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Truck Possibility??

T

Tom B...IN

Member
I have found a truck that I am considering buying as a plow truck/ work truck. Here's the delima. The truck will cost about 2500 in total once i get it running (needs steering gearbox and alternator). Do you think I will be able to make enough money plowing snow with this truck to justify the cost? I am a senior in HS, so that kinda limits when I can plow. I live in central IN, so if you know anything about Indiana you know that the weather is 100% unpredictable.


Any thoughts would be great!


PS- the truck is a 1994 F250 460 flatbed. 7.5ft plow in decent shape
 
If the truck has been used for plowing in the past, be sure to check for exessive rust from salt. Look for rotten brake lines, frame, suspension, and every thing else potentially being eaten away by rust. Thats what happened to my trucks that I plowed with.
Do you have commercial liability insurance? Are you over 18 and coverable under commercial liability?
Things to consider. Good luck.
 
I am over 18, but I do not have the insurance. I would mainly plow for people I mow for, and maybe plow for a friend who plows for a large company as a sub contractor.
 
Doesn't sound like a bad truck. How many miles? How's the automatic shifting? Anyway, sounds like a "decent" deal, I suppose.
 
If the truck is sound as the others have stated,and you can pay for it without counting entirely on your plow enterprise,than it may be a good experience.Fun and get your hand in abit of business,could be a way to help make/keep a good name for yourself in your community.The truck would be usefull for lots of other things too,would be a fun mudder in the summer lol.Good luck and have fun.pd/
 
Check out what there is for competition in your area and find out what they charge. Next, look into getting insurance and the costs of setting up a business. I know there are probably some folks who are going to try to say you don't need insurance, but in this lawsuit happy society, you need insurance and a proper business so you don't wind up in trouble. Its very easy to accidently back into something or ruin something at the customer's place.

I am taking a small business management class at the local community college this semester. I highly reccomend it since the class will teach you how to evaluate business ideas and part of the curriculum is learning how to write a business plan.
 
TomB, the problem with plowing snow is what you said it is unpredictable it may start snowing on Sunday night and most people want it plowed before they go to work or in my case being a facilities manager have close to a two acre concrete apron for our 16 dock door distribution center for semis plus a 60' wide 300' asphalt drive. When we contract this out it is on call basis in other words whatever anytime as needed I know that sucks but there are people who will do it because of the economy. In other words keep your costs down and do it when you can.
 
I am up here in South Bend and we have already put in 16 plowing hours. At $55/hour that is $880 so it wouldn't take long to pay back. That far south and you may have to plow for at least a year to pay off the truck. Not sure how much snow you get and what the tolerences before plowing are.
 
As you said unpredictable. On any given year you have the potential to make alot of money, and you have the potential to not. Mother nature will give you her final decision at the end of the season. Don't count on the snow coming, but if it does there's your bonus. Good luck.
 
Tom,
15 y/o truck, 460 engine, 4X4 ???, been used to sno-plow, needs steering gearbox AND what other front end parts, and alternator(heavy duty for extra lights and electric/hydraulic). Haven't your teachers told you Al G. says "Global Warming", LOL? $2500 is probably a semesters worth at the local Jr. Coll. My thoughts are NO, to undependable a way to earn money,check what some of the others say about on call, time needed, etc.
 
I've seen a lot of guys try to make money plowing snow around here Northern central Pa. Most end up breaking even at best. I get $55.00 per hour $85.00 per hour mobile to weld. Every year I burn at least 5 plows and frames back together and reinforce at least a 1/2 dozen plow and truck frames that are seriously damaged due to what amounts to cowboying. A breakdown can be very costly if you have a contract that states removal must be completed within X number of hours after a snow fall. Stay away from jobs like parking lots that may require you to bring in a loader and truck to remove the snow in the event of a significant snowfall. It can be pretty sticky getting some people to pay when you are finished also.
 
good luck i used to make a lot of money plowing snow with about the same rig, but that was 15 years ago, 2 things happened the weather changed and we just dont get the snow we used to and every yuppie that moved up here bought himself a new dodge diesel or ford and thought he needed to buy a snowplow for it too, when i was doing it we had 5 or 6 privatly owned snowplows working in a town winter population of 2500, today we have 15,000 people and probably 60 snowplows very few leagle or insured but no enforcement, oh if you do it be prepared to do a lot of repair on the truck if your truck has the 1350 transfer case, i blew 3 of them in a year and a half, the oil pump is junk in them and they dont work long in that application, also u joints will wear out quicker, also front end parts , ect
 
Get a job at McDonald"s. Save your money for snow tires. If you feel you must play in the snow, buy a walk behind snowblower that you haul in the back of your 4 cylinder pickup. Stay in school, make good grades, graduate, go to college. Start a career making lots of money, become a Capitalist, invest wisely. Vote the Conservative ticket, demand lower taxes, less Government interference in your life. When it snows, sit inside where it is warm and watch it pile up. When a kid comes by with a snowblower, give him a job, encourage him to work hard, get a good education. Don"t buy worn out, gas thirsty Fords, hoping to get rich on a seasonal thing, like snow. It"s good to think...but think smart while you"re at it. Consider the future, not just today...like Liberals do. Grow up and become a fine productive citizen.
 
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