Need Advice - truck for snow removal & towing

Fountain38SC · 10-30-2009, 11:38 AM

After getting this years snow removal quote for 1 of my businesses, I'm considering buying a truck and having a snow plow and spreader attached (truck would serve as a backup tow vehicle for the boat). I would buy used and diesel. I'm thinking something like an 02-07 F350 4X4 or maybe a dodge with a cummins. Any advantage to single vs dually in the snow? Any years to avoid or to look for?

I have my truck in Florida and don't know if you can you put snow/work tires on a 350 or a dodge? I would think with street tires and no weight in the bed that traction would be an issue. With snow tires, salt in the bed, a plow on the front and a spreader on the rear, a dually might be ok in the snow??

If I decide to go this route, it is imperative that the setup work or I will have 300 plus customers pist twice a day. Anyone have any suggestions/opinions/experience? I appreciate any & all help.

Thanks

Kent

never enuff · 10-30-2009, 01:02 PM

IMO--A single would be better than a dually in the snow. If you look at Dodge make sure you research the anti spin set up the newer Dodges have---they ain't worth a sh*t. You can check some of the Dodge diesel sites and look at all the complaints about the anit spin rear ends. If you can find a good used 5.9 I think you will like it better than the newer 6.7 Cummins
Jay

laszlo01 · 10-30-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fountain38SC

After getting this years snow removal quote for 1 of my businesses, I'm considering buying a truck and having a snow plow and spreader attached (truck would serve as a backup tow vehicle for the boat). I would buy used and diesel. I'm thinking something like an 02-07 F350 4X4 or maybe a dodge with a cummins. Any advantage to single vs dually in the snow? Any years to avoid or to look for?

I have my truck in Florida and don't know if you can you put snow/work tires on a 350 or a dodge? I would think with street tires and no weight in the bed that traction would be an issue. With snow tires, salt in the bed, a plow on the front and a spreader on the rear, a dually might be ok in the snow??

If I decide to go this route, it is imperative that the setup work or I will have 300 plus customers pist twice a day. Anyone have any suggestions/opinions/experience? I appreciate any & all help.

Thanks

Kent

I use my 2008 chevy 3500 dually LMM duramax with allison 4x4 for pulling my boat and plowing all my properties, does great in the snow with a boss poly 8' plow and i keep about 10 bags of sand over the rear wheels for the winter with factory tires and never get stuck, pulls the boat awesome and does a great job in the northern winter as well up in the UP for snowmobiling. You wont go wrong with it. Just my experience.

wananewboat · 10-30-2009, 02:11 PM

Do the plowing yourself and call in a sander it's short money. The sander will shorten the life of the truck by a lot. Then you can't get sand or salt in the middle of the night or the load will freeze and you are trying to break then the guy loading the truck slips on ice and hits the side of the truck it's not worth it.

It can be hard plowing with a duel wheel truck the more weight the better and you need a 9' plow to keep the rear tires from packing the snow. I like the GM trucks with the rear window defrost it makes backing up in a storm much better. If you can find a truck without a plow and then put a new plow on it that would be best. I have always had great luck with a Fisher, but everyone has their opinion. The Fisher X blade is nice because you can flip the cutting blade over the double the life.

fountain 47 sc · 10-30-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fountain38SC

After getting this years snow removal quote for 1 of my businesses, I'm considering buying a truck and having a snow plow and spreader attached (truck would serve as a backup tow vehicle for the boat). I would buy used and diesel. I'm thinking something like an 02-07 F350 4X4 or maybe a dodge with a cummins. Any advantage to single vs dually in the snow? Any years to avoid or to look for?

I have my truck in Florida and don't know if you can you put snow/work tires on a 350 or a dodge? I would think with street tires and no weight in the bed that traction would be an issue. With snow tires, salt in the bed, a plow on the front and a spreader on the rear, a dually might be ok in the snow??

If I decide to go this route, it is imperative that the setup work or I will have 300 plus customers pist twice a day. Anyone have any suggestions/opinions/experience? I appreciate any & all help.

Thanks

Kent

DO NOT go this route. Shop around for the best price. There are a lot of reliable independent guys that are inexpensive and do a good job. Even with a new pickup, plow, and spreader, one setback will cost as much as the whole season of plowing (not to mention the aggravation). If you must, single rear wheel 4x4 will work best but that is a poor chice for a boat as big as yours.

ninetym · 10-30-2009, 04:26 PM

I agree, new plow min 5000.00, salter 1800.00, your time and insurance on a truck. Not to mention liability. Been there done that.

tomtbone1993 · 11-07-2009, 06:50 PM

would be cheaper to just move to texas.....to hell with the snow

US1 Fountain · 11-07-2009, 11:18 PM

Bro-In-Law had a 1 ton dump Chevy he plowed with. Went threw 3 auto transmissions 1 winter. He lost money that yr, and from then on only plowed his own driveway.

outriggers · 11-08-2009, 01:37 PM

Wow, look at all the money I just made. Thats when the transmission falls out.

Doug

bigmotor · 11-09-2009, 12:09 AM

This may be hard to believe, but most manufacturers do not recommend the diesel for plowing.
Dont know why, but that is the truth with Chevy/gmc . I know they do the job fine, but the gas motor is what is prefferd with the plow pack. At one time 04 - 05 , or 05- 06 season could not get the plow prep pack from GM with the diesel. This is as far as light duty (up to 1 ton) not medium duty and over 1 ton.
We just saw a 6.0 liter 2500 chev.come through our service drive with 305,000 miles on it !!!!! all orig. under the hood. The truck is a 2000.

4 sets of michelins , couple brake jobs, never opened the motor (valve covers or oil pan) and still going strong. He was there because the ignition key was worn out , and not pushing the tumblers far enough !!!!!!