Ariens Deluxe 24 Review – Is It Any Good?
“The Ariens Deluxe 24 snow blower offers you the power of larger-engine blowers in a more compact size.
This is a 2-stage blower with a 254cc, 4-cycle engine. It’s the perfect blower for clearing an average-sized driveway.
First Impressions
When we first checked out the Ariens Deluxe 24, we were a bit skeptical that it would be able to clear heavy snow with just a couple of passes.
It’s a relatively compact blower so we questioned its power.
However, we were very pleasantly surprised at how well this blower performed. It can effectively clear away 10-12 inches of heavy snow with just one pass.
And with light snow, you can clear about 16 inches at a time on the regular speed.
Overall we were very pleased with how light, compact and powerful the Ariens Deluxe 24 blower was.
Quick Facts Table
- 16-inch snow tread tires
- 24 inch clearing width
- 2-stage blower
- Gas-powered
- Adjustable snow chute
- Electric start
- 14-inch serrated auger
- 254cc engine
Key Features
The features loaded into this blower are very impressive.
You pretty much get everything you need to clear some serious snow. The features include:
- Serrated Auger – This is a very simple tweak to the design of regular augers but it really makes a difference. The serrated augers are more able to chop up heavy snow and sleet so that the 2-stage engine can process it.
- Self Propelled – The Ariens Deluxe 24 is a self-propelled blower with 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. You will likely never even need the top speeds as it works quickly enough on the first few gears.
- Auto-Turn Steering – This is a very handy feature for when you need to navigate around tight turns. The Ariens Deluxe 24 actually has a sensor that detects when you are changing the direction of the blower. The sensor triggers the interior wheel to walk in place so you can turn the blower much easier.
- Steel Discharge Chute – The steel discharge chute has its own control. You can rotate it 200 degrees and the lever makes it very easy to adjust the chute angle and throwing distance.
- Electric Start – The Ariens Deluxe 24 has a recoil starter and an electric start function. The electric start function is a great option in really cold weather when the recoil starter isn’t working. However, you need to plug it in with an extension cord to use the electric start function.
- Headlight – The Ariens Deluxe 24 snow blower is also equipped with a halogen headlight that provides a decent amount of light right ahead of the blower.
- Snow Tread Tires – The 16-inch snow tread tires provide very good traction even on slippery snow. They do add some weight to the blower; but they also offer traction even when you’re removing snow from an angled surface.
How Powerful is the Engine?
The Ariens Deluxe 24 comes equipped with a 254cc 4-cycle engine.
You get 12.5 pounds of torque which is very impressive for a 24” snow blower. The torque is more than what you need for chewing up heavy snow.
And because this is a 4-cycle engine, you won’t have to mix gas and oil. You can just fill it up with regular gas and you’re good to go.
We will say that the engine does run a bit loud; but that’s forgivable considering the power.
In all, you can clear up to about 16 inches of regular snow with just one pass. The engine is also powerful enough to clear about 12 inches of heavy snow.
Fuel Type
As we mentioned above, the Ariens Deluxe 24 has a 4-cycle engine so it won’t require any oil. This is a gas-powered blower.
How Does It Perform?
What we really liked about the Ariens Deluxe 24 blower is that it performs very well on angled surfaces.
The self-propulsion, multiple speeds and heavy-duty snow tread tires all work together to make removing snow from inclined surfaces very easy.
We also like that the Ariens Deluxe 24 is easy on the body. It’s not humongous and the fact that there are 6 engine speeds means that pretty much anyone can operate this blower.
It even has 2 reverse speeds which is handy for when you need help getting the blower out of a tight spot.
We would have liked it if the handles were heated. The standard model doesn’t have heated handles but you can choose that feature as an upgrade. Of course, you will have to pay more for it.
It’s also very easy to adjust the angle of the snow chute. The chute is made of steel so it’s heavy duty; but that doesn’t mean you have to wrench your elbow to get it into place.
You can adjust the chute with the crank that’s located on the dash. You don’t have to turn the crank a bunch of times to move the chute from one side to the other either.
The crank rotates very smoothly even in really cold weather so you can tell it was made well.
Our only major complaint about how the chute operates is the placement of the crank.
It would have been more convenient if they placed the crank in the middle of the dash or on the right side so you don’t have to reach one arm over to adjust the chute angle.
