Troubleshooting Your Snowplows Electrical System
For those of you new to the electrical system of your snowplow, you may have wondered how to go about testing and troubleshooting various components of the plow system. Maybe you have wanted to check the number of volts the power unit is drawing or test the wiring of a used harness or headlight adapter. It's possible that you may want to check the solenoid or simply check the power/ground on a relay or coil. Whatever the case may be, the following video will walk you thru some of the basic electrical tools that you can use when troubleshooting your snowplows electrical system.
In addition, manuals and wiring schematics are conveniently located on THE BOSS Snowplow website by visiting http://www.bossplow.com/support/technical-information
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THE BOSS Snowplow Awards Prize in Ultimate Christmas Giveaway
Poplar Grove, Ill., Subcontractor Ron Bucci Wins 9’2” Poly Power-V XT
Snow removal subcontractor Ron Bucci got an extra special Christmas present under the tree this holiday courtesy of THE BOSS Snowplow. Bucci learned on Christmas morning that he was the winner of THE BOSS Snowplow’s Ultimate Christmas Giveaway. His prize? THE BOSS Snowplow of his choosing. On Friday, Jan. 13, Bucci picked up his prize − a new 9’2” Poly Power-V XT − from Monroe Truck Equipment, 1051 W. 7th St., Monroe, Wis.
“Needless to say, this was a really nice Christmas present and I can’t thank BOSS enough for their generosity,” Bucci exclaimed. “I’ve been a BOSS fan for many years and this caught me totally by surprise.”
Bucci, an electrician by trade who also works as a snow removal subcontractor during the winter months, said this new plow is his third BOSS plow. “I’ve really come to rely on them for their dependability and ease of installation,” he added. “There’s very little down time and not a lot of maintenance required. This will be a great addition to my BOSS fleet.”
“BOSS received a tremendous response to our Ultimate Christmas Giveaway sweepstakes and we’re thrilled to award this prize to Ron Bucci,” said Mark Klossner, marketing director for THE BOSS Snowplow. “We hope that Ron enjoys his new plow and we know he’ll make great use of it in the years to come.”
The Ultimate Christmas Giveaway online sweepstakes kicked off Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. CST and closed at 8:00 a.m. CST on Dec. 24. The Grand Prize winner was announced via THE BOSS Snowplow Facebook page on Dec. 25.
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Protecting Your Plow Truck's Transmission During Snow Removal
One of the most common vehicle problems encountered while plowing is damage to the transmission. Overheating the transmission fluid as well as improper use, can contribute to the problem. Keep the following tips in mind when heading out on your next snow plowing run to minimize damage to your plow truck's transmission.
- Most vehicle manufacturers do not recommend snow plowing in overdrive. Consult your vehicle owners manual to find out if plowing in overdrive is recommended--and if so, when and how.
- Plan your plowing pattern so that you are driving forward as much as possible.
- Come to a complete stop before shifting from forward to reverse.
- Wait until the transmission engages before accelerating.
- Accelerate slowly, allowing the wheels to grip the road surface for better traction. Avoid spinning the tires.
- To start a pass, start the vehicle in motion. Then drop the snowplow blade.
- Whenever possible, back into a cleared area.
- If you have a manual transmission, avoid riding the clutch while plowing.
- After plowing, let the vehicle idle for ten minutes or more to allow the transmission cooler time to cool the transmission fluid.
- If you are plowing often during the season, change your transmission fluid before and during the season. A good rule of thumb is to pull your transmission dipstick periodically and smell the fluid. If the fluid has a burnt smell, you should change the fluid as soon as possible.
- To monitor the heat in your transmission, you can install an inline transmission gauge. Once the temperature reaches 250°F, you should let the vehicle idle until the transmission fluid cools to a lower temperature.
Following these tips will help extend the life of your plow truck's transmission and keep your maintenace repair bills down during the season.
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How To Efficiently Snowplow A Parking Lot
If you are new to snowplowing, the following lists of tips will help you follow the proper etique when snowplowing a parking lot plus help you get the job done faster. If you are a seasoned veteran, what other tricks of the trade would you share with newbie's to the snowplowing business?
