White Gold

[picframer]

Well I woke to this today, pictures are a little dark as it's pretty early and I have to head out to plow. After watching the Olympic Hockey game last night I checked the forecast and they said 20cm which is about 10", the radio this morning said we received 60cm (24") with another 10" possible today, issue is the wind which is causing some interesting drifts. Should be a fun day and I know the tractors are eager to get to it!

Attached Images

	snow-001.jpg (61.6 KB, 9 views)
	snow-002.jpg (77.6 KB, 9 views)
	snow-003.jpg (83.8 KB, 7 views)

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

That's some serious amount of snow! I bet you will be busy all day.

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[picframer]

Just came home for lunch then heading back out, we will be plowing until midnight as people are stopping us while we are on route to customers, I pulled a four wheel drive Jeep Liberty out of the ditch an hour ago, a fellow with a plow on an F250 was trying but could not move it, the tractor never offered to spin a tire.

Here is my 1:00 updated shots, main road into our subdivision is a mess especially where it tracks close to the lake, the snow is a good 36"++ deep due to the wind blowing snow off the lake.

The boys in blue are very strict here, I have to run plates, flashing lights, carry proof of Insurance and have a slow moving triangle to avoid fines. They patrol during storms with four wheel drive SUV's stopping ATV's that are driving on the road and the fines are really stiff $750. to $1,500.

Anyhow lots of fun today!

[Steve]

Those fines are ridiculous!

I love that quick plow attachment!

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

Those fines are ridiculous!

I love that quick plow attachment!

Thanks, this plow is almost three times as much as the Deere plow however there are a ton of advantages, I can plow banks 10 feet high, I can switch from plow to bucket in about 2 min tops, generally half that time. With the Deere plow I have to take the loader off which is a bit of a job and I would be very limited as to how high I can push the banks, probably 3 feet tops.

There were a few driveways this afternoon I will have to do tonight as I need the bucket, the driveways are really drifted in and the snow in spots is over 3 feet deep and packy, it is a slower process but I am thankful that I have the gear to do it.

[Steve]

How has being out in the winter like this effected your view of getting an enclosed cab?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

How has being out in the winter like this effected your view of getting an enclosed cab?

It would be very nice however they are a bear to take on and off, it's quite a job. We can't use cabbed tractors on job sites in the summer, we did try a demo from Deere as I was curious, no one liked it. Since snow removal represents a small fraction of our income, we just pass and if you have the righ snow gear on, it really doesn't matter.

The other thing is people will stop you more often if you are driving without a cab, sometimes people will yell out their door for you to stop, with a cab you would never hear them.

On top of all this is the cost, a cab for the tractor above is about five grand, that is a lot of snow removal just to brake even.

[Steve]

The other thing is people will stop you more often if you are driving without a cab, sometimes people will yell out their door for you to stop, with a cab you would never hear them.

I wouldnt have even thought of that but I have to admit just thinking about it, I agree. I'd be the same way too.

When you are out with your snow plow on your tractor, how often do you feel people call out to you or wave you down?

[picframer]

Originally Posted by Steve

I wouldnt have even thought of that but I have to admit just thinking about it, I agree. I'd be the same way too.

When you are out with your snow plow on your tractor, how often do you feel people call out to you or wave you down?

The last storm Wednesday 8 Driveways and 5 vehicles from the ditch. For driveways that is about average, sometimes more sometimes zero, when we get a big dump is when people stop you as their snow blower just can't handle it or they are tired of shoveling.

When you are out in the open, no cab, it makes you more accessable.

I probably could have picked up more clients but we are pretty much max'd out plowing snow for our regular clients which in many cases are yard care clients so they have to be on top of the list.

[lawncrafter56]

Wolfy got a little Gold too Pic!