Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Big Snow: Wait Til It's Over? or Take It In Bites?

[arrabil]

Had to do the snowfall we got Friday/Saturday in bites. It was over top of the 59" blower by four-six inches so I had to make two passes.

 

[Gizmo2]

I go by my plow height, anything higher usually ends in trouble, and outside temperature. Below 32 degrees and snowing I am good to go. The warmer it is the sooner I plow. Snowing at 35 degrees or higher temperatures makes for some heavy snow with the addition of much less traction added in, more slippage and spinning.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Bigger equipment can make a difference but it usually involves a bigger plow which pushes more snow. A good example is we could push just as much snow in a given time with a Jeep and 6.5' plow as we could with a Dually and a 9' plow. This is in heavy snow.

Light snow the bigger plow will out shine.

Chris

 

[JB4310]

When I plowed commercially, back in the day, we were ordered to plow every 6" and absolutely not wait. Of course, we charged for each plowing. Some snows were bad enough, we charged out 3 pushes on each commercial lot.

I plowed mostly small/med size commercial properties for close to 20 years, I had a good book of customers, worked my butt off but made decent money. I didn't treat it as a serious business though, like I treat my contracting business.

Was a very friendly relationship with most of the customers that I had since I was a kid. So there was alot of give and take on both sides, they were paying me less than plowing contractors were charging, but they wouldn't complain to much if I was late cleaning their lots. I would make a few passes around the drives during the storm but really couldn't do final clean-up till after hours. I was always out all night catching up, so in my case I really couldn't charge more than once per storm.

I was old school, I didn't have a sander and didn't have helpers to blow off the walks, just plowed. But I did learn alot about human nature and business from this group of very thrifty and shrewd businessman. valuable lessons that have benefited me in dealings with people still today. But at the time I treated plowing more as paying hobby.

JB.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I'm of the wait till the last flake falls mentality.
But if I new it was gonna be a 2-3 foot storm I would definitely go out before it got that deep
JB.

Same here

 

[fish6942]

My blower is 60" wide and 24" tall. As long as the snow is under 24", I'll wait it out. In many cases the wind dies down after the snow which makes the job that much easier.

This year is the most snow we've had in quite a while. The one thing I've learned is that I need need to put more driveway markers in next fall. With multiple curves and corners I'm really guessing as to where the gravel ends and the grass starts.

 

[Ford850]

Unless we have to get out of the drive, I wait it out. If I have over 24" then I make my first pass with my blade raised a few inches. I like clearing the snow on the day after the storm when the high pressure comes in and we have sunny clear skies. Also, I have a blind drive and it's dangerous to be on the road clearing the entrance. I can't be on the road when it's blowing and drifting because I can't be seen in time to stop.

 

[coobie]

I guess we will get our share here in michigan since we are under a winter storm warning tonight,LOL.I plow with my Kubota RTV 900 full enclosed heated cab,5 ft curtis plow and I plow in bites.I hate mowing grass but I love snow plowing.LOL.coobie

 

[crashz]

I love plowing snow. I've been out pushing the white stuff for 20 seasons.

I've always plowed snow with trucks and loaders, and typical New England snow is moderate to heavy. Which means the trucks will bog down with any thing more than 8 inches. Also depends on the lot size and placement of the snow. Plowing and invoicing at every 6 inches was pretty common. And in a big storm, I could barely complete the first round before starting the second.

Now I only do some residential drives of friends and relative. So unless we have a big storm, I'll wait till I'm good and ready.

 

[RoyJackson]

It's easier on the equipment and the operator if one takes smaller bites. I like to go out when the snow is 6"-8", then make the followup passes when another 6"-8" accumulates.
The problem is when the storm is coming overnight. I have gotten up to clear the drive and porches, but the storm last weekend was really nasty between the wind and bitter cold for this old man to be out.
So, there was close to 20" when I did plow, and it was a bear (snow wasn't near over and the wind was wicked).
Like Crashz, I enjoy plowing snow...but sometimes there's too much of a good thing.