Do homeowners buy snowplows to plow their own properties?
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RjCorazza
Elite Member
I like to have my own equipment to plow my 600' driveway. Retired now, but as a firefighter I had to get to work. I spent a fair amount of money on multiple snow removal options (truck plow, tractor plow (front and rear), 6' rear blower, and a 32" walk behind blower for sidewalks.
I do plow semi commercially now that I'm retired for fun.
I do plow semi commercially now that I'm retired for fun.
LouNY
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Well, lets see.
Two tractors, back blade and front blade for the loader.
Then there's the old plow truck I kept for the sander.
Truck is going to go sander is on a trailer now, tri axle load of salted sand every 2-3 years.
Rear mount 8" snow blower.
Mainly for my own driveway occasionally over to the farm or a neighbors.
Two tractors, back blade and front blade for the loader.
Then there's the old plow truck I kept for the sander.
Truck is going to go sander is on a trailer now, tri axle load of salted sand every 2-3 years.
Rear mount 8" snow blower.
Mainly for my own driveway occasionally over to the farm or a neighbors.
Avenger
Veteran Member
To answer the question, yes.
I was just pricing an 'inverted' snow blower for my property. My new neighbor, who lives up the hill and shares the driveway with me (his section is much longer and steeper than mine), has asked that I maintain the entire driveway, all the way up to his house. We are also doing a massive repair of the entire driveway before this winter.
I've always plowed the driveway with my box blade and bucket on the FEL. But the cutting edge of the bucket, dragging along the ice, dirt, and rocks constantly, is starting to wear down. A snow plow would be better than my bucket. But where do I put the snow? On the sides of the long road, where it piles up and makes the driveway narrower and narrower with each snowfall? I can get a pusher, and push it all down to a central pile, and that would work too, but would take a very long time, especially since I'm now adding a very long section to my driveway.
I've settled on a snow blower. Simply drive and blow the snow out and off the road. And an inverted one means that I dont have to crank my neck around. Also, a blower should leave the rocks alone, should. Paying $$ for a new driveway, I really dont want to scrape them off the road.
Only downside I see is the price tag (and current availability). $9K for the blower. That's a lot of money.
I could hire someone to plow us out, but we would be at their mercy. I don't like that at all. I pride myself on being self sufficient. And consider the task and cost the price one must pay to have the life I wish to have, where I wish to have it.
I was just pricing an 'inverted' snow blower for my property. My new neighbor, who lives up the hill and shares the driveway with me (his section is much longer and steeper than mine), has asked that I maintain the entire driveway, all the way up to his house. We are also doing a massive repair of the entire driveway before this winter.
I've always plowed the driveway with my box blade and bucket on the FEL. But the cutting edge of the bucket, dragging along the ice, dirt, and rocks constantly, is starting to wear down. A snow plow would be better than my bucket. But where do I put the snow? On the sides of the long road, where it piles up and makes the driveway narrower and narrower with each snowfall? I can get a pusher, and push it all down to a central pile, and that would work too, but would take a very long time, especially since I'm now adding a very long section to my driveway.
I've settled on a snow blower. Simply drive and blow the snow out and off the road. And an inverted one means that I dont have to crank my neck around. Also, a blower should leave the rocks alone, should. Paying $$ for a new driveway, I really dont want to scrape them off the road.
Only downside I see is the price tag (and current availability). $9K for the blower. That's a lot of money.
I could hire someone to plow us out, but we would be at their mercy. I don't like that at all. I pride myself on being self sufficient. And consider the task and cost the price one must pay to have the life I wish to have, where I wish to have it.
RjCorazza
Elite Member
From a contractors perspective, shared driveways can be a pain to plow. Mostly issues with all parties agreeing to the work, and having a single responsible party for payment. My favorite is plowing a shared driveway and turning off onto the contacted driveway. The higher up driveway somehow thinks I'm obligated to plow their run "since you're here anyway". I keep a contract with rates in my cab for their review.
Popgadget
Elite Member
I’ve got a 1500’ paved lane, picked up a never used 96” SSQA hydraulic plow for $1500 after a snowless winter and with the pandemic looming ahead.
Contractor was happy to see it go. I added a urethane cutting edge, and now have an awesome snow removal machine.
Contractor was happy to see it go. I added a urethane cutting edge, and now have an awesome snow removal machine.
IXLR8
Veteran Member
I have 3 driveways on my property to plow and a 1/4 mile long dirt road. Wife needs to be out before 6 am for work. I have a 2500 truck for towing my boat that I put a Fisher 8' V plow on. Not cheap but it lets me take care of our plowing on our schedule rather than waiting for others to show up. The plow trucks for the others on our road don't show up typically until after 8:30 in the morning.
There's a myriad of homeowner plow options for pickups, SUVs and tractors; from a little "Snow Bear" which goes on a small truck or SUV and uses an ATV winch to raise and lower, all the way up to a full sized plow. If you buy something decent and take care of it, a plow will last a long time; when trade-in time comes, you will be a long ways toward a new one for your new pickup.
I've seen old Fisher plows bracketed into tractor buckets, or mounted on the rear.
I plow my 300' driveway with my tractor bucket. It only takes a couple of hours. I saw a Fisher plow mounted on a VW Beetle years ago, and know where there's one right now mounted on a vintage Ford LTD station wagon.
I've seen old Fisher plows bracketed into tractor buckets, or mounted on the rear.
I plow my 300' driveway with my tractor bucket. It only takes a couple of hours. I saw a Fisher plow mounted on a VW Beetle years ago, and know where there's one right now mounted on a vintage Ford LTD station wagon.
RickB
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All I have to add is after 60 years in upstate NY I live where it snows 2-3 times in winter and usually it's gone in 12-24 hours. There's a reason my 80' long driveway has a southern exposure.
I don't miss that snow covered 1/4 mile gravel drive a bit.
I don't miss that snow covered 1/4 mile gravel drive a bit.
hube2
Veteran Member
The main reason that I bought my tractor was for moving snow. The only reason I have a mower deck for it is so that it does not sit half the year doing nothing. Between the tractor and the new shed I needed to build for it I spent in somewhere in the neighborhood of $25k.
My loan payments each year are less than what it would cost me to have my driveway kept clear if I hired someone.
You don't live where I live unless you are prepared for snow management. Average snowfall here is over 100" a year and that does not take into account moving blown in snow more often than moving fallen snow. The house nearest me has sold 3 times over the last 4 years. I think the new neighbors will be sticking around, they have a tractor with a blower
My loan payments each year are less than what it would cost me to have my driveway kept clear if I hired someone.
You don't live where I live unless you are prepared for snow management. Average snowfall here is over 100" a year and that does not take into account moving blown in snow more often than moving fallen snow. The house nearest me has sold 3 times over the last 4 years. I think the new neighbors will be sticking around, they have a tractor with a blower
