More questions about snow removal and hauling equipment please help

[denverdave66]

I am new to all of this I just bought a 2012 John Deere 1026 in May, and I am finding out it has a ton of uses for it, I have a brush hog, front end loader, and a box scrapper and plan to buy a rear straight blade soon. I am wanting to make a few extra dollars plowing people's driveways this winter. I drive a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Limited it has the 4.0 in it and its 4 wheel drive. I am wanting to get a 16' tandem axle trailer for it with brakes at least on one set of axles prefer on both set. Is my Jeep big enough to pull my John Deere with FEL and rear blade? I doubt if I will be pulling it that far maybe 15-25 miles at a time. Also, what do people charge to plow driveways? I have heard some people won't even take their tractor off their trailer for less than $40-50. For you expert's out there is what I plan to do doable with my equipment? I don't plan on doing huge driveways, there are several subdivsions I want to go to that there drives are only 100' to 200' long. Any ideas or tips appreciated, don't be telling me to go buy a bigger tractor cause I can't afford that.

 

[sdkubota]

I was involved with a large underground construction company and we moved snow in the winter. First, moving snow is hard on equipment due to very cold temps (South Dakota)...steel is very different in cold temps and can easily break, etc. is you strike something. People expext/demand their snow is moved according to their schedules and don't care how many clients you may have. We typically began moving snow at 2 am if the wind wasn't moving it around or it wasn't still piling up. People want THEIR driveway moved in time for THEM to drive to work. It is very easy to damage a yard or curb while moving snow. They will not hesitate to sue you to have it repaired to near new condition. Likewise, it is fairly easy to slide on icy pavement into other vehicles regardless of how much care you take. Lastely, some winters it just doesn't snow much. All the dreams of money you would make are empty yet your investment payments are still due every month. Nobody...NOBODY has ever gotten wealthy moving snow.

 

[bigtiller]

It sounds like a lot of tractoring fun but I think a blade on your Jeep would be the way to go, especially if you plan on traveling 15 to 25 miles to get to your cash customers. Loading, unloading and pulling a trailer in the snow after dark is an accident waiting to happen. If you could stay near your playground when moving snow with the tractor and not use a trailer, your pocket book may look as good or better when winter is over.