I think it's mainly a question of clearance. Any full-size snowblower - single-stage or two-stage - should have adjustable shoes and an adjustable scraper bar, so you can choose how much snow you want to leave behind. On a gravel driveway, you don't want to scrape too close to the surface.
Now, compact snowblowers with rubber paddles usually don't have any adjustments and are designed with very little clearance, so yeah, you probably don't want this form factor for gravel:
Still have a ‘93 Toro 2-stage, 3 forward & reverse. Main shaft bearing seized & was replaced ~10 years ago at considerable expense. It’s been parked for several years, not much snow. Old and neighbors 1 & 2 generations younger help out with my short driveway.
I understand that for a gravel driveway you need a 2-stage. Is this because a 1-stage won't work well if the auger is a few inches above the surface?
I think it's mainly a question of clearance. Any full-size snowblower - single-stage or two-stage - should have adjustable shoes and an adjustable scraper bar, so you can choose how much snow you want to leave behind. On a gravel driveway, you don't want to scrape too close to the surface.
Now, compact snowblowers with rubber paddles usually don't have any adjustments and are designed with very little clearance, so yeah, you probably don't want this form factor for gravel:
https://mobileimages.lowes.com/productimages/54478f45-98a9-4e08-9c88-f2b324b8b0b6/05342480.jpg
Still have a ‘93 Toro 2-stage, 3 forward & reverse. Main shaft bearing seized & was replaced ~10 years ago at considerable expense. It’s been parked for several years, not much snow. Old and neighbors 1 & 2 generations younger help out with my short driveway.