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Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve Snow Blower
by Toro
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This item is delivered in an easy-to-open recyclable box and is free of plastic "clamshells" and wire ties.
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Product Details
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Product Description
Toro 38381 18-Inch 15 Amp Electric 1800 Power Curve Snow Blower
Power Curve technology carves paths 18 inches wide and up to 12 inches deep down to the pavement, and throws snow up to 30 feet.
Click here for a larger image
Click here for a larger image
Ideal for residential use, the Toro 1800 electric Power Curve snow blower is small in stature yet packs enough muscle to easily clear deep snow from driveways and walkways. The unit's wide, compact stance, deep-cutting blades, and powerful electric motor move large volumes of snow out of the way, while the adjustable chute puts all that snow right where you want it.
Designed to Move Snow
Combining a 15 amp electric motor with patented Power Curve technology, the blower moves more snow in less time, virtually eliminates clogging, and cleans all the way down to the pavement. In one pass, the blower can clear a path 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Move up to 700 pounds of snow in a minute.
The 1800 Power Curve snow blower performs like a gas unit, but without all the maintenance. Just plug it in and throw snow up to 30 feet. Use the snow blower's Zip Deflector control to throw snow high, low, or in-between, and with just a simple touch, the unit's positive-locking ratchet deflector adjusts in less than a second.
Built for Convenience
Because it's electric powered, the 1800 Power Curve snow blower weighs only 25 pounds, making it easy to maneuver and use by many members of the family. Furthermore, the blower's ergonomic handle provides maximum comfort and leverage, its lift handle makes it easy to transport from the deck to the patio or pathway, and its cord lock system means you don't have to stop because of interrupted power.
Maintenance-free, the 1800 Power Curve snow blower offers plug-in-and-go convenience, and when not in use, its handle folds for compact storage. Toro covers the electric 1800 Power Curve snow blower with a two-year warranty.
Ergonomically designed handle for comfort and ease of use.
Zip deflector allows for changing the direction and locking in the angle to throw snow where you want.
Quickly adjusts the chute, left to right and to throw snow where you want it.
Larger 6-inch wheels provide more snow-gripping traction.
Power Curve system, with curved rotor and inverted funnel housing, moves more snow in less time and virtually eliminates clogging.
Cord lock system means you don't have to stop because of interrupted power.
What's in the Box
Toro 1800 Power Curve snow blower, parts for assembly, operator's manual
Toro Electric Snowblowers |  Power Shovel (38361) |  1500 Power Curve (38371) |  1800 Power Curve (38381) |
| Performance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity/Minute (the power to cut through snow) | Up to 300 pounds/136 kg | Up to 500 pounds/227 kg | Up to 700 pounds/318 kg |
| Throw Distance (the power to put snow in its place) | Up to 20 feet / 6 m | Up to 25 feet / 7.6 m | Up to 30 feet / 9 m |
| Clearing Width (fewer passes gets the job done faster) | 12 inches | 15 inches | 18 inches |
| Snow Cut Depth -- 1 Pass | 6 inches | 12 inches | 12 inches |
| Engine | |||
| Amps / Motor | 7.5 amp / Series Wound | 12 amp / Series Wound | 15 amp / Series Wound |
| User-Friendly Features | |||
| Deflector | N/A | ZIP Deflector | ZIP Deflector |
| Chute Control | N/A | Chute Lever | Quick Lever |
| Ideal for | Sidewalks and walkways Driveways that can park up to 2 cars 2-4 inches at a time | Sidewalks and walkways Driveways that can park up to 4 cars 2-6 inches at a time | Sidewalks and walkways Driveways that can park up to 4 cars 2-6 inches at a time |
| Weight | 13 pounds / 6 kg | 25 pounds / 11 kg | 26 pounds / 12 kg |
| Warranty | 2 year full | 2 year full | 2 year full |
| Innovative Features | |||
| Telescoping handle: height adjustment of 6 inches to fit any user | Easy-to-use controls: intuitive operation with either hand | Quick lever: aim snow on-the-go with no cranking necessary | Adjustable handle: sliding and rotating adjustments to offer supreme control and comfort | Zip deflector: unique locking-style deflector to consistently throw snow where you want it | Maximium power: offering the industry's leading power-to-width ratio to clear more snow in less time |
Important Information
Safety Warning
Read the operator's manual before operating this machine.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
247 of 252 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
The Toro Power Curve is not a bad machine for the right situations. At times I've been impressed by its effort-- but ultimately my needs were more than it could handle. I give it a mostly positive recommendation, but before buying just make sure you aren't expecting too much from this machine.
