From the sounds of it, Old Man Winter is fixing to beat the stuffing out of pretty much the entire eastern half of the US this weekend. We’re getting sub-zero temperatures at my new house, and my old house is going to get at least a foot of snow, maybe more. So it only seems fitting that we look at a couple of winter-fighting trucks today. With one of these, a snazzy jacket, and a catchy jingle, you can make some extra money on the side. Just remember it’s not nice to plow in your ex-girlfriend’s garage.
Well, it looks like yesterday’s results were no Harlequin romance. The poor multicolored VW Golf got absolutely creamed by the winged Honda Civic. It sounds like the Golf’s weird ignition switch issue scared off more of you than its oddball color scheme. Only one or two of you wanted to keep the wing on the Civic, though, which I see as a good sign.
Me, I’m taking the Golf, for nostalgic reasons. I haven’t had a VW in more than thirty years, and I kind of miss them. I’m not sold on the Harlequin theme, though; I think I’d be tempted to give it the same paint job as author Jasper Fforde’s Porsche 356 replica. I’ve been tempted to do that to a couple of cars.
Back when we lived in Portland, we lived on a very steep dead-end hill that the city never plowed. During the one or two snowstorms we’d get each winter, our entire neighborhood had to park at the bottom of the hill, because no one could get up it. I thought many times about buying a truck with a plow on it, maybe asking the neighbors to buy it as a communal resource, but since it was only once or twice a year it never seemed worth it. For some places, like where I live now, there had better be someone around with a snowplow, unless you just don’t want to go anywhere from November to April. And if you are that someone, you’re virtually guaranteed some business during those months. These two are about the cheapest viable plow trucks I could find; let’s see which one seems like the better deal.
2006 Jeep Wrangler – $9,000
Engine/drivetrain: 4.0-liter OHV inline 6, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Freesoil, MI
Odometer reading: 79,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
To push a snowplow, a vehicle really only needs two things: four-wheel, and a sturdy enough frame to hold the plow bracket. All sorts of vehicles have been used for plows over the years, including Jeeps. In fact, their compact size and tight turning radius give them an advantage when plowing small parking lots, where a longer truck would be ungainly. This TJ Wrangler appears to have been a plow truck from the start, judging by its low mileage and rather advanced rust.
This Jeep is powered by the classic combination of a 4.0-liter inline six and a five-speed manual transmission. I’m sure David could go into more detail about the specifics of this model year, but I’ll just stick to the broad strokes. It’s a nice, reliable, torquey engine that should have no trouble shoving snow around. We don’t get a whole lot of detail about its condition, but the seller does say it has new tires, which is a nice bonus.
It’s surprisingly nice inside for such a hard-working vehicle, but Guy Fieri called – he wants his seat covers back. I guess maybe sitting on fake flames while you’re out plowing snow might help you think warm thoughts? I do worry, based on some of the other photos, that the carpet might be the only floor in some spots, though.
Case in point: the left front fender has some extra ventilation that didn’t come from the factory. And it’s not the only rust hole visible in the photos. But it only really matters if the frame is rusted out, and the only way to know that is to crawl underneath it. If it’s still solid under there, it’s still good for a plow truck.
2012 Ford F-150 XL – $9,995
Engine/drivetrain: 3.7-liter DOHC V6, six-speed automatic, 4WD
Location: Port Huron, MI
Odometer reading: 162,000 miles
Operational status: Just says “Great truck”
In snowy parts of the country, you see a lot of half-ton pickups with plow brackets on the front and toppers on the bed. The idea seems to be to have one “do it all” truck, something that can handle any job you need it to, from hauling ladders for your contracting business in the summer to plowing snow in the winter. This F-150 looks like it has been set up for such year-round use.
It’s a basic XL model, with a 3.7-liter V6 and four-wheel-drive. The only available transmission in 2012 was a six-speed automatic. You might think that a six-cylinder truck wouldn’t be ideal for plowing, but momentum and gearing count for more than sheer power. I used to plow our driveway when I was in high school with a six-and-a-half-horsepower John Deere lawn tractor with a plow blade on the front, and it handled up to a foot of snow just fine. This V6 is rocking 302 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque; I’m sure it’s plenty. All the seller says is that it’s a “great truck,” so checking its condition beyond that is your own responsibility.
It’s a Super Cab, so there’s seating for five – six, if someone is willing to sit in the middle in the front. There’s nothing fancy in there, but you don’t want fancy if you’re working a truck hard. You want durable, and comfortable enough to not get fatigued driving around all day, and this should do nicely. I used to work for a place that had this generation F-150s as shop trucks, and they were the only part of the job I liked.
The bed of this truck has a lot going on, with a contractor-style ARE topper and a slide-out tray in the bed for tools. Or in the winter, emergency supplies, I suppose. It’s all in very nice shape, as is the rest of the truck, in nondescript white, ready for your company logo, and riding on simple and honest steel wheels. This is no “cowboy Cadillac;” it’s a tough, hard-working appliance for getting shit done.
