Snow PLow Driving Styles

[dclassens]

I am in the process of getting a 2nd gen truck with a plow for my 3 pieces of property. Along with my personal needs I want some serious plow accounts for spare money. I have a 2nd gen with an AUTO trans. My next one will be a manual, no questions asked. I have had no problems, just want to change things up. I have spent many hours plowing in trucks with auto trans, most of these hours were in a Duramax chevy. I am curious about:

PLOWING STYLES IN A TRUCK WITH MANUAL TRANS. Any feed back, tips, info, ideas, etc. Anything will be digested. THanks a ton guys



DAVE





P. S. I am planning on a 06 from Tomygun. The plow truck will be the toy with bombs, and all the mods(stack, injectors, train horn, c. b. , many more)

 

[apkole]

We plow snow, residential and commercial, in Grand Rapids. Everything we use now are autos. Many years ago I used a Dodge 1 ton DRW for plowing residential. The truck was custom ordered with a high ratio reverse, cab 'n' chassis. Front and rear plows with the Monarch pump and rod controls for the valves.



I got along pretty good with it. First gear was granny, so usually used second starting out. The truck had a 318 V8, plenty of power for plowing drives. The route was 90 drives and could usually get done in about six hours or so. Those were city drives and a very tight route.



I just backed in and dropped both blades, stick 'er in second, drop the clutch and go.



Don't know (at 51 years old) if I would want to do that again. But in my early 20's I got along ok with all of the movement required to operate the controls and the shifiting. After a few hours it gets to be second nature and you'll be moving on autopilot.



Typically out 8 to 10 hours working now. That's alot of shifting and moving. I've found that even with the auto my right leg cramps up. Don't know how it would be clutching and braking all night. Four hours or so might not be too bad.

 

[dclassens]

apkole, Thanks a bunch for the info. I think you are right one the money when you say it becomes second nature. I am still a bit green at the age of 23 and this will be another way to increase my knowledge bank. Once again thanks for the info!!

 

[I-6DZL]

Have you talked with BigHammer, also a member from traverse city area. Great guy. He has a plow on his cummins (one of) Can't say if it's a man or auto (CRS syndrome)



Curtis

 

[Royk]

Like apkole says, it's second nature. Plowing with a manual is the only kind I know. I think a automatic would actually be harder for me. Too easy to jump one click into the wrong gear if your not looking at the shift indicator. With manual I always know exactly what gear I'm shifting into.



Roy

 

[apkole]

Royk has got it correct. When using an auto, you want to come to a complete stop before shifting from a forward gear into (R)ace. :-laf

 

[IC Smoke]

I do "Landscape Mantenance & Snow Removal" on the side. Auto trans byfar is the way to go. But unless you are comming out ahead when doing this its not worth is. Everything breaks over time! Manual trans just start out in second like what has been stated already. Put your plow control over to use with your left hand so that you can operate the plow yet shift gears (auto/manual) so youre not wasting time going from one hand to the other. Boss & Meyer have excellent hand-held controls A couple western operators around here are having problems with them going to crap but its all in the luck you have.



Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

Ian

 

[I-6DZL]

Nice rig Ian. Too nice of a truck to have a salt spreader on the back of!!!!



Curtis

 

[formula]

I've been doing plowing for about 5 winters so far I plow for the town and use their trucks. Have had the opportunity to drive a few different ones.



One thing I will say for absolute sure is I HATE PLOWING WITH AN AUTO TRANS !!!!! What a PITA



With the manual, I can just roll into a corner and by the time the snow stops the truck I'm already in reverse and letting out the clutch. Having more gears to select from is also nice, especially for pushing the heavy stuff at low speed. Definitely have plow control located for left hand use.



Lately, I've been running an F600 with a 4 speed (with 2-speed rear), an 11 foot plow and a sander. Split 3rd gear is my favorite. I can't begin to tell you how sweet having a loaded sander on the back is



Sean

 

[Gregg Mig]

I have always plowed with a manual its the only way to go,you have more control and feel with the clutch pedal than you do with the gas pedal,I do a lot of plowing and have never had to replace a clutch. I don't even have to touch the gas pedal most of the time,these engines have so much low end, they were meant to plow with.

 

[BILGAL]

My dad and I plow for our city, and have had auto and manual trucks, Right now we are running 2 6 speeds and prefer them over the automatics.

 

[Excessive Force]

I also plow with a 6 speed,and love it. I have the western handheld control,and it works great. Reverse is a little slow,but we get paid by the hour. The main thing is take your time,and you won't have any problems.

 

[formula]

As far as some driving style tips... .....



I like to keep my enging rpm up when traveling down the road, that way if I get a big load in the blade or come up to a hill I don't have to downshift. If you're pushing some heavy stuff, go easy and maybe a bit slower. Push back your edges sooner rather than later. Slamming the plow into a bank to push it back... . well, you know :-laf



A couple of nights ago I had an encounter with a friendly little water gate... ... Only doing about 5 mph when the plow hooked on that sucker and brought the F600 to a dead stop. Everything in the cab ended up on the floor and I was up on top of the steering wheel. I swear the rear wheels came off the ground. Got out of the truck with a flashlight looking for broken parts. All was fine except the drivers side window jumped off the track and fell inside the door. I've been over that thing at least 100 times before, but with all the cold weather, snow and frost they like to shift around a bit, maybe just to keep you on your toes



Sean

 

[dclassens]

After reading all this great info, it seems that I will be fine no matter which way I go(Auto/Manual). The manual trucks do fine and I am sure that I will also. THanks again for all the info. Hope spring is on the way.