Living in Wisconsin we get a lot of snow, and my previous snowblower was a small 18" MTD that handled most everything for 12 years. When it died I was going to replace it with another but I was intrigued by the postive reviews on the electric models. Of course I never expected it to be as powerful as the gas blower, but I thought it would at least be better than shoveling. Which it is.
The assembly is simple. Five minutes to put the handle on and attach the levers. Then I purchased a 100' 12ga extension cord for $40. That's it-- you will never need to do or buy another thing for it.
True to Wisconsin weather, I had a chance to use it 6 times in the first three weeks. The first day was 3" light powder which the Toro chewed through quite well and probably cut my normal shoveling time in half. The second was 5" of day of crusted day old snow. The Toro actually worked a little better with this, probably because it had a little more solid substance to it. The third day was a 12" blizzard that left high drifts at the edges. And to be expected this is where I ran into problems. It was just too much for the Toro to handle and though I was able to clear most of our driveway it took a couple hours and a lot of help from my shovel.
And to be fair, I'm not judging based on THAT-- it is rated for light snowfall and a max 10" intake, not for replacing a large 2-stage snowblower. It seems very well suited for 3" - 8" of snow and smaller areas such as patios and sidewalks. Our driveway is apx 1000 sq ft and I think that's probably the most you'll want to do. Thankfully it seems able to throw snow at least 15'-20' feet depending on conditions. Many of the reviews on here claim they were able to do 12"-16" of snow with it. I'm not saying that's impossible... But I do question if its worth the time and effort to push it through that much snow. In those cases its probably necessary to do it in two 6" layers during and after the snow.
My tips for using it are to have a good plan with the extension cord. It is very annoying to keep manuevering 30 lbs of heavy plastic cord and bending over to move it. I tried to use an S shaped pattern and kept it on my shoulder which helped but the best thing was to have my wife follow behind me holding the cord. True, its taking two people and looks strange-- but I was able to clear snow twice as fast. Also when you are at snow drifts higher than the intake-- use a shovel or boots to knock the snow down in strips and then you can go over it with the blower. It also helps to move slowly in narrow strips to keep the motor from bogging down.
It is smaller than I expected, mostly plastic and very hollow feeling... But I'm not overly concerned about its durability/quality. Todays plastics are very strong and the previous Power Curve model has over 700 positive reviews and very few complaints of any parts failing. If I had any strength concerns it would be the metal handle which seems to flex too easily when pushed with force.
The positives:
-NO maintenance or gas/oil
-simple to unpack and assemble
-its very light, anyone can handle it.
-its small and easy to store and transport.
-its quiet. Think: a vacuum cleaner.
-history shows it has good build quality and longevity.
-it quickly clears small to medium snow-- probably perfect for areas with light snowfall
-snow is thrown an impressive distance (10-20')
-would be good for using on a wood deck or roof
The negatives:
-its expensive. Comparable electrics are cheaper and single stage gas blowers start around $50 more.
-the wheels are too small-- I use them frequently when backing up and often end up dragging it.
-you need to press the trigger AND a small safety button at the same time to activate motor. This can get quite difficult with gloves or mittens on. (TIP: I put a small C-clamp to keep the thumb button depressed and it was a huge improvement.) The plastic main trigger seems difficult to keep depressed unless you use two hands.
