just trying to post a thread

[tpdempster]

just trying to post , not really good at this type of thing, anybody use just snowblowers for residential drives, not looking for more than 10-15 drives thanks for ur help

[Alan]

You are not the first to pose this question. The consensus is that it's not practical.

[Pelican]

I agree with Alan unless you are in a metropolitan area or condo where the driveways are just a car space in size and a few feet apart.

[tpdempster]

1. Thanks for the reply, what about when u get so much:D snow on the lawn you can't push it any further and u don't have a bucket to remove it( sorry for dumb questions )
2. If u plow early in the am do u plow up to the car then come back a second time to see if the car is gone, hey we all have to start somewhere
tks tp

[Snowboy]

I use my Toro 33" blower for driveways. I avg about 45mins per driveway that’s was a big storm 30cm or 8" with 1/4 of freezing rain on top. The machine is a workhorse but could only run it in 1st gear and in down pressure mode.

I had so many calls that day if I had a plow I could have done double the work if not more and with allot more ease on my back and would have been able to stay outside much longer which would have made me more $$$.

I am now considering getting a plow.

[tpdempster]

Thanks for the reply, it's been a crazy year for snow here in Sudbury Ont. Seems like it snows everyday:D I,ve been watching the contractors plowing driveways and their busy. Does anybody get too much snow they can't push anymore on to the lawn? What do u do? What about driveways with curbs along both sides?:headwall Great site and thanks for the info can't wait to get into the plowing action soon:canada

tpdempster

[CAMERON SERVICES]

tpdempster welcome aboard.:canada

It doesn't surpprise me that it snows almost every day in Sudbury. You could make a killing on snow removal there.
As far as driveways with curbs on both sides, you should be able to push snow over them when windrowing to the sides (if your using a plow, if your using a blower it would be even easier). As far as what to do with the snow, we usually push everything as far back as possible with the plows, then if we need to, bring in a skid steer or loader to push things even farther back or to relocate the snow. When we plow and have to work around cars we go back to clean up if they're a commercial account. If it's a residential account they're ***** out of luck if they have a car in the driveway, we just work around it and hope it's not in the same place next time. However if a residential account requested us to come back and clean up we would do so and charge accordingly.

[tpdempster]

Hey , thanks for the reply. Most of the houses around here u are not able to push the snow to the front of the drive, it appears that u have to black blade to the end of the drive then push it on to the front lawn around any obsticles, ie: trees; signs etc, thats why I was thinking of using a blower...MTD dual wheel on each side, 48" auger, 14hp key start, power steering, hand warmers. The majority of drives are shared one car wide 2-3 max long, thinking of charching $25 for single $35 for double...what do u think?
tpdempster:canada

[Alan]

Since you ask, I think you sound amazingly like Ted and Casey, a couple other snowblower fanatics. Funny thing is that at least one of them, and maybe both, were from your neighborhood.

Something to keep in mind is that they got too involved in blower fantasies and are no longer here. Last time I looked the "Banned" button was real easy to use.

[urethane dino]

TDdempster
Welcome
As fo whether or not a blower will work, I say why not. We do 3 condo's and rather than wait for everyone to move their cars, making 10 trips back in the mean time, we use Toro and Honda single stage units to clear between the cars and to grab single empty spaces. I think that if you only have a few driveways to doit would be a way to get started. Just do not overbook, and do a thorough job.
Dino

[Snowboy]

TDdempster

The one thing you might want to consider is that a snowblower can only be used at say maybe 6am the earliest. I have had people ask me can i guarentea that i will have the end of the driveway clear by 7am. With a plow you will be able to get that done faster and start on the driveway ends sooner.

As far as where to put the snow i see most guys back draging and plowing it off to the side or across the street. When you have nowhere to put the snow you can always bring in the blower to toss it in the air.

[Snowboy]

Originally posted by CAMERON SERVICES
tpdempster welcome aboard.:canada

When we plow and have to work around cars we go back to clean up if they're a commercial account. If it's a residential account they're ***** out of luck if they have a car in the driveway, we just work around it and hope it's not in the same place next time. However if a residential account requested us to come back and clean up we would do so and charge accordingly.


I have 2 houses that will have 3 cars in the driveway when i come to clear should be intresting to see how that works out this year. What do you charge if you have to come back the same amount you charge per push for the season?


TDdempster

I would start out at $35 for a single and $40 to $45 for double and if they call a day or few days later chrage even more if its all hard packed and half driven over. Should have called you earlier.

Dave. :canada

[apgarconstruction]

like the others have said, it just depends on whether you are just doing very short driveways ( one car length long) or if you are also doing longer driveways. A plow is great to have either way. I plowed a complex last year, which had a main drive and two parking lots. it had 6 condo buildings with 5 driveways on each building. all one car long. I also did all the sidewalks too. If there were no cars in the driveways, it was easier to pull in, backdrag the snow into the street and push it down to where i was stacking it. if there are lots of cars in the driveways, I just use the snowblower between them. There were two of us there. when I got done with the truck work, me and another guy worked on the short drives and sidewalks. then i cleaned up what little was left with my truck at the end.

Basically, it's best to have both. If I were you, get a plow. I have parted with the snowblower and I'm just sticking to longer private drives that aren't in complexes. The only commercial lot i have doesn't require me to do any sidewalks. I don't want to deal with getting out of the truck to snowblow or to hire a lot of people to do the work. If all I did was commercial, then that would be a different story. I'm happy just sitting in my warm truck all night and only getting out when I have to. this isn't my only income in the winter, it's just to supplement my construction income when it snows and I might be off that day. It's good extra money though and I made more than enough last year to pay off my Vplow. Still waiting for some snow this year. hope january brings some.



good luck in yo