In winter, hospitals in snowy areas prepare to see more heart patients because shoveling snow can lead to a heart attack. If there was ever a good reason to go get a snowblower, the risk of death certainly counts. Sudden exertion combined with cold weather can have fatal results.
How do you transport a snowblower? Don’t risk your health. I’ll help you figure out what sort of vehicle you need to bring a blower home.
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Transporting A Snowblower
MiniVans and SUVs will transport a snowblower the best since they have over 25 square feet of cargo space and have removable or foldable rear seats. Most snowblowers will not fit inside a car because a typical snowblower ranges from 21 inches to 36 inches wide with tall handles. It will need to be transported on a rear cargo carrier.
Will Snowblower Fit In Minivan
Before you plan to transport your snowblower in a minivan, you must measure the available space and machine. You need a few extra inches to ensure you can move the blower safely.
Handles and windows are a bad combo in a vehicle, so plan to wrap them in bubble wrap or movers’ blankets for the ride.
Fortunately, most minivans have removable or foldable back seats that offer plenty of room for moving large objects. Single stage snowblowers typically fit well inside minivans.
For the larger two and three-stage models, plan to remove or fold the second row of seats.
Older model minivans may have fixed seating or rear bench seats. In these cases, you will not be able to fit a snowblower inside.
You need at least ten to twelve cubic feet of space to put a snowblower inside your vehicle, but it has to be at floor level.
A model with excellent shoulder room, fixed seating, and narrow aisles won’t accommodate transporting a snowblower unless you can lift it onto a seat, which is dangerous.
You do not want augurs sitting on your seats or seatbelts securing a 300-pound wheeled snowblower in place.
It’s essential to use a ramp if you cannot easily lift the weight. Luckily snowblowers have wheels, so this is an easy process.
Attach your ramp to the open back end of your vehicle and push the blower into position. After that, you should lock the wheels to prevent them from shifting as you drive.
Can A Snowblower Fit In A Car
When you don’t have the space inside your vehicle, consider getting an aluminum cargo-hauling extension. These innovative hauling platforms can carry other equipment.
Moreover, they’ll hold five to seven hundred pounds and offer plenty of places to attach ropes or other tie-downs to keep your snowblower in place.
I recommend the MAXXHAUL 80779 Aluminum Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier from Amazon if you plan to move your snowblower around regularly.
It has a 47-inch ramp included, and the raised basket sides help store things securely. Plus, you have plenty of space since it’s 47 inches long and 27 inches deep, which will accommodate most snowblowers. Most importantly, it fits most standard hitches.
It’s important to note that tie-downs and straps tend to ice up quickly when you’re on the road. It would be best if you had plenty to keep the machine in place, but they can be difficult to remove.
For this reason, I suggest wide tie-downs with ratchets included.
- Universal Hitch Compatibility: Designed to fit all 2" x 2" Class III and IV hitch receivers, this cargo carrier offers versatile compatibility with a variety of vehicles.
- Optimal Dimensions: With outer dimensions of 50" x 29-1/2" x 8-3/4" and inner dimensions of 49" x 27-3/4" x 7-1/2", this cargo carrier provides ample space to transport your belongings securely.
- Impressive Weight Capacity: With a maximum distributed weight capacity of 500 lbs, this cargo carrier allows you to transport a range of items or loads.
- Durable Aluminum Construction: Crafted from lightweight, rust-proof aluminum, this cargo carrier is easy to clean and maintain. Its anchor points enhance security for your loads, ensuring a reliable transport experience. Under support frame is made from heavy duty powder coated steel.
- Enhanced Road Safety: Equipped with reflectors, this cargo carrier contributes to increased visibility on the road, enhancing safety for both you and other motorists.
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Can A Snowblower Fit In An SUV
SUVs are your best bet for fitting a snowblower inside since they tend to have lots of cargo space.
According to Consumer Reports, a small SUV like the Buick Encore Leather or Chevrolet Trax LT has twenty-six square feet of cargo space. This is more than enough to put any snowblower inside.
You will need a loading ramp. These hook onto the back of your SUV when the tailgate is open so you can walk the snowblower right up for easy transportation.
However, please do not turn on the snowblower. Some models have low clearance, and it can damage the augurs that move snow.
More importantly, gas snowblowers put off exhaust, which you do not want inside your vehicle.
Even small crossovers have plenty of cargo space inside. Compact crossovers, even the smallest ones, have more internal space than you might expect.
The Mazda CX-5 has 30.9 cu.-ft. behind the second row and 59.6 cu.-ft with the second row folded.
Can You Fit A Snowblower In A Sedan
If you’re fortunate enough to drive an old Cadillac, you don’t mind messing up your backseat, and you can take the roof off, then it’s no problem to fit a snowblower inside your car.
However, for most cars, this is a practical issue. Naturally, you’re going to need to put it in the trunk. Larger sedans should accommodate a small to a medium-sized snowblower.
While the dimensions vary from model to model, one typical two-stage blower available online is 32.3 x 24.8 x 22.
That’s just over ten cubic feet. Measure the dimensions of your trunk, height, width, and depth in inches, then multiply the three numbers to get cubic feet of space.
However, if the smallest number is smaller than the smallest dimension of your snowblower, you will not be able to fit it inside and close the trunk.
Midsize sedans often have around 15 cubic feet of trunk space. Unfortunately, the layout is nonconductive to transporting a large item like this.
You may have to tie your trunk in a partially closed position. Moreover, lifting a two or three-hundred-pound snowblower out of that trunk again is dangerous at best.
Lifting a hundred-plus pounds is going to be difficult at best. However, if you have the space in your trunk and can lift it, then ensure that you put the handles in first. In general, this is going to be a bad idea.
Helpful Tips To Know About Transporting A Snowblower
Transporting a snowblower is a necessity if only once to get it home. Because of the snowblower’s weight and size, you’ll need help, a ramp, or both.
Here are more helpful tips to know about transporting a snowblower.
- Snowblowers can weigh well over a 100 pounds and lifting one is probably not a one-person activity. More importantly, if you do try to lift one, remember to lift with your legs instead of bending and trying to straighten your back. Otherwise, you may injure yourself. Still, it’s best to use a ramp when possible.
- Some snowblower models come with adjustable handles, which makes them slightly easier to transport. If your blower has this helpful feature, make sure you set them to the lowest possible setting, so you’ll have more clearance.
- A mobile chute that lets you direct the flow of the snow can also help in transporting a snowblower. Turn the chute inward to get it out of the way during transit.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re going to get a repair, donating an old model to charity, or buying a new snowblower, it’s only useful if you can transport it in one piece.
Figuring out how to fit sizeable outdoor equipment in your vehicle can be tricky, and lifting heavy equipment is difficult even when you have ample room.
Make sure you measure both your blower and the available space before you plan to put it in your car. Get help with lifting or use a ramp, especially with larger blowers.
You can usually get a hand at the store or repair shop, but you’ll still need to remove the snowblower safely on the other end, so use a hitch-mounted cargo carrier if necessary.