The serrated auger is what really impressed us as far as performance goes though. Even on the low speed setting, the 14-inch auger spins powerfully and chops up even the heaviest snow and sleet.
The fact that it’s serrated means that the snow gets chewed up into a fine texture. This means the engine doesn’t have to work so hard to process the snow.
What is the Ariens Deluxe 24 Clearing Width?
The Ariens Deluxe 24 has a 24” clearing width which is pretty much ideal for 2-car garage driveways.
What is the Ariens Deluxe 24 Intake Height?
The Ariens Deluxe 24 boasts a 21-inch intake height.
However, at 21 inches, you will have to make at least two passes to clear all the snow.
The Ariens Deluxe 24 is at its best when you are clearing about 11-16 inches of snow – or about ten inches if you are clearing particularly hard or heavy snow.
How Much Snow Can it Handle?
You can clear about 16 inches of light snow with just one pass.
It has a 21 inch max intake height, but it operates best for about 16 inches of snow. At 16 inches, you can clear an entire driveway in just over half an hour.
How Loud is it?
This is one of the weaknesses of this blower. It’s actually a bit louder than most 24-inch blowers.
How Heavy is it?
The Ariens Deluxe 24 is 245.5 pounds.
Is it Easy to Maneuver?
Very. It has 6 forward speeds, 2 reverse speeds and is self-propelled. It even has an auto-turn function.
How Durable is it and How Long Should it Last?
Most components on the Ariens Deluxe 24 are made of either steel or cast irons so it seems very durable.
With proper maintenance, we can see the Ariens Deluxe 24 lasting for at least 15 years.
Auger Type
It has a serrated steel auger. The gear case is made of cast iron and the impeller is 14 inches and has 2 blades.
How Does the Chute Perform?
The chute can throw snow up to 50 feet and is operated with a dash-mounted crank that turns very smoothly. You can rotate the chute up to 200 degrees.
Start-Up Options
The Ariens Deluxe 24 has a recoil start and an electric start function. To use the electric start, you have to plug it in with an extension cord.
Ariens Deluxe 24 Vs Ariens Deluxe 28
The Ariens Deluxe 28 is almost identical to the Ariens Deluxe 24. There are only 2 major differences: the Ariens Deluxe 28 has a 3-blade impeller and a 28” clearing width.
Ariens Deluxe 24 Vs Ariens Professional 21
The Professional 21 has a smaller, less-powerful 208cc engine. It also has a narrower, 21-inch clearing width. The auger on the Professional 21 is also smaller but it does have a spring-loaded self-adjusting scraper bar.
Ariens Deluxe 24 Vs Toro 824
Like the Ariens Deluxe 24, the Toro 824 has a 24” clearing width. It has a 252cc 2-stage engine. The Toro 824 is similar to the Ariens Deluxe 24 in most ways. It also has 6 forward speeds and 2 reverse speeds. The Toro 824 is gas-powered and has an electric start function as well.
Ariens Deluxe 24 Pros & Cons
Pros
- Great on inclined surfaces
- Powerful engine
- Built to last
- Can easily handle 16 inches of hard snow
- Disc-O-Matic drive type
- 9 gallon fuel capacity
Cons
- Headlight isn’t LED
- No heated handle
- Runs a bit loud
- Chute adjust lever is in an awkward position
Who Should Buy It?
The Ariens Deluxe 24 would be great for anyone who wants an easy-to-operate blower that is nice and easy on the body.
Overall Score: 98/100
Alternative Blowers
Briggs & Stratton 24″ Dual-Stage Snow Blower – Another 24” snow blower with a 208cc engine and electric start.
Overall Score: 95/100
Craftsman 208cc Electric Start 24″ Two Stage Gas Snow Blower – It has smaller 13-inch tires but is more affordable than the Ariens Deluxe 24. It also comes with skid shoes and a quiet, 4-cycle engine.
Overall Score: 94/100
PowerSmart Snow Blower – This is another self-propelled blower with a 212cc engine and 24” clearing width.
Overall Score: 96/100
Final Thoughts
The Ariens Deluxe 24 should be more than enough blower if you have an average-sized 2 car driveway.
It performs great on inclines and is very easy to operate. It is a bit pricey; but it’s worth it if you want to invest in a capable blower that should last for many years.
