Snowplow for a Ford F150 4x4 ext cab

Scuba_Dave · 10-26-2006, 09:40 PM

I'm debating getting a snow plow for the truck, 6.5' bed, 4.6 V8
I'm not really planning on going into the snow plowing biz, but my driveway is going to be 50' long. Buying a snowblower will run over $1k & take maybe an hour or longer depending upon the amount of snow. The end of the driveway gets a lot of now as I have seen in recent winters

A guy has a setup for sale for $600. If it fits my truck it would be well worth it. He has an F350 - mine is only a F150
Its over 10 years old
I'm not sure what they cost new, found a "Homeowner model"
http://www.fisherplows.com/modeldetail.asp?model=hs
only 250 lbs weight
Easy enough for me to move around
The bigger plows are 500# and up

ANy experience here with plows?

Gforce3s · 10-26-2006, 11:30 PM

The F350 is built on a bigger sized frame, and has a different front subframe than an F150, so i do not believe it would fit. It may, but in most cases it wont.

I know a few people taht have a fisher plow, the 250 pound one and they work just fine for what you are talking about doing. I would look into getting one of the homeowner models.

Also when you plow check your transmission fluid frequently, and possibly install a transmission temperature gauge (or have one installed by a tech.) Plowing is hell on transmissions and usually causes them to overheat, and then fail completly.

By the way where in MA are you located? I just moved back home from living in Norwood MA for a year for school.

Greg.

Doug1 · 10-27-2006, 01:05 AM

50' driveway, mines at least a 1/4mi to the hiway. Deep snow is not that common here, got 19" a few years back, drove the Dodge 4x4 up and down the road to keep it broken down then drive my grand am out and back to level of the snow so the wife could get hers out to the hiway and stay with my daughter in town for the next week.
You prolly get much more snow there so it may be worth investing in a plow, if you dont have a tractor or something. Once plows on they are usually a chore to R and R and not something you want to drive around with all winter.Also if you go light duty you have to watch for them suden overnight dumper storms

Loverotties · 10-27-2006, 05:36 AM

Fisher is a good company!

Twitterbait · 10-27-2006, 03:54 PM

make sure to paint "Mr. Plow" on the side...

call mister plow, thats my name, that name again is mister plow...

Scuba_Dave · 10-27-2006, 06:24 PM

I'm South of Boston - Rockland MA

I don't have a tractor, I "gardened" myself out of one

Had plans of buying one but:
Added a 10x14' garden out back
The new 24'x36' garage, which will have a 5' garden in the back. Plus there will be a naturalized area along the 36' length of the garage out about 15 - 20'
Then gardens along the front fence, side fence (5'). Then the back area behind the pool will all be natural

So, not a ton of yard left to justify a ride on mower.
The 250# setup sounds right unless I find a used one. But I'll have to see what the price difference is. The F350 plow is too big, not worth it too try to mount it

Phishnoob · 10-27-2006, 06:58 PM

I know a teeny bit about snow removal and would really invest in one of the good snow blowers Honda makes. You can get into everyplace and with the tracks and hydrostatic drive will end up getting it all tidy without all the cleanup from what your rig would leave behind. You can cover a lot of ground in one pass and the Honda never seemed to break shear pins and always started.

After years of all day service at a resort with 70 units with the Honda being bulletproof I would take a quality snowblower over using the plow truck anyday. It was nice to get the John Deere loader with a giant blower to make a big pass but did my driveway lots of times with just the snowblower.

Scuba_Dave · 10-27-2006, 07:24 PM

Nice machine - with tracks - but $2300!!

I have been looking at the Huskies in the past few years if I opt for a snowblower. I think I'll have to look around at some of the shops that repair stuff & see what they service

You may be right about the plow (plus used one is $1900)
Plus I then have to put the plow on the truck
With the snowblower I would just have to open the garage door & go

Phishnoob · 10-27-2006, 08:49 PM

I spent seven months with 12 feet of snow in the yard and my job was removing snow for a resort. That Honda is worth every penny and when you consider it a lifetime investment then it is nothing. Changing shear pins on the other brands and goofing with stupid wheel drive and not having hydrostatic drive meant a lot, but we were out there for eight hours a day with sometimes two feet dropping overnight. Your needs might vary. I don't have a lot to do so just going to shovel here for me and the hot mom and daughter next door. They did pick up Blitz's poo and bring in the trash cans so it is the least I can do.

On that Huskie carry a bunch of bolts for the shear pins for each side. Don't get them too high of grade or you will snap the one in the main shaft and you have to flip the machine over to replace that. Keep the machine inside so it starts. Good luck digging to the pavement and getting into those banks with the wheel drive.

Not ragging on that other machine but viva la' difference.

Scuba_Dave · 10-27-2006, 09:54 PM

My lawnmower is a Honda, only it's 2nd season, but I like it
I'd rather buy the right equipment the 1st time around
It's less expensive that way
I'll need to check out some dealers in the area, HD & Lowes aren't going to cut it for this. Probably be next year when I buy it, since the garage will be started in the Spring
Unless they have an end of year clearance in the spring

Phishnoob · 10-27-2006, 10:14 PM

I wouldn't buy a Honda car but did have a totally nice VF700R Interceptor that I went down on not to a fault of the bike.

However heard a lot about Honda lawnmowers and not another peep out of me about the snowblowers and the universal legendary reviews from the mountain folks and first hand experience.

I did a lot of plowing all winter but the blade can only do so much then it is shovel and blower artistry.

Scuba_Dave · 10-27-2006, 10:59 PM

I'll just have to convince the wife
She was giving me a hard time about $1k for a snowblower

I just read 12 reviews, seems "everyone" likes them
Even people who had some problems - which were fixed

Scuba_Dave · 10-28-2006, 09:01 PM

Interesting, searched Craigslist - not a single Honda snowblower for sale
All sorts of other brands

Phishnoob · 10-28-2006, 09:22 PM

Yep...reason for that. I would buy one in a second.

tdwyatt · 10-30-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phishnoob

I spent seven months with 12 feet of snow in the yard... Your needs might vary (but) I don't have a lot to do so (I am) just going to shovel here for me and the hot mom and daughter next door... ...viva la' difference.

somehow this really struck me as funny!

Poor Perry, stranded in the snow, with the hot mom and daughter...