Let it snow...

[camdigger]

Since we can expect snow anytime in the next 45 days up here, I have been picking away at building a snow plow blade for my pickup. I have made extensive use of inventory, so only have about 200$ CDN in this.

The theory is that almost every pickup around has a receiver hitch, so the blade will pin on with one pin. The winch battery will sit in the truck box for now. I may rig up a charge circuit from the trailer plug.

[camdigger]

If this thing works, I may scrape up the cash for a front receiver.

[Norm W]

It brings new meaning to "Watching over your shoulder, for something coming up on you".

[Lew Hartswick]

From the WW ( Weather Weenies) here it looks like the northern edges of NM may even get some snow next Tue . This huge Arctic surge is definitely going to bring temps to below freezing right on the heels of record highs for the date. I would think all you Alberta residents would be in the "icebox" by Sun. :-)
...lew...

[LKeithR]

Originally Posted by camdigger

If this thing works, I may scrape up the cash for a front receiver.

Lookin' good and I do think you'd be a lot more comfortable with the plow in front of you. Having to turn around and watch behind me would kill my neck.

On another note I heard from someone that there was a small chance of snow on some of the mountain passes between Revelstoke and Banff but I haven't seen any mention of it on any of the official weather channels...

[toprecycler]

It will beat hand shoveling for sure. Just try to keep the load even on both side and not push only one side at a time.

You will get better at backing up using your door mirrors for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using ShopFloorTalk

[digger doug]

These have been sold commercially with the blade pointing forward.

Problems are torqueing hard on the 2" sq. from both the un-even ground,
as well as un-even load side-to-side.

Commercial snowplows' use them in residential drive ways to simply back in, tite
to garage door, drop both blades, and the plow out to the road.

the rear blade sometimes has wings to hold more snow, they are just plowing the snow that is between the garage door, and the front plow's cutting edge.

On a residential concrete driveway, none of these problems exist.

[camdigger]

Originally Posted by LKeithR

Lookin' good and I do think you'd be a lot more comfortable with the plow in front of you. Having to turn around and watch behind me would kill my neck.

On another note I heard from someone that there was a small chance of snow on some of the mountain passes between Revelstoke and Banff but I haven't seen any mention of it on any of the official weather channels...

See post #2. Until I am convinced the thing works, I will put off the front receiver. I have lots of backing experience using mirrors from driving trucks.

As far as being able to see, there is better visibility of the blade ends with the side mirrors than with a front mount blade with the hood in the way. Backing up using both mirrors gives a view of the blade equal to the best of the big dozers from a decade ago. I can actually see the lower corners of the blade. Some dozers I sat on over the years hid the blade corners behind the front track idler.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by camdigger

See post #2. Until I am convinced the thing works, I will put off the front receiver. I have lots of backing experience using mirrors from driving trucks.

As far as being able to see, there is better visibility of the blade ends with the side mirrors than with a front mount blade with the hood in the way. Backing up using both mirrors gives a view of the blade equal to the best of the big dozers from a decade ago. I can actually see the lower corners of the blade. Some dozers I sat on over the years hid the blade corners behind the front track idler.

I think it should work better than a back blade on a tractor, but I have two suggestions.
I would create a swivel to allow some rotational movement, so that the blade follows the ground instead of what the rear axle is sitting on.

I would also set up sliders on the blade edge so the cutting edge just skims the surface.

have done this on my loader as I have an angled blade with a frame held in the bucket by chains. I noticed that the cutting edge where the snow exits the blade was always in the ground and wearing hard. The slider shoe solved that and made it easier to push.

[RED caddy]

What is this SNOW thing you guys speak of ?

We have nun such here in paradise.

We do, however have to water the wooden shingles on the roof so they can properly rot off before they catch fire...

RED