New Or Used: Wrangling A Snow Plow Edition

Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
by Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang

Andy writes:

This is a perfect question for the first day of summer: I would love the readers’ input on plow trucks, specifically using a 1500 vs 2500. I will be doing some light duty plowing in Eastern MA, in a small to medium sized parking lot with plenty of obstacles. I thought of a Wrangler since it could also be a great summer toy, but it seems like it might not be suited for plowing. I know some of the readers will have some good experience to share. Thanks!

Sajeev Answers:

A wise man in my shoes would recuse himself, but Houstonians aren’t known for modesty when talkin’ trucks. I’m imagining myself at the Houston Astrodome, navigating it’s massive, snow encrusted, parking lot. Which I did, at a recent charity autocross sans the white stuff on the ground. Still, I wouldn’t consider a 2500-series with several hundred pounds of metal sticking a foot out of the front. That rig ain’t never gonna move like an Earl Campbell with Mel Blount on his torso. And the smaller (1500s) aren’t obstacle friendly either: Ford put a “man step” on the F150’s fat-ass tailgate for a reason.

But a Houston Oiler and a Pittsburgh Steeler this is not. Plus, you said “light duty.” So if I wanted a snowplow on my zippy ride’s face, I am torn between a Ford Ranger or Toyota Tacoma: both with towing packages, 4x4s, V6s and a lot of ballast in the bed. Sure, you could go bigger to impress people, but they’d prefer you avoid their snow covered whips. If they sell snow plows for Polaris Rangers, you’d do just fine with plow on the “other” Ranger. But don’t take my word for it, talk to the “ lownrangr“.

Steve retorts:

If you must go down this financial rabbit hole do it by buying something that is agreeable to drive in all seasons. So you want a Wrangler? Fine. Get one. But don’t delude yourself into what I call the ‘SUV syndrome’. Buying a vehicle based on how you would use it less than 2% of the time is always a losing proposition.

Always keep one simple idea in mind. You’re getting paid how much ‘net’ to shovel that snow? Only the largest of companies buy them for their own use because the economics of ownership are simply not there. Even Copart, the largest salvage auction company in the world, got rid of all their trucks, haulers and plows. This is a company with millions of inoperable vehicles and zero debt. No more haulers. No more plows. Just a free market with thousands of cut-throat contractors to choose from.

I have known countless contractors who ended up getting screwed by liars they worked for. Unless this is going to be a ‘fun’ play thing my short answer is, “Hell no!”

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.

Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang
Sajeev Mehta and Steve Lang

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  • Mistrernee Mistrernee on Aug 13, 2010

    A plow truck to me is some beat up old truck that is no longer road worthy that sits in the corner of whatever lot needs to be plowed until needed. One of the GM dealers in Dawson Creek BC had a little Toyota stuffed in the back of its lot for that sole purpose. It just sat there, with the plow permanently attached to the front, waiting for some snow to push around. It was kind of amusing, a parking lot of new full size Chevy trucks surrounding this little late 70's Hilux with a plow on the front. Personally, we used a full size 2wd van that seemed to work for our rather long driveway when I was a kid but eventually a rusted out 68 GMC 4x4 took its place. I was about 14 when I got told to go and figure out how to drive the damn thing. The hydraulics sat between the front seats with the hoses run out to lift on the plow, not something I would want to deal with in a daily driver at all. I would imagine all that crap can go somewhere less irritating now with just some electronic lever to control it. I'd recommend an early 90's straight six 4x4 Ford pickup with a stick shift, it would work for doing pickup truck stuff (other than towing things) and is cheap and disposable and probably road worthy if needed. Take the damn plow off when going on public roads PLEASE.

  • Cdotson Cdotson on Aug 13, 2010

    If you're looking for light & tight plowing ability and need it for nothing more than a summertime "toy" then may I suggest: http://www.utvguide.net/club_car_xrt1550_intellitach.htm Granted, you'll probably spend as much money as a late-model low-mileage used Wrangler with a plow kit, but it's designed for your application(s). I don't know why the Coparts of the world don't go for vehicles like this as they should do most of what a junkyard would need to haul parts through the slop and snow. Full disclosure: I used to work for the manufacturer designing this particular vehicle

  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X Canadians are able to win?
  • Doc423 More over-priced, unreliable garbage from Mini Cooper/BMW.
  • Tsarcasm Chevron Techron and Lubri-Moly Jectron are the only ones that have a lot of Polyether Amine (PEA) in them.
  • Tassos OK Corey. I went and saw the photos again. Besides the fins, one thing I did not like on one of the models (I bet it was the 59) was the windshield, which looked bent (although I would bet its designer thought it was so cool at the time). Besides the too loud fins. The 58 was better.
  • Spectator Lawfare in action, let’s see where this goes.
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