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Discussion Forum

Anybody plow?

| Posted in General Discussion on November 30, 2004 06:50am

last year I bought and used Snowways predator plow.  We have the contract for Walmart, Staples, Lowes, and smaller businesses locally.  ( It is a long night!) What I really like about this plow is the ability to apply downpressure! It is really great for removing ice, snowpack, etc.  It is not so great when you catch a manhole cover at any speed! ( it allows some intimacy with the windshield).  It is about half the weight of a conventional and clear lexan.  So far it is great!   Any other Predator owners out there? Just so the Western and Meyer users don’t feel left out… the rest of our crew ( 10 vehicles) have these other brands.  So feel free to plow in!  ( couldn’t pass up the pun!)  Any advice, stories, etc?  Just in case you are wondering , I plow with a 2003 Dodge 2500 turbodiesel extended cab 4X4 with an 8 ft bed! YES  it takes a country mile to turn around!   

     Miami

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  1. mizshredder2 | Nov 30, 2004 09:36am | #1

    You got "...ice, snowpack, etc" in... MIAMI?  Wow, mebbe there really is sumthin to that thar global warmin' afterall?

     

    <G, D & R!>

    Vini, Vidi, Vino!  I came, I saw, I wine!
    1. Don | Nov 30, 2004 03:13pm | #2

      Miz: Just wait'll you find out where Miami lives. The same way I found out. Oh, the shame of it all...DonThe GlassMasterworks - If it scratches, I etch it!

      1. mizshredder2 | Dec 01, 2004 05:54am | #21

        Looks like I'll be awaiting awhile...and yeah - I had figgered that was just a nickname, or "handle" but there weren't much in his profile that was going to shed any light on it.  'Sides, twas just tossing out a jest...seeing as how I grew up in the frozen tundra and gots lots of familiarity with the white crystalline stuff...and looking forward to travelling north in a coupla weeks to go play in the great white way!

         Vini, Vidi, Vino!  I came, I saw, I wine!

    2. User avater
      IMERC | Dec 06, 2004 07:39pm | #32

      That'd have to be cooling wouldn't it????

      Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

      WOW!!!   What a Ride!

    3. User avater
      CapnMac | Dec 06, 2004 10:45pm | #36

      "...ice, snowpack, etc" in... MIAMI? 

      Perhaps you are not aware of the Miami in Ohio or the one in Indiana. 

      My maternal granparents lived in Peru, Indiana, which is in Miami County, off near the Wabash.  Not the balmiest of placed this time of year <wink>, but some work for the plowman.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

  2. User avater
    BossHog | Nov 30, 2004 03:55pm | #3

    When someone brings up plowing, my first thought is about plowing DIRT, not snow. (-:

    I plow snow for the local township. But it's not in town, it's out in the sticks. We have one truck, one tractor, and a road grader.

    The tractor we have is pretty cool:

    http://www.newholland.com/na/Products/biditv140.html

    .

    I've told several stories here - Involving stuff like plowing out ditches, spinning 180° going backwards down a hill in the dark, transmission going out of the truck 8 miles from town at 4:30 in the morning, etc.

    I like it - Plowing snow is kinda like a challenge or something.

    Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.
    1. User avater
      bobl | Nov 30, 2004 04:53pm | #4

      does it pay well, plowing that is?been a few years since I saw what our town payed, but it didn't look worth it.maybe 5 years ago, were paying $15/hr, your PU truck, more for larger trucks._____________________________

      bobl          Volo, non valeo

      1. VaTom | Nov 30, 2004 05:01pm | #5

        does it pay well, plowing that is?

        I don't, but my buddy plows.  He grosses $600-800/day with his 3/4 ton doing commercial parking lots.  Always by the job, never by the hr. 

        Being Virginia, this isn't very often.  I have a large snow blade for my Cat, have yet to use it.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

      2. User avater
        BossHog | Nov 30, 2004 05:23pm | #6

        You sure can't plow for $15 an hour and expect to come close to breaking even. That's ridiculous.Around here $50 to $60 is more normal. Plowing snow is hard on equipment. Parts and repairs are frequent and expensive.
        Tell the truth. There's less to remember.

