Snow Removal
Expert Snow Removal Setup: Honda Track Blower for Long, Steep Driveways
Quick answer
The expert snow removal setup is built on the Honda HSS928AATD 28-inch track snow blower, rated at 1,900 pounds of snow per minute with a 52-foot throw and hydrostatic tracks for steep, icy drives. A cordless shovel, wheeled pusher, 30-foot roof rake, cover and ice melt bring it to $4,585.
This build is the performance ceiling for a homeowner: a long, sloped or gravel driveway of 1,500 sq ft or more, often with a turnaround, in lake-effect, mountain or northern regions where storms of 12 inches or more are routine. It assumes a garage or well-ventilated shed with room for a large machine and safe gasoline storage. The full list comes to $4,585.
Tracks are rubber belts in place of wheels. They spread the machine's weight and keep traction on slopes and packed ice where wheeled blowers spin. Honda pairs them with a hydrostatic drive, which gives stepless speed control, and an auger height control that lets you tilt the housing to shave hardpack or ride over gravel. If your driveway is flat and paved, this machine is more than you need; read track vs wheel snow blowers and Honda vs Ariens before buying. For sizing, use the snow blower size calculator.
The complete expert build: $4,585
What moves the snow
| Item | Why this one | Qty | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Honda HSS928AATD 28 in. Two-Stage Track Snow Blower | A 28-inch track machine rated at 1,900 pounds per minute with a 52-foot throw and no assembly required. The intermediate EGO costs less than half as much but uses wheels and a 24-inch path. | 1 | $3,599.00 | Price |
 Greenworks 40V 12 in. Brushless Snow Shovel Kit | A 12-inch brushless cordless shovel with an LED light and an enclosed battery cover, for decks and long walks where starting the big gas machine is overkill. The intermediate kit uses an EGO shovel on shared batteries. | 1 | $335.97 | Price |
| What moves the snow subtotal | $3,934.97 | |||
Walks, steps and the plow berm
| Item | Why this one | Qty | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Snowcaster 30SNC 36 in. Wheeled Snow Shovel Pusher | A wheeled 36-inch bi-directional pusher that windrows snow to the side without lifting, for the parking pad, sidewalk or a partner who should not run a 28-inch machine. | 1 | $131.99 | Price |
 Garant Yukon YPM18EAKD 18 in. Ergonomic Snow Shovel | An 18-inch shovel on a curved aluminum handle built to push and scoop in very low temperatures, for steps and tight corners. The beginner build uses a spring-assist shovel that costs less. | 1 | $92.58 | Price |
| Walks, steps and the plow berm subtotal | $224.57 | |||
Protecting the machine and you
| Item | Why this one | Qty | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tough Cover Premium 600D Snow Blower Cover | A universal 600D marine-grade cover for two-stage machines with a tightening cord for wind, for a big blower parked in a detached shed or beside a car. Measure your machine first. | 1 | $38.66 | Price |
 Pro For Sho 34dB NRR Ear Muffs | Slim folding muffs rated 34 dB NRR under ANSI S3.19. A gas two-stage runs long enough on a big driveway that hearing protection is worth wearing every time. | 1 | $19.99 | Price |
| Protecting the machine and you subtotal | $58.65 | |||
Roof, ice and edges
| Item | Why this one | Qty | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 SNOWPEELER Premium 30 ft. Roof Rake | A 30-foot sectional rake with a cutter and a 10-foot slide that carries roof snow off from the ground, for ice-dam-prone homes. The beginner build uses a 21-foot rake without the slide. | 1 | $174.95 | Price |
 Safe Paw Pet-Safe Ice Melt, 8 lb | Chloride-free ice melt rated to -2 F. Four jugs for a long walk, steps and the landing at the garage, where refreeze is worst on a shaded or north-facing driveway. | 4 | $119.80 | Price |
 Chapin 8705A SaltPro Hand Crank Spreader | The same hand-crank spreader used across every tier, because it is the right size for walks and steps. A long driveway is better served by traction than by treating the whole surface. | 1 | $24.99 | Price |
 Anley 48 in. Reflective Driveway Markers, 20 Pack | Forty reflective stakes for both edges of a long or curving driveway and the turnaround, so the 28-inch housing never finds the lawn, a culvert or a buried landscape light. | 2 | $47.18 | Price |
| Roof, ice and edges subtotal | $366.92 | |||
The total includes the Honda track machine, the Greenworks shovel kit with battery and charger, a wheeled pusher, a shovel, the cover, ear muffs, the roof rake, four jugs of ice melt, a spreader and two packs of markers. It excludes gasoline, engine oil, fuel stabilizer, a fuel can and sales tax.
