The Craftsman 88173 features a reliable engine and has the ability to clear out snow up to 21 inches deep in 24-inch wide swaths.
In winters, all we want to do is just tuck ourselves up tightly and stay warm inside. But with work calling, you need to leave the comfort of your house, which seems to be a chore in itself with snow piled up outside. While snow can be fun for the kids to play in, it can cause a headache when you have to get it out of your driveway. The Craftsman 88173 snowblower is one machine that can make your life easier this winter.
Introducing Craftsman 88173
Craftsman is known to put out some impressive models of snowblowers, and the 88173 can benefit many in a number of ways. Apart from being easy to use, the Craftsman 88173 also uses a well-regarded 208cc engine. Moreover, it is proven reliable as well as low-maintenance. It is able to cover a large area in a small amount of time and can tackle drifts, and deep snow banks, making it the ideal choice for both garden and home use.
Pros
- The standard 208cc engine is suitable for residential use
- Offers a clearing width of up to 24 inches
- The X-Trac tires provide an excellent grip on gravel
Cons
- The size of the wheels is a little small
- There is no power steering
- You can find more powerful motors at the same price
Features & Benefits
The Craftsman 88173 dual-stage gas blower has all the features that you would expect on a snowblower of this quality, size, and price. Following are the features you can expect:
- Fitted with the Standard 208cc Engine
While the 208cc is nothing nothing out of the ordinary in terms of power, it is the engine that you find in a majority of snowblowers. In fact, it can provide you with the power you need for almost all applications of the machine. Moreover, this is a tried and tested engine and is known for its usability and reliability.
The engine also enables you to move your machine around easily when you need it. As well, it comes with various features that are much needed in a snowblower!
Primarily, it comes with an electric starter which makes it ideal to use on cold winter mornings. The push-button electric starter feature is also much better than a pull-cord starter feature and guarantees a viable engine.
The engine is a 4-cycle OHV engine that promises improved fuel economy, a longer life, and increased power. You don’t need to worry about mixing your oil and gas, either.
All in all, the engine allows the power you need to clear up your driveway and pathway through the whole winter season. It is, clearly, a good alternative to back-breaking shoveling and lets you clear snow within an hour!
- Various Speeds
Like with all good snowblowers, the Craftsman 88173 also comes with a variety in speed. You can enjoy six forward speeds and two reverse speeds. Consequently, you can work at your desired pace and clean up different depths of snow.
- Plow style handles
The snowblower comes with plow-style handles that allow a better grip and lesser strain. The handles enable increased control and reduced strain on the back as well as the legs. Moreover, the handles are long and have an ergonomic design, thus ensuring a solid grip so that you can get done with the work quickly.
- Impressive EZ Chute Control
The Craftsman 88173 features a unique chute design, which is not only impressive and rugged but also promises excellent performance. Both the EZ chute as well as the control system efficiently allow you to throw your snow wherever you wish with simple controls for both distance and direction.
Moreover, the chute is made of polymer, which means that it is more flexible than many other chutes and doesn’t require high maintenance and doesn’t get clogged by snow. It is also sturdy, which means you can use the machine for years to come.
With a hand crank placed near you, you can rotate the chute. Since it is near you, you can quickly operate it while you make your way through the snow.
- Adequate Clearing Ability
The Craftsman 88173 allows you to clear out 24 inches of snow in one go, enabling you to clear up a viable path in just a short time. The clearing ability also enables you to get rid of the snow from your garden, patio, and driveway pretty quickly.
The 24-inch snowblower can also let you clean 21 inches of snow depth, which means that it can also tackle small drifts easily. Plus, you can also easily get rid of the piled up snow left behind because of a snow plow.
- X-Trac Tires
Usually, snowblowers feature large tires so that treading on snow is easy. However, the 88173 features tires that measure only 13 inches by 4 inches. But these small tires offer up impressive results.
These tires are special X-Trac tires that are particularly designed keeping the size of this machine in mind. As a result, you get tires that can offer an incredible grip on both gravel drives as well as hard drives. They dig into the snow firmly, allowing commendable maneuverability, even in slippery conditions!
On the other hand, if you want to use the machine in your garden, then you might need larger tires.
- Skid Shoes
The snowblower features poly skid shoes that have been designed to not leave marks on your patio or driveway when in use without sacrificing performance.
- Easy Operation
You can operate the Craftsman 88173 with just a single hand controller, which allows you to adjust the direction or reach of the chute without having to stop. Consequently, you can get done with cleaning easily and quickly on mornings when there is heavy snow and get to work on time!
Customer Reviews
Despite missing a power steering, customers are satisfied with this machine’s performance. It can efficiently clean out driveways and patios without taking up too much of your time and is easy to maneuver, too. Considering its price, it offers solid performance. A problem for some users is while the tires are great for surfaces made of gravel, they don’t perform quite as well on hard surfaces.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that the Craftsman 88173 is ideal for clearing both patios and driveways. Equipped with features that you would want in a snowblower to get the job done, 88173 is well-designed, efficient, simple to operate, and compact. Despite lacking features like power steering and optional lights, it is a great option for upcoming winters, particularly considering its relatively low cost.
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