        1. jimblodgett | Nov 30, 2004 05:43pm | #7

          "Plow"? 

          Doesn't that stuff melt eventually? 

          1. HammerHarry | Nov 30, 2004 05:59pm | #8

            Here in NB, a 3/4 ton with a blade is ok for resdential driveways, at $20 to $25 a pop.  If you're going to plow commercially, you need a dump truck and/or front end loader.

            Several builders around here do that; they have an excavator, backhoe, trucks with plows; in the summer, their guys are busy excavating for the projects they're building; in the winter, they plow.  But sometimes they go 24 hrs with no break. 

            Did any of you see that machine on ebay a year or two ago?  3/4 ton GMC with an airport style snowblower built into it....lights everywhere.  I'd love to have a machine like that.

          2. VaTom | Nov 30, 2004 09:00pm | #9

            Did any of you see that machine on ebay a year or two ago?  3/4 ton GMC with an airport style snowblower built into it....lights everywhere.  I'd love to have a machine like that.

            Think IMERC bought it.  He loved the extra lights.  If you dig around Prospero, there's a picture here somewhere.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

          3. Hubedube | Nov 30, 2004 09:40pm | #10

            Ya, it does melt eventually. But sometimes without any plowing you would have 5 or 6 ft of the stuff on the road until late May or June.

             do ya think that would have any effect on driving?

          4. User avater
            IMERC | Dec 06, 2004 07:40pm | #33

            slow ya down to civil speeds????

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

    2. User avater
      CapnMac | Dec 06, 2004 10:50pm | #37

      The tractor we have is pretty cool:

      Looks that way.

      Though, I have kin who would hold that it's not a real tractor--there's no hard metal seat just deep enough to hold just enough water of exactly the wrong temperature . . .

      Wait, IIRC, you're a green tractor fan . . .

      Don't often see those behind the wheel of many blue tractors (either kind).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

      1. eldereldo | Dec 07, 2004 12:28am | #38

        Try these guys, http://www.snowbear.com.  Fine for personal use, a buddy and I have shared one for the last 5 years.  Works fine, they have attachments for just about anything with four wheels.  I run it attached to a GM S-15 small pickup, two wheel drive.  Just load the bed up with concrete blocks and it's fine.  Slides on/off in a couple of minutes. Uses a winch for raising lowering and you need to manually change the angle, but for plowing my driveway it's two passes and a little cleanup, 15 minutes.

         

         

        RobertRobert

  3. User avater
    dieselpig | Dec 01, 2004 01:04am | #11

    I plow for a local town here in MA.  I've got a 9' steel Curtis plow on my '02  F-350 diesel service body.  Had trouble with it when it was brand new but they eventually made some modifications to the design and refitted me at their cost.  Since then it's been a great plow.  Best thing I ever did was spring for the touch pad control instead of the dash mounted stick.  No more hunching over the dash for half the night.  It's also faster when your banking cul-de-sacs or intersections because I can shift with the same hand I'm working the blade with while the other hand is on the steering wheel. 

    Last December I pushed for 32hrs straight at $65 an hour....nice little paycheck on that storm.  On average I gross about $4500 a year.  Really helps out with the down time that snow can bring if you make your living framing.   Usually while I'm sleeping off the plow session my guys go to the site and dig out and clean up, so not having to deal with that is another perk.

    I gotta admit, I love plowing snow.  Especially in the middle of the night when no one else is around.  Very peaceful... just me and the deer I always seem to come across.  Besides, I love the guilt-free 12 hour snooze after the storm is over!

