Hey everyone,

I'm evaluating the possibility of starting a little snow removal company this winter in my neighbourghood. Since I'm studying to become a pilot, I have only a few flight during winter because the little cessnas don't like the cold. I thought it would be far more interesting to do this instead of the classic student job. Anyway, I'm here to know if some of you use their ranger to plow snow, and if it would still be good enough to do it commercially (but mostly residential).

P.s: I know an f-250 is better

 

Of course, just don't take on huge drifts. Hit it early before it gets too deep.

 

For residential purposes i think you would be alright man... Also i think its a little hot outside to be think about snow

 

Agreed. Add some weight in the bed and try and get out there before it gets too bad.

Also agreed. It was 109* here today.

 

Lol yeah... I don't wan't to be late, and it's a lot on investment.

 

i see quite a few rangers around here in the winter with plows on them. i wouldnt use it to clear large parking lots or anything but they are great for driveways. ive always wanted to put a plow on my ranger.

 

Id imagine a plow would make a great bumper too

 

There was a good thread on plows a few months ago with people posting plows they had/wanted/worked. Try a search to find it, it may provide some help on the subject.

PS - It's Canada, it's never too early to think about clearing snow . . .

 

Depends on what you mean by commercial...


I plow with a 97 Explorer, 4.0 SOHC, auto with AWD. We get about 100-150" of snow a year, I plow about 20-25 times (at least 6" each time). I do 4 driveways totaling about 1 mile or so of plowing, one of which is a STEEP hill.

That said, the tranny has lasted two winters and it had 143k on it when I started. Last winter I overheated the tranny 3x to the effect of dumping about 2-3 quarts out the vent tube. She's still going, but on VERY borrowed time. I have a jy tranny and 1354 manual ready to go in, but also a compact tractor and blower hopefully by Winter.

If you are doing some short runs, not too much snow, and it is not a daily driver try it. Just make sure your customers are not too mad when the tranny craps out and you can't clear snow for them!

 

Owners manual says not to plow with this vehicle.

 

Exactly. No one should plow with IFS vehicles. It east up the control arms, ball joints, tie rods, springs, and shocks.

SAS it and you will be good to go lol.

 

The owners manual also says not to lift your ranger. I have plowed with a ranger, owned an explorer with a plow, and have a buddy that has a ranger with about 300K miles on it that has had a plow since new.

As far as doing it commercially, what my buddy with the 300K ranger runs into, is companies that pay for him to plow get upset when they see a little truck in their lot. He has a fleet of 3/4 ton diesel rams for plowing but he loves the ranger as it is a better plow truck.

~HJ

 

^^^^^ i used to plow with mine. I had a 6'8'' snow-way and it worked out really well. The plow was rather light so that saved the front end a bit.

 

I can see in your picture you are very right. A small, light plow will help save the front and it will keep you from over plowing and trying to move too much. Good idea.

 

The biggest thing with plowing, is being able to see around yourself as well as manueverability. commercial clients my get mad when they see such a tiny truck, however the tiny trucks actually work best in most situations, due to their small size. And actually, a ranger can plow just as much as a full size truck can, it just cant push the piles back as far on a single push...go with a non steel blade and remember to watch the edges of concrete,..... they will stop you in your tracks. Also remember to keep your blade angled to take most of the stress off the truck, Also, keeping your blde angled will help you avoid getting caught on breaks in concrete except for the must extreme breaks...I plow my concrete driveway, side walks and neighbors driveways with a 1976 cub cadet 1650 yard tractor with full hydrualics... Size and weight help, as does 4wd (3 things I DONT have) however patience and skill, will allow you to clear just about any amount of snow.

 

Number one with plowing: Experience is everything!!

Do your own driveway a few times before risking strangers driveways.

Try getting businesses with larger, square parking lots with no concrete dividers.

 

I agree with Masterarms plowing pavement is WAY easier than plowing concrete... Parking lots seem like theyed be harder, but there not. The biggest thing with parking lots aside from obstacles its traction.

I hadnt put the skid chains on yet in this picture:

 

mr plow thats my name that name again is mr plow

 

That's a first on here lol











Seriously though, pavement is slick as hell

 

For anyone considering plowing snow commercially , Have a heated garage , a 4 inch angle grinder , and a stick welder handy 24/7.
It's not the tall obstructions , it's the short , solid bastards under the snow you can't see that tend to wreck your day.
I've been plowing for 20+ years on the Tug Hill in New York. Average 400 inches a season.
Yous guys in the UP might know what I mean. It aint always concrete or pavement you get to plow . Many times gravel roads / driveways , where the landowner forgot to mark the 16 inch diameter tree stump that sticks up 8 inches under a foot of snow with the sun in your eyes.
You stop when you don't want to.
Those teeth marks in the steering wheel aren't planned.
Now where did you put that short chain , cause you need it to hold the plow off the ground till you get back to the shop , so you can spend the next 4 hours fixing that side plate mount ?
Hope at that point in time you're not saying "Crap , why did I do this to my DD!"

 

For a teeny little bit of plowing you are good. But Ranger frames are not made for plowing - you would need to modify it by boxing in the frame and reinforcing the front end where you plan to do hookups or else youll risk some major frame damage + cracking if you even nudge something just a little bit too hard too fast.

If you want to get into that type of business, get an old diesel truck or something and dont risk you Ranger, you would regret it the first day you notice a few stress cracks...

 

buy an old k5 blazer.. cheap work horse. my brother and i both have 86's w 7' meyers .. bought the trucks for 1000 each w plows 5 years ago. we have one neighbor hood that we had snow blade deep and no issues at all.. oh and if i hit a tree or slide into a pole i dont care.

 

Your Ranger wasn't made for big tires, but you still put them on.

 

Get a transmission temperature gauge... snow plowing beats the hell out of transmissions.

 

Even if it's a manual?