Would you buy a plow truck?

[Shugalou]

I'm considering buying a blazer that was used as a plow truck but concerned about the abuse it would have went through hitting curbs with a plow on it.

Asking you experts out there if you would buy it or what I should be looking for?

Thanks

[ACS]

The brown one? If so, have you looked at it yet? It’s really beat.

[sweetk30]

from a guy that was born in the snow belt / lived / worked / restored trucks all in the snow belt the #1 best advice i can give you and or anyone else is this .

NEVER buy a plow truck . always buy the truck you want and THEN install a plow . there is a #1 major reason there for sale used RUST .

i build my own plow trucks . first real plow truck i built . then used a lot of the old stuff in the new truck .

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Why not? If it's worn out then it's cheap. In my experience plowing does a number on differentials and auto transmissions. Those are replaceable though.

[Redneck Rydes]

My friend bought a plow truck from a landscaping company,came with no fromt bumper,he went to put a bumper on it could not get it to line up, did a check on things,turns out the frame at the front was all bent down and sideways,so if you are going to buy a plow truck,make sure you know the people driving/plowing with it

[sweetk30]

trans cooler lines / oil pans / diff covers / trans pan / brake lines / frame rails / under body = all heavy rust from running in the crap .

if you love to chase your tail fine go buy one . i am not saying there 100% all junk but a good 95% of them are NASTY on the underside .

my info is from real life / 15+ years in shops as a tech fixing stuff / then fixing my own stuff .

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

Why not? If it's worn out then it's cheap. In my experience plowing does a number on differentials and auto transmissions. Those are replaceable though.

have you ever worked on or lived in the TRUE RUST BELT ?

[Dead Parrot]

At least look at it. Unless a square is a long lost barn find, all of them are used and in most cases, well used vehicles. A plow truck shouldn't be an automatic pass on vehicle but you should really check things for rust that you might not normally much attention to.

Even if it is too rusty to use as a build up vehicle, consider picking it up as a part source, if there is enough left to be useful.

[Shugalou]

Guys thanks for the detailed responses! ACS yes the brown one close to Bradford with the cop lights. I haven't looked at it yet but was thinking about it but after all the feedback I think I'll pass and keep working away on my project.

[THI]

I bought one once as a driver for my son who had just gotten his license. I bought it real cheap, less than what the new tire on it cost. Sad part is that was still too much! It had just blown a head gasket on the second engine! Even though we are used to rust in our area, what it had was unbelievable! Run as fast as you can away!

[Greg58]

The undercarraige and under hood of a plow truck will be so much worse than any other truck out there. They are out in the worst weather, pushing salty wet snow up into every crevice there is. I have seen some with relatively low miles that were just beat to death.
Stay away, buy a clean southern truck!

Greg

[ACS]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

Guys thanks for the detailed responses! ACS yes the brown one close to Bradford with the cop lights. I haven't looked at it yet but was thinking about it but after all the feedback I think I'll pass and keep working away on my project.

Keep the alerts on. Decent ones pop up now and again.

[Shugalou]

Yeah I think a southern truck is the way to go.

ACS yeah I gotta get on the alerts more, I just like to browse as a part time hobby.

Thanks guys

[old Rusty C10]

i buy alot of municipal vehicles and resell them.. trucks that are 5 years old are rotted to death if they were used for plowing even if its a site truck at a school or something

[TwoFiftyShifter]

Originally Posted by sweetk30

have you ever worked on or lived in the TRUE RUST BELT ?

Lived in NY state for 24 years. Plowed snow too. Any truck can be a good buy at the right price.

[sweetk30]

Originally Posted by TwoFiftyShifter

Lived in NY state for 24 years. Plowed snow too. Any truck can be a good buy at the right price.

last 5 years give or take they swapped to liquid de-ice and its killing stuff 10x faster .

and yes old plow truck or any old ride if the price is right is good .

[1976gmc20]

Sure - I live out west where rust isn't such a big issue.

Besides, why buy a nice truck and put a plow on it if all I'm going to do is drive it up and down my driveway?

OTOH, what I'd really like to have is something like a JD650. Now that could really move some snow