    1. finebuilder | Dec 01, 2004 01:29am | #12

      Truth be told I can easily gross $600.00 in about 5 1/2 hours.  I am the small truck in our group. The largerst truck is a Kodiak with a dump bed.  We use two Bobcats with 10 or 12 foot snowboxes as well as an international flatbed with 12 ft snowbox. We have a frontend loader and a backhoe also.  The commercial lots are just pure work.  the real thrill I get is sneaking into a drive in the quiet of the night and plowing out a drive for someone who needs help but wouldn't or can't ask for help. I know that sometimes it feels like you're the only person up in the world. It is so quiet and pure looking...so white and endless...so warm...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

      Oh yeah, there is the problem of staying awake after hours and hours of monotony.  All in all it's better than framing a roof in INDIANA at 20 below in Feb. right?

            Miami (my nickname, not where I live)

      1. Paularado | Dec 01, 2004 01:49am | #13

        We've been toying with the idea of buying a plow for our F150, but I wonder if it could handle it. I see plows on Jeeps and SUVs.....so I would think that a plow to do our driveway, and maybe a couple neighbors' for cash would work? Thoughts?Paula

        1. User avater
          dieselpig | Dec 01, 2004 02:12am | #14

          Sure just don't push it too hard and be advised that you will probably void your warranty on the F-150.     I'm fairly certain that Ford only warrantees their trucks for plowing on the 3/4 ton and up and they also used to only warranty regular cabs for plowing, no extended cabs.  As far as a plow goes, look at a 6'er or possibly a 7'er, don't jump up to an 8' plow.  You'll could do your truck another favor and consider the poly (fiberglass/plastic) blades instead of steel as well.  Much lighter and will still do the type of work you're talking about.   Good luck, anywho.

          1. Paularado | Dec 01, 2004 02:18am | #15

            Thanks for your reply. We'll see how this year goes, and then maybe look into those lighter ones. I appreciate it.

        2. finebuilder | Dec 01, 2004 02:18am | #16

          Is your 150 a 4X4 ?  What State do you live in? A new plow is a pretty steep investment for casual use.  You could have someone plow your drive many times before you would even come close to purchasing a plow package, not to mention the wear and tear factor.  I know it sounds like I am trying to discourage you, but I am not.  Just pointing out a couple of thoughts to ponder. On the other hand... It is really nice to plow out of the driveway! as well as pickup some cash if you're not busy anyway. Except for free stuff I rarely will even look at a drive for less than $40. If you do plow and know where you will be plowing BEFORE it snows try to remember any obstacles that the pesky snow will hide from you later.

                                    Miami

          1. User avater
            dieselpig | Dec 01, 2004 02:30am | #17

            Good points.... it is a fairly substantial investment for occasional use.  Maybe they could look at used ones.... always loads of them in the classified ads near me.  I'm betting you could also buy the grand-daddy of all snowblowers with that coin.  Then again, she may just have one of those horrendous driveways that would totally justify the $!!

          2. Paularado | Dec 01, 2004 02:39am | #18

            Well, that's what I wonder....is it worth it? Hard to say, especially when you consider wear/tear on vehicles. Our truck is a 4x4 and we are in the mountains in Colorado. We live in a subdivision with private roads. I just set up snowplowing for the year for our subdivsionss, and told the guy that I'd like our driveway plowed too if we got 12" or more of snow. So, we'll see how that goes for the year. The thing is, if we get a big snowstorm, a truck mounted plow wouldn't work anyway, so unless you own a back hoe, you need a backup anyway. In 2003, we received 7 ft of snow in 3 days. I heard stories of people paying several hundred dollars to get someone to come over and dig them out. Yikes!

          3. Leucas | Dec 01, 2004 04:31am | #19

            " if we get a big snowstorm, a truck mounted plow wouldn't work anyway"Why not?

          4. pye | Dec 01, 2004 07:25am | #22

            That's when you find a rotary blower mounted on something like a 25hp 4-wheel kubota tractor....and then you get to be everybodies's friend. You'll have twice as many friends as you did with just a plow.

          5. UncleDunc | Dec 01, 2004 12:32pm | #24

            Because 24" of wet snow weighs something on the order of 16 pounds per square foot of surface area. Drop your blade and start pushing and you're very quickly pushing - or trying to push - a blob that weighs as much as your truck but doesn't have wheels.That's why the snowplows run continuously when it snows hard here. They don't dare let it get ahead of them. Of course it doesn't always snow hard. It snowed all day Saturday and Sunday and we ended up with about 1-1/2".

