Better Roads Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/206514
TRIP VERSATILITY A straight or V-plow with a trip bottom-edge provides more than versatility and easier plowing performance. Plows with trip mechanisms also provide a great measure of protection for the truck frame and body because it won't allow the shock of hitting an immovable object (curb, divider, rock, etc.) to the truck frame and body. Some are available in stainless steel, which extends life and provides an extra measure of durability and good looks. SPREADING THE WEALTH Pickup-bed and trailer-hitchmounted sand/salt spreaders continue to be very popular ways to aid traction on residential driveways and smaller parking lots. These units are economical and relatively easy to mount and use. The trick to these units is maintenance; keeping them clean and operational takes some effort between storms and before the spring put-away season comes. Most plow and plow parts suppliers and dealers have access to very competitive and welldesigned/built spreaders that really add ice and snow control versatility and effectiveness to a pickup with a plow. On many steep driveways, you'd better have a sander/ spreader or you're not going to get the plowing business; it's guaranteed that the guy with the sander will get the job. HOT FEATURES A plow is a big investment – with an installed cost well into the thousands, it's probably the biggest investment you'll make short of the truck itself. So it pays to look carefully at the different brands and models available for your truck or fleet and note particular features that will make your investment last. A few key questions to ask when you start shopping for that next plow: What is the blade and trip edge/moldboard made of? Clearly, corrosion is a concern for anyone looking to keep the same plow for many seasons. Stainless steel is the best choice as it resists corrosion longer, but it's expensive. Carbon steel has been used in DEALER'S CHOICE If you are a commercial plow operator, you know the dealer is as important – perhaps more so – than the plow itself. Even if the dealer is a little higher on price than a competitor, if the dealer is willing to go the extra mile to keep your trucks and plows running, it's worth the little extra. Benefits such as 24-hour service in the busy season, a healthy stock of repair and replacement parts, knowledgeable "get-it-done" mechanics and a willingness to stand behind their products are just a few of the stand-out qualities good dealers have. An owner-operator from upstate New York summed it up best: "If you're com- mercially plowing, when you need parts you don't want to wait three days … find a reliable dealer that opens 24 hours during storms and has a large stock of parts inventory. That's more important to me than the brand of the plow or the price; they're all going to have problems at some point, don't believe anyone if they tell you different." propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 43