Question: Snow plow worth.

Hi,
Ive been looking at buying this complete snow plow setup from a guy.
It has a 6.5 ft blade, frame work, ram and belt driven "monarch" pump. It is all rusted fairly well except pump. Non power angle-manual+ up down only. Keep in mind no parts for the pump are available and the entire thing needs to be sandblasted to make it last for any amount of time.If it works (still installed) is it worth $350?

 

He says it works. I, of course would want to see it work first.

Josh

 

Wish I knew where you were from. Cop down the road has the same thing for $150

 

I'm near Allentown PA.. I also found another plow for sale. It is a 7 Ft Meyers power angle complete setup (I think) and all works (I think). The blade mount is cracked, there is an 8 inch split in the blade, one of the recoil springs is missing the mount and one of the Hyd hoses is beginning to split open. Also somewhat rusted, not as much as the ancient one. Obviously needs some work and to have the width cut down. What price on this one?What is the best width to have on an early CJ5?

Josh

 

i used to have a 6 foot on mine. but when plowing with the blade angled one way or the other, the tires on one side would be running through unplowed snow, which obviously reduces traction. i went up to a 6.5 foot and i feel its the perfect width. anything bigger than that is unnecesary and the bigger you go, the more you can push, and the more potential frame/drivetrain damage.

if your looking for a plow now in the fall, you're looking the sametime everyone else is. demand will drive the price up. keep your eye on ebay for a setup local to you, or local classifieds. the liklihood of finding a frame to fit the width of an early 5 are substainally less then finding one for a later cj/wrangler. if you have a welder and some cutting tools, either make you own, or find one from a later jeep and modify it. look for a meyer or western 6.5 foot blade. i dont like the fisher's cus they are too heavy and only the cutting edge trips, not the entire blade. an electric over hydraulic setup is best as it will not require mounting a pump to run off your engine, and newer untis are solenoid controled eliminating rods and/or cables. i would not try to cutdown a plow to get to whatever width you decide you want. a steal for a used complete working setup from a late cj/wrangler (whose frame you would have to modify) would be $700-$1000. make sure you get a power angle setup, unless you dont mind getting out of the jeep, pulling a pin, angling the blade where you want it, and lining up the pin hole.

these are my preferences. i've been plowing with my jeep since i was 16 (10 years now) and plowed over 40 driveways each storm with it up until 2 years ago when my much more comfortable F250 took over. (the jeep is a backup now and actually climbs the steep driveways in the bad storms where my truck can't get traction). my jeep runs the old monarch pump off the motor which works great, but the lifting speed is determined by engine rpm. if i could do it all again (which i'm gonna do next winter) i'll be running a meyers electric over hydraulic solenoid controlled setup. this way i'll also have more room under my hood for my v8 transplant.

 

What is wrong with cutting down a blade if you have the right tools and a welder?

 

if you buy a 7 footer and want a 6.5 and take 3 inches off each side and properly brace the cut edges, than it would be okay. i've seen a cut down plow that wasnt braced and was actually bent backwards on the edges.

 

Thanks guys. That's probably what I'll do. Take the 7 foot and cut it down to 6.5 and weld the braces on the new edges. I still don't know what to offer him though. He wouldn't give me a price. Its complete but beat up like I said. I don't think he cares too much. He's sort of retiring, has nothing to use it on etc.

Josh

 

I wouldn't cut the plow down. Its just too much work. The jeep will push a 7' foot plow just fine. I ran one with the F-134 and a Hi-Low jeep pump mounted on the generator for years before I had a V6. A few thing I did to make the plowing easier: One, I put about ten cement blocks in the back to counter balance the weight of the plow when its up otherwise your rear wheels have less traction; two, I put a set of chains on the rear wheels. I have a second set of tires and wheels with the chains mounted on them all the time so I just switch tires. My 7' foot plow was manual angle. I now have two power angles and man what a difference being able to change angles without having to stop and get out. Don't forget to put paste wax on your blades so the wet snow doesn't stick.