Snowplow on a Tacoma

Well, just finished my first snow plow with my Tacoma and the Fisher HS.

So much easier than walking up and down my steep driveway with a snowblower !

The plow handled the 4 inches of wet snow easily.

The plow operator needs more experience though.

I kept forgetting to raise the plow up before backing up and a few times, I dragged the snow back into the path I just cleared.

Most of all, it was fun being in a warm truck and playing.

The only draw back from snow blowing is that it's not as neat. A few places when I pushed the snow off the driveway onto the grass, it dug up the grass because the ground isn't frozen yet and the snow looks dirty.

Anyway, it's a learning curve and I'm happy for the investment.


Jim

 

Great thread & info. guys! Anybody got some pics of weight boxes? I'm not quite sure about placement & capacity with the composite boxes Toyota uses.

 

I ended up going to Home Depot and buying four large concrete blocks. They're about 18" x 10 " and about 4" thick.

I also bought a large heavy duty outdoor storage box.

Originally I thought of putting the blocs on their side, four across the bottom of the box, which they fit well and it was heavy enough.

However, as I was prepping for the upcoming storm. I realized that the box would be better filled with sand from the DPW.

The issue is that the sand also has salt in it and would eat away the blocks.

So, right now the blocks are sitting flat in the bed of the truck over the rear axle and the box is in front of the bed to stop the blocks from sliding forward.

It worked in that I also left the snow in the back, but I'm going to have to get down to the DPW and get some sand for the box, then tie it down with the blocks on the bed behind it.

Others use sand bags, but Home Depot didn't have any. Well at least according to the clerk who helped me.

Interested in what others say.

Jim

 

I think people will say the problem with using cinder blocks in the bed is in the event of an accident they could become dangerous projectiles. Several tubes of sand might be a little safer I guess.

 

Tubesand frozen solid will come through a back window just as fast as cinder blocks if you're in an accident. That's why I've switched almost exclusively to snow as ballast for my plow truck. I used to do tube sand in a box, but didn't trust it to hold still if I went off the road so I stopped.

 

When I was younger I had a car that needed weight in the rear. We used to keep a large plastic container with chicken grit in it. The chicken grit could double and be used for traction for someone who was stuck. I guess it wont melt and freeze if you put it down for traction? Anyhow, just another option.

 

I keep a 5 gallon bucket of salted sand in the driver's front corner of the bed; if I'm in an accident it won't go anywhere because it's already at the front of the bed. The snow keeps it from moving around while I drive.

 

I melted a bucket of old tire weights once & before it cooled, I stabbed a piece of half in. pipe through it. Once cooled I just bolted it to the box slightly back from the rear axle centre. Worked great, but that was an old steel boxed truck. With composite boxes, there's no way I'm doing that but I agree. It better be well secured or you could be wearing it. Cops check for this all the time here.

 

Snow works ok until...

Back in the late 80's, I had a black 82 K10 and used to leave the snow in the bed mainly out of being young and lazy. Well, the sun melted the snow a bit and then refroze into a solid block of ice. It broke free of the bed and slid forward bending the front of the bed pretty darn good. I'd imagine if I was in an accident where the ice was launched up it would have come through the back window.

 

My plow truck's white, so the melting is less of a problem

It does melt and refreeze, but I keep the bed loaded up in good shape so there's really nowhere for it to slide to.

 

OK, I hit a problem today. My battery was dead.

After I jump started it, I disconnected it from the plow and then checked to be sure the alternator was working. It was.

I got the battery charge back to 12.6 Volts and I'll check tomorrow to see if it held the charge. We're having really cold weather here and it might be the battery, but it's only 2.5 years old.

I started to wonder if using my flashers and headlights while plowing, put an drain on the battery which the alternator couldn't keep up with?

I'm hoping that the plow isn't putting a drain on the batter even though it was off.

Jim

 

If you've got an electric or electric over hydraulic plow setup just moving and positioning the plow can take a toll on the battery's charge (most of the professional plow guys that I know run a dual battery setup because of the draw of the plow, sander, and additional lights they've got mounted), but it's odd that it'd be that flat if you're just doing your own driveway.

 

How old is your battery?
Some batteries don't like the cold.. Might be time for a new Battery..

 

The Battery is only 2.5 years old and I checked it and the alternator, both are working fine.

I'm starting to think that having the emergency flashers on while plowing, I may have shut off the engine to clear the other
cars off.

Either Way, it's working fine now, but I'm going to not use the emergency flashers.

Thanks for the help

Jim

 

Is your plow electric over hydraulic? Because I've never run a battery dry plowing with the Dodge, even with the headlights on, the spotlights on, the flashers on, and the whirly light going on the roof. And my alternator only puts out 60 amps or something like that. But, my plow is all hydraulic, so there's no electrical draw to adjust/lift/lower it.

 

Magnetic....

 

It's hydraulic, but of course the hydraulics are driven by electric.

Anyway, I'm gonna get a battery operated magnet mount light for the roof.


Jim

 

Well, I'm 99% sure it's the battery.

We've had really cold nights here.

I checked the voltage without a load. 12.5 and it turned over slow, but I managed to get it started. Checked the alternator and was getting 14-15.5 volts with lights and radio on.

Waited a couple of hours and went back out. Checked the battery before starting, only 11.3 volts.

I managed to get it started.

Then shut it off.

Had my wife start while I had the volt meter on and the battery dropped to 4 volts. It should not drop below 10 volts. Looks like the starter isn't getting the amps needed to kick the engine over.


Anyway, I checked again and I bought the battery in May of 2015, but it could've been older, I can't see the mfgrs date on it, so it's possible that it's 3 years old and where I bought it, it may be a rebuilt.

So, off to get a new battery tomorrow.


Jim

 

Yeah, that sounds like at least one bad cell.

 

Yep, got a new battery which puts out 700amps of cranking power. Starter requires at least 600amps

Kicks over like new.

Also, bought a magnet mount amber flashing light for the roof.

Plow works great !

Jim