I recently recieved an offer to plow with my 2002 2500HD 4x4 (extended cab short bed) with plow package. It has the 5.9 V8 (Gas) and a Boss 7.5 Super-Duty. They pay by the hour and I was wondering how much fuel do you think I would burn in an hour plowing (mainly large parking lots). Anyone have any ideas?

 

Talk to a guy named THEGOLDPRO he plows for a living.

 

hank L, once said that a 1995 5.9 burns .6 gallons a hour at idle... but that problemly doesn't help you much

 

goldpro is the man to talk to.

 

that 0.6 gallons per hour is when the 5.9 V8 engine is idling with the ac off

my guess would be that you use 3 gallons per hour plowing parking lots at 15 mph

make sure your viscous clutch on the fan is good before starting plowing

begin putting away part of the plow payments into a budget for a 47RE transmission rebuild

 

Seems to there would be a lot of variables to consider. How deep the snow, what gear you have to use, what speed you plow at.

 

I would agree there are a lot of variables - but im sure there has to be a range (ie $15-$20 an hour) or something like that. We are just trying to figure out how much money we would actually be making.

The tranny and rear were replaced at 75k miles (100k now) with an upgraded transmission - not sure the new # but not original. I would think I shouldnt have a problem on that end for some time?

 

if you just upgraded the trans then your fine. send a pm to THEGOLDPRO. he can answer your question.

 

I plow here in Saint Louis in the winter and we dont really get a terrible amount of snow (except for last year) here if theres 3 inches outside people freak out. And we charge 90/hr per truck. And the company we work for charged the company around 140/hr per truck, he would not tell us exactly how much an hour he made of us.. lol. I made 30/hr for a truck I just sat in and drove, did not have to pay for gas or parts.

Also keep a few heavy duty cotter pins with you (the pin that connects plow to the plow bracket attached to the truck) They can break easy if your alittle rough and when it breaks the plow will flap around, if both break it really sucks. I had 3 break on me last year... we bought some huge ones this year though so im hoping i do not have to lay in the snow this year.. lol You can get them cheap at home depot if you want some cheap spares just incase.. there worth the investment and last awhile if your not really rough but those hidden curbs really suck.

 

They are offering $70 an hour - I am trying to figure if its worth it...

The pins that lock into the plow tend to break? The ones on the smarthitch 2 and the RT3?