Snow Plow Options
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 240
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From: Medina Ohio
Snow Plow Options
I have a gravel driveway, about 150ft to house and another 200ft back to barn. We will either get a plow for the truck($1500-5K), a 4x4 ATV with plow(3-6K), or a compact diesel tractor with front end loader(10-15K). Obviously the plow for the truck is the most economical, and has heat. 
There are real plows, BOSS, Meyer, etc. Who do you recommend and how much should I expect to pay to get it installed?
Then there are these miniature plows, that mount to a front hitch, or frame. Cheaper, and I plan on only plowing my driveway.
SnowSport® Snow Plows | SUV & Pickup Truck Snowplows
$1,730.00
8', hitch not included, No tilt, No drag
Meyer Home Plow > Home
Sold by Home Depot,
$2,500
6'8", hitch not included, hydraulic up/down
FrontLine Snowplows
$2,979.00
Includes frame mount, hydraulic up/down left/right, does not obscure or block front hitch mount.This is the best cheap plow I've found.
There are real plows, BOSS, Meyer, etc. Who do you recommend and how much should I expect to pay to get it installed?
Then there are these miniature plows, that mount to a front hitch, or frame. Cheaper, and I plan on only plowing my driveway.
SnowSport® Snow Plows | SUV & Pickup Truck Snowplows
$1,730.00
8', hitch not included, No tilt, No drag
Meyer Home Plow > Home
Sold by Home Depot,
$2,500
6'8", hitch not included, hydraulic up/down
FrontLine Snowplows
$2,979.00
Includes frame mount, hydraulic up/down left/right, does not obscure or block front hitch mount.This is the best cheap plow I've found.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 4
From: Nowthen, MN
Don't waste your money on one of those cheap plows.
For the same price as one of those, you can find a used "real" plow that will do a much better job and last longer. Fisher, Western, Boss, Meyer, Hiniker are all good plows. I have personally used Western, Fisher, and Meyer and can't say that one is really better than the others. One of the multi-position V plows would be ideal for doing your driveway, but they also cost more. A regular straight blade works just fine.
An ATV with a plow is also great for plowing a driveway. I have a plow for my Polaris Scrambler and I am always amazed at how much snow that thing will push. It's not as warm as plowing in a truck, but it IS more fun.
For the same price as one of those, you can find a used "real" plow that will do a much better job and last longer. Fisher, Western, Boss, Meyer, Hiniker are all good plows. I have personally used Western, Fisher, and Meyer and can't say that one is really better than the others. One of the multi-position V plows would be ideal for doing your driveway, but they also cost more. A regular straight blade works just fine.
An ATV with a plow is also great for plowing a driveway. I have a plow for my Polaris Scrambler and I am always amazed at how much snow that thing will push. It's not as warm as plowing in a truck, but it IS more fun.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 240
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From: Medina Ohio
Hiniker Poly 7' is 449lbs
Hiniker Steel 7.5' is 603lbs
Hiniker Heavy Poly 8' is 733lbs
Meyer Drive Pro Poly 7.5' 575lbs with out mount
Meyer Drive Pro Steel 7.5' 620lbs with out mount
Not even sure if they make a mount kit for a SD.
Meyer Lot Pro Steel 7.5' 773lbs with out mount
vs
Frontline Steel FL900H 7.5' is 322bs
Meyer Home Plow 241lbs
Snowsport is aluminum and < 150lbs
It's a 11 year old truck and I'm not sure adding 320lbs looks a lot better than 600lbs. maybe its not a big difference, but it seems like it to me.
Hiniker Steel 7.5' is 603lbs
Hiniker Heavy Poly 8' is 733lbs
Meyer Drive Pro Poly 7.5' 575lbs with out mount
Meyer Drive Pro Steel 7.5' 620lbs with out mount
Not even sure if they make a mount kit for a SD.
Meyer Lot Pro Steel 7.5' 773lbs with out mount
vs
Frontline Steel FL900H 7.5' is 322bs
Meyer Home Plow 241lbs
Snowsport is aluminum and < 150lbs
It's a 11 year old truck and I'm not sure adding 320lbs looks a lot better than 600lbs. maybe its not a big difference, but it seems like it to me.
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Sydney
I wouldnt worry about the weight too much. I had a 1995 GMC with 8.5 Boss VBlade. That thing was a tank. I now have a 08 F250 with 8.5 Vblade which works awesome. You can still get Boss or Fisher straight blades that are lighter than 700lbs. Deffinitley go with the real plow.
Also depends on how much snow you get to I suppose. Where Im from we can get hit pretty hard. Judging by the size of that little plow youd be better with a shovel.
Also depends on how much snow you get to I suppose. Where Im from we can get hit pretty hard. Judging by the size of that little plow youd be better with a shovel.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 240
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From: Medina Ohio
The way my yard is a 4" snowfall will put 8-10" across most of my driveway.
So if I'm looking at a used plow what should I know? Hydraulics/pump? Blade edge? Controller/wiring?
Don't want to spend more than $2k because I might just get a 4x4 ATV which can do other things than snow removal.
So if I'm looking at a used plow what should I know? Hydraulics/pump? Blade edge? Controller/wiring?