          6. finebuilder | Dec 01, 2004 04:41am | #20

            Even though I do plow for the cash, it is just a nice change for me.  I spent the last 25 ish years buliding through all kinds of weather in many counrties around the world as well as in the good old US. I absolutely love my job ( ok occasionally I do slightly hate it...occasionally) but I crave change and the adventure of the new.  So call it a diversion if you will. It is something inside that lets me roam outside, and eventually will pay for itself...hopefully!

                       Miami

          7. finebuilder | Dec 06, 2004 07:26pm | #30

            If we got 7 ft of snow in three days Indiana would declare a state of emergency! We start plowing at 2-3 inches on the commercial accounts. The last time we had that much snow at all was back in 1978. Here snowdrifts can get pretty mean.  The Chrysler plant shut down along with Delco for the first time/last time in anyones memory. The hospitals borrowed snowmobiles for their emergency runs.Still looking forward to another one like that!  Then we had an ice storm that tore down the power line towers.  What a mess. It was a domino effect, the first collapsed then the others followed. I could wait a long time for that one to return!

                      Miami

          8. User avater
            IMERC | Dec 06, 2004 07:37pm | #31

            we got a fuzz over 10 feet at that time...

            you flat landers have it made...

            snow was hip deep when I cut out for my "drive about"

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

          9. Paularado | Dec 06, 2004 07:49pm | #34

            Now hold on....I'm not that much lower in elevation than you. We are at 9200 ft. I suppose that's the "Banana Belt" huh? LOL!Paula

          10. User avater
            IMERC | Dec 06, 2004 07:52pm | #35

            850' is a fur piece...

            Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

            WOW!!!   What a Ride!

  4. ken1 | Dec 01, 2004 11:15am | #23

    I also have a predator on a 4x4 f 150  . i have had it about 5 years now . Ford changed the front of  their truck and i had to modify the skirt inder the grill to get it on my 2002 truck .  I only plow my road (1200') plus 1/2 dozen lanes

    to do any real amount of plowing i would get a heavier truck and plow

    1. finebuilder | Dec 02, 2004 06:45am | #25

      Just curious, have you had any problems at all with the Predator?  What state do you live in ( or if you prefer; how much do you plow) ?

               Miami

      1. ken1 | Dec 03, 2004 02:24am | #26

        Miami , I live north of the border in eastern ontario  can.

        as for repairs  busted off bracket holding foot ' busted bolt at end of turn cylinder' nut at end of turn cylinder came loose.  pivot bolt in centre of plow weld on boss broke , shaft on cyl for  lifting pitted first year replaced on warranty, oil used in hydraulics (think its ju13)  can be found at airport as it is used in aircraft hydraulics.

        I bought the predator to plow street in sub- division we own (fox fire ridge) was expecting to only need it for approx 3 years (now going on 5 yrs)  untill munipality takes over when a certain density of building is met

        this is a gravel road which  is  hard on the plow, I also do a number of private  laneways.

        I still would call this a lighter duty  plow in general but suited to a f150

        if you add 5lbs to front tires it will work a little better

        hope the above is of some help to you

                                                             Ken

        1. GregGibson | Dec 03, 2004 08:31pm | #27

          Sh!t boys, the only thing I plow is peanuts !

          Greg (Southwest Georgia,  40 miles from Florida)                                                                                                         

        2. finebuilder | Dec 04, 2004 05:03am | #28

          Thanks for the info.  At what speed do you plow?

                 Miami

          1. ken1 | Dec 04, 2004 06:23pm | #29

            about 20-30 mph on street, slower in laneways to avoid hitting anything also do not run overdrive . have sand or salt in box for traction. sand & salt aare not part of  plowing  agreement  & when requested will get you more money than the plowing. A rear hitch mount sand & salt spreader  makes the job easyier & uses less material than by hand.

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