What are some current trends and opinions concerning back blades/pull plows?

[snow jockey]

:feedbackHave fun with this one!
Some areas to consider: 1)It seems back blade/pull plow usage is sporadic :beatsme- in certain areas the majority of the guys use them, while other guys in the next county over may have never even seen one. Is it a "keep up with the Jones'", a "me too" attitude, lack of exposure, etc?
2) Some testify they are about 30% :cashmore effective while some say they don't care for/need them. Do those who are opposed to pull plows have ANY experience with them?
3) What are some arguments for/against pull plows?
4) Why are there only a handful of manufactureres, as opposed to the many choices for front plows?

[SCB]

Snow Jockey, great question. As someone who's never used one, I'm ready to be schooled.

[Snowboy]

Watch out for Garage doors is all I can say. I was pushing snow to the road so the loader would take it away and the loader was backing down the road so I backed up a lil too far and fast.

We put a U edge on ours and now I can clear stamped concrete that I used to have to do with a snowblower. I would say get as wide as you can get mine is 7.5' and if I had an extra 1' it would be nice.

Dave.

[Landgreen]

Do a search. Lots of info on backblades. They're very usefull for driveways especially on a smaller truck. I'd like to get another but since there is 10' of blade on the front there is no point in back dragging only 8'. Daniels will go back on the 250 for that reason. For a truck with 9'+ front blade, a backblade with wings would be apropriate.

They scrape very well and I try to drag it every chance I get even when not backing up to something like garage doors etc. With little moving parts, they are very reliable too. Original edge is still good after 6 years.

Backblades are popular here and much more so in Grand Rapids. Not sure why it differs from market to market. Blizzard 810's are popular in some areas yet there are only 4 in my town (two of which are mine). Equipment trends seem to be very regional.

[JMac]

I really like my Daniels but consider my route is well over 80% residential drives. I am the only one in town with a back plow - many ask me whats hanging off the back of my truck.

Cons - I would really like to carry a v box but am unable to - not even a smaller tailgate unit.

If I was mainly commercial lots, I would trade the back plow for a salt spreader in a heart beat.

[Wizard]

I really like my Daniels but consider my route is well over 80% residential drives. I am the only one in town with a back plow - many ask me whats hanging off the back of my truck.

Cons - I would really like to carry a v box but am unable to - not even a smaller tailgate unit.

If I was mainly commercial lots, I would trade the back plow for a salt spreader in a heart beat.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Many guys are doing ice control in some capacity, and it's tough to run a spreader and a backblade, although I've seen it once on a dump truck here on LTS, cant remember whose it was though. I have very few driveways, a few little old ladies, the rest of my work is all commercial. I could see a big wide swingwing type plow really increasing productivity in a wide open commercial setting, but 50% of the time I'm dropping salt immediately after plowing, so that wouldn't be feasible.

As far as backblades being regional, I've never ever seen one around here. I have seen one in northern MN, in an area that averages a little more snow than we get. That's the only one I've ever seen. 'Course no one around here has seen a buzz box or has seen an LP mounted on a SRW 350 either... :wink

[Pickering Snow]

Personal opinion is i think they have there place and honestly the key sticking points would be Resi use, and honestly i know with limited commerial snow route this year iam strongly considering buying one of the Swing wings that Mark O brought down this year to the GTG that Ebling is building .

I plan on having three trucks tops working one being a back up. Since bringing my brothers truck home its became the canidate for the Ebling rear plow.

First Class has some rear good vids on the commerial use of one along with John Geer.

If for some reason i dont sell the wrangler before fall i have considered a rear unit similar to what Bill White is using for his operation.

[snow jockey]

Fred, where can I see First Class and Bill White's gear?

[SCB]

Fred, where can I see First Class and Bill White's gear?

Here's one of First Class http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRxG9lw7Yzk&feature=related

[BWhite]

I plow residential only so a backplow works well .I use the BP on about 40% of by accounts . I have MANY customers open up their garage doors(s) when they hear me and I can drop the plow a few inches into the bay, eliminating shoveling . I have a 7' BP and I have always wanted to add the 18" extensions for more efficiency but I would lose the ability to drop inside the 8' garage door . I am leading toward the extensions . My Snowman has been reliable (knocking on wood ) . I drove a 4500 144/60 Sterling and since it the same length as my 3/4 ton a BP would work and with a flatbed I would have great visibility when backing (even better than a PU) .