If you have your driveway plowed make sure you have a plow "guy"

[peakbagger]

FYI for us snowbelt folks, if you pay to have your driveway plowed make sure you confirm you have a plow "guy". A lot of building contractors plow in the winter but with a high demand for construction many are getting out of it or switching to commercial accounts. The casual plow guys are getting priced out of the market as a new truck capable of plowing is in the 75K range. My plow guy shut his business down after 10 years and he didnt hand his customers over to anyone as I expect he could not find anyone to take them. I picked up a big Honda commercial snowblower 2 years ago for clean up and in anticipation of taking over the snow removal duties when I retire soon so I am set but in my rural town with typically long driveways a regular snowblower still takes quite awhile and folks who depend on it had better keep spare parts on hand and know how to fix them (or keep a spare).

 

[Dataman]

I have 28" Ariens. I used to do it with 4' PTO (Woodmax). But found the walk behind easier and lots faster. Use Tractor with Plow for thick stuff the county give me at start of 1000ft driveway. I have extra parts (Bolts). Plus spare blow (22" Made in China). Lots cheaper than having it done. The would come out with 2" snows. Like really? We have Jeep. Got my money out of Woodmax and I look forward to the 6-8 times I have to blow it.

 

[peakbagger]

I paid 50 bucks a plow for about 250 feet that required backdragging. in front of my garage. There were guys that could do it for less but they had one plow truck and if we got heavy snow (20 inches) they usually break down. My guy also had a sander and access to loader to wing the banks back if it was a heavy winter. My driveway is paved. Prior to it being paved I had a snowblower and found that it was real hard on the snowblower throwing rocks that got dragged up by the first plowguy even though I made sure I set the chute clearance wide. I really will not mind going to snwoblowing, with a plow they had to plow everything real wide, otherwise they may run out of room midwinter and that teared up the lawn. With my Honda, I can put the snow where I want. I had a used similar model Honda previously and it moved the snow but was workout to use as it didnt have an open differential so turning it was a PITA. The new version has two levers to disconnect the drive on either side so it spins on dime.

The biggest hassle with a snowblower is if I head out for a long stretch in winter. I take my chances that I can open up the driveway when I get home after a week.

Worse case get the ether out and crank up the Unimog but it really gets snowed in in its parking space.

 

[Bad LP]

My plow guy in Maine plays with rocks. Mason work slows down a bit in the winter.
I’m hoping he’s free enough to build my new front steps as the ones there now were temporary 16 years ago. 😂

 

[festerw]

I have 28" Ariens. I used to do it with 4' PTO (Woodmax). But found the walk behind easier and lots faster. Use Tractor with Plow for thick stuff the county give me at start of 1000ft driveway. I have extra parts (Bolts). Plus spare blow (22" Made in China). Lots cheaper than having it done. The would come out with 2" snows. Like really? We have Jeep. Got my money out of Woodmax and I look forward to the 6-8 times I have to blow it.

View attachment 285002

I can tell you exactly why. It's a whole lot easier on the equipment to plow 2" than 6" with packed down ruts underneath. Also they come out every 2 and they know it's been done, you say no I want it done at 6" and here's what happens.
Today you get 3" of snow, tomorrow you get 4", then you get a 6" storm. They come out to plow and now there's 10" of compacted snow on your driveway and it takes 3 times as long to clear.

My plow guy in Maine plays with rocks. Mason work slows down a bit in the winter.
I’m hoping he’s free enough to build my new front steps as the ones there now were temporary 16 years ago. 😂

Temporarily permanent, my favorite kind of repair.

 

[SpaceBus]

I can tell you exactly why. It's a whole lot easier on the equipment to plow 2" than 6" with packed down ruts underneath. Also they come out every 2 and they know it's been done, you say no I want it done at 6" and here's what happens.
Today you get 3" of snow, tomorrow you get 4", then you get a 6" storm. They come out to plow and now there's 10" of compacted snow on your driveway and it takes 3 times as long to clear.



Temporarily permanent, my favorite kind of repair.

You are exactly right, 6" is a lot of work to clear. I work for a local seasonal services company in the winter and we clear some commercial properties in town. If it's a big storm and we don't get going until 4"+ of snow have fallen it's a bad day. We had an inexperienced operator at the local DHHS office and he didn't push the berms back far enough. A small storage garage was rendered inaccessible for three months due to that mistake.

