Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Snow Plowing With the FEL
- Thread starter MikePA
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Mike , we just had 12"+ here in central NC the last few days. Sun is out now and melting fast, but yesterday I spent most of the day clearing driveways in a local development. There was 6-8" on the ground then and I had my box blade on the back for weight and for frozen patches.
I put my FEL bucket very nearly flat and maybe at just a slightly downward angle for packed areas and then let it "float" maybe tapping the lever just a bit to change the angle of the bucket. The snow consistancy was just right that as the bucket filled it would roll over, like a wave breaking for a surfboarder, and I didn't have to stop and pick-up the snow to move it. just kept on pushing.
Know the driveways that give me fits are the one with all kinds of curves and "inlays".
Curves, I just plowed as before until I hit turf or something/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif then I backed-up a few feet and turned away from the turf edge and left 2' of the pushed-up snow and got the rest until the next encounter with the turf.
Here's a question for some of ya'll. I'm not doing this driveway clearing to get rich and retire, but to help some people out and perhaps save a few heart attacks and back surgeries, and when someone asks, "How much do you charge?" How much do us non-professional snow plowers charge someone for a driveway?
I most often say "Whatever you think is fair" or "what is it worth to you?" and throw it back to them.
I had anywhere from $5 to $50 given to me for often 5min of plowing time. When I can take and clear a 75' driveway and a 30' parking/turning pad in 5 minutes, that would take someone an hour or more to shovel by hand, I think that unless I just needed the exercise a $20 would be an easy decission. Now I did try to give the $50 back saying it was way too much for the work I did. They wouldn't here of it.
But then I got a $5 from a guy for doing a good $20 driveway. Go figure....
Plus it's kinda fun to play on my tractor and rewarding to see a nice cleared driveway.
gary
I put my FEL bucket very nearly flat and maybe at just a slightly downward angle for packed areas and then let it "float" maybe tapping the lever just a bit to change the angle of the bucket. The snow consistancy was just right that as the bucket filled it would roll over, like a wave breaking for a surfboarder, and I didn't have to stop and pick-up the snow to move it. just kept on pushing.
Know the driveways that give me fits are the one with all kinds of curves and "inlays".
Curves, I just plowed as before until I hit turf or something/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif then I backed-up a few feet and turned away from the turf edge and left 2' of the pushed-up snow and got the rest until the next encounter with the turf.
Here's a question for some of ya'll. I'm not doing this driveway clearing to get rich and retire, but to help some people out and perhaps save a few heart attacks and back surgeries, and when someone asks, "How much do you charge?" How much do us non-professional snow plowers charge someone for a driveway?
I most often say "Whatever you think is fair" or "what is it worth to you?" and throw it back to them.
I had anywhere from $5 to $50 given to me for often 5min of plowing time. When I can take and clear a 75' driveway and a 30' parking/turning pad in 5 minutes, that would take someone an hour or more to shovel by hand, I think that unless I just needed the exercise a $20 would be an easy decission. Now I did try to give the $50 back saying it was way too much for the work I did. They wouldn't here of it.
But then I got a $5 from a guy for doing a good $20 driveway. Go figure....
Plus it's kinda fun to play on my tractor and rewarding to see a nice cleared driveway.
gary
Thanks for the plowing advice!
For a 'normal' suburban driveway (10' x 50') I'd probably charge $20. For a longer one, or one with a turnaround, I'd charge $50 or more.
Also, do you have insurance for plowing other people's driveways? I ask because I posed the same question to my insurance agent, i.e., "If I plow the elderly neighbor's driveway because I am a nice guy, does my homeowner's policy cover me?". The answer was 'No'.
For a 'normal' suburban driveway (10' x 50') I'd probably charge $20. For a longer one, or one with a turnaround, I'd charge $50 or more.
