[wyldman]

Your probably right,we are just more accustomed to the cold up here.I usually plow with little or no heat (just enough to keep the windshield clear),and the windows wide open.Otherwise I just get too hot.

I have spent all day outside working on cars\trucks and plows,when it's been 30 below,and it never bothered me a bit.

 

[Cop49]

hey

iam the guy that operates that machine and its no problem to work 6-10 hours with no cab but 21 hours is a little to much

 

[Cop49]

As an employee of GMC Driver I must say that I have no complaints what so ever. Last winter I was on the sidewalks crew and worked everywhere from 10 to 20 hours a storm. We had a storm that went on for a week, which required us to be out every night of the week for a week straight. Working that many hours at a time is not a problem as long as you are dressed for the weather.

 

[Joey D]

Proper clothing is all thats needed. Thats not to say a heated cab wouldn't be better as well as just being out of the wind. I think if I was to buy something like that I would buy it will a cab or just buy something else. That does look like a nice machine though, how much $$$?

 

[Cop49]

sorry about the two messages. since the operator of the machine is never on this site, he just posted under my name.

 

[paponte]

This is too much. Next thing we'll have to provide a portable cab and heat attatchment for shovels next. I think the battery would be a little heavy to strap on their backs though.

Your getting paid to do a job. Dress accordingly, and theres no problems. :beatsme

 

[GMC Driver]

Joey D,

The 4100 with a gas engines starts at about $18,000 Cdn. Add options, and it goes up quickly. The diesels are into the mid 20's.

Cop 49,

Welcome. I think you need to point out that a 10 - 20 hour shift is not at one sight alone. There is travel times between sites, and break periods throughout a shift. As my employees know - snow work is only available when it is snowing. Therefore, they make themselves available far as long as it takes to get the job done, because who knows when the next snowfall will come.

 

[Assured Services]

Ron, do you ever use or consider trying a 2 stage blower on your equip. for those deeper snows? A 54" plow looks like a lot of work pushing the same snow over and over to get it where it has to go. There has to be an easier way.
I use a JD 420 and a 2 stage blower, no cab and love it. Never had a problem staying warm, but I was always bundeled up good. I've ran it since I was 4-5 yrs old, never frost bitten.

Plows on small equip. are great for small snows, but for the deep stuf it's more monkey n' around.
Maybe Jay will lend his cat blower to speed things up a bit :zoinks

 

[4evergreenlawns]

Snowman,

The 60" Snow Thrower is a two stage PTO driven unit. The broom would be for the up to lets say 6" one time snow falls and clean ups after a larger snowfalls. The Snow Thrower would be for over 6" and when the snow is at a height where the broom would be ineffective.

I did look at the JD units but their brooms were only rate for "2" of light fluffy snow". I wanted a more effective broom with a blower back up. I will also be added a small spreader to the rear. Both of the attachtment are hyd. lift and angle from in the cab. I did consider the ATV and plow route but felt for the money invested the out front mower, broom, snow thrower was just soemthing I will get much more use out orf in the long run.

I spent all winter reseaching what was being used and what would work best for my operation. The Grasshopper just came out at the best available unit with local dealer support.

 

[cutntrim]

I'm coming into this thread late, but just to chime in from a Canadian/Northern perspective...as the others have said - just dress appropriately and working outdoors is fine.

Having said that, I personally couldn't operate that tractor out in the elements because I've got poor circulation...my employees on the other hand, would not have a problem.

Because I do landscape installation (as well as maintenance), I went with a skidsteer rather than a tractor for plowing. GMC - I'm guessing you have farming use for that tractor in the summer? Or maybe it's used for mowing?

 

[Mark Oomkes]

I understand that working in the cold is necessary, we have a pruning crew out almost all winter. I also understand dressing appropriately.

All I am saying is that if it were me, I want to give my employees the most productive and comfortable piece of equipment that I can afford. We bought one of those 3 sided shields for our Dingo when we were using that for walks.

I have great respect for my employees and want to supply them with the proper, most efficient tools for the job. They are willing to be available 24/7, go out in crappy weather, long hours away from their families, holidays, etc. I want them to be as productive and efficient as possible. JMO.

 

[Joey D]

Has anyone used or priced out the ToolCat from Bobcat? I got to looking at the web site about them after seeing this post and they look like a very versital machine.

 

[GMC Driver]

Cutn'Trim,

The smaller machine is owned by my in-laws (3100) where it is used to mow the farm lawns (3 big lawns) and clean out their broiler barn. The 4100 is a dealer unit that I managed to work a deal for the winter. I don't have a use for such a big bulky machine through the summer months - which is the one draw back with it. If I could get a multiple year commitiment for snow removal at this location, I would purchase a machine. I would like to get something that will work twelve months of the year - like a 4 wheel drive Kubota GF 1800 - a small diesel rear steer machine. They are a little cheaper, plus they are better suited for lawns.

Right now I'll take one season at a time, and when an opportunity for the right machine comes, I'll decide what to do. By the way, I too have a skidsteer, but there were too many concerns with leaving ruuber marks on driveway surfaces. Quite particular account.

