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Ask Mr. Plow: Apartments and Car Plows

Mr. Plow Answers Your Snow Removal Questions
Please send all inquiries to Mr. Plow at mrplow@snowplownews.com.

Dear Mr. Snowplow:
I am part owner of a 120 unit rental apartment complex. This winter, 2000/2001, has been hard on our group. In an effort to save some money, we keep the snow removal "in the family". We use two pickup trucks with conventional plows, a small front loader "bobcat", an industrial strength snow blower and a motorized broom.
Each apartment has a garage and a small driveway no longer than 2 car lengths. Most of our time is spent on the driveways. We use the trucks to "back drag" the driveways, but that's not always effective. The snow blower is too slow.
Do you know of a snow plow configuration that can help us with the driveway problem? We were hoping that some sort of "reverse" plow is available that can be mounted on the front of the trucks. The "reverse plow" thinking; the truck would drive up to the garage drop the "reverse plow" and back up. Because the plow blade was "reversed" it would be more effective than the traditional "back drag" approach.
Thanks!
T. Carmosino, Bridgewater, NJ

Hi,
I know of three ways you can solve your problem.
Hiniker makes a "C" that the top of the plow flips over to plow snow in reverse. However this plow is heavy (800 pounds) and often requires a one ton truck.
Snoway offers a "Down Pressure" option with their plows where hydraulic pressure is use to keep the plow from riding up in the snow while back dragging, or at any time the D.P. switch is engaged.
SnoWay Predator D/P plows are available for most half, 3/4 and one ton trucks.
SnoWay Lobo plows come standard with the down pressure feature.
There are also several makes of rear mount plows that work fairly well for this problem. Visibility seems to be the problem here, and they work best when used with a conventional front mount plow installed also.
Mr. Plow

Dear Mr. Plow,
I recently saw on the news that there is a company that makes a lightweight plow that "straps onto a car" the news channel failed to mention who makes it or give any other specifics. (this is a news channel?!?) Can you tell me if you have heard of this and who makes it. The only information given was that they are on the internet.

Thanks,
George Marhefka

Hi George,
You are the second one to ask me today. I have seen them on the web. There is one that the car just pushes. The one you are asking about had like a roller chain that clamped to the bumper. I searched for them some today. I haven't found them yet.
In the business we are in , we take those kind of things pretty humorously. If I come across it, I will write you two. If one of you finds it , would you tell the other? Wait a minute Here's one. http://www.solotec.com/action.html
(See picture, above right)
Mr. Plow

Dear Mr. Plow
Here I was, pushing that shovel again. Pushing that shovel to free my car that had 150 horsepower. Well, I did something about it. I attached the shovel to the car.
This was a heavy duty shovel with a blade that was two feet wide. It worked like magic. The problem was that I had to reposition the shovel right and left. That part is not funny when it is cold out. The next year I decided to built a wider 5 inches tall plow, that rested on my bumper.
I tested it on some wet snow. It soon reached its limit as my front wheel drive car had the front part lifting and the wheels spinning. I soon took my wooden plow appart. I was using a piece of metal from a bed frame to make contact with the pavement.
I have learned that it is possible to make a snow plow for the passenger car. It should be no more than 2.5 feet wide. It can rest on a bumper etc...
The important aspect is the ability to reposition the shovel (plow) from left to right.
It can be done with a tracking system that is remote controled (wired remote) that you take with you inside the car. The motor that repositions the plow (side to side), can be powered from the cigarette lighter. The repositioning could be done while the car is moving in reverse.
Better yet, the repositioning can be done manually, as long a track system is in place that allows you to unlock, move the shovel left or right, and secure it in a new position in one minute or less.
Think "car shovel", since a wide plow is not practical. There are lots of cars sitting around while we are breaking our backs shoveling snow for them.
And you thought that the voting machines needed to be updated.
You must have contact with snow plow manufacturers. If you know a company that is losing to the competition, please take this idea to them. As for me, I have so many ideas, that I cannot possibly bring them all to life. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Philippe Paul

Thanks for the great letter, Phillipe. If you dig up those pictures, we'd love to share them with our readers.
Here's another way to make a snowplow that you may not have thought of.
Mr. Plow and Mr. Web

Mr. Plow,
How do you make a snow plow?
Thanks,
Ginger
Hi Ginger
You need to be 21 in most states to make a snow plow.
Cheers!
Mr. Plow

Snowplow Ingredients:
8 oz Hot chocolate
1 oz Bailey's irish cream
1 oz Malibu rum
1/2 oz Creme de cacao
1 dash Cinnamon
Whipped cream

Mixing instructions:
Mix hot chocolate to taste, add booze, top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Creator/contributor's comments:
Origin: A cold winter night. A fine festive or cold weather beverage.