Learn me: Cheap homebuilt snowplow

I'm probably just daydreaming here, but anybody built one? A couple years ago, we got (SHUDDER) TWO WHOLE FEET OF SNOW Yes, I realize that's a "dusting" for most folks, but in North Georgia, it's a lot. Anyway, I was thinking of how badass it would've been if I could've thrown on my bitchin Mr. Plow denim jacket and cleared the neighborhood.

I am totally unfamiliar with plow design. I assume it would need to "float" somehow to keep it from tearing up the road/itself if it contacts a high spot. Our neighborhood isn't huge. Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 miles of total road? They usually clear the road coming into the neighborhood in the first couple days, and it pretty much leads all the way to the highway.

No, I am not worried about getting sued. We are in a very, very laid back area.

Anybody done it? I'm looking for simple, cheap as E36 M3, and foolproof. Not "commercial grade."

plows use skids to keep them from digging into the road surface. Most are spring loaded to prevent the plow getting bounced all over the damn place.

I think the biggest issue you'll encounter is making it strong enough to stand up to the abuse.

Probably be easier too buy a Craigslist plow from a landscaping company.

http://thumb.craigslist.org/cto/3188711797.html

something like this

Could probably drop him down a few.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/grd/3316032154.html

Two feet of snow, or two inches? Two inches is one thing, and in northern GA that would be a lot. Two feet of snow is a whole 'nother ballgame. Two feet in one shot would be a lot, even for Syracuse or Buffalo. That would require some fairly heavy duty equipment to clear. A small truck and small plow would have serious troubles.

We got about two feet of snow in one storm a few years back. It was nasty, even the tri-axle dump trucks with big plows on the front were straining to clear everything.

Actually, a 55 gallon drum cut length-wise and bolted end to end may be strong enough to handle most snow falls you'll see down there. Then you just need to build a frame to mount it and find a way to hoist it when backing up.

just round up like 4-5 neighbors snowblowers and duct tape them to the front bumper.

In reply to DaveEstey:

this could work.......maybe V the shape when welding together, use an electric winch to raise/lower, and definitely armor plate the bottom grinding surface with a nice chunk of 3/8-1/2" steel plate.

xflowgolf wrote:

Looks like a good ZAV, but I don't know about moving snow. Just zombies.

Expert advice tutorial from the leading Canadian authority.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPYFbGveWlQ&noredirect=1

poopshovel wrote: I'm looking for simple, cheap as E36 M3, and foolproof.

I like this idea... assuming you have something that can get through the snow itself.. .

link for the guys who did it: http://holesinmyjeans-kpannabecker.blogspot.com/2010/02/you-might-be-redneck-if.html

xflowgolf wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I'm looking for simple, cheap as E36 M3, and foolproof.

I like this idea... assuming you have something that can get through the snow itself.. . link for the guys who did it: http://holesinmyjeans-kpannabecker.blogspot.com/2010/02/you-might-be-redneck-if.html

I have done this on time with an old log hauling sled. It was very unstable, but it did move snow. The unstability did not look too hard to fix. The other problem was the huge pile of snow that accumulates betwixt the plow and rear bumper. I was plowing about 15" of very wet snow.

xflowgolf wrote:

poopshovel wrote: I'm looking for simple, cheap as E36 M3, and foolproof.

I like this idea... assuming you have something that can get through the snow itself.. . link for the guys who did it: http://holesinmyjeans-kpannabecker.blogspot.com/2010/02/you-might-be-redneck-if.html

Back 40 modifications have been made similarly. Clem? Anything to add?

Klayfish wrote: Two feet of snow, or two inches? Two inches is one thing, and in northern GA that would be a lot. Two feet of snow is a whole 'nother ballgame. Two feet in one shot would be a lot, even for Syracuse or Buffalo. That would require some fairly heavy duty equipment to clear. A small truck and small plow would have serious troubles. We got about two feet of snow in one storm a few years back. It was nasty, even the tri-axle dump trucks with big plows on the front were straining to clear everything.

18 inches fo duh bitches. Not all in one swat, so I could've plowed it each day. I DO like the idea of the pull-behind. Seems to simplify everything.

55-gallon drum cut in half was my first thought. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the spring-loaded thing. Anybody got pics? (heads to google....)

The drag-behind system probably makes the most sense, if I can stay ahead of the snow.

If you don't mind the cold, and happen to have a proper "utility" sized tractor(like a ford 8n up to a 50-60hp similarly sized one), just get a rear blade for it.......you can use it the same way, you'll be colder, but it could come in handy with gravel, landscaping, brush mowing, etc the rest of the year

Also, it'd be less likely to get stuck.

