Plowing with 1/2 ton or SUV

[traveler]

Just lost me (nearly) free plow guy/friend...he took a job on the road. So I can either;

buy a new toy (atv w/plow or big blower)

hire a new plow guy

buy a junker truck w/plow

Looked at "the home plow" by Meyer. 2,800.00 Looks like a decent rig. I wonder if anyones tried it? Hooks up via a front reciever hitch. I have a '04 V-8 explorer...wondering if useing it to just my driveway wouldn't put too much wear and tear on it...

[gregg52]

not sure how big your drive way is

but i like blowing it out i use to have a guy plow

and they always tear every thing up

there are alot of snow blowers on c list for sale

saw one the other day it was 30 incher i think for bout 500$

they pay for themselves pretty fast

just makes everything look nice when its plowed

[traveler]

the snowblower is probably the least feasible option for me...couple hundred ft drive, with a BIG turnaround/parking area. It's always been plowed, and we're in the country, landscaping isn't fancy...kind of feel it'e either me plowing it or someone else.

[highlife4me]

I wouldn't spend that kind of money for a plow on an Explorer. For $2800 you could buy an older truck with a plow or even a tractor and for a little more have a snowblower on a tractor.

[Northlander]

I would get a beater 1/2 ton with a good heater and plop a plow on it. It will save you $ in the long run.

[castmaster]

I'd go with a tractor and put a blower on it. Blowing snow is better than having those big piles a plow pushes up, especially in years like this when you start running out of places to push the snow. Plus from the sounds of it you must have a large yard as well. With a tractor you can also add a mower deck to make it a piece of equipment you can use all year long.

[LightningBG]

I'd go with a tractor and put a blower on it. Blowing snow is better than having those big piles a plow pushes up, especially in years like this when you start running out of places to push the snow. Plus from the sounds of it you must have a large yard as well. With a tractor you can also add a mower deck to make it a piece of equipment you can use all year long.

+1

[bikeoutback]

I've got roughly the same set up as you, 300' driveway with a large parking area by the house and in the country. I drove on the first snowfall and packed it down = not tearing things up. I plow with a 1938 Allis Chalmers B tractor I picked up for $3k back in December. I've also got a mower deck, cultivator and 1 bottom plow with it so I'll also be using it to mow the lawn and possibly do some food plots at some point.

Downside: no cab, it's cold but doesn't bother me, only takes me about an hour and half to do everything but I'm a bit meticulous. As far as plow drifts and running out of places to push it I just made sure at the beginning I pushed it back far enough so I had room to go later.

You can also get tractors that have snow buckets that you can scoop up the snow and dump it. This also seems like a slick option for plowing and then you can also pile it up higher and possibly maneuver it better.

Just another option, check the Clist for tractors, seems many options out there for small tractors. But then again maybe not having a heated cab is a deal breaker or you don't have any other purpose to have a tractor so a truck may be better fit. I would have liked to have gotten an ATV but the tractor also mows and I needed a mower so it was a kill many birds with one cheaper stone.

[Swimmer]

What do guys charge for a season of plowing in the country? I may be way off, but let's say $500. $2800/500 is approximately 6 seasons. You would probably get 6 seasons out of the plow, but consider the wear and tear on the Explorer, the time you invest, the gas, the maintenance, ect. I admit it would be pretty cool to have my own plow though.

[TooTallTom]

I admit it would be pretty cool to have my own plow though.

Well, Yeah! Plus, if you have your own plow, you can plow your permie out by yourself. Oh, you don't have a permie? Well, you should probably do something about that.

[dustin85]

I would just hire a new plow person. That way you don't have to worry about breaking your own truck, getting stuck, extra maintenance costs, etc. I don't know about your area, but there are plenty of reputable businesses that will take care of you for a reasonable cost. It may be cheap enough to justify paying someone else to do that work for you.

[traveler]

Thanks for all the replys guys.

I'm not going the tractor route...I'm not overly mechanically inclined (and don't want to learn!) also don't have a good place to store it, or any other need for it.

In seeing no one mentioned a 4 wheeler w/plow, my suspicions that thats just not adequate for my situation is confirmed.

