Economics of plowing

[nightfighter]

Best option for me is to keep the 1973 Ariens happy... Keep my focus on generating the work I do, remodeling/finish carpentry. The few trucks I've looked at were beat, overpriced, or needed work from the get go. I'm far from a mechanic, so between the maintenance and the fear of breaking down during a storm and leaving clients in the lurch has pretty much sealed the deal. Unless I meet a little old lady with a sweetheart truck and plow that she only drove to church....nah, that's not gonna happen. Just had to run through the process.

[Raider Ronnie]

Ross,
November is the time to find a deal on a lawn mower or tractor.
When time to replace or upgrade my trucks I look and find deals after the winter is over, lots of guys looking to unload them then.
Also, if you have an in at auctions (as I do) thats where you find the deals.
I usually buy a truck with no plow. Got a few plows that have been on 4 different trucks as I replaced them.

[Rockfish9]

been that route... save yourself the trouble.. at one time I had 4 trucks on the town and did driveways with my private vehicle... unless you have a in home welding shop and are a mechanic with enough of a bank roll to sit on reapairs for awhile forget it .. just use the snow blower... people tend ( especialy companies) to drag out paying the snow plow guy.. also everyone wants to be first and last.... I had some people that never did pay me after the "blizzard" of '78.. and quite a few since then until I gave it up.. they just move on to the next victim that thinks they are going to get rich with a snow plow...knowing that the average working man ( trying to make an honest living) doesnt have time to go to court..

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

Best option for me is to keep the 1973 Ariens happy... Keep my focus on generating the work I do, remodeling/finish carpentry. The few trucks I've looked at were beat, overpriced, or needed work from the get go. I'm far from a mechanic, so between the maintenance and the fear of breaking down during a storm and leaving clients in the lurch has pretty much sealed the deal. Unless I meet a little old lady with a sweetheart truck and plow that she only drove to church....nah, that's not gonna happen. Just had to run through the process.

Great Idea Ross, We have a F-350 that came with a plow
I hate plowing and would rather shovel than fire that plow truck up
Driving the truck on the Beach with a 300 pound camper on it beats on my wife's truck enough

[piemma]

Plowing is a no win situation. I did it for years with an F250 4X4. Front end work, tranny, drive shaft (both of them). Broken cutting edge on plow. Blown hydralic lines, and the list goes on and on.

I now have a guy plow my driveway. 800 feet long, a turn around and parking area for 6 cars. Charges me 40 to 50 bucks depending on how much snow. 10 big storms a winter and I spend $500. You can't even get a set of new truck tires for that money.