Thinking Now Is the Time to Start

[KAG]

Want to try to get an early jump on snow removal contracts. Considering buying a skid steer for this as well and snow blower. Looking for advice on $$ and equipment. I lived in Alaska for 8 years so I have a pretty good idea as to how to do it. Just not sure what piece of equipment and bidding is the more profitable.

[MASTERMOWER]

You have a tractor w/ a loader eh? Buy a rear blade. I've seen similar set-ups in JC. Seems to work fairly well. It'd get cold though. It'd really depend on the plowing work you want to seek what would be the best set-up.

Myself, I run a 7.5' Meyer plow and think it works well, but sometimes I wish it had better down pressure. I'm probably gonna buy a wider plow for this winter though.

[TRANSMAN]

Way back when

You have a tractor w/ a loader eh? Buy a rear blade. I've seen similar set-ups in JC. Seems to work fairly well. It'd get cold though. It'd really depend on the plowing work you want to seek what would be the best set-up.

Myself, I run a 7.5' Meyer plow and think it works well, but sometimes I wish it had better down pressure. I'm probably gonna buy a wider plow for this winter though.

When i lived in upstate NY the guys who made money , I should emphasize real good money $$$$$$$$$$ were the ones with a 4 wheel drive and a snowplow...

I even picked up an old 67-68 GMC that had a 307 with a 7 foot plow on it and couldn't keep up with the calls the last few years i lived up there...

Ohh how i used to love hearing the wind blowing knowing all the driveways i cleared were piling up with snowdrifts again even though the snow stopped falling the day before and if the customer wanted to keep their drives accessible and get the car out to get to town the phone ran off the hook meaning $$$$$$$

4 wheel drive or anything that can push and has traction with plow that you can drive to the customer seems to me to be the only way to go unless your just doing your own driveway............

[KAG]

I can see where a p/u with front blade would do fine in resi areas. What about the bigger jobs as for equipment when trying to secure and manage larger contracts such as parking lots. Think a p/u w/plow is the quickest and most cost efficient way to go for these?

Resi area drives I am figuring $25 a push.....too high/low..just right? I do have a tractor and it does do a pretty a good job with the Fel but the thought of driving it all over town has me thinking a long cold way of making money is not what i want to do. Maybe if I had a 6 way blade for it and a cab.

[KAG]

Trading in the wifes veh for another truck w/plow

Been after her for a while to get rid of her Durango for another truck. 3/4 diesel at least. I mean she might as well get the plow kit option on it.....

[TRANSMAN]

No wasn't talking about that

I can see where a p/u with front blade would do fine in resi areas. What about the bigger jobs as for equipment when trying to secure and manage larger contracts such as parking lots. Think a p/u w/plow is the quickest and most cost efficient way to go for these?

Resi area drives I am figuring $25 a push.....too high/low..just right? I do have a tractor and it does do a pretty a good job with the Fel but the thought of driving it all over town has me thinking a long cold way of making money is not what i want to do. Maybe if I had a 6 way blade for it and a cab.

My buddy who still lives up in NY has contracts with wal-marts Costco's and those other super stores and uses big dump trucks with plows he made to actually go under the parked trailer rigs...

I thought you or the original poster were considering little snow blowers or maybe a small tractor with plow or blower that would have to be hauled around threw snowstorms unloaded loaded etc and that would have just been to time consuming and slow for a mover and shaker

[Georges Lawn & Mulch]

I can see where a p/u with front blade would do fine in resi areas. What about the bigger jobs as for equipment when trying to secure and manage larger contracts such as parking lots. Think a p/u w/plow is the quickest and most cost efficient way to go for these?

Resi area drives I am figuring $25 a push.....too high/low..just right? I do have a tractor and it does do a pretty a good job with the Fel but the thought of driving it all over town has me thinking a long cold way of making money is not what i want to do. Maybe if I had a 6 way blade for it and a cab.

Start with residential and small commercials until you learn the ins and outs of estimating. A 4 wheel drive 3/4 ton pickup with a 7.5 or 8 ft blade will do fine for this type of work. If you run a dump an 8.5 or 9 footer is best so it clears the rear wheels when fully angled. You need big equipment and big bucks for large commercial contracts. Newbies don't stand much of a chance of winning the larger contracts from well established plowers. They already have the money invested in loaders with pushers and large dumps with large plows. Most of these guys are construction types that have other uses for the larger equipment. I would hate to see you invest large bucks and not have it snow or lose out to more experienced businesses and be stuck with payments and no income.

[KAG]

Start with residential and small commercials until you learn the ins and outs of estimating. A 4 wheel drive 3/4 ton pickup with a 7.5 or 8 ft blade will do fine for this type of work. If you run a dump an 8.5 or 9 footer is best so it clears the rear wheels when fully angled. You need big equipment and big bucks for large commercial contracts. Newbies don't stand much of a chance of winning the larger contracts from well established plowers. They already have the money invested in loaders with pushers and large dumps with large plows. Most of these guys are construction types that have other uses for the larger equipment. I would hate to see you invest large bucks and not have it snow or lose out to more experienced businesses and be stuck with payments and no income.

Yes that makes very good sense there........probably 4WD Dually w/8ft blade is where I am headed.

[KAG]

No bs

Wife went to Abilene dealer to look at a 2006 Dodge mega cab Diesel dually 4x4 with plow kit option. Got over there after calling and someone took the truck to use it for an errand (dealer buddy) well they wrecked it.... it was a nice truck. So plan B....maybe an older diesel 4x4 with flat bed on it and put a plow kit on it. Have to start researching it as I know little about p/u truck kits.

Been looking at a BOSS plow kit with wings or curb kit

[Orlandosanders]

I want to start early on snow plowing contracts. How do I give an estimate for the bid and how do I bid? What Equipment is necessary to get started