Don't want to spend more than $2k because I might just get a 4x4 ATV which can do other things than snow removal.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Western Connecticut
Get a real plow. Don't buy a cheap home driveway thingy, you'll be pissed when you start breaking it. Buy a used one. There are lots....or will be lots for sale as soon as the season gets closer. Ask lots of questions and speak to a lot of people that plow. There are idea's all across the board.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 14
From: West Cornwall, CT
I have used all 3 options. A plow on a pickup truck works the best. It takes longer to attach the plow to the truck than it would take to do your driveway plowing. 10 minute plow job with the truck.
A tractor with a loader is great for stacking snow and moving snow piles around, but is much, much slower than a real plow hooked to a pickup. An ATV is OK for light duty work - sidewalks etc.
As others have recommended, a full sized standard plow, used, would be the most economical choice.
Lou Braun
A tractor with a loader is great for stacking snow and moving snow piles around, but is much, much slower than a real plow hooked to a pickup. An ATV is OK for light duty work - sidewalks etc.
As others have recommended, a full sized standard plow, used, would be the most economical choice.
Lou Braun
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 561
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From: Indianapolis, IN
Where are you located? How much snow annually? How far away do your family members live?
You can move snow with a shovel, with a board taped to the truck, or with various machines. The issue is how much snow, how much to clear, how fast you want it cleared, and of course, how much you want to spend.
You can move snow with a shovel, with a board taped to the truck, or with various machines. The issue is how much snow, how much to clear, how fast you want it cleared, and of course, how much you want to spend.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 26
From: Mesa AZ
Nothing to add except to say "Thanks!" 
All this snow plow talk has helped take my mind off the 112 degree heat today. It was nice while it lasted, but alas...it's time to brave the weather and head home....I hope my shoes don't melt while crossing the parking lot.
All this snow plow talk has helped take my mind off the 112 degree heat today. It was nice while it lasted, but alas...it's time to brave the weather and head home....I hope my shoes don't melt while crossing the parking lot.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: St Croix Falls,WI
western and boss are good plows as well. My dad has a 9ft V-plow and if i bought another plow it would be a V-plow.
Atv plows are good until you get wet heavy snow then it just sucks trying to move it. (been there done it)
if you wanted the tractor i would get the bucket and a snow blower. I think it goes faster with a snow blower over just a bucket
Atv plows are good until you get wet heavy snow then it just sucks trying to move it. (been there done it)
if you wanted the tractor i would get the bucket and a snow blower. I think it goes faster with a snow blower over just a bucket
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
From: maine
I live in Maine, I've had a BOSS 9'2" V-plow for 7 years, absolutely the best plow I've ever used, no problems what so ever. Literally takes 60 seconds to hook up and 30 seconds to take off I plow 12 driveways. The only complaint I do have about electric hydraulic is lack of power to push yourself out of a snow bank, but after a couple times of shoveling yourself out, you learn real fast not to get hung up, lol.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 270
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do real plow.... u will be happier in the end. I have a meyers hasent failed me yet. my boss uses a boss plow he has had it since 05 and plowed every year hasent changed the cutting edge or fluids yet. thing still looks mint
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 668
From: Maine
I'm not gonna read everyone's responces, but my advice is don't waste your money on a cheap plow. If you can't get a good new one, get a good used one. Those mini plows are crap, and just asking for damage to your truck. 
I Highly recommend Fisher, but a Boss, Western, or other HD plow should be fine.
I have a fisher, and can honestly say that I hit something hard enough to break the truck, (Given it was a Ram 2500
) and the plow....was fine. SLIGHT warp to it. Thats it. Truck, and on truck plow frame broke. Plow was/is fine. (Still use the same plow, but changed trucks.
)
Just keep it in a dry area when being stored, and change your hydraulic fluid each year, and it will take good care of you.
I Highly recommend Fisher, but a Boss, Western, or other HD plow should be fine.
I have a fisher, and can honestly say that I hit something hard enough to break the truck, (Given it was a Ram 2500
) and the plow....was fine. SLIGHT warp to it. Thats it. Truck, and on truck plow frame broke. Plow was/is fine. (Still use the same plow, but changed trucks.)Just keep it in a dry area when being stored, and change your hydraulic fluid each year, and it will take good care of you.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 52
From: Southern Colorado
In Colo, you can find a used plow truck (defined as a semi-beat, carbureted Chevy or Ford) for $2000 +/-$500. Due to my terrain, I have to have 4 tire chains on my plow truck at all times - so the idea of putting a plow on my Super Duty is a waste if I wanted to drive the truck for any other reason. I recommend a decent plow truck with a Western (or other good/real plow). A gravel driveway will be extra hard on a cheap 'personal' plow, due to the gravel piling up in front of the plow, etc. I realize that not everyone has the driveway space or wife-tolerance to have a plow truck hanging around.
A tractor is slow and cold, but ok on flat ground and ATVs are surprisingly capable, but sometimes you have to flog the ATV rather mercilessly to get the job done - hard on it, and you.
A tractor is slow and cold, but ok on flat ground and ATVs are surprisingly capable, but sometimes you have to flog the ATV rather mercilessly to get the job done - hard on it, and you.