 

[Mt Bob]

This year is going to be different. The economy, inflation, and even lack of equipment repair parts. Many long time snow removal companies have closed up. There are huge insurance rate increases,especially in Canada, and large contracts,like Walmart,etc, are using 3rd party "companies" to line up others as sub-contractors, only willing to pay rates that are 30% less than 8 years ago There WILL be lots of "independents", mostly new, uninsured and inept. Chose wisely.

 

[peakbagger]

I have paid to have someone plow my long driveway since 1988 (33 years) I have always paid a bit of premium to get a company with a couple of trucks and drivers. The solo guys with a new truck trying to make payments by plowing are cheaper but when the once every 10 years storms hit they tend to run into problems. My neighbor tries to DIY and then calls someone who eventually shows up but it may be days.

 

[Bad LP]

I have paid to have someone plow my long driveway since 1988 (33 years) I have always paid a bit of premium to get a company with a couple of trucks and drivers. The solo guys with a new truck trying to make payments by plowing are cheaper but when the once every 10 years storms hit they tend to run into problems. My neighbor tries to DIY and then calls someone who eventually shows up but it may be days.

And he pays a premium days later. Beating the crap out of a truck on a block of ice is not for me.

 

[Solarguy3500]

I've been plowing my driveway with my IHC Scout for about 12 years. Paid $50 for it from a guy I knew that didn't need it anymore.


It's a little drafty with the missing driver's door, but I'm used to it.

When I first got it the fuel pump was leaking badly, and the parts store wanted $150 for a new one. They had a universal low pressure electric pump in stock for $40 so I grabbed that and put a 6 gallon boat tank on the passenger seat that I had previously used in my demo derby cars. Wired up a fuel pump switch on the dashboard, ran some rubber line through the firewall to the carb, and away we go.

It has handled the biggest snowstorms we've had here in the Northeast in the last 12 years so it doesn't owe me anything. I did put new brake hoses on the front of it a couple weeks ago because it had no brakes after last winter season, so now it's ready for another winter.

 

[Bad LP]

That IHC is worth a fortune in parts today. I remember thinking how ugly they were as a young 20 something. Now 40 years later I’d love one.

 

[SpaceBus]

I've been plowing my driveway with my IHC Scout for about 12 years. Paid $50 for it from a guy I knew that didn't need it anymore.
View attachment 286661
View attachment 286662
It's a little drafty with the missing driver's door, but I'm used to it.

When I first got it the fuel pump was leaking badly, and the parts store wanted $150 for a new one. They had a universal low pressure electric pump in stock for $40 so I grabbed that and put a 6 gallon boat tank on the passenger seat that I had previously used in my demo derby cars. Wired up a fuel pump switch on the dashboard, ran some rubber line through the firewall to the carb, and away we go.
View attachment 286663
It has handled the biggest snowstorms we've had here in the Northeast in the last 12 years so it doesn't owe me anything. I did put new brake hoses on the front of it a couple weeks ago because it had no brakes after last winter season, so now it's ready for another winter.

What an awesome rig. A bit of a waste to see it plowing snow being in such good shape. I bet you could source a driver door, there are plenty of IH fans out there still.

 

[bholler]

What an awesome rig. A bit of a waste to see it plowing snow being in such good shape. I bet you could source a driver door, there are plenty of IH fans out there still.

It looks pretty rusty. Not beyond saving but it would take allot to bring it back. But I am sure it's still worth quite allot. And yes I would have a door on it for sure.

 

[clancey]

Yea we had two Internationals--kept one for parts--yellow and white pick up's-------Those were the days what strong vehicles and well made too...I can still see the yellow beast coming down the road to pick me up after work--brought back memories...clancey

 

[Solarguy3500]

Vehicles always look better in pictures from 15'-20' away.

@bholler is right. It's very rusty. There's basically nothing left of the floors and the bottoms of the fenders and rear quarters are rotted out pretty bad. The frame is pretty crusty too. I think at best it might be a parts car for someone doing a full restoration on another Scout. I also don't have a title for it, so getting it on the road is not very likely, unless you live in a state that doesn't require a title to register a vehicle.

The 196 CID 4 cylinder runs really good though.