I was really hoping someone who actually had a front reciever plow setup would chime in...how well they work is my biggest question. Maybe someone still will...

Hiring a new plow guy is kind of my default setting. The one big drawback there is I'm just another customer, and likely last on the list, after thier already established customers.

[TooTallTom]

traveler, do you have neighbors that use a plow service? If there's anyone else nearby that uses a company that you could get to plow your driveway, I'd imagine both driveways would get done one after the other.

It wouldn't make sense to drive there, do one driveway, drive someplace else to do another, and then come back to do your driveway just for the sake of going "in order". Of course, just because I don't think it makes sense...

[Fishalittle]

An atv plow would work just fine with the exception you may have to have someone come move your snowbanks (Skidloader once works great)if you don't have room. Start wide as the driveway narrows thru the year. I have a 500 sportsman and a Moose county plow and can really throw snow. I live in the country also- you just have to realize you can't make piles more that 4-5 tall. SO if you have no room you have problems.

[LightningBG]

In seeing no one mentioned a 4 wheeler w/plow, my suspicions that thats just not adequate for my situation is confirmed.

It's doable. My neighbor had a 4-wheeler with a plow and would do his and my 300 ft driveways. On a heavy snow year like this, might run into problems because the banks are tough to push back. (he didn't do mine this year, moved away)

[IL Res]

Nothing kills a good vehicle faster than attaching a plow to it. Either hire out someone new or, possibly a neighbor w/ a skidsteer. I'm lucky I've got a good neighbor who has one as my drive is 1400'. I pay him $$ + MGD. Everyone is happy!

[Cast A Way]

I have a 1/2 Dodge Quad Cab 4x4. 475 foot driveway and 2 turn arounds 150x150. I also plow my sons yard for the horses, his 1000 foot driveway, and I plow on the lakes to get my wheelhouse out. I put a Boss 7 1/2 foot Super Duty straight blade($3500 installed-summer sale) on and had a Timbrem Suspension(around $250 installed)Never had any problems, but I take it easy - no slamming the banks. There are a few lighter duty plow makers to fit an Explorer. SnoWay - SnoBear - but all the plow makers have models for lighter duty vehicles. You will probably end up with a 7 foot poly. Just have to watch the front end weight and use ballast for balance. Depends on how much you want to spend. I find it alot nicer in the truck after plowing 16 years with my wheeler.

[traveler]

I have lots of room to pile snow, and room to push it way back at the start of the year.

I've never really yearned for a 4 wheeler (yeah, I know...) but useing this a a potential leverage with my wife did cross my mind...! Trouble is, I'm trying to seel her on the idea of a wheelhouse right now, and she'd be right in pointing out we can't swing both. Decisions, decisions...

[Oreo]

Just lost me (nearly) free plow guy/friend...he took a job on the road. So I can either;

buy a new toy (atv w/plow or big blower)

hire a new plow guy

buy a junker truck w/plow

Looked at "the home plow" by Meyer. 2,800.00 Looks like a decent rig. I wonder if anyones tried it? Hooks up via a front reciever hitch. I have a '04 V-8 explorer...wondering if useing it to just my driveway wouldn't put too much wear and tear on it...

ATV is not the best choice..... I plowed 1000' driveway & two large parking areas for 7 years with an ATV. A ton of work & time. When you get 8+ inches of fresh heavy snow you are in trouble. So if a ton of snow is coming you will need to plow in increments in order keep up and not get to the point where the ATV can not do the job. I put a plow on a 3/4 ton 2004 last winter and for plowing it works great. But, not only do you have wear & tear on your own vehical, you have to remember that friends and family will know you have a plow and guess what..... you will be plowing more than just your own stuff.... it happens every time. I am glad that I have a 3/4 ton. I would think a 1/2 ton would be OK but I think you will beat the [PoorWordUsage] out of your Explorer's drive train.

Best solutions IMHO would be a skid steer with a blower but were talking moocho $, second best would be an older 3/4ton with a plow... I have seen some pretty nice older trucks with plows for 3K or under. The cheapest way might be just to find another guy to plow for you. Good Luck!