-the output chute is small compared to small gas blowers. Some clogging but not too bad.
-its annoying to work around an extension cord.
-The metal handle seems a weak point. I worry about breaking it when pushing through deep snow.
-Don't expect to clear out 12"+ of snow as quickly as a gas blower. It is possible in some cases, but just be realistic. It will take more work.
I'm going to try and stick it out with the Power Curve for the rest of the winter, but next Fall I'm probably going to need to replace it with a gas blower. While it wasn't the best fit for me, it is not a bad product. I'm sure there are a lot of places and people that this will be a very good purchase. Just be realistic about its features and what you expect from it.
--------- *2 Month UPDATE* --------
After 2 months the snowblower suddenly stopped working. Pulling the trigger produced nothing. I disassembled the red cover and was disappointed to find the wiring from switch to motor was connected with regular twist-on wire connectors that had come undone. Seems a bad idea with the constant vibration so I replaced with waterproof butt connectors.
So that was fixed, but I was disappointed that the motor compartment had a lot water in it. The connectors had water in them and the motor armature was wet and the housing had considerable surface rust. I have been wiping it down after use-- but its impossible to avoid water. Maybe its OK to operate damp, but I'd feel better knowing it wasn't so wet inside.
--------- *12 Month UPDATE* --------
Snowblower blade stopped spinning at full power last winter. I suspect its a loose belt but I never got around to opening it up and checking. Instead I purchased a 205cc Simplicity single stage blower for $100 more than I paid for this and its much better suited for my needs. I do however plan on keeping this for a backup and for its portability (it fits in the back seat of my car).
117 of 118 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Have shoveled, bladed, & blown lots of snow in 55 yrs. Last snowblower was craftsman gas blower that is still working out at the farm. I am 64 & needed something lightweight & powerful that I can pick up & move as I need to! Very easy for one person to assemble. This is the tkt. I just came in from blowing one foot of snow on long driveway & sidewalk at home in town; plus the double driveway and corner lot sidewalk of my 91yr neighbor. One pass all the way to the concrete every time. It took me one hour start to finish. No clogs & the snow slid off the surfaces of the blower & no snow to clean out of the chute when done. I especially like the directional handle on the chute for snow. It allows a good dispersion of snow at a low angle so one is not hitting the neighbor's windows. The throw distance of the snow is equal to larger snowblowers I have used. I am a widow & have to pay for upkeep on sparkplug/gas driven items; and I am converting to electric yard items when possible. The price was reasonable & free shipping was an extra bonus.
277 of 292 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I owned a previous Toro 1800 model for probably 7 years (ending in roughly 2000-2001). I'd get my driveway cleaned faster and better than my neighbors using their gas units. But, after 7 years, my Toro finally had it and I decided to get me a gas/oil mix snow blower.
I ended up with two different gas/oil mix units over the past 9 years. One gas snow blower lasted 3 years (I paid about $500 for it). The next one lasted 6 years and is on its last leg (I paid $465) for it.
Now, I FINALLY get to go back to a BETTER Toro 1800 model than the prior model that I loved so much (AND IT IS STILL THE SAME PRICE I PAID FOR MY FIRST UNIT 17 YEARS AGO!). I'm not waiting to purchase this unit since it is only $299 with free shipping. No way am I waiting. This model has been around a long time. That attests to its popularity, reliability and greatness. It will clear 10 inches deep, no problem. I've cleared snow over 18 inches deep, no problem. It chews right through the white stuff and tosses it clear off the drive by up to 30 feet. Powerful for an electric unit. And this latest engine is even more powerful! Can't wait!