What we have here are two different philosophies of plow truck. One is to have a dedicated machine, small and maneuverable, that only comes out when snow needs to be moved around. The other is to have a truck that can do everything you need a truck to do – plus plow snow in the winter. Which way makes more sense to you?
For interior comfort/ ride quality alone Im going with the F150. Also because more cushion for the pushin. Also also because it seems less likely to have a swiss cheese frame.
I’m surprised DT hasn’t snapped up the Jeep…
Not enough rust and too much parts availability.
I would take the Jeep, Tupy Heads, but weird hybrid distributor triggered coil on plug design be damned. Pretty much everything that is rusted has fairly easy to bolt or weld on parts available, and I know of more than a few engineless hulks on a back fence row to scavenge cheaply.
I don’t hate the F150, but it would be hard for me to believe it came with that little motor and a snow plow prep package in 2012. In fact I believe they all came with the 5.0 or the 6.2. I would not want to replace the entire drivetrain in a basic ass 3.7 Furd.
Probably have to do that on the jeep as well, but if I had to the thing would at least be worth something to someone after.
At half the price, the rusty Jeep might’ve been worth thinking about, but the Ford is the better choice here. Still not right for the task, but it’ll do.
I’ve seen a number of Geo Tracker ads with plows installed, and always wondered how well that would work. It’d be cool to throw one on my car in the winter, but I think there would be a lot of major drawbacks, and very little utility!
Neither. If the front suspensions are stock, neither are designed to have that much weight cantilevered off the front. Even if the suspension on the TJ is upgraded, I’m hoping the axle is not the stock Dana 30 and is something beefy like a Dana 44.
As others have commented, that much body rust indicates the frame is toast.
D35 is even worse, and likely what is out back if it has a stock D30 up front.
It would have to be a mighty small plow, and the cooling system would be the next concern. but a 3.7 F150 is definitely not Set up with the snow plow prep package in 2012. It would suck worse to have to fix that over the jeep to me. I can pretty simply upgrade to 1 ton axles on the jeep.
As someone who plows I’d really like to vote neither. Heavy equipment all the way for me. Give me a loader or bobcat and I’m happy, truck plowing sucks in comparison. I feel the F150 is too small, really you want a 2500+ with a plow package so the front doesn’t sag comically. Plus straight blades are vastly inferior to V blades.
I’m guess I’m voting rot box Jeep here because its small size would at least theoretically make it pretty maneuverable in smaller lots.
Can’t wait until I get to drive a Deere 544 loader in a commercial lot this Sunday afternoon. It’ll be a magnet for all the idiots who didn’t check the weather and decided that mid massive snow storm is the right time to get a weeks worth of groceries or a great day to take in a movie.
Ford all the way. The F150 seems to be in great shape but would of course look underneath. That Jeep isn’t in good shape and probably looks bad underneath. I don’t see any Jeep plows up here. We have heavy wet snow usually or what we call “Sierra cement”. They’re all Ford or Chevy pickups or sometimes a Ford or Chevy SUV. Some of the neighborhoods have somebody with a Bobcat that clears the road and driveway.
I would take the Jeep just for maneuverability in my own driveway.
If I were doing parking lots or streets, F150 all day long. No question.
Have you ever seen a Wrangler trying to plow? They’re not heavy enough (or at least older ones weren’t. I don’t know where this one tips the scales). I had a friend with a wrangler and he used to struggle with a 6′ plow. Tried to pick up some plowing customers and had to make twice as many visits because he couldn’t push 6′ of snow at a time.
I know there are some places with light fluffy snow where the Jeep would be fine, but I’m by the coast and almost all of our snow is the heavy wet kind.
Short wheel base TJ’s are pretty bad in snow, they tend to slip around even with 4wd engaged, this one might have lockers from the factory and that would help, but I doubt it. Detroit or worse Lincoln lockers would actually make it worse in the snow trying to push a plow I think.
My assumption when voting here is not going to be that the frame is good. Visible rust tends to be accompanied by rust that is less visible.
Ha! You yankees with your snow and ice, I’ll be thinking about you this weekend while I enjoy a nice warm Texas weekend!
[checks local forecast]
Oh. Uh, where is that link to the Ford?
Im from southern AZ. What is this snow you speak of?
The idea seems to be to have one “do it all” truck, something that can handle any job you need it to, from hauling ladders for your contracting business in the summer to plowing snow in the winter.
Truck things ARE excellent uses for a truck.
“If it’s still solid under there, it’s still good for a plow truck”
Something is telling us all that it is not solid under there.
Someone added too much lightness to that Jeep.
F150 for the win. I used to have a plow on the front of my 2004 Tundra 4×4 and it plowed like a boss. I’m sure this Ford can handle the job as long as you’re not planning to start a Mr. Plow business.
