can not answer your question because I haven't used the vacuum. IS IT AT LOWER OR HIGHER SPEED? I don't consider it that noisy, but I don't know what it sounds like to my neighbors, so that may not be much help. The intake tube is about 5" in diameter, but the electric motor seems to have a lot of power. WHAT SPEED SHOULD I GET? This model is quite strong enough to blow wet grass off concrete/stone even with the widest nozzle in place. Our new fall cleanup friend. If we can be of further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. Everything the Ultra has, plus added time-saving and leaf shredding performance. The 51609 does a great job and I'm very happy with it! it's 7.8 lbs. ), meaning the wires in your extension cord PLUS the wiring between the outlet and its breaker (NOT GOOD!). So far so good, and I have used it to suck up a ton of leaves and brush. I suck up small pebbles too and still going! 5 Put the back cover back on and secured with the 2 screws. A Toro 51609 Ultra 12 amp Review Won't Answer These 24 Questions - Part 2 of 7. Yeah, I don't think it will be a problem. [tip: Don't forget to zipper the catch bag after you dump the leaves, or you'll make a nice mess when you turn it on!]. I typically rake all the leaves in a 10x10 foot area into a pile, then grab the pile. never used as a vaccume. Toro 51609 Ultra 12amp Variable-Speed (up to 235) Electric Blower/Vacuum with Metal Impeller (Discontinued by Manufacturer) toro 51609 This leaf blower puts out a top air speed of 235mph, and thatâs enough to move wet leaves out of your way. It will depend on the size of the rock. I used a very high quality #14 yellow flexible extension cord out to 100 feet with no appreciable loss in power. As a leaf blower, it's less. The motor performs well for the time I've had our Toro 51609 - less than one year. We recently purchased the Ultra Toro unit here. You can use it if the leaves are dry. TO vacuum you need to attach the bag and the intake tubes. You need to understand the machine's capability and enjoy its performance. it could do apples and walnuts, but as you know that will be hard on the impeller ( even if it is metal) it could be damaged. It is fairly quiet, especially when compared to the gas versions. The bag is a bit cumbersome. For those who want the ultra blower pack, the Toro Leaf Blower 51609 hands you a high level of performance that you can count on. It is lighter than the previous blower I was using which was a Craftsman and it is easier to manipulate. It is more powerful and quieter than my previous less powerful blower. I have been using mine for quite some time and can tell you it is strong enough to blow our boston terrier out of the way. Yes, everything you see in the picture is in the box, including directions. With air speeds up to 235 mph, and airflow of up to 390 cfm, this electric blower nevertheless is lighter, quieter, and cleaner than similar gas blowers. It's well balanced and isn't awkward at that weight. Just don't use it before 9:00am on the weekends, or after 8:00pm, and you'll be observing good lawn noise etiquette. Mine stopped turning off yesterday. The Toro 51609 has a lot to offer when it comes to rounding up giant piles of leaves, including a variable speed motor for better control as well as a metal impeller that is able to create a fine mulch. View online or download Toro 51609 Operator's Manual It does great with dry clippings, leaves, and small-moderate amounts of wet grass. I didn't notice the weight indicated on the box and have not gone so far as to weigh it - would also depending on its configuration. Yes. Same here. 150 ft. is probably max extension cord distance with a #14/3 cord.You could go farther if you used a # 12/3 commercial extension cord as your first long extension cord. and never had one with 2 speeds. It is fairly simple to go from Blowing to Vacuuming. My boyfriend and I are estimating about 7 pounds. I must say Amazon came back and rectified the situation with a full refund. At full power, the noise level is in the approximate range of a good household vacuum cleaner and it blows leaves, fine dirt and sand, and even light powdery snow off of our deck, patio, front steps and walkway and driveway. Anything smaller than 14/3 high quality extension cord IS TOO SMALL. there isnt enough suction to pick up rocks. WILL IT BLOW WET GASS CLIPPINGS OFF HARD SURFACES.? It has a pretty strong motor. It's a cinch to put the proper attachments on depending if you want to blow leaves or vacuum them into the bag.