8-foot wide self-powered snowblower for 2018 3500 HD dually Ram?

[mwilson]

Bought mine used, it needed some attention but worth the effort and cost savings.
Had the commercial version of the snowblower which is built tougher than the residential ones.

 

[mwilson]

Hydraulic rotate and electric (or hydraulic) chute controls are a must have..

 

[DonRam240]

Yes, here's an example eBay listing below at $38K used for A/C-heated cab version. Would be fine, storage space ???, but even a good used "find" doesn't look more economical.
Will continue to look for some actual user experience with a recent 84" SnowVac. Used carefully, in my own comfy truck cab so I'm not out fixing sheared pins etc, still want to see what somebody's experience is. Videos suggest slow and careful works; patience is the key. Not a commercial proposition, but that's not our need. Puzzled it's not easier to find, but likely not a ton of users out there for all the reasons you guys effectively point out!
Not so simple. Maybe we'll get lucky and be able to make a good arrangement for prompt snow removal with a local fellow. Working on that too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2255051152...qLljh21Yal5C5USHEd8O/Ir7I=|tkp:Bk9SR_jvkZiLYg

 

[mwilson]

So go measure the width from outside fender to outside on that dually. Aren’t the fenders going to be running right in the snow with an 84” blower?
How big is the fuel tank on the blower? That thing will be sucking unleaded at an alarming rate under full load.
If you slide the least little bit backing up you will be stuck. You may have to put some weight in the body because the rear of the truck is going to get really light when you lift that snowblower..
Just a few possible snarls off the top of my head…and many episodes dealing with snow over my entire lifetime gives me some perspective..

 

[Ozymandias]

Just a few possible snarls off the top of my head…and many episodes dealing with snow over my entire lifetime gives me some perspective..

Same here, snow is ugly if it isn't used for recreational activities.
I always preferred heavy equipment to deal with it once old enough to run it.

Edit: and what always turned me off was inferior equipment.
Freezing to death, dealing with problems out in the dark, snow blows horizontally into face...
Gosh, Baja is so much nicer in winter than this...

 

[DonRam240]

So go measure the width from outside fender to outside on that dually. Aren’t the fenders going to be running right in the snow with an 84” blower?
How big is the fuel tank on the blower? That thing will be sucking unleaded at an alarming rate under full load.
If you slide the least little bit backing up you will be stuck. You may have to put some weight in the body because the rear of the truck is going to get really light when you lift that snowblower..
Just a few possible snarls off the top of my head…and many episodes dealing with snow over my entire lifetime gives me some perspective..

YES, re: width I’m still waiting for a reply from SnowVac about their accessory wings and whether they can be positioned to gather the extra 6” on each side needed so the dually fenders don’t plow snow. Their online photos look positioned as little side plows instead. As with too many businesses who offer email communication, their reply is not coming at lightning speed. With the 4WD truck chained up with V-bar chains on all six tires, it will be harder to get stuck, though it’s never impossible, is it? Since it’s a crew cab 8 foot bed dually, the 1250 lb lift up front would have less leverage to unweight the rears. If we do this, will have to see if the extra bed weight is needed with experience.
I too dealt with plenty of snow in our 16 years living outside of Fairbanks, but on a 250 foot driveway, not 1/3 of a mile of private road like here. Loved our Ariens walk-behind snowblower and sold it to a friend when we left. 30 yrs later, this is the first time I halfway wish I’d moved it.
We’re nowhere near placing an order, that’s for sure. I do appreciate all the information, opinions, experience offered freely here.

 

[Topzide]

The info for putting a plow on my dually required about 1200#'s in the bed to compensate for the front load. There is almost no weight on back end. In my 1500, I had 3 junk 6500 watt genny's for extra weight against tailgate when we had a 20 + snowfall! I was the only one to get out our private road! Others that had full size 4x4's were unable to navigate the uphill grade out. I have about 1200#'s of weight that I put in the 1500 now with 7 1/2' plow. Haven't had any issues with the 15" snow that I pushed with it. You'll need some sort of counter weight even with the chains to be able to get around. What about a "V" plow to bust through? They make them to be a "V" and the straighten out to push normally. I'd be more inclined to go that route if not a stand alone machine.

 

[DonRam240]

Not a plow situation
When the need comes up, no place for a plow to put it. Blowing to move away from path is required.

 

[DonRam240]

Here is a fascinating thread about the old Hanson snowblower. Supposedly SnowVac took their design and improved it. After reading this thread, one wonders if they solved all the problems reflected here, eh?
https://www.plowsite.com/threads/hanson-snow-blowers.53012/

 

[bcbender]

Here ya go... I've seen similar units for about 1/2 that, just have to seek them out.

https://www.allsurplus.com/asset/4/23670

 

[Topzide]

If you get something like this, you could get a contract with local government to clear the road around you! It would help differ the cost a bit!

 

[DonRam240]

Yes, and my loving long-suffering spouse will be happy to let me park that in front of the house for all to admire…….

 

[Ozymandias]

 

[DonRam240]

This uber-machine from Honda is starting to look pretty good:
https://powerequipment.honda.com/snowblowers/models/hsm1336i

 

[Ozymandias]

I think I like that solution.

And if you have to work while it is snowing - there are some sort of Cabs available for these machines.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cab for snowblower&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m

 

[BigPapa]

What would it cost to put up a drift fence in the bad areas? Maybe some of the temp plastic stuff on some t-posts.

 

[bcbender]

I've used one of the 1336is... its a hoss of a SB,.. move a decent amount of snow that's for sure.

 

[DonRam240]

"What would it cost to put up a drift fence in the bad areas?" Thanks, good thought. Have considered that. All major drifting is on public road ROW, and in rocky ground for sinking necessary posts to boot; and the other half or 2/3 of the drift problem is on the road itself just outside of our private road. Like the idea of a snow fence, but with those issues, plus cost of materials and labor for a sturdy long-lasting one, plus that variation in wind direction may bring the drifts from an angle across the road itself bypassing the fence...... Haven't seen a way to make that practical as appealing as it is.
"I've used one of the 1336is... its a hoss of a SB" Thanks for the personal experience. Helpful to hear that. We are blessed with younger neighbors along our 1/3 mile of private road who will be willing to help with running the beast, adding to its practicality compared with the SnowVac.
Told my spouse that two passes with the Honda 1336, one out and one back to the house, will let her get her Subaru Outback through. Not that 1/3 mile of blowing in each direction won't take a while, but watching that YouTube video (above) showed me the Honda will process deep snow pretty darned efficiently. Faster rate of walking than I was expecting. Its use of the 24v electric motors to drive the tracks, saving engine HP entirely for the blower, is likely a significant factor. Interesting to find out how the battery charge maintenance goes during a job. They say you don't need a maintenance charger with the onboard charging system, but I will use one given how long this fellow will sit between uses.
I probably will spend less time fussing with issues than using the SnowVac, and it will be less work overall despite the appeal of that nice warm truck cab with its cushy seat (great if you can actually stay there till the job is done, but that doesn't seem overly probable.....) FYI still have not heard back from SnowVac about my side wings question, nor found even one end user's personal experience or YouTube video to give me a real idea about its quality, durability, effectiveness.

 

[BigPapa]

I was just thinking about something like this to help cut it down some. 100' roll looks to be @ $40. Drive some t-posts and put the fence on it when expecting the snow? Just a thought.

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm sure the Honda will work great and is well designed and proven.
Even in wet or frozen snow it will bite.