- Driveway
- long, sloped or gravel, 1,500 sq ft and up
- Typical storm
- 12 in and up, wet or windblown
- Storage
- garage or ventilated shed, about 3 x 6 ft
- Fuel
- fresh unleaded in an approved can, oil per manual
- Budget for upkeep
- annual oil change and fuel stabilizer
Prices were accurate when this list was compiled and change often, so confirm each one on Amazon before ordering. Quantities are multiplied into the total. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
On this page
- Who should not buy the expert snow removal setup?
- What can you skip in this build?
- What should you upgrade first?
- How does this build compare with the beginner and intermediate setups?
- How long does it take to clear a 250-foot driveway with a 28-inch snow blower?
- What does a gas track snow blower need at the end of the season?
Who should not buy the expert snow removal setup?
Be honest with yourself before spending $4,585 on snow gear:
- Flat, paved two-car driveways. The EGO SNT2405 in the intermediate build clears them with no fuel at all.
- Areas that average only a few real storms a year. A machine this capable spends most of its life under a cover.
- Anyone who cannot store gasoline safely or does not want to change oil and manage fuel.
- Tight garages. A 28-inch track machine takes real floor space and is heavy to reposition by hand.
If you want 28 inches of width on wheels, the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO at $1,999.00 is the lower-cost gas alternative for flatter driveways.
What can you skip in this build?
- The Greenworks cordless shovel ($335.97). If the walks are short, the Garant Yukon shovel and the wheeled pusher cover them.
- The roof rake ($174.95). Skip it on steep metal roofs that shed snow on their own.
- The second pack of markers ($23.59). One pack covers a driveway up to about 50 feet.
- The cover ($38.66). Skip it in a clean, attached garage.
Never skip the ear muffs. At $19.99, they are the cheapest line and protect you every storm.
What should you upgrade first?
For most owners of this kit the first upgrade is nothing on the machine. It is fuel discipline: fresh gasoline with stabilizer, bought in amounts you will use within about a month, stored in an approved can away from living space. Stale fuel is the most common cause of hard starting in owner reports for every gas snow blower brand.
If you outgrow the 28-inch path on a very long driveway, the next machine is the Honda HSS1332AATD at $4,099.00, with a 31.9-inch path, a GX390 engine and a rated 2,750 pounds per minute. If your drive is steep but not icy and you want to save money, the wheeled HSS928AAWD is $3,399.00. Compare every option in snow blowers for steep driveways.
How does this build compare with the beginner and intermediate setups?