I like shoveling the snow. We get a lot more snow in Ohio than you do in Georgia, and I've never found myself thinking "damn, this sucks" when I'm outside getting exercise in the middle of the winter. Beats sitting on the couch hiding from the cold some more. I actually like it more than mowing the lawn during the summer...

Edit: Okilie dokilie, I'm an idiot. I didn't read your post about wanting to do the neighborhood. You know, the first post in the thread? Yeah, that one. Carry on, sorry for the interruption.

I thought, "Damn this sucks" when I had to dig the focus poor out of a foot of snow after Mrs. Sperlo decided she'd bury the front wheels in it.

DaveEstey wrote: Actually, a 55 gallon drum cut length-wise and bolted end to end may be strong enough to handle most snow falls you'll see down there. Then you just need to build a frame to mount it and find a way to hoist it when backing up.

Yep that guy on Pirate4x4 who welded up that big crazy trailer to move all his wacky creations put a barrel-plow just like this on the front of a quad.

poopshovel wrote:

Klayfish wrote: Two feet of snow, or two inches? Two inches is one thing, and in northern GA that would be a lot. Two feet of snow is a whole 'nother ballgame. Two feet in one shot would be a lot, even for Syracuse or Buffalo. That would require some fairly heavy duty equipment to clear. A small truck and small plow would have serious troubles. We got about two feet of snow in one storm a few years back. It was nasty, even the tri-axle dump trucks with big plows on the front were straining to clear everything.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200436590_200436590 18 inches fo duh bitches. Not all in one swat, so I could've plowed it each day. I DO like the idea of the pull-behind. Seems to simplify everything. 55-gallon drum cut in half was my first thought. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the spring-loaded thing. Anybody got pics? (heads to google....) The drag-behind system probably makes the most sense, if I can stay ahead of the snow.

I did almost all my plowing last year with a tractor 3-point blade mounted to the back of my Dad's Geo tracker. It was a quickie adapter "T" we made a couple of years back just in case and it worked so well I jest kept using it. It didn't even have any way to lift the blade, just angled it a bit and dragged it around.

For this winter I have a pro-built light duty snowplow that mounts in a front receiver hitch, and I am this weekend even adding a winch to the tractor blade bracket so I can use it too, just in case. I am also installing a caster wheel on a tongue jack to the back of the tractor 3-point hitch, to keep it just a bit off the ground.

For a neighborhood, and in particular one in GA, I would look for an old riding mower snowblower to mount on either a riding mower or ATV. The old single-stage ones are usually available for sub $200, and add a brand-new 12hp Harbor Freight motor to it so you don't have to really hook it to the pusher and it's still a sub $500 option. It will also fit on sidewalks, which will make you more $ and earn you more thanks than even the road.

oldopelguy wrote: I did almost all my plowing last year with a tractor 3-point blade mounted to the back of my Dad's Geo tracker. It was a quickie adapter "T" we made a couple of years back just in case and it worked so well I jest kept using it. It didn't even have any way to lift the blade, just angled it a bit and dragged it around. For this winter I have a pro-built light duty snowplow that mounts in a front receiver hitch, and I am this weekend even adding a winch to the tractor blade bracket so I can use it too, just in case. I am also installing a caster wheel on a tongue jack to the back of the tractor 3-point hitch, to keep it just a bit off the ground. For a neighborhood, and in particular one in GA, I would look for an old riding mower snowblower to mount on either a riding mower or ATV. The old single-stage ones are usually available for sub $200, and add a brand-new 12hp Harbor Freight motor to it so you don't have to really hook it to the pusher and it's still a sub $500 option. It will also fit on sidewalks, which will make you more $ and earn you more thanks than even the road.

Got any pics of the home-built? I need the sub $100 option. The drag-behind looks like a winner, and I could whip one together using crap I have laying around. Actually, I saved an old weight bench from the dumpster a couple years ago that I've kicked a billion times now. I'm thinking it may get hacked up and "repurposed." We do not have sidewalks.

Real plows also have a replacable contact edge called a blade. Saves the molderboard from unnecessary wear. You can run with or without runners. The runners allow the plow to float on soft ground. Once the ground is frozen to remove the runners to make sure you can scrape to bare ground. Also consider a back drag. Make sure to angle it, or have the ability to otherwise you'll run out of grip to push it quickly.

Of course the other thing you can do that might be easier given how little you get is to build a snow roller. A roller is designed to roll over the snow and compress it, making it suitable to drive on.