V plow

[Anonymous Poster]

This question is also being asked at CountrybyNet. I have been plowing now for several years using a full size pickup equipped with a Meyer 7 1/2' straight blade plow. Because of the recent storm in Maryland we got 30 inches in some areas. I could not move the snow very well with the straight blade, and a few times I got stuck and had to shovel myself out. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif In areas with less snow the Meyer works great. My question is whether the V plow would make a path through the drifts. Since I plow often every year I wonder if my next plow should be a V plow?

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

In deep, heavy snow a V plow will get you through better than a straight blade. The reason is simple enough. With a straight blade angled you're trying to roll snow from your lead edge all the way across the blade to fall off the trail edge.

With a V plow your lead edge is only half the distance to the trail edge so you should have a somewhat easier go of it. The difference is NOT going to enable you to do twice as much, however. You're still using the same truck to move the same amount of snow. You're just not moving it all the same direction.

Most times I've seen V plows used in the V position it was to make a first run through an area. After that they're used as a conventional angled blade to push snow off that first path.

I've not owned or used a V plow myself so I have no first hand experience with them. I'm only passing on what I've seen. I think that a V plow would certainly be a nice tool to make a first run down a drive or lane. For now, though, I'll stick with my straight 8' power angle for one reason above all others-it's paid for! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[beenthere]

Years back I operated a wing on our local Oshkosh truck that was equipped with a V-plow (big dude!). On occasion we would have that thing stuck in a drift (when they were 6-8 ft high and over a 100 yards long). But, my point is that you can still find the snow deep enough to have to shovel out the V-plow, but likely you will have gone through the snow that you are getting stuck in now. The balance of snow being pushed with the V-plow will be much better than the angled straight plow. But our local V-plow hasn't seen any use in 20 years. Must be the global warming that is doing it. This year, the local straight plows are gathering rust. You guys in the East are having all the fun. I hope you are all enjoying it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Steve_in_Ont]

Those new plows that angle from the center sure look nice. You can adjust them to push straight (|), left (\), right (/), v-plow (>), and even inverted v-plow (<).

I spoke with a guy who has one, and he says that they are much more productive than any other design.

I think that all the big plow manufacturers are making one these days...

 

[livincountry]

Hi Stanley,
I have a Meyer 8' plow and I have equipped it with wings so that my effective plowing width is over 9'. The Vee plow is a more effective plow but anything can get stuck. Two things I can offer:
1) Be sure to have ballast in the bed of your truck. My 3/4 ton truck carries over 1000 lbs in the bed. This makes a huge difference since the 800 pound plow hanging 3' from the front bumper takes a lot of weight off the rear wheels. I am amazed at how many guys run with an empty truck. The weight will help with both traction and force when pushing through snow drifts....within reason!
2) More importantly, as a snow contractor you need to keep up with the snow fall. Nothing short of a 4x4 tractor could deal with 30" of snow once it's on the ground. Be sure to begin at your 2" trigger and keep making your rounds until the end. This is where networking with other contractors will help before winter is upon us.

We had 12 inches of snow during one event but I never pushed more than 4 inches at once. Keep in mind to that once the snow stops you can always come back and groom the lot.

Bottom line is that 30" of snow is A LOT OF SNOW and once it's on the ground pick-ups are too little too late.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

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Livincountry, thanks for your reply. When I "sub" for a landscaping company we always start plowing with about 2 inches on the ground and continue until finished. With the recent 30 inches or so I stayed out for two days plowing. The problem was when I got home the driveway (flat, no trees) was covered completely. Trying to plow this mess caused me to get hung up a few times and the need to break out the shovel. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I've never used a v plow so I wonder if it would have busted a path through the deep stuff enough to use the straight blade to widen it.

 

[livincountry]

Stanley, sounds like you have it together! I had a similar problem at my house after a long run of plowing. Nothing worse than the neighborhood guy with the snow plowing business having the worst looking driveway!
Here's to the best winter in years!!

 

[Rowski]

Plowing... One of my favorite jobs. Our business has slightly over 100 drives that we plow. I've been plowing for over 15 years and been co-pilot (for my father) since I was out of my infant car seat /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. For example this is one of our drives. Also you read this thread whick has other pictures. I have never owned a multi angle v plow. I have used one and was not to overly impressed. This was a Fisher model. There is no doubt that it will help make the first pass easier. But I found the mulifunction of the blade is very slow. Also the split trip edge (due to the v) seems to trip easier. There are 3 plowers here who had v plows and got rid of them because of the mentioned problems and they found the plows where weaker (breaking more often) than the same straight blade. This doesn't mean that v plows don't work and are a waste of money. I just prefer my straight blade.

There are some techniques that can help a great deal. As mentioned weight, the more the better. Also as mentioned plow with the storm. Alway try to keep the truck on plowed part of the road. That includes raming snow drifts and piles of snow, 9 times out of 10 the blade rides up and the next thing you know your shoveling. If its icey than a little extra snow under the wheels helps out provided you don't spin it out. Having winter tires not M&S but winter rated tires. I use Nokia Hakka LT studded. During times of rough going I run chains. Not to give more pushing power but to help keep me from getting stuck. If a drive has a lot of snow and the truck can not push or the trip edge trips often lift the blade of the ground a bit. Usually 2 to 6 inches works for me. If you have a lot of snow on a long drive, crowd the right side of the bank (but don't cut into the old snow bank) and angle the blade to the left. This will keep the snow inside the banks but with give a track You can then take a half a blade width and cast it up and over the bank.

We run an International Scout II with a 7.5' blade, Ford F-350 dually 4x4 wrecker with a 9' blade and a Chevy 2500HD with a 8.5' blade.