Noah911

I really want to put a good snow-plow on the front of one of these Jeep Commanders for real. 37" tires would fill up all of that wheel well space much better. There doesn't look to be any need for a lift on it for how I want it to be. Even could have a set of extra rims with snow tires.. Studded tires or chains too.

Take it up north. Could even go near to, or into Canada, or Alaska? Go plowing snow for awhile. Get an LLC and the business would probably easily pay for whatever a $50,000+ Jeep payment within a few days of work, and then it would be all profit. Branch off with it too, in other directions, like towing stuck people off from beaches, in the woods, or on the mountains.. anywhere really. The good thing is it sounds fun! Also, just the snow-plowing would easily be justifiable paying all expenses of the business before the end of the first week each month you know.

(edited to add):
Definitely have to lock the differentials

(edited to add):
Try it out fist in Michigan or something with the ZJ. Move around. See if it's worth it first before going all in, and moving further up north.

(edited to add):
I may do this honestly? I thought for summer times I could even get large sand paddle tires on another set of rims for the truck too. Just at Carolina Beach alone, daily people are taking vehicles on the sand that should not be there getting them stuck. 10+ a day in the summer probably every day. Sometimes a lot more! The mountains at a ski resort area. I would be thinking region though, and advertise and try to get the word out, computer site with info and stuff for the business. Take a region of the mountain with ski resorts nearby. Do the whole 100 mile radius, 50+ miles every direction - left, right, east, west, north, south, up, and down around the area you know? The resorts would make the area full of tourists that come into town not