Today's Bad Idea

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion) 09/23/2019 at 10:09 • Filed to: None

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My father’s truck won’t pass inspection anymore, so I’m on my own to plow my driveway this winter. Really, he could have taken it off the road years ago, and to be truthful, it didn’t pass inspection last year either... we just drove it only during snowstorms, figuring no local cop would pull over a plow truck during a storm. It was registered at least.

Anyway so I really don’t like having other people plow my driveway. It’s dirt, and inevitably commercial guys just aren’t very careful. They’ll dig it all up when we get an early season storm before the frost is really set , and they won’t clean it up the way I really like. It’s also kind of expensive; in a big snow year it could easily clear $1,000 in fees. On the other hand it’s just not my problem, it gets done without me lifting a finger. And if their truck breaks, also not my problem.

BUT WAIT! I could just buy a cheap plow truck, not register it, and use it only for plowing my driveway this winter. Then sell it next year. Or whatever, keep it if it works well.

I mean, look at this (asking) $2000 beauty!

The tires look decent, body isn’t falling off, it’s got the 351 / 5.8 liter V8 that I know very well, and a decent-looking Fisher plow. What could possibly go wrong?

Oh, right. Everything that’s gone wrong with my father’s 1997 F250 in the past 5 years, which is... a lot.  Ugh, but it’s easy to work on! Kind of! The cab and the bed mostly line up, which probably means the mounts aren’t totally rotten. He says the plow “works as it should,” too!

Please talk me out of this.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 10:14

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Please talk me out of this.

No

benjrblant > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 10:18

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Hm, seems plausible but also plausible that your selected truck could be on its last leg. What about a small tractor?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 10:18

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I can see grass through the bed...

M.T. Blake > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 10:18

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DO IT. DO IT. DO. IT. DOOOOO IT!!!!

Think of all the extra cash plowing driveways. 

Discerning > benjrblant 09/23/2019 at 10:19

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I think a tractor may be their best bet too. Potentially easier to plow and serves a bunch of other uses.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 10:21

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Granted that I’m from a land where nothing ever rusts, but I feel like I need a te tanu s shot after those pictures.  I see only scrap metal in that ad.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 10:48

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That’s honestly not even bad for a plow truck. My ‘93 F150 is worse than this and it’s never been a plow truck as far as I can tell.

Kiltedpadre > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 10:51

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I don’t know how feasible it would be since I don’t know how much driveway you have, but what about an atv with a plow? If that’s not big enough maybe a small tractor?

functionoverfashion > benjrblant 09/23/2019 at 10:51

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Much more expensive, slower, and much colder to use for plowing. But also much better value, much more useful overall, and much less likely to need costly, complex repairs. 

functionoverfashion > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 10:52

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haha, yeah this one isn’t that bad. My father’s is worse. You should have seen the one we had before THAT

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/23/2019 at 10:53

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And?

But seriously, that bed is pretty solid for a ‘97. I think it’s because it had a dump body in it, so the actual bed surface didn’t get used that much. Relatively speaking. 

functionoverfashion > M.T. Blake 09/23/2019 at 10:54

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hahahaha oh god no. I would not leave my property with this POS.

functionoverfashion > Kiltedpadre 09/23/2019 at 10:57

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I could do it, but a shitty truck at least still has a cab where you’re warm and dry while plowing. And I can clear my whole driveway in about 15 minutes with a truck, it would probably take 2 hours with a small tractor. ATV with a plow wouldn’t handle deep snow I suspect. Also more expensive. It’s hard to beat a shitty truck, which is why so many people have them sitting “out back” and use them only for plowing. 

functionoverfashion > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 09/23/2019 at 10:58

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And you’d think my wife would have talked me out of it, but I mentioned it the other day and she’s like “oh yeah I saw a jeep for sale with plow, would that work?” She’s helping! 

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 11:03

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I don’t see a problem here

functionoverfashion > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/23/2019 at 12:28

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$1,200 for this one. Probably runs great actually. But you wouldn’t have to sand the driveway, it would just drop rust along the way.... 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 12:49

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I that like buying a plow and getting something that was once a truck thrown in with it?

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion 09/23/2019 at 17:28

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I will not talk you out of it. I've wanted to do this for years, but I just don't have enough driveway to justify it 

functionoverfashion > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 09/24/2019 at 09:03

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That, and a venerable 5.7 V8. And a warm place to sit while you push snow around.

functionoverfashion > shop-teacher 09/24/2019 at 09:06

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I probably don’t either, but I do have plenty of land to park the truck where it’s kind of out of sight out of mind, AND I’d probably break even the first year if nothing major went wrong with it. Also, there are lots of times where the timing of plowing is important. If it’s going to rain on top of 4" of snow, then get cold again, ideally, you don’t plow until after the rain and re-freeze. That way you don’t clean the driveway down to a smooth surface, then let it turn into a skating rink when it rains. The snow absorbs a lot of the moisture and you can push it off later. It’s more about that than it is about saving money. Plus, if you only have to do one driveway, it’s pretty fun. 

shop-teacher > functionoverfashion 09/24/2019 at 09:17

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All signs point to do eeeeeeet!