New Or Used: Wrangling A Snow Plow Edition

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.