Also, do you have insurance for plowing other people's driveways? I ask because I posed the same question to my insurance agent, i.e., "If I plow the elderly neighbor's driveway because I am a nice guy, does my homeowner's policy cover me?". The answer was 'No'.
beenthere
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So Mike, do you not plow out your neighbor now? Or do you get the insurance (liability, I assume), and if so, how much would it add to your policy (if I may ask)? I plow out my neighbor (s), and I don't ask my insurance agent anything. I guess I take the risk.
DVerbarg
Platinum Member
Mike,
Like Gary I would use float and nudge the bucket angle as I go. It gets a little tricky with gravel but paved surfaces are very easy. If the snow is dry it is pretty easy to use float and keep the bucket angle up just a little to avoid picking up too much gravel. If the snow is wet then bucket will tend to ride up on the packed snow and quickly ride to the top. Wet snow with a loader takes practice, the dry stuff is more fun.
Like Gary I would use float and nudge the bucket angle as I go. It gets a little tricky with gravel but paved surfaces are very easy. If the snow is dry it is pretty easy to use float and keep the bucket angle up just a little to avoid picking up too much gravel. If the snow is wet then bucket will tend to ride up on the packed snow and quickly ride to the top. Wet snow with a loader takes practice, the dry stuff is more fun.
I just got my TC25D this past October and we haven't had any snow so I have had the opportunity. In the past, I've used my snow blower to clear out the driveway of a widow that lives across the street, but she's now hired someone with a truck mounted plow to clear her driveway. So, I might not have the opportunity this year.
For the past few years I have had a million dollar umbrella liability policy, so I didn't ask my agent how much the additional coverage would be.
When we discussed it, my agent indicated this would cover someone saying you damaged their driveway, ran over their flowerbed (or their cat) and suing you.
For the past few years I have had a million dollar umbrella liability policy, so I didn't ask my agent how much the additional coverage would be.
When we discussed it, my agent indicated this would cover someone saying you damaged their driveway, ran over their flowerbed (or their cat) and suing you.
DVerbarg
Platinum Member
Some states have a "Good Samaritan" law that protects people (from law suits) who are just trying to help someone (no compensation). My vague recollection is that they were intended for medical type situations but am not sure.
Anyone know anything about these laws? My knowledge of those laws are totally encapsulated in the above two sentences /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif!
Anyone know anything about these laws? My knowledge of those laws are totally encapsulated in the above two sentences /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif!
I would imagine, although I am not a lawyer (nor do I play one on TV /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif), that if one accepts money for plowing, then you should have some kind of business liability insurance. I wouldn't imagine the Good Samaritan laws would apply to good deeds done for neighbors. glennmac, are you there?
Thomas
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Like the boys say..float and curl just a tad,also after the heft of the snow been remove and you want a close finish,curl your bucket down an in float than back drag..work good on gravel driveways.
TonyC
Platinum Member
<font color=blue> "How much do you charge?"</font color=blue>
Sometimes it depends on the depth of the snow of course. For a 6" to 8" snowfall I get no less that $25 for a "standard" size driveway, $35 if it's longer. I go up to $50 from there depending on the size. At those rates, after a good snowfall, I have people lining up behind me to get on the list. They are happy to pay the price. Of course senior citizens who are on a fixed income get theirs done for free.
Living in Virginia, we only get one snowfall every few years that's worth the effort. Once in a great while we get a big one. When it does snow, southerners aren't well prepared. You won't find any snow blowers in my neighbrhood!
Sometimes it depends on the depth of the snow of course. For a 6" to 8" snowfall I get no less that $25 for a "standard" size driveway, $35 if it's longer. I go up to $50 from there depending on the size. At those rates, after a good snowfall, I have people lining up behind me to get on the list. They are happy to pay the price. Of course senior citizens who are on a fixed income get theirs done for free.
Living in Virginia, we only get one snowfall every few years that's worth the effort. Once in a great while we get a big one. When it does snow, southerners aren't well prepared. You won't find any snow blowers in my neighbrhood!
