anybody else plow buisness lots? first time out two trucks one froze-up pump, dumped in some 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol, running in 15 mins. my truck went to the rental buildings [gravel lot] put shoes on but couldent get them adjusted to leave 1/2'' of snow, cutter bar is wore out, time for a new one. ware out cutter bars every two years on these plows, run all meyer plows, seven and a half with wings
- Thread starter stonerock
- Start date
greg oliver
Well-known Member
Stonerock, I had been plowing for about the last 17 years and now plow for the town. Started out with a 8 foot fisher and an 85 F350 with a 460 V8. Fired it up early one morning to let it warm up and fuel line had a hole in it. Had to beat the flames out with my coat fix the line and get plowing! Meanwhile it was pretty cold out , Good times! My employer only bought new gas engine trucks 2004 F450 V10 with a Curtis V plow then switched to a new Fisher XLS. 06 F350 with V10 with a Fisher V plow and 2014 F250 with 6.2 with Fisher XLS. 2015 F350 with 6.2 and XLS and I see he bought another new F350. We plowed for about 60 accounts and last spring's storm was a monster. I plowed for 30 hours was running around with the Case 580 M and a 12 foot snow box and I only got stuck once with that gutless F250. The XLS the snow if deep you have to work your way across the parking lot a little at a time. Plowed for Home Depot one year and a maintenance company pays you over time will never do it again they are slow paying and want bare pavement.
I plowed a couple years, about 25 years ago, gave it up, not worth the effort, too many breakdowns and my truck was sh!t in in just a couple years
I had a Fisher plow with a nylon edge, I found it wore better than a steel edge
one of the issues I had was customers complaining about "plowing too good" when I pushed the snow way back at the beginning of the season, tried explaining I was only making room for snow, and by the end of the season we'd be lucky if we didn't have to get a loader & truck in there to haul snow away
in the beginning, I only bought the plow truck cause I couldn't get anyone to do my driveway a second time. I learned, because of retaining walls and no place to put snow after 2 storms, I really needed a snowblower
TGP
Member
Sounds like a Maintenance issue.
Need drain any water out at least once a year by cracking open the oil drains before moving anything so that the water is still settled.
Also the two filters should be cleaned.
Next use only Meyer Blue plow oil. It has moisture additives in it.
SAMS aftermarket Meyer blue oil is also OK and cheaper.
ATF is too thick for the Meyers.
Jack oil will work in a pinch but no additives.
I plowed for 40+ years and learned the hard way.
Don't plow Commercial anymore just my own property.
Good Luck,
Stay Safe
Tom
Need drain any water out at least once a year by cracking open the oil drains before moving anything so that the water is still settled.
Also the two filters should be cleaned.
Next use only Meyer Blue plow oil. It has moisture additives in it.
SAMS aftermarket Meyer blue oil is also OK and cheaper.
ATF is too thick for the Meyers.
Jack oil will work in a pinch but no additives.
I plowed for 40+ years and learned the hard way.
Don't plow Commercial anymore just my own property.
Good Luck,
Stay Safe
Tom
Yes we do. Today starts our 45th year in business between dad and now me. Thought about it a lot today. You want to hear about headaches on snow removal, yikes. But I?m set up for it and have been lucky enough to make good money over the years. Every night it snows: 21 plow trucks, backhoe and 14? pusher box, two skid steers and pusher boxes, 11 sidewalk crews and 5 trucks spreading ice melt. All that my own equipment. Funny thing is, I used to run more! Just about sent me to an early grave. I have oodles of spare truck and blade parts, rebuilt transmissions ready to bolt in, 80-100 tons of salt on hand and other crazy things that you have to have. I?ve never told a client I can?t come because of a break down. However, it might all sound good but I hope my daughters find rich farm guys!
K Effective
Well-known Member
I plowed commercial accounts from 1987 to 1999, up to 33 different locations, all by myself. 1986 K30 Chevy with 7.5 foot Western with wings and then a 1989 Chevy with 8 foot Western Pro. Down to just our farm and my Mom now, might just get a small blower to leave at her place. I don't miss going out at 10pm and plowing straight through until starting work at 8 the next morning, working until 5:30, home to shower and nap to do it again. Winter of 1999 we had 13 days in a row, about killed me.
john in la
Well-known Member
I imaging the business of commercial snow plowing is like bush hogging is around here.
Every jackleg in town thinks they can use it to help pay for a truck/tractor they really can not justify.
Every jackleg in town thinks they can use it to help pay for a truck/tractor they really can not justify.
K Effective
Well-known Member
John, that's exactly how I got my first truck. Guy up in Saginaw bought it new and set it up to plow, but we had a mild winter in 1986 and he lost it back to GMAC. Local little lot used to specialize in repos back then, I bought it through them from GMAC. 1986 Chevy, 350ci, 4 barrel, AT, 4.10 gears, radio delete, no A/C, no tilt, no cruise, no PW/PL, nuttin'. Cloth seat with plastic floor. A truck. Got 10mpg with the engine off sitting in the driveway and every other scenario.
Nowadays, they are all four-door crew cabs with Duramax and Allison and fancy plows for $80K+, probably even more lost to the banks.
Nowadays, they are all four-door crew cabs with Duramax and Allison and fancy plows for $80K+, probably even more lost to the banks.
My son's landscape company has some contracts with a land management company in the Detroit area. He has three trucks with plows on them and is partnered up with another company that does the same thing. He already has the trucks, that would otherwise just be sitting in the winter. They get paid monthly weather it snows or not but when it does they put in some long hours. He just upgraded one of the plows to a top of the line Boss V plow he claims he can accomplish what use to do with two trucks.
(quoted from post at 09:34:59 01/01/18) Stonerock, I had been plowing for about the last 17 years and now plow for the town. Started out with a 8 foot fisher and an 85 F350 with a 460 V8. Fired it up early one morning to let it warm up and fuel line had a hole in it. Had to beat the flames out with my coat fix the line and get plowing! Meanwhile it was pretty cold out , Good times! My employer only bought new gas engine trucks 2004 F450 V10 with a Curtis V plow then switched to a new Fisher XLS. 06 F350 with V10 with a Fisher V plow and 2014 F250 with 6.2 with Fisher XLS. 2015 F350 with 6.2 and XLS and I see he bought another new F350. We plowed for about 60 accounts and last spring's storm was a monster. I plowed for 30 hours was running around with the Case 580 M and a 12 foot snow box and I only got stuck once with that gutless F250. The XLS the snow if deep you have to work your way across the parking lot a little at a time. Plowed for Home Depot one year and a maintenance company pays you over time will never do it again they are slow paying and want bare pavement.
What do you guys do in this country if the berm gets as high as 3 - 4 feet, or even higher ? How do you get the snow up and over and like 30-40 + feet to the sides ? I mean, the plows I have seen here more or less pushes the snow out to the sides only, and does not throw it up and away.
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