Tractor or Truck for plowing?

[Piston]

I know many of us have full size trucks to allow us to tow our tractors around. (For those that don't you may not have a choice but to use your tractor) What do most of you guys with trucks and tractors use for snow removal?

I enjoy moving snow and playing around with my tractor in the snow and often spend a lot of time just 'playing' to clear the snow from my driveway and some neighbors driveways. I mostly consider this just play time though. When I don't feel like playing out in the snow and just need to get the driveway plowed, I use my truck with snowplow to take care of the white stuff.

The truck works many times better, faster, and is much warmer since I don't have a cab. I have a heavy diesel truck which probably makes a big difference, plus a 9' plow.

Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy using the tractor (although haven't used the new tractor yet but won't be long) to move snow around, and usually do it this way.
However there is a big difference in that the truck is a much better tool for the job. So I'm curious if most of us (with full size trucks/SUV's) use the truck or tractor for snow removal, and what your reasoning is?

I use the tractor most of the time for no other reason than it is fun for me and I enjoy the seat time.... :thumbsup:

 

[westcliffe01]

If you run out of place to push the snow a loader and bucket are going to be useful. Even more useful is a big blower, but they are not cheap and working from an open station is not too comfortable for sure.

 

[Satan666]

Tools should match the job. Plowing roads & drives - scale the truck and plow. No ditches, have to remove the snow (parking areas) - loader or blower. Warm gravel or dirt (1st or last snow) - blower or bucket trumps blade.

 

[LD1]

I use my truck. In my area, where 8-10" is considered a MAJOR snowfall, a truck is the way to go. I have never had to deal with several feet though, so I cannot comment on that.

But what I do know is that it takes me about 5 minutes if I use my truck. If I use my tractor/5' loader/7' blade, it takes about 15-20 minutes and is miserable due to not having a cab either.

Even for parking lots, truck wins. Trucks can plow at a faster rate of speed and have taller moldboards, both of witch make them faster for plowing. The only disadvantage is visibality and manuverability.

I plow comercially as well with my truck. Which BTW is a 2003 chevy 1500 with a meyers 7.5' plow and wings. And let me tell you what, when plowing lots, if you have never used wings, you really dont know what you are missing

 

[2458n]

My truck has 300hp. tractor does not. Bigger hammer for bigger job. Tractor is nicer for small jobs and running around the neighborhood. People that cannot get out of their drives like either one/

 

[nybirdman]

I bought my first four-wheel truck in 1973,probably have had twenty new ones,NEVER HAD A SNOW PLOW ON ONE,would not beat up a new truck with a snow plow.
I have used a snow-blower,ATV,open station tractor(with plow) and currently have a "CAB" tractor with a eight foot Curtis Plow and a seven foot rear blade.I plow about two miles total.Most of the guys I know that plow are takeing out transmissions in three years(In Trucks).Warm and cozy and lots of power,not fast,does the job.

 

[LD1]

Warm and cozy and lots of power,not fast,does the job.

I would agree to that for the majority of people on here. Those who only do their drives and maybe a few neighbors.

BUT...Fast is a must if you are plowing commercially. If you are slow, and inefficent, you are out of business.

And they guys like myself, that are in out trucks for 20+ hours every time it snows, sure you are going to have breakdowns. That is part of the reason we make/charge so much. If it wasnt profitable, no one would be doing it.

But on that same tolken, if you were only plowing your dirve and thats it, a plow (if sized properly) is NOT going to hurt a 4x4 Pickup for many, many years unless being stupid and careless.

In the 5 years I have been plowing with my current truck (knock on wood) I have not had anything major go wrong. Just a passenger side wheel bearing ($150) two years ago. And I have made more than enough to pay for the entire truck and some. So if you engine or tranny went out tomorrow, I am still money ahead.

 

[PILOON]

A lot depends on where you are and the conitiond.
Here in rural Quebec, the truck (4Wd 3/4 GMC) is the fastest way to go but also needs back up with a blower equipped tractor for when the piles narrow off the drive.
Tractors just don't get from drive to drive fast enough, and speed is your friend.
It is all in how many drives per hour you can do.
I ran a 3/4 GMC for about 10 years, broke a dozen front axles and U joints etc. All in the cost of doing busness.
Also did tranny once and even a differential.
All costs factored in operations.
That ole GMC cost me $3500 + $1200. for blade and after 10 yrs I sold it for $3500.!
What I did was to sub contract as required to a guy with a big tractor to occasionally widen out my drives in order to have additional space to finish off the winter.
Yea, truck is warmer, faster!
Did I make money?
Yeah, not much, about $5000. net per season but then I did as side line off season and also only had 25 clients.
Today I only do my own drive +1 neighbor and only my 20 HP Mitsu with rear blower and front blade. Takes me about an hour per event.
Slow but keeps me busy.

 

[Piston]

LD1,
You beat me to it. A snowplow on a truck doesn't hurt the truck, the driver does. Anyone who goes through a transmission every three years probably hasn't learned how to plow, no matter how long they've been doing it. I think it is a myth that snowplows hurt trucks.
My father has been plowing for over 35 yrs. I'm not sure how many trucks he has had but in the 29 yrs that I've been alive he's only had three. He only had ONE transmission go on his '89 GMC, he plowed with that truck until he got rid of it with 225,000 miles on it. Now he's on a '99 f-350 diesel and hasn't had any issues with it. He plows 3 commercial parking lots and many driveways.
It's just like any other piece of equipment, if you beat on it, don't know how to use it properly, or don't maintain your equipment it will break.

However it's still more fun to play in the snow with the tractor!

 

[LD1]

LD1,
You beat me to it. A snowplow on a truck doesn't hurt the truck, the driver does. Anyone who goes through a transmission every three years probably hasn't learned how to plow, no matter how long they've been doing it. I think it is a myth that snowplows hurt trucks.
My father has been plowing for over 35 yrs. I'm not sure how many trucks he has had but in the 29 yrs that I've been alive he's only had three. He only had ONE transmission go on his '89 GMC, he plowed with that truck until he got rid of it with 225,000 miles on it. Now he's on a '99 f-350 diesel and hasn't had any issues with it. He plows 3 commercial parking lots and many driveways.
It's just like any other piece of equipment, if you beat on it, don't know how to use it properly, or don't maintain your equipment it will break.

However it's still more fun to play in the snow with the tractor!

A snowplow will definatally work a truck harder. And maybe cause things to wear a little faster than the soccer mom driving to work and to get groceries, but not to the extent that most people think. Yes, if you go through a transmission every three years, either you need to learn how to plow, or you are plowing SOOOO much you are making tens of thousands of dollars a season, in which case, you probabally wouldnt worry about it too much.

But on the same tolken, towing, hauling firewood, driving off road, all wear parts out faster than just using a truck as a commuter vehichle.

I guess to sum things up, if you are just plowing your drive, you arent going to plow enough for a plow to wear your truck out. If you are plowing several hours every snowfall commercially, and things wear out a little faster, that is just part of doing business.