I was one of the first to buy a Blizzard from the other site, even after all the nay saying I encountered. First time out, it saved me 2 hours off a 12 hour run, that being totally unfamiliar with the controls and new truck. Since then I've shaved off another 2 hours after learning how to use the plow to its full potential.
I blew a couple hoses in that time by hitting raised basins, and cracked the wing moldboard as well. I blame this on driver error, any plow would have had damage from the shots I gave the plow, in fact I was surpised that was the only damage.
I never had any failure whatsoever with the pump/manifold assembly, the most complex part of the plow. It worked immediately every time I hooked up. This is the area the early plows had problems and started a poor reputation for Blizzard. The manifolds are outsourced and their original contractor had poor quality control, resulting in a number of faulty units. Blizzard has since changed contractors and gone through one redesign of the manifold and have eliminated the quality problems. They've also increased the pump capacity for a faster operating plow.
They've also redesigned the wing assembly for this year, eliminating 2 pistons and the 4 hoses that serviced them. These were the wing tilt pistons and were a bear to replace hoses on. This was a shop job, not something to be performed in the field. Now they don't exist and the plow functions as well as before.
The manifold is also the limiting factor in production numbers. Since it is outsourced, they try to anticipate the number that they'll need, but once the manifolds are used up, they can not produce any more plows for the season. For the jobber to retool the machines again for a short run of manifolds would make the plow too expensive for sale. Last I heard Blizzard was investigating making the manifolds in house.
If you look at the structure of the Blizzard, it's boxed steel, similar to what modern heavy equipment uses in their construction. In fact, another division of Blizzard makes dozer blades of the same design to fit D5 and D6 sized dozers, so the concept is proven.
Even with the few problems I've had, I'd buy another Blizzard for the time savings. I'm finished plowing 4 hours earlier, and customers have remarked at how well the plow cleans up. It's easier on me and my truck than the straight blade I had, this adds up to a better overall procedure with less fatigue.
I can't report vs. a V, but I was considering the purchase of a Boss V before I discovered the Blizzard.