| Beginner | Intermediate | Expert | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow blower | EGO SNT2122 | EGO SNT2405 | Honda HSS928AATD |
| Type and power | Single-stage, 56V battery, push | Two-stage, 56V battery, self-propelled | Two-stage, Honda GX270 gas, hydrostatic tracks |
| Clearing width | 21 in | 24 in | 28 in |
| Intake height | 13 in | 20 in | 21.7 in |
| Maker-rated throw | 42 ft | 50 ft | 52 ft |
| Per charge or tank (maker rating) | 10-car driveway of 8 in snow | 18-car driveway per charge | Gas: refuel as needed |
| Gravel driveway | No, the auger runs on the surface | Yes | Yes |
| Steps and walks | Hand shovels plus optional corded electric shovel | EGO 56V cordless shovel on shared batteries | Greenworks 40V cordless shovel plus wheeled pusher |
| Roof snow | 21 ft roof rake (optional) | Not included | 30 ft roof rake with slide |
| Build total | $1,093 | $2,432 | $4,585 |
| Best for | Paved 2-car driveway, light to moderate snow | Paved or gravel drive up to 3 cars, plow piles | Long, steep or icy drives in heavy snow regions |
How long does it take to clear a 250-foot driveway with a 28-inch snow blower?
A 250-foot single-lane rural driveway about 12 feet wide needs roughly 6 to 7 passes with a 28-inch housing, or around 1,600 feet of walking there and back. At a slow walking pace in 10 to 12 inches of snow that is about 30 to 45 minutes, plus time for the turnaround and plow berm. These are planning estimates; hills, drifts and wet snow add time. The same driveway with a 24-inch machine takes one or two extra passes. Run your own numbers in the snow clearing time calculator, or see what size snow blower for a 250-foot driveway in heavy snow.
What does a gas track snow blower need at the end of the season?
Honda's manual is the authority, but the pattern is the same for most gas two-stage machines. Either run the tank dry or add stabilizer and run the engine long enough to circulate it; change the engine oil while it is warm; inspect the shear bolts, auger, scraper bar and track tension; lubricate the points the manual lists; and store the machine clean, dry and covered. Owners commonly report that most starting problems the next winter trace back to fuel left in the carburetor. The snow blower storage guide and maintenance guide cover each step.
Frequently asked questions
Is a track snow blower worth it?
A track machine is worth it on steep, icy or gravel driveways, where rubber tracks hold traction that wheels lose. The Honda HSS928AATD adds hydrostatic speed control and auger height adjustment for shaving hardpack. On a flat paved driveway, tracks mostly add cost and make the machine slower to turn, so a wheeled two-stage is the better buy there. See track vs wheel snow blowers.
How much snow can the Honda HSS928 move?
Honda rates the HSS928AATD at 1,900 pounds of snow per minute with a 52-foot maximum throw through a 28-inch wide, 21.7-inch tall intake. Real clearing rates depend on snow density, depth and how fast you walk, so treat the figure as a ceiling for comparing machines rather than a promise. For deeper lake-effect storms, the 32-inch HSS1332AATD is rated at 2,750 pounds per minute.
Can I run a gas snow blower in the garage to warm it up?
No. Gas engines produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that builds up quickly in an enclosed space and can kill. Start the machine outdoors or with the garage door fully open and move it outside right away. Never leave it idling in an attached garage, where exhaust can enter the house. Refuel outdoors with the engine off and cool.
Do I still need a shovel with a 28-inch snow blower?
Yes. A 28-inch machine cannot reach steps, narrow walks between beds, deck boards or the corners along the garage door. This build includes a cordless Greenworks 40V shovel for decks and walks, a wheeled pusher for flat areas and an ergonomic shovel for steps. Many owners of large blowers find the shovel work takes as long as the driveway on a big lot.
When should I use a roof rake?
Use a roof rake after heavy snowfalls on low-pitch roofs, especially if you have had ice dams or water stains along exterior walls. Pull snow from the lower 3 to 4 feet of the roof edge while standing on the ground, never on a ladder, and stay clear of power lines. The SNOWPEELER slide carries snow off without scraping shingles.
Is the Honda HSS928 better than the Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO?
They serve different driveways. The Honda has tracks, hydrostatic drive and auger height control for steep and icy drives, and costs $3,599.00. The Ariens Deluxe 28 SHO is a wheeled 28-inch machine at $1,999.00, strong on wide flat driveways with heavy snow. Our Honda vs Ariens comparison covers the trade-offs.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.