 

[ceaser1]

well there gmc driver that kabota sounds like a nice machine cant wait till you get it i will love to ride that, so what you think was i right no more snow that was are last one lol

 

[Mark Oomkes]

Has anyone used or priced out the ToolCat from Bobcat? I got to looking at the web site about them after seeing this post and they look like a very versital machine.

Yes, I would love one, but I have to make it more than just a sidewalk machine for the price. I have tons of uses it for it, but because it runs about the same as a truck, I need to make sure it can do everything I want it to. I believe one of the members here has 1 or 2.

 

[T-Zab]

To the boys in the great white north,

Not everyone in these parts of the lower 48 are complete wimps!! For years I framed in the subzero weather we get in the Chicago land area, and I would still be doing it if the money was still there. You guys are right, put the proper winter attire on and get to work. Its funny how spoiled everyone gets with there big buck equipment. Its great to have equipment to do the work in complete comfort I guess, but there is nothing wrong braveing the elements either. Like I stated before we rough framed outside to make a living, no workee, no payee.

Two seasons ago we framed a timber frame in the winter. Well as luck would have it the timber frame trusses were 4 weeks behind schedule. They ended up showing up the worst week of the winter 15 below at 7am and 0 for daytime highs. We worked for 3 days in these conditions the trucks needed to get back to Pa, and the crane was onsite. No backing out. I told the guys they did not have to work if they felt they were not up to it. NONE left, they all worked and we realized it was not that bad so we finished the job (t&g roof planks and the stress skin roof panels) in those temps.
I personally will take cold any day over 100 degree plus temps.

It sure cracks me up how people wont work in the cold but they will ride 100's of miles in a day on a 10000.00 snow machine no problem. But they will not work outside because it is to cold. Oh well, I guess some guys will do what they have too to earn a living and not worry about the small stuff.Like how cold the weatherman said it is outside.

Just my 2 cents
Todd

 

[bud16415]

He looks warm to me. Proper dress is in effect a heated cab. Nothing in the world is colder than snowmobiling at 60 mph around a frozen lake at –10F and I see guys doing it all the time. The human body in jeans and a normal winter coat and gloves etc would not last 15 minutes doing that but in those space suits you are as warm as toast.
I have sat on a dry wall bucket for 10 hours ice fishing with 20 mph winds coming across lake Erie in sub freezing temps many times.

From the pictures posted the guy looks to be doing the right thing he has the heavy wind stopping pants and layered clothing the coat looks to be a good high thermal design and has good gloves and boots. If any thing is wrong it’s the exposed face. But we don’t know the temp when the picture was taken or if like most people when you take their picture you want to see their face.

A bigger problem with working in the cold is over heating what might be perfect for working on that rig would be way over kill for shoveling. If the two guys trade off as the day goes on and clothing that was right for night and morning is used during day hours you will over heat causing sweat then going back to cold temps with less physical work being done. Moist insulation will suck body heat away. I always layer clothes and pick clothing that is more than required then ether remove or unseal it to adjust temp.

The big thing I think you guys are missing is he’s not 100 miles from the nearest warm environment. If some sort of chill emergency arose I’m sure there are heated trucks etc close by. I used to be teased a lot when I was cross-country skiing that I would take two large of a pack along. But I always felt the difference in the clothes I need skiing and what I would need in an emergency were like 4 times the protection. And when you are 10 miles in on some trail a couple hours of sitting is a very long time.

As long as I’m typing a book here and this will apply more for the guys that plow alone and more in the country, but how many of you keep emergency clothing blankets etc in the truck? Even with a cell phone during a storm you could be looking at a few hour wait in a break down.

Bud

Not in Canada but pretty darn close…

 

[T-Zab]

Hey Bud didnt know you were a bucket Jigger! LOL
I get laughed at by my wife for sitting on a bucket in the middle of a lake. But your right about the clothes, dress for immobility or for active. Sitting in a treestand in Late Dec. gets cold too, you just have to dress for it.
Todd

 

[bud16415]

Todd

Yep been known to Jig a bucket or two. This year I didn’t get out but they had a really long time the bay was froze over in fact I think they are still out there. Even though they are saying stay off the ice. Could be a record.
I used to laugh we would be sitting there all bundled up and a family would pull over and walk out on the ice to see what it was all about wearing summer shoes and wind breakers and after 5 minutes they would be going these people fishing are crazy its freezing out here. And go slipping back to their car. And we would go them people are nutts coming out here dressed like that.

It’s all about wearing the right equipment. We have a club that goes SCUBA diving every winter thru the ice. Now that’s nuts. omg

Bud

 

[itsgottobegreen]

Until this year. (just got a plow truck) I sat on an open cab kubota tractor or a JD garden tractor pushing driveways. So don't even begin to start with me about sitting out in the cold. My route takes 6 hours for 3". 8 hours for 6". So I have spent alot of time out in the cold. Its all about dressing warm.

So thats why I really apprericate my new to truck and my new to me kubota tractor thats coming. My employees are going to be much happier with heated cabs this year doing my route while I am subbing with my truck.