You don't really make much money plowing driveways, too much overhead expenses.
Truck, plow, maintenance, fuel.
I do plowing on the side in the winter, and the only $$ to be made is contracts with businesses parking lots.

Same with mowing, unless you have a lot of customers.

There's so many small mowing/plowing/landscaping companies it might be hard to get clients.

In my opinion. its best for your to get a cheap 2wd truck, and some cheaper equipment, maybe a little older stuff. Try it for a summer.
See if you even like it, have time, is worth it, can get clients, take it fromthere for next year.
you can orally get set up for a few grand, and you don't get your self in a huge hole you don't want to be in. A fee grand is easy to back out of, 20k isn't.

Just Imo, gl bud

This post was edited by IB0T on May 22 2014 08:05pm

well in northern new england winters beat up the diesels (current place i work has several f350s diesels) and he never wants a diesel again

main goal is probably this ( since im not in business yet)

1 person crew to maybe a 2nd if i get busy ( in that case one person on a mower other trimming/blowing)

my equipment would be no larger then this since im starting out on a small budget


48'' Mower (walk/ride behind with a sulky) they weigh around 650-900 lbs based on brand/model
21'' Push mower 50-75 lbs?
Trimmer 10 lbs
blower back pack 30-50 lbs
hand tools 50-100 lbs
misc(gas/ext...) 100 lbs


Llooking at putting 1235 lbs somewhere... a trailer would be my option if i didnt have a 15' driveway located on a very busy highway would be impossible to even the best trailer drivers to get one in (would need 2 flaggers stopping traffic)

this is why a out of truck bed is more appealing ( can park it in the barn for the nights without unloading)

so i guess for a more specific help post... Ill need this (for a work truck)

low miles
good mechanical shape ( something that is known for taking a beating )
not a truck person but a 5x8 bed would be best (if easily possible)
something decent on gas (since there will be a lot of driving from place to place)
i prefer gas to diesel since all i hear is horror stories about $12k truck repairs... one after another and i hear they suck starting in the winter
would be used for residential mowing/maybe some plowing for the current clients that required it/ and towing mulch/dirt in the spring

(idk what else would help...lmk)

photo of my driveway ( its roughly 30x15)



This post was edited by RPG5621 on May 23 2014 05:10am

Well a guy I worked for said he is swamped an will send me clients an mentor me when needed

I agree with plowing. .. only concern would be keeping clients

Literally any Chevy 350 half ton truck (Or any LS variant) Is going to be super reliable, cheap to buy, easy and cheap to maintain.

If you are going either 4WD or automatic I'd stay away from dodge.

Ford is fine, except the transmissions in the older ones. C4's and C5's can be more on the weak side. And they will always be more expensive to maintain than their Chevy counterparts.

so from the sounds of it ford>

?

This post was edited by RPG5621 on May 23 2014 11:33am

No, Chevy >.

Second place is Ford,

And don't even look at a Dodge.

Oh and I don't know anything about foreign trucks, so if that's what you are looking for I'm not the guy to talk to.

They have horrible fuel mileage. Really horrible. Your list is very accurate.


OP, your boss hates diesels and has 12k repair bills because he owns a bunch of Fords and i bet they aren't old 7.3's.

Oh, No clue... I'm not that into cars/trucks... main reason why I posted here since jsp is full of opinions



atm the 3 main trucks are

f150s
f250s
Silverado 1500

not even going to consider 350s+ to big for what im trying to do

also not a fan on dodge... everyone ik that has had one has had a fun time at the shop


This post was edited by RPG5621 on May 23 2014 11:55am

He meant older generation chevy with 350ci engine not 3500.
The 90's chevs are bullet proof, and 350 vortecs are snappy.
If you need to buy an older truck chevy is the way to go, keep in mind all of them will be gas guzzlers.