Plowing Parking Lots
- Make sure you know where the customer wants you to pile the snow.
- Use extra caution when plowing next to curbs.
- If a significant amount of snow is expected, plow with the storm rather than letting snow accumulate.
- Keep water drains and catch basins clear at all times.
- Do not stack snow by the road so as not to block the visibility of vehicles coming or leaving the parking lot.
- Use caution when plowing next to parked cars--as the snow can push you into the car.
- When pushing snow that is next to a building, push away from the building.
- If you are responsible for sidewalks, they should be shoveled first before you start plowing so that the snow can be plowed away.
- To start a pass, start the vehicle in motion. Then drop the blade.
- As you come to the end of a pass, lift off from the accelerator while starting to use the brake. At the same time, start to raise the blade to help stack the snow--and to make it easier on your electrical system.
- Plow areas in front of buildings and overhead doors first. With the blade raised and in the Straight-position, drive up to the building, drop the blade, and pull the snow away from the building. Then turn your vehicle around, back into the cleared area and push the snow to the outer edges of the lot.
- Push the banks back far enough to accommodate future snowfalls.
- After backdragging snow away from the buildings, it's time to start plowing the lot. Start by making a pass down the center of the lot, and then push snow in windrows to the outer edges. If there has been a significant amount of snowfall, push as much bulk off the lot as possible. Then go over it again. In large lots it may be best to break your plowing down into smaller areas.
- Do not pile snow in the middle of the lot. It will be difficult to remove later.
- Do not pile snow near handicapped parking areas.
- Plow in straight lines whenever possible and push to the outer edges of the lot. Keep the wind direction in mind--and pile snow downwind to minimize drifting later.
- Plow snow during low-traffic hours and always be cautious of cars and people in the lot.
- Once the majority of the snow is removed from the lot, it's time to do the cleanup work. Start by plowing next to curbs. Be sure to square off corners where possible, and don't leave trails of snow behind.
Happy Plowing!
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Everett Warren Backs Up Troops as Volunteer for Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops Funded by THE BOSS Snowplow
Everett Warren, owner of Green Man Enviroscaping, offers custom landscaping and snow and ice removal services for clients in Central Pennsylvania and finds time to give back to his community through service projects. As a member of Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops, Warren provides complimentary snow and ice removal for the family of a deployed service member in his area. Now in its second year, SnowCare for Troops is funded by THE BOSS Snowplow and was created to help lighten the load for the families of our service men and women.
Q: What is SnowCare for Troops?
A: SnowCare for Troops is an outreach program coordinated by Project EverGreen and funded by THE BOSS Snowplow that connects local snow removal professionals and other volunteers with men and women serving our country in the armed forces away from home. The program matches volunteers with military families in their local communities to help with the tough task of snow removal on the home front.
Q: Why is a program like SnowCare for Troops needed?
A: Often the family members left behind are faced with the burden of managing all of the household responsibilities without a support network. SnowCare for Troops lends a helping hand to lighten the load.
Q: How do you sign up to help a military family with snow removal services?
A: It’s easy to volunteer, and you can join by visiting the Project EverGreen website at www.projectevergreen.com/scft. Hundreds of snow removal companies have already signed up for the SnowCare for Troops program, and many more volunteers are needed. I’m impressed with how professional the organization is and I’m excited about getting set up with my family for this year. It feels good to give back in this way.
Q. Are there other ways to support SnowCare for Troops?
A. Yes. In addition to volunteering, you can loan snow removal equipment to a local volunteer, and you can donate money, transportation or gas cards.
Q: Why did you volunteer for SnowCare for Troops?
A: I believe it’s important to give back to those who are giving their service to our country. It’s good karma to pay it forward, and SnowCare for Troops helps out in a very concrete way.
Q: Why did you choose THE BOSS for your snow removal equipment?
