Options for for Moving Snow When Snowed In?

I'd put a plow on the Duramax, for the few times you may need it.
Put a snow machine in the back, in case you get stuck

 

I would put a plow on your truck. Plowing is like anything, its up to the operator how abused the machine gets. I bought a 1998 1/2 ton GMC pickup with a plow and do my drive and neighbors. Truck is old and rusty but Im careful and all is well so far.

 

A few questions: How long and wide is your driveway? Has the guy with the plow truck moved the 10' high iced over snow drifts? If I got 10' snow drifts I would want a tractor with a bucket to move that. I don't think my plow truck could clean that up.

 

There is no such thing as a chain in an SM465. I'm guessing you mean the transfer case chain. 81 should be a 208. Looking at around $150 cost to repair all said and done.

The times here were the wind makes a big drift across my driveway (usually 3-4ft high and hard as rock) I've used my skid steer.


A plow for the old Blazer will be likely easier to find and cheaper as it won't need to be as big or heavy duty. A plow for the Dirtmax, your looking at several grand.

There are no snow removal contractors? For the $50 or whatever that would be pretty darn cheap if it's just a few times a winter.

 

All of the above comments are good imo. Don't know how long the driveway/road is you're plowing, or whether it's a smooth gravel road or full of bad rocks, but my experience tells me that... you really don't have to worry too much about the wear and tear on a good plowtruck (Duramax) as long as you take your time and let the truck do what it has to, a little at a time, in low range. (7-1/2' to 8' plow max width) Get a quick switch type plow, that goes on and off easily, and you can then choose whether to drive with or without it on. Short trips are no big deal with the plow hanging off the front. You'd get used to it. If you run into the occasional ice/frozen snow type storm, hire a loader to come and dig you out... definately do not beat on the plowtruck trying to get thru it. It could cost you 10x what the hired loader/tractor w/bucket would. I have a plow for my ATV. Used it a couple times. Better than a shovel... but it's no snowplow (that's with tracks on the ATV). I'm on my 3rd Fisher plow. First 2 were 8' steel mounted on GMC and a Chev 4x4 pickups with 500lbs weight in the bed and good studded winter tires. My plowing now is done with a 6' steel/plastic Fisher light weight plow. Perfect match for our Wrangler to push last winter. I've got a small JD tractor w/bucket that takes care of the heavy frozen stuff when needed.

I'll bet we'd all like to see any pics you have of your "battleground" you're going to plow. Being warm and dry while plowing btw, is priceless.

 

That's hardcore there. Looks like not much windbreaks. Pics show how bad it could get.

 

Yes on the skidsteer, a bobcat is a brand of skidsteer.

On outfitting the K5, are you going to be able to find parts
for the older model truck you have? You'll need push plates
and head gear. Then hydraulics and electronics (which may not be
needed if your doing your own property only).
My guess is those items may be hard to come by since
everything has changed over the years to minute mount. Insurance
companies spearheaded getting the headgear off the trucks
due to the damage they caused in accidents.

 

Maybe you could do some research on snow fences. Around here people put up snow fences to prevent drifts, but I'm not sure how they work.

 

I don't know about other brands but I know for sure Fisher plows still carries some parts for plows that are 40+ years old. I would expect it to be the case for the bigger names in plows.

My Dad has a Fisher plow on his 79 Chev K10, the plow is circa early 1970s. It's run off a belt driven pump and the plow lift frame stays on the truck. Pre electric pump or minute mount.
That setup is better for the older trucks with the 60ish amp alternators.

Yes skid steer = Bobcat.

I would not just buy one JUST for moving snow in a driveway, they are not cheap. The one I have, an S250 was about $40k new.

 

Thats a good option, maybe having a skid steer available for other tasks would make this option more likely

 

Wood heated driveway

 

Wow. You've got a h*ll of a distance to plow don't you? And, as said, drifting must be a constant issue. Guess I'd have more than a couple guys on deck for the times you need a tractor/loader to push thru and/or push back drifts... but you're prolly gonna be OK with the plow set-up you described. Good luck.

 

Tractor with cab and a loader on the front. Not terribly expensive on the used market. Bonus it is useful all year around. No truck or suv is going to move a 10ft drift. I know I plow all winter. I keep a compact tractor around for big drifts, but compact tractors are pricy. Sometimes I just have to do it with a walk behind snowblower and chisel my way through it. Regular full sized farm tractors are a better buy with a wide front end not the tricycle type.