Tim1075
Senior Member
- Location
- Allendale, NJ
How many of you guys plow with 2wd trucks? How do they perform? What modifications do you make to the truck (chains, weight, ect)?
4x2
- Thread starter Tim1075
- Start date
John Allin
PlowSite.com Addict
- Location
- Erie, PA
Big trucks only in 2WD.
One ton and smaller - all 4WD in my market.
2WD trucks make great sidewalk crew trucks.
One ton and smaller - all 4WD in my market.
2WD trucks make great sidewalk crew trucks.
GeoffD
PlowSite.com Veteran
- Location
- Cumberland County Maine
F 550 and smaller all 4X4, the only way to go.
My F 650s and F 750s, 2wd with on spots.
Geoff
My F 650s and F 750s, 2wd with on spots.
Geoff
slplow
PlowSite.com Veteran
- Location
- FRAMINGHAM, MA
I had a 1982 chevy 2wd 1 ton dually with a 8ft fisher.It was great in parkinglots with the v box in the back , no chains and for the three year i owned it i never got stuck.
OP
Tim1075
Senior Member
- Location
- Allendale, NJ
I notice around here i see a lot of older trucks (racks, dumps) to be 2wd. Most of the new trucks i come accross are 4wd.
thelawnguy
PlowSite.com Addict
- Location
- Central CT
I took a picture of an 8wd today and will post it when its developed.
Its a Mack twin screw tractor with a Mafia block lashed to the fifth wheel, they plow a parking lot with it.
The city plows with Ford twin screw garbage trucks.
Its a Mack twin screw tractor with a Mafia block lashed to the fifth wheel, they plow a parking lot with it.
The city plows with Ford twin screw garbage trucks.
Chuck Smith
2000 Club Member
- Location
- NJ
I don't know about Ford and Dodge, but Chevy didn't offer a 4x4 one ton dually until 1977. Even at that, sales of 4x4 models were slow...
In 1977 only 60,779 one ton trucks were made, and only 8% of them 4x4. That's 4,800 4wd 1 tons. Not many compared to 110,416 1/2 tons made that were 4wd, and 12,054 3/4 ton trucks that were 4wd.
In 1978 only 68,010 1 ton trucks were made, this, vs. 540,968 1/2 ton trucks, and 176,735 3/4 ton trucks. No percentages for 4wd models were given in the book I have for 1978.
Don't want to bore you all, just making a point that 4wd wasn't common on 1 ton models until later years. I had a friend that plowed in 1996 with a 95 Ford F-350 12' rack body, 2wd. In the middle of the winter, in the middle of a storm, he was out buying chains for it. He got tired of getting stuck. Needless to say in the spring, he traded it in on a 4wd rack body. He thought like most other landscapers, "I don't need 4wd" when he bought it, and maybe wanted to save on cost. WRONG. <B>You don't need it if you don't want to plow.</B> Yes, you could have a V box on the back, and ballast at all times. But who wants to increase fuel consumption, as well as wear on the truck, just to not get stuck?
~Chuck
In 1977 only 60,779 one ton trucks were made, and only 8% of them 4x4. That's 4,800 4wd 1 tons. Not many compared to 110,416 1/2 tons made that were 4wd, and 12,054 3/4 ton trucks that were 4wd.
In 1978 only 68,010 1 ton trucks were made, this, vs. 540,968 1/2 ton trucks, and 176,735 3/4 ton trucks. No percentages for 4wd models were given in the book I have for 1978.
Don't want to bore you all, just making a point that 4wd wasn't common on 1 ton models until later years. I had a friend that plowed in 1996 with a 95 Ford F-350 12' rack body, 2wd. In the middle of the winter, in the middle of a storm, he was out buying chains for it. He got tired of getting stuck. Needless to say in the spring, he traded it in on a 4wd rack body. He thought like most other landscapers, "I don't need 4wd" when he bought it, and maybe wanted to save on cost. WRONG. <B>You don't need it if you don't want to plow.</B> Yes, you could have a V box on the back, and ballast at all times. But who wants to increase fuel consumption, as well as wear on the truck, just to not get stuck?
~Chuck
I had a couple of 1988 F-350's with 10' contractor beds that were 4x2. No problemas mon! Only once I remember having a problem with one of them. That was pushing uphill on ice. I skidded and had to manuver the truck around...no towtruck needed. I just went at it from a different angle and got it done. I should tell you this is Chicago and we don't get a lot of wet heavy snows.
SLC1
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Connecticut
We plow with a 1981 Ford F-800 10' Fisher Plow and 8 yd sander and have never had any problems with it in the snow. I also have a friend who has a 1999 Chevy C-3500HD 2wd and a 9' plow he only keeps it in large lots and does not let his employees drive it but he says he does not have any problems with it, but personally I would never buy a 2wd drive truck unless it was a large one.Just my two cents
GeoffD
PlowSite.com Veteran
- Location
- Cumberland County Maine
Depends on the amount of hills, and snow on the roads too.
If your out and flat land OHIO, i am sure 2wd would be fine.
Geoff
If your out and flat land OHIO, i am sure 2wd would be fine.
Geoff
2 things:
1.) Truck weight: Heavy trucks (generally dually's anyway) can get by fine with 2wd.
2.) Start/Stop frequency: If you're plowing private roads or large lots where you're going forward for long stretches 2wd works pretty well.
If you start/stop constantly like I do with short driveways, 2wd is useless.
1.) Truck weight: Heavy trucks (generally dually's anyway) can get by fine with 2wd.
2.) Start/Stop frequency: If you're plowing private roads or large lots where you're going forward for long stretches 2wd works pretty well.
If you start/stop constantly like I do with short driveways, 2wd is useless.