A: I research all my business decisions and chose THE BOSS because of its dependability and dealer service. We have had significant snow events in this area, so I do depend on THE BOSS equipment to be in top working condition. I also have confidence in THE BOSS dealer network in case I need parts or service. So far, I’ve not had to worry about that, but it’s an important factor.
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How To Properly Aim Your Snowplow Headlights
Visibility when snowplowing is key to efficiency and safety. The BOSS Snowplow makes it easy for you to see even on the darkest, nastiest of nights with our SmartLight2 headlight system. The system is designed to make it easier to see wider, farther and with more consistency. While the BOSS SmartLight2 system does offer a vise-like mounting grip to keep the lights in alignment, it is a good idea to check your alignment from time to time to make sure the headlights are properly aimed.
This video provides a how-to-guide on aiming your snowplow headlights in addition to step by step instruction guide also listed below.
HEADLIGHT AIMING PROCEDURE
1. Place the vehicle on a level surface 25 feet in front of a matte-white screen, such as a garage door. The screen should be perpendicular to both the ground and the vehicle.
2. The vehicle should be equipped for normal operation. The snowplow blade should be in place and in the raised position.
3. Next are some points listed by the Society of Automotive engineers (SAE) pertinent to headlight aiming. These points can be found in publication #SAEJ5991D
Preparation for Headlight Aim or Inspection
- Before checking beam aim, the inspector shall:
- Remove ice or mud from under fenders.
- See that no tire is noticeably deflated.
- Check vehicle springs for sag or broken leaves.
- See that there is no load in the vehicle other than the driver.
- Check functioning of any “level-ride” controls.
- Clean lenses and aiming pads.
- Check for bulb burnout, broken mechanical aiming pads, and proper beam switching.
- Stabilize suspension by rocking vehicle sideways
4. Mark (or tape) the vehicle centerline of the headlights and the vehicle itself on the screen. Mark the horizontal centerline of the headlights on the screen (distance from ground to headlight centers). The correct visual aim for Type 2 headlights is with the top edge of the high intensity zone of the lower beam below the horizontal centerline and the left edge of the high intensity zone on the vertical centerline. See diagram below.
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Get The Job Done More Efficiently With Snow Plow Wings
Getting the job done better and faster is the name of the game in the snow plowing industry. To increase your plowing efficiency the addition of blade wings is a choice of many snow plow contractors. Snow plow wings are perfect for parking lots and apartment building complexes or any area where you need to move large amounts of snow in a short amount of time.
The BOSS Snowplow Plow Wings increase the width of a snow plow blade by a full 22 inches. Each wing kit is 11 inches in width and is situated at a 30 degree angle. These features provide a much larger blade for windrowing, while at the same time minimizing snow spill off. When it comes to cleanup work or moving bulk snow from a parking lot, plow wings can help you finish jobs faster and easier.
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As seen in the video below, plows wings can be easily installed on your plow. Once installed, plow wings attach or detach in seconds making it even easier to add or take away plow width for the job at hand.
How To Install THE BOSS Snowplow Plow Wings
*THE BOSS Snowplow Plow Wings are available for the Power-V, Power-VXT and Straight Blade models excluding the Sport-Duty and Municipal models.
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How To Change Your Snow Plow Hydraulic Fluid
As part of the general maintenance of your BOSS Snowplow it is recommended that you change the hydraulic fluid once per season. The following how to video will walk you thru the proper way to change the fluid on your BOSS Snowplow.
Changing Your BOSS Snowplow Hydraulic Fluid
In addition, here are some general instructions about changing the hydraulic fluid on your snowplow:
- Make sure to wear proper safety gear including safety glasses, gloves and steel toed boots.
- Remove the drain plug. The drain plug is accessible from the bottom of the hydraulic pan on the plow. Remove it and drain the fluid.
- When refilling add about a quart of BOSS branded hydraulic fluid.
- Attach the plow to the truck and cycle the plow wings several times. This purges the air from the system.
- Then keep the plow attached to the truck, lower the blade, and put the wings back in the V position.
- Top off the fluid to the point where you can just see it in the bottom of the fill elbow.
