ekennedy21 Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 How practical would it be to plow commercially in a b81 in this day and age? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddog13407 Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 make for a COLD long winter in a drafty old B model.... 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311626 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bigdogtrucker Posted November 16, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 16, 2015 This one plowed all last winter in MA... 7 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311633 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post carlotpilot Posted November 16, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 16, 2015 How practical would it be to plow commercially in a b81 in this day and age?can`t imagine much difference from any other truck so long as the heater and wipers work as they should ps i would rather be in a b81 than some of the toys i see out here on I 81 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311639 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblin-Goblin Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 FYI, I have it on good authority that the transmission on that truck has to be removed to conduct repairs (among a few other issues), making the asking price a bit on the high side. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311641 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogtrucker Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 FYI, I have it on good authority that the transmission on that truck has to be removed to conduct repairs (among a few other issues), making the asking price a bit on the high side.Could be. I know the previous owner, guy driving in the pic I can ask him. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311644 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Mine will roast you out if slow moving. Get it on the highway and it gets cold quick from all the leaks. 2 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311652 Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Mine will roast you out if slow moving. Get it on the highway and it gets cold quick from all the leaks.fix da leaks 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311655 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxfymn Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 It depends on what type of contracts you are planning on doing. Most municipalities want reliability, so they may have a maximum age for any truck they contract with, particularly if the truck is new to the contract. So I would say the first thing would be to check with your potential employer.If you are working your own contracts doing parking lots, etc. it comes down to comfort and reliability. You know the drill; when it snows you need to be there now, not 24 hours from now. Break downs are killers for snow movers. The other consideration is what are you going to do if it doesn't snow. When the weather gets warm is there work for a 40 plus year old truck to pay the bills?My inclination would be to buy something newer and more reliable and use the money you make to buy the 81 as a hobby truck. Quote Money, sex, and fire; everybody thinks everyone else is getting more than they are! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311697 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 fix da leaks Ya, I'm getting there. Need to put new seals around the doors. Never really an issue overall, but last couple years I've had to drive it in much cooler weather then usual(in a snow storm last spring), thus you notice the cool air blowing on your arm. The problem with the heater in these trucks is there is no "moderate" setting. All or nothing kinda thing. Low is too low, high is too high. Need to remove the lo/hi switch and put a rotary 3 spd in it with resistor pack from a '70's pickup. 1 Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311699 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bigdogtrucker Posted November 16, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted November 16, 2015 It depends on what type of contracts you are planning on doing. Most municipalities want reliability, so they may have a maximum age for any truck they contract with, particularly if the truck is new to the contract. So I would say the first thing would be to check with your potential employer.If you are working your own contracts doing parking lots, etc. it comes down to comfort and reliability. You know the drill; when it snows you need to be there now, not 24 hours from now. Break downs are killers for snow movers. The other consideration is what are you going to do if it doesn't snow. When the weather gets warm is there work for a 40 plus year old truck to pay the bills?My inclination would be to buy something newer and more reliable and use the money you make to buy the 81 as a hobby truck.I wouldn't always say newer is more reliable 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311701 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekennedy21 Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 It is for a municipality. I have a couple loaders on with a town plowing and the superintendent is trying to get me to put some plow trucks on as well. I am hesitant to put a plow on one of my newer 10 wheelers because I don't want the salt eating on my shiny aluminum tanks. I found a running B81 with a plow and I am just curious how outrageous it would be to put the old girl to work. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311711 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ekennedy21 Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 and its not the one in the picture with a 711, it has a 673t in it. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311712 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hicrop10 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 If you were closer to phila,I would tell you to give me a call to drive your truck. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311760 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hicrop10 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I was told over the weekend that there was a B85 hauling blacktop on Saturday in the Lehigh Valley not that far from Macungie.It is suppose to be going to the Mack museum. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311761 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogtrucker Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 I think B81's are GREAT plow trucks. Gear for every occasion, built like a tank. Only downside I see is salt killing it 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311762 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackr400 Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 The B85 in the Leigh valley is a triaxle with a Cummings in it and she runs it every day and for night work as well she is leased to the same company as my buddy's fleet 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-311819 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKrois Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bkrois/5307846971/in/album-72157625585095231/My friend plowed for the town and state with Old Macks for years, not sure if the link with show the photo but he had plenty of B models. As long as the heaters were working no real issues Quote BryanMy Photo Albums Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-312847 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobblin-Goblin Posted November 29, 2015 Share Posted November 29, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/bkrois/5307846971/in/album-72157625585095231/My friend plowed for the town and state with Old Macks for years, not sure if the link with show the photo but he had plenty of B models. As long as the heaters were working no real issuesDoes he still have the DM in picture 024? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-313417 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elephant ears Posted Wednesday at 04:46 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 04:46 AM On 11/15/2015 at 8:46 PM, ekennedy21 said: How practical would it be to plow commercially in a b81 in this day and age? I plowed with a 1964 B813 endt 673 18spd Quadruplex in 1996 blizzard for 3 days here in NJ great strong truck for plowing move a lot of snow I’ll tell you that just put on extra cloths I loved it 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-561849 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elephant ears Posted Wednesday at 04:49 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 04:49 AM On 11/15/2015 at 9:08 PM, carlotpilot said: can`t imagine much difference from any other truck so long as the heater and wipers work as they should ps i would rather be in a b81 than some of the toys i see out here on I 81 I plowed snow during the blizzard of 1996 here in NJ in a 1964 b813 endt 673 18 spd qudraplex i personally think there awesome for plowing 3-4 days straight not a hiccup out of that old BullDog Mack 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-561851 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elephant ears Posted Wednesday at 04:54 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 04:54 AM On 11/16/2015 at 10:03 AM, fxfymn said: It depends on what type of contracts you are planning on doing. Most municipalities want reliability, so they may have a maximum age for any truck they contract with, particularly if the truck is new to the contract. So I would say the first thing would be to check with your potential employer. If you are working your own contracts doing parking lots, etc. it comes down to comfort and reliability. You know the drill; when it snows you need to be there now, not 24 hours from now. Break downs are killers for snow movers. The other consideration is what are you going to do if it doesn't snow. When the weather gets warm is there work for a 40 plus year old truck to pay the bills? My inclination would be to buy something newer and more reliable and use the money you make to buy the 81 as a hobby truck. I plowed snow during the blizzard of 96 here in NJ for 4 days straight in a 1964 B813 Mack endt673 18 spd quadraplex you can’t get any more reliable the company had 1980s Autocar dk64 trucks plowing also a couple of which went down during the storm not that BullDog Mack kept going didn’t shut it down for 4 days just keep fuel in it that’s it 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-561852 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted Wednesday at 06:27 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 06:27 PM Here in Nevada they plow snow around 60 miles an hour sometimes it’s a pain in the ass if you’re trying to get around them Thanks for your input And yes, I think a B81 would be perfect for snow plowing I had a chance to do that this winter and I said no dice. Main reason these guys spent too many hours out there. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-561881 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted Wednesday at 10:11 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 10:11 PM we have some cowboys here in jersey that plow 50-60mph too. and cant figure out why they loose cutting edges in the first hour of plowing. when i ran a plow crew of 7 trucks, we never went over 10 MPH. and would average a full winter out of cutting edges on all the trucks. Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-561893 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted Thursday at 12:56 AM Share Posted Thursday at 12:56 AM When I plowed with 2 wheel drive trucks our top speed was about 30 MPH, But when we fired up the old Walters we were down to about a top speed of about 15 MPH. 1 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42683-plowing-with-a-b81/#findComment-561905 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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