As you know Ariens is letting me borrow the new RapidTrak this season and I finally have a little snow to test it with. Not much snow but just enough so you can see how the RapidTrak handles and how far it throws.
I’ll also be adding another video soon that compares it to a typical residential snow blower.
Enjoy the video and if you would like me to make more like it please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Paul Sikkema – TheToolboxhero
Feel free to check out the Ariens website for more details and specs on this snow blower: Ariens RapidTrak at Ariens.com
Chad
Good morning from Reno/Tahoe mountainside. Based on your advice, I decided to buy an Arien’s RapidTrak PRO 28”. I have a long, steep, paver driveway… so steep, I’ve been pushing my Honda trac-drive up it for too many years. I thought purchasing the Arien’s would be a simple task… until. I began by using Arien’s Website to identify dealers. I started with the local shops… supporting the little/local shops is important to me. The first/closest dealer on the list has a website stating they had one in stock…great. I clicked the button to get an online quote…$3,099. MSRP… as expected. So I called to confirm that I would drive down to pick it up. To my surprise, they indignantly told me the price would be $3,500?!? I asked why it was so high; was something included that raised the price? The man was rude and blunt, telling me that I was wrong about the MSRP and if I wanted that price, I could shop elsewhere for a promotion that was misleading about their actual price. He went on to “threaten” that those snowblowers need special, “professional assembly” and if I bought a Home Depot unit, I’d come to him to fix it because it wouldn’t be set up correctly and he would charge me hundreds of dollars and it would take weeks for him to get to it. What?!? Clearly, I won’t be buying it from him; but he has raised the question; “Does that snowblower require professional assembly?” Would I make a mistake to purchase it from Home Depot?
Since talking to the jerk at that dealer, the three other dealers within 90 miles all want more than MSRP, although the other 2 dealers weren’t so rude. If I shop Home Depot, I can get it for $3,099… minus $100 if I apply for their credit card; wherein I will also get a 12-month return policy and free shipping. I hate to go to the BIG BOX store, but the little guys seem to be asking too much. $500 difference??
Is there a compelling reason I should pay more at a small dealer? Do you recommend professional assembly?
Thanks again!
Chad
Paul
Hi Chad, Most dealers are smart enough when you talk to them on the phone to say, “The snow blower is $3099 and there is an X amount for setup and delivery.” Typical charges I hear of are one hour labor to take the snow blower out of the crate, then go through the machine to make sure all the adjustments are correct and then start it up and test it. Labor nowadays is around $100. Then they will also charge a delivery fee. $69, 79 and up to $125 depending on where you live and (if also they sell John Deere) So, anything up to $200 is reasonable. But the attitude isn’t…
By the way, if you have a problem that needs a dealer go back to the Home Depot store where you buy the snow blower and ask the manager who their local servicing dealer is. I’ll bet it’s not that guy.
Can you put it together? You need a 3/8-9/16 socket set and combination wrenches, a needle nose pliers and a scissors. Follow these assembly instructions: Ariens RapidTrack. Then,
Check and adjust the auger and clutch cables here: Ariens Operators Manual.
If you need more help here is the Ariens Service manual: Service Guide
You can watch my walkaround video and of course, ask questions here on the website.
Buy from the Home Depot here: Ariens 28 Pro RapidTrak