Bought a snowplow, now what

Crusher run. Big enough to break stuff.

 

My reading and experience says do at least one pass once once 3-6" have fallen, don't wait for the storm to be over unless it's just a small/minor storm. Your truck will have an easier time than my quad, but still you don't wanna put undo stress on what you're saying is your daily driver by waiting too long to start. 3" of snow doesn't sound like much, but snow is so heavy and it builds up fast in front of a plow.

If you wait to plow until after the snow has melted and then refrozen, you've basically decided to salt or sand the driveway instead of plow it. The melting and refreezing really happens in those snow banks your plow will make. So be sure to form them thoughtfully, since they might not melt completely or much at all in between storms and you could run out of room/places to push the snow mid season. As the banks take shape, with each dump make sure you gradually raise the plow and push as much as you can over the top to make a taller bank rather than one that portrudes excessively into the road or driveway.

And when you think you're done, the city plows will drive by and make a nice berm for you at the end of the driveway.

 

1. Our trucks need ballast anyway. I would offset the weight of the plow.
2. I would build up the suspension a little.
3. INSPECT YOUR FRAME!

Good Luck with your back. I had Sciatica last year that truly sucked!

 

If you have my luck, now that you have a plow it won't snow enough to need it until you sell it.

 

The plow is on, looks great. Now i have to wait for some snow, could be a while unless we get another freak halloweenish snow storm. Ill update later in the winter for some reviews, but i think it will work fine. My driveway is a challenge with a steep hill, so i will have some tips on that im sure as well

 

Man... That thing makes the truck so lllloooooonnnnngggggg... Any sharp turns? How does it attach?

 

Here is mine last year.

 

Well, i think the best thing is to say go to the western website and manuals, go to Western Defender. That will show how it attaches. What i like about it is the receiver parts that accept the plow itself, detach from mount on the vehicle with pins so you can get a lot of your clearance back. Yes, its long, but as far as plow trucks go its compact. From what ive read, some contractors use tacomas in tight areas

 

does that have the scrape lock feature?
The defender, although steel, is still pretty lightweight in plow land at 300 lbs. With the ram connecting directly to the plow, you can lock it in place when back dragging. Vice versa, it can also go into float mode and ride the curves.
Here i am talking up all these features, and never used them.

 

It does have the scrape lock feature. I find that it does well scraping going forward but back dragging doesn't scrape clean very well.

 

Don, won't a two or three stage snow blower work on the gravel driveway? That's what I've read anyway. And if it doesn't, I may have to consider a plow....

Have you seen the residential grade plows? They run in the $2k range and use the front hitch to attach. They vary in raising and lowering method. Angle is hand adjusted I believe. I'm sure you've looked, but figured if you haven't.....

 

I’ve always cringed at the thought of plowing with my daily (my tacoma). Because of this, I ended up buying a used truck specifically for plowing (found a 2004 gmc 2500 reasonably priced); and a used plow to go with it. Took the whole plow apart to repaint it this summer, since it’s about 15 years old at this point.

When I bought it:


after repainting (still need to add decals back):



No hate here. Good luck plowing with the taco!

 

Yeah, it'd probably work, but it's about a 1/4 mile, and I'm 62. Si I wanna sit on my ass.

I think it's a residential I need, but I can't manage to find anything. All of my searches are returning the big expensive ones. So if you have any info, please share it. I would truly appreciate it.

I've only recently began thinking about one, after I installed a front Curt Hitch, which is for a future tray-mount winch.

 

I have a Home Plow for my Tacoma. $2600. I do my parents, mine and maybe one neighbor's drive and our Cul-de-sac. I haven't needed ballast or snow tires. The truck does fine for me.

 

www.thehomeplow.com/

https://shop.agricover.com/category...1KU79TZwV4CBW9UlWOuCIz5_r535W66gaArseEALw_wcB

https://www.snowbear.com/

http://www.dk2snowplows.com/

There ya go Don! Those are the only ones I know of. Good luck!

 

SH7mi, I'm in Landenberg, can you come over and plow my drive...haha

 

Do any of these have power angling, not manual or auto? I had considered a receiver type plow, but with my drive i needed power angling, complicated drive. I was also worried about the moment on the hitch/plow attachment. If i had a long straight drive i would have definitely considered them.

 

I don't think they do. I'm sure these things aren't as easy as a full size, but they beat a shovel.

 

Looks like some of the ones at homeplow do... (I think)

Edit... Actually, I now think it is auto-angling.

 

That's good to know if they are. When I was dreaming/looking none were. That plow is made by Meyer, one of the better known plow manufacturers.