- Properly dispose of the old hydraulic fluid.
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Ten Snow Plowing Safety Reminders
As the winter season heats up, as you jump in the cab of your truck and put your plow on the road, remember these safety tips to keep you, your truck and your plow safe this plowing season.
Plow Transportation
- When transporting a snowplow, angle the blade to the right (toward the curb). This will reduce the chance of catching a curb or a snowbank that could pull your vehicle into it.
- Never operate a plow while transporting it to and from a job site. It's a good idea to keep the plow control turned off in order to prevent accidental operation.
- When transporting a plow, position the blade so as not to block the plow headlights or your vision.
Speed Recommendations
- Do not exceed 40 mph when transporting a plow. Do not exceed 14 mph when plowing.
Avoid Overheating
- When transporting a plow or while plowing, check the temperature gauge often. Overheating the engine can be costly. If the vehicle overheats, stop and correct the problem. If overheating occurs while transporting, stop and adjust blade position to allow more airflow to the radiator.
Look Out For Hidden Obstacles
- Before it snows, walk around the area you will be plowing to check for obstacles that will become hidden when snow is on the ground. Look for things such as bumper stops and speed bumps, curbs, sidewalk edges, shrubs, water drains, fire hydrants, fences and pipes sticking up from the ground. To prevent damage to the area being plowed as well as to your snowplow and truck, mark any obstructions that will be hard to see when there's snow on the ground.
Buckle Up
- Always wear a seat belt when operating a motor vehicle and never plow with your head out the window.
Look Once and Look Again
- When moving in reverse, don't rely on the vehicle mirrors. Turn around and look where you're going.
Know Your Surfaces
- When plowing in dirt or gravel, lower the plow shoes. This will raise the blade so you don't scrape the surface away. When plowing on asphalt or concrete, raise or remove the plow shoes so that you scrape as close to the surface as possible.
Be Nice To The Hydraulics
- When you're finished plowing, lower the blade to the ground and turn the plow control off for safety. This will also take stress off the hydraulic components.
![BOSS Plow Selector 600X220 grey]](/Portals/111368/images/BOSS_Plow Selector_600X220_grey].jpg)
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How To Guide: Plowing With Your BOSS Snowplow Straight Blade
THE BOSS Straight-Blades are the proven choice for professionals and homeowners alike. Built with an optimized blade curl that means snow rolls cleanly off the plow. To maximize the efficiency of your straight blade use this how to guide for tips on using your BOSS Snowplow Straight Blade.
Angle-Position
In this position the blade is angled to either left or right side of the vehicle. Use this position for windrowing or widening after the first pass.
How to Windrow
With the blade angled to the left or right side of the vehicle, make consecutive passes--each time throwing the snow forward and to the side. This technique is useful to clear large areas such as parking lots.
Straight-Position
In this position the blade is positioned directly in front of the vehicle. Use this position for backdragging, removing a large windrow or cleaning up at the end of the job.
How to Backdrag
To remove snow from the edge of a building, raise the blade and drive forward to the building. Lower the blade, then back up while pulling the snow away from the building. You should backdrag only two or three truck lengths before turning around. You can then back into the cleared area and push snow forward. Your plow will be more effective when pushing snow than when backdragging over long distances.
At the end of the job, adjust the blade to the Straight-position and push snow directly ahead--cleaning up any spill off left from previous plowing.
Deep Snow
In deep snow raise the plow several inches off the ground to shear off the top layer. If you have a Power-V Plow, use the V-position for the first pass. Then change to the Scoop or Angle-position to widen things out. You should push just enough snow with each pass to get the job done efficiently without overloading your equipment. A good rule of thumb is to use a full blade width for two inches of snow or less, three quarters of the blade for four inches of snow and a half blade for six inches of snow or more.
Wet Snow
The best advice is this: Once you start, finish the job. Wet snow left in windrows overnight can freeze and turn into tank traps by morning.
Thinking about buying a BOSS Straight Blade Snowplow? Check out this video on the BOSS Super Duty Straight Blade up close.
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