I have cleaned up slushy snow (off the street) with this unit in the past. Nice clear path along the curb so the mail person can easily drive up to my mailbox in the winter. As 'convenient' as a gas snow thrower can be (for the simple reason you don't have to watch out for an electric extension cord), I can't stand it when the engine jets crud up and I have to get the doggone gas unit 'tuned' for a $100+. I started straining my oil/gas mixture through my wife's used nylons (a mechanic told me that trick to keep the jets clean from impurities in the gas/oil mix) and that worked well for not needing any further tuneups. But, I always dreaded coming up to the next season 'wondering' if the gas unit would start, how it would idle, and how long it would last before dying on a heavy snowfall day. I NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT SUCH THINGS WITH MY PAST TORO 1800 ELECTRIC SNOWTHROWER! It always started, always ran powerfully, and always did a better job cleaning the driveway than my gas/oil powered units.
So I AM BACK FOR ANOTHER ROUND WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MUCH IMPROVED VERSION (and the other model was already great)! I can't wait for snow to fall now! I'll be ready. I'll be thrilled. I'll be glad to be the ONLY ONE (AGAIN) in our neighborhood with this powerful electric snow thrower. My neighbors have purchased huge, powerful gas units. Man do they rev for 1-2 seasons. Then, I hear them chugging and choking (I know they don't filter their gasoline through nylon stockings) and then I see them loading these heavy gas hogs into their RVs for the semi-annual trip to the tuneup shop. I WILL NOT MISS THAT AT ALL. RELIABILITY, POWER, EFFICIENCY, CLEAN RUNNING, NO POLLUTION, ALWAYS STARTS, ALWAYS RUNS, WORKS LIKE A CHAMPION WORK HORSE, I AM NEVER GOING BACK TO THOSE MESSY GAS/OIL CHUGGERS EVER AGAIN. Not with this beautiful, electric, Toro back in my garage again (FINALLY - WELCOME HOME TORO!)
9/27/2010 - My new Toro arrived on Saturday (9/25/2010). Thanks for the quick shipment, Amazon. My new 100' 12-gauge extension cord arrived today (9/27/2010). Usually I don't look forward to winter. Now all I can say is: I'M READY - BRING IT ON!
11/11/2010 - Just a note that the shipping box mentions the type of extension cord to get. "Use 14 gauge extension cord only to 100'. Use 12 gauge extension cord only to 150'." I purchased the Pro-Power 12 gauge outdoor extension cord by Coleman Cable, Inc. On Coleman's selection guide, it says the 14 gauge gives you 15 amps up to 50' and 13 amps up to 100'. According to Coleman, the 12 gauge gives you 15 amps up to 100' whereas Toro says the 12 gauge is good up to 150'. I think your safest bet is the 12 gauge 100' but the 14 gauge will probably work just fine up to 100' (according to Toro's shipping box stats). A few more weeks and we'll post the results of our first uses with this powerful machine.
12/16/2012 - Wow. Hard to believe it's been two years since I last reviewed this snowthrower. I wish I had bad news for the gasoline and oil snow thrower lovers. Now, don't get me wrong. Those gas/oil tuneup beasts have their rightful place in probably 10 percent of the snowfall driveway cleanings that are needed in the United States. For the other 90% of driveways, this (under $300 shipped) electric snowthrower is ideal. No tuneups needed. Plug in and go.
I just got done plowing out the first significant snowfall in Ohio this evening. 10-12 inches of 30 degree snowfall and you know how heavy that can be. Sweet. Right down to the concrete. Smooth, clean. It even cleaned up the tire tracks packed down on the driveway from our two cars pulling in from work earlier. Next, I tackled the end of the driveway where the snow plow threw its buildup from the road. Took care of it out to two feet into the street and fifteen feet in the street on either side of my driveway. Now, the mail person can drive right up to the mailbox and have plenty of space to pull out. Of course, my driveway is super clean and this puppy is going on its third winter. I did hear my neighbor's gasoline super hog snowthrower misfiring a little today so I'm sure he'll be calling someone to pick it up for a tuneup (too heavy and huge to fit in his car). Anyway, if my electric snowthrower ever breaks down or it can't do the job, I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks for looking.
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