bill, The directions in the operator’s manual are pretty clear with lots of pictures. Read the entire procedure first before you even try to take the box off. There is not a lot to be done – just lift up the handles, put 2 bolts in and tighten 4 nuts. Then take the discharge chute bracket, slide it onto a post and insert a pin with a clip. That’s all you have to do besides check the oil and fill it with fuel.

If you or your spouse or child can follow a recipe you can assemble this.

I do suggest that you raise the front end up so there is about 1/4 inch of clearance under the front scraper. The manual shows you how to adjust the skid shoes for that.

If you don’t have a socket set and combination wrenches take the nuts over to your neighbor and borrow the wrenches. Most auto stores also loan tools. (or buy a set at home depot, lowes or sears and return them when you are done)

Hi Paul, Great website. I ordered the 30″ Arctic Storm last week after discovering your site and it will be delivered this coming Wednesday; just in time to put under my Christmas tree!! My question is upon arrival in the crate, how much assembling will I have to do myself before I can actually use the machine? From the sounds of it, the handles will have to be assembled. I’m not very handy when assembling these sort of things and hope I did not make the wrong choice by ordering from Northern Tool when I could have purchased it from Lowe’s completely assembled. Thanks!

Thank you, Paul. You’ve been a big help!

Hi Shannon, The Husqvarna 300 series charges about $300 more for the same hydrostatic transmission that the Honda charges $1000 more.

If you really want a bulletproof snow blower with a Hydro look at the Ariens Professional/Commercial units. They are still less price than what Honda thinks their’s are worth.

In my walk-around video I tried to explain that the 2016 Arctic Storm is a completely new machine for Troy-Bilt. Overall it is a lot heavier duty than anything they have built in the past. It’s also a large capacity machine. I need to use it yet, but it looks very competitive to the Ariens Platinum and Toro PowerMax HD units. (they all have big front augers and 14 inch impellers)

3 stage is not better than 2 stage – it’s just different. Everyone has their own “best feature” for example Ariens has the SHO impeller, Toro has the Anti-Clogging System, etc. I know Cub Cadet has plenty of the 3X snow blowers out but I just can’t get a good handle on how great they work in all conditions. If they were the perfect answer the new Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm would have it also. So, Where you live, I’d stay away from them.

Hi Paul,
Thanks so much for your prompt and thorough reply! Regarding parts, no matter what brand I buy, I’m going to have to special order parts and have them freighted up here–it’s just part of the game with everything, so as long as I can order parts online, I don’t think one brand will be more challenging than another, unless parts are really hard to come by. But, if the Ariens really are easy to repair, that will go a long way for me.
Are the Honda transmission problems just on the track models, or on the wheeled models, too?
I’m curious as to why you’d consider the Arctic Storm but not other Troy-Bilt models? I would have thought the comparable Cub Cadet models would be heavier duty? Mostly, I’ll be dealing with heavy, wet snow more than hard, frozen snow, and it often dumps 1-3 feet at a time, so what I’m really looking for is the model that will move large amounts of heavy, wet snow the furthest–that’s why I was drawn to the 3 stage blowers, but are the 3 stage blowers not all they’re cracked up to be when it comes to wet, heavy snow? Finally, I haven’t ruled out a hydrostatic drive model–are they really worth the extra $1,000?
Thank you very much for your time and expertise!

Hi Shannon, I can understand why some people don’t like track drives. MTD, Cub Cadet, Yamaha and Honda all made a few over the years that didn’t hold up or were very hard to use. Of the current 2015 and newer models, the Ariens and Husqvarna track drives are well built and will last the life of the snow blower. Honda may get there but the 2015-2016 models had a problem with the transmission.

Ok, You are not going to be happy with the 3X Cub Cadets, Troy-Bilt, and Craftsman snow blower for wet, heavy snow. Here is a video that I took of a 3X trying to blow wet snow.

. In summary, it makes a mess and I would be afraid of it freezing up between uses.

The 3X really works well with good, deep, fairly dry snow. Yes, the snow in the Cub Cadet advertising videos is the right type. It tends to have issues with heavy, wet snow and does break shear pins on hard, frozen snow – especially snow that’s been piled up with a snow plow and then left to settle and freeze. The rear shear pin on the 3rd stage is a pain to change for most people.

I’m tempted to suggest the Troy-Bilt Arctic Storm. I really like that snow blower but where you live may be a problem getting parts.

I’m also tempted to suggest the Toro PowerMax HD 1028. It’s a heavy-duty machine but Toro does not offer it with tracks.

So, my best choice is simply an Ariens for a few reasons. 1. The Platinum or Deluxe SHO versions never plug. 2. They have enough power to handle any type of snow. 3. They are two of the heaviest built snowblowers on the market. Only the Ariens Pro models are heavier duty. 4. You can buy the 28 or 30 inch wheeled model and add tracks later if you want. (They have tracked models but all the Deluxe and Platinum wheeled units can be upgraded later on with tracks.) 5. They are simple, easy to repair machines with exceptional LCT engines. 6. Ariens is also the only brand that offers chains for their wheeled units.

In my opinion, buy an Ariens, keep a couple of spark plugs, 6 shear bolts and an extra set of belts on hand and you really won’t need anything else for many years.

Here is a video of the Cub Cadet 3X in good snow:

And Finally here is Donboy73’s review. I trust Donboy a lot:

Thank you so much Paul…I guess I should be sure to check the exact one before I buy….sorry for the thread hijack…thx again