So, not to highjack this post, but anyone else getting a ridiculously large and un-closeable banner asking to sign up for a newsletter? Based on the janky mismatched fonts, colors, and overall lack of branding, I have to imagine this is not meant to be live?
https://i.imgur.com/rJrg83a.png
Email Matt, he’s very responsive to stuff like this on the site.
Looks like they fixed it faster than I could email!
Where the hell is Freesoil and is it a nice loam?
With that said, I voted for the Ford.
The Jeep makes more sense in abstract, but it also seems too far gone.
The F150 looks absurdly good for a working vehicle.
I can almost feel DT having that involuntary facial tic kick in as he views the current vote count…
Not a fan of either shit box offering today.
But the Ford is a no brainer today.
Plow away!
Neither are really great for plowing, really needs to be an F-250 or stronger. But at least the F-150 has an actual frame, looks to be in pretty good condition, has a long wheelbase, and is practical on multiple fronts year-round.
To those arguing the wrongler is better for tight spaces: if they’re that tight, just get a snowblower. You could even put an EGO battery powered on in the back of any number of vehicles and not have to worry about leaking gas because it’s battery-powered. Or splurge and get a Yarbo and drive it while in the cab if the warm vehicle or inside the building, haha.
Agree, 1/2-ton is pretty much minimum viable if you’re doing a personal driveway or something. If you’re expecting to plow commercially, 3/4-ton+ all day to handle the weight of a plow sturdy enough to not bust itself apart in a season and have a frame that can absorb the forces.
I got snowed in at a ski resort many years ago and watched a CJ5 with a plow easily pushing three feet of snow. And that TJ definitely has a real frame.
It’s not a matter of whether it can push it – a Geo Metro could push around a bunch of snow with the right setup. It’s the matter of doing it properly, safely, reliably, what the effects it has on the vehicle, plus how the operator is able to interact with the machine especially if it’s a longer shift.
Wranglers are great for off-roading, but they’re not designed for forceful pushing and pulling motions, or else they’d have a more robust and ladder-like frame (I forgot the word ladder in my above post, my bad), more like the CJ and its predecessors. It’s not about Jeeps specifically, either. I’ll call out someone using a Bronco or 4Runner even though they share frames with their pickup brethren. They’re better-suited than a Wrangler in that regard, but still not to the minimum that I believe, which is an F-250 or comparable 2500 or better (preferably the Ford if only for the better mirrors, faster-heating cabins, ergonomics, comfort, and ease of adding accessories).
For context: I’ve worked in the commercial snow removal business for over two decades and oversee the snow removal operations at my current job. So to say I have curated opinions about snow handling might be an understatement.
And I imagine a snowplow on a short light jeep makes handling… interesting
Very much so. I’d much rather wrangle a snowblower out of a truck bed or back of the cabin than drive a short wheelbase vehicle with a plow.
That’s an interesting point about the frame changes. I grew up on a farm, where my dad had built and mounted a hydraulically-actuated snowplow to our ’79 CJ-5. It was amazing how much snow that little Jeep could move – people saying that it’s too light have clearly never undertaken plowing like that.
Would I use it to clear highways? Definitely not – but it did great yeoman duty around our farmyard, and was later used to clear the local airport apron up until about 10 years ago.
No, you get a skid steer and do a better job than a truck in the first place. Machinery plowing is far more enjoyable than truck plowing in my opinion.
Not even a contest, the Ford wins is so many ways. Automatic, no obvious rust issues, A nice steel canopy and bed slider for both keeping things out of the weather and the extra ballast to improve traction, much more comfortable interior too.
I wish I had one since my subdivision gets plowed days after a snow storm, and by then its just a sheet of ice. I would ask the neighbors for gas money only lol
F150 in that case.
Funny you mention this, my wife had to get a neighbor to tow her a few feet forward in our midwest subdivision just this week, because the plows decided that 2 inches of snow was not a big enough deal to stop by. She tried turning left from a street in which she was driving up an incline to the intersection, and couldn’t get traction after she had to stop to let a car pass and lost her momentum up the hill.
Protip to the township: two inches of snow is a big deal when it is on top of an existing two solid inches of packed ice because you keep letting it driven over for days before plowing.
I’m gonna live dangerously and take the Jeep. Mostly just to own a Jeep with a manual.
F-150. The slide out tool tray would be a great tail gating bar and appetizer tray. And it comes attached to a year round useful truck too.
If we’re talking actual, commercial plowing, 14 hours stright through a blizzard then Lol to plowing with a manual. I can’t even imagine how miserable that would be. And that clutch would be smoked.
Wranglers are great for small, tight driveways and that is it. If I’m pushing snow at stripmalls or hotels its the F150, and even that would suck.
Both are priced high because we have snow right now. I’ll wait until summer when they’ll be priced were they should be. Would rather have the Jeep, I think even with the rust.
These are priced around what it costs to add a plow to any other vehicle.