Tips on Snowplowing

Now that you?ve got your new snowplow, what do you do?

It?s getting to be that time of the year. Soon the football game is going to be on during Turkey Day and you have just recently put the blade on the truck for the first time. In fact, you just might be new to driving a snowplow.

After last year, fighting the snow all winter with a measly plastic shovel or an antiquated snow blower that clogged up more snow than it threw, you decided that you weren?t going to go through that again. So, you went out and bought yourself a snowplow and are itching for the snow to fall.

Now that the blade is on the truck, do you know how to use it? For some, they decide that they will get the blade on and figure out how to use it afterwards. Well here are a few tips to help you so that you don?t take out part of the house or a side of the garage.

First, make sure that your truck is prepared to deal with the rigors of plowing. You want to ensure that the battery is fresh and that all the hydraulics and moving pieces are in order.

Second, if you plan to plow during dark hours, which are probably going to happen, then you need to make sure that you have adequate lighting. Either make sure you have enough on the front of the plow or there are exterior lights that will keep the driveway well lit. Don?t forget about tail lights and possibly putting a rear spot light on the truck.

Third, if you are new to plowing with your truck, you should go outside and visualize where you are going to dump the snow. This may not seem like a big deal now, but if you don?t have a good idea of where all the snow is going to go and how far back you need to push it, you could end up with piles of snow that you can?t throw back out of the way mid way through the winter.

These are just a few tips to help you with your snowplowing this year. With a little forethought, you should be able to have a breeze with your snowplowing this year.

If you are looking for more advice on snowplows or are looking for snowplow parts go to www.extremesnowplows.com

Matt Ide is an avid outdoorsman who lives in the wilds of Northern Michigan and understands that plows are a lifeline to making it through the winter. You can read more articles as well as find reviews and quality parts for snowplows at his site: http://www.extremesnowplows.com

Important Things To Do To Prepare Your Snowplow For Plowing This Season

Every season when you take your snowplow out of storage you should follow these guidelines to prepare your plow for the upcoming winter.

First off, you should be intimately familiar with every component of your snowplow; this will save you a lot of aggravation later. Read through your owner's manual thoroughly and educate yourself about the maintenance procedures and operational guidelines. The manual will also give you a list of parts and diagrams, tips for snowplowing, and a troubleshooting guide that will help you figure out any problems.

You should be prepared for potential problems that could occur when you're out plowing. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tool kit, tow strap, flares, flashlight, fuses for your vehicle, jumper cables, ice scraper and deicer, a shovel and a bag of sand or salt. You should also always have warm clothes such as insulated boots and long underwear, a warm winter jacket, gloves, sunglasses and a cell phone.

You should also have an emergency parts kit for your snowplow that includes extra hydraulic fluid and hoses, a pump solenoid, extra cutting-edge bolts and a trip spring. Be sure to check your vehicle's tire pressure; also check the vehicle's engine belts for any cracks and for tightness. Check the vehicle's fluid levels and keep your gas tank filled. You'll also need to check the battery as wet conditions and salt from the roads can corrode the connections. Always keep in mind that subzero temperatures in the winter can really do a number on your vehicle so you have to pay attention to these maintenance items even more.

Having good visibility is vital so you want to be sure that your windshield washer fluid is full and wipers are in good working order. You also want to be sure that your defrosters are working correctly. Check your lights to be sure they are all in working order. You may want to consider adding a strobe light if you don't already have one. A flashing strobe light will make you more visible to others while you are on the job.

To improve traction, you'll need to add ballast to the rear of your vehicle. Each snowplow manufacturer publishes a ballast chart so be sure you take the time to counter balance your vehicle to improve your traction.

During the plowing season you should check your snowplow often. Be sure to examine bolts for tightness and make sure that none of the welds have cracks. You also want to be sure that the hydraulic hoses do not have leaks and make sure that your snowplow lights and turn signals are always working properly.

Make sure that you inspect the plows' cutting edge and the plow shoes. Not maintaining your plow and letting the cutting edge get over worn can result in costly repairs.

If you follow these guidelines when you take your plow out of storage this season, everything will run as smooth as the paths you will plow.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Boss Snow Plows at http://www.bossplow.com

Sore Hands? Sore Back? Get a Snow Blower

Shoveling snow off your sidewalk can be an enjoyable winter ritual. Until you get dumped on by a lot of snow and have to go out day after day to do that shoveling, while your hands ache and your back stiffens. When that happens, it's time to get a snow blower.

Cost
The main reason why people resist buying a snowblower is the cost. A shovel costs $30, they think, and with a little free muscle power and several hours they can clear their sidewalks and driveway with no problem. They don't consider the possibility of doctor's bills in future because they've strained their back trying to shovel too much snow. And it's not even the case of doctor's bills, but simply general uncomfortableness caused in later life by a bad back. When looked at in that perspective, the cost of a snow blower isn't that much.

Models
And that's not to say that snow blowers are ridiculously expensive. Obviously if you want a snow blower with all the bells and whistles it will cost more than a machine that simply sucks in the snow and throws it out again, far away from the sidewalk.

There are so many manufacturers that it is best to take note of all the features and compare them - either by visiting their websites, or viewing Consumer Reports or other consumer watchdog groups which tell you which model of snow blower is the most reliable.

Stages
Snow blowers come in two "stages" - a single stage machine in which the blades suck in the snow and spit it out again, and a two-stage machine in which the blades break up the snow first, then suck it in and spit it out. A single-stage snow blower would obviously be less expensive than a two-stage machine.

Power
Gasoline powered engines are by far the most popular motive force for snow blowers, but it is possible to get electric powered machines - which do not pollute and are not as noisy. However, the electrical-power machines are not as powerful as the gasoline engines. If you live in an area which gets several feet of snow at one time, the gasoline-powered engine is still the way to go.

Safety
* Do not allow your child to operate a snow blower. It doesn't matter how mature they are - it simply isn't safe.
* Do not do any snow blowing when there are children about. They will think it fun to watch the snow being blown over their heads in an arc, perhaps, then for sure one of them is going to get a face full of power-driven snow and it will hurt quite a bit.
* Always wear safety goggles and ear protectors, and non-slip shoes.
* If the machine jams, turn it off completely. Never attempt to clear a jam with your bare hand - always use a tool, such as a long-handled broomstick, to do the job. Sure, nine times out of ten using your hand will be quick and easy. On the tenth time...something will go wrong and it's bye bye, fingers.

Save your back. Save time. Get a snow blower.

Andrew Caxton is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like lawn care for http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com. You can find more information and resources on snow blowers at his website.

How Snow Blowers Could Help You

If you live in an area which suffers from bad snow either frequently or even just once a year, you will know how frustrating it is sometimes to have it in your way. As beautiful looking as snow often is, it can be a nightmare to get through, especially if you are driving so just what can you do to help both you and your garden from the snow? Well, snow blowers may be just what you are after.

Choosing a Snow Blower to Suit You

The snow blower which you settle upon will be one which fits within your garden and driveway. There are various different sizes and each will be able to remove a certain amount of snow. They are so much easier than using a shovel but if you purchase the wrong type for you, you won’t really be helping yourself!

So in order to purchase a snow blower to suit you, you need to first make a list of exactly what it is that you need. Some things you may want to ask yourself and write down include:
 

• How much snow do you usually get?
• How much of a budget do you have?
• How big is your garden/driveway?

The above points will really help you to ensure that you get a machine to suit you. For example, if you only have to deal with a small amount of snow, it is pointless going out and purchasing one which is mainly used for shifting huge amounts. It would be a complete waste of money and it would be far too powerful. So, look for one which handles the amount of snow that you usually get and you should be fine.

Your budget is obviously another important factor as it will determine which snow blower you can actually get. However, if you do not have enough of a budget to buy the machine that you need, it would be worth saving up a little more until you can afford it. This is because if you buy the wrong machine for you it might not necessarily work properly and it would have been a waste of money when you could have waited a little longer and purchased one which you needed.

Overall buying a snow blower shouldn’t be hard work. Simply know what you need beforehand and it really will make your decision a whole lot easier. It certainly beats using a shovel every time you get snowed in!

Andrew Caxton is the editor of different articles published at http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com, with reference to lawn care and snow removal. A website with tips on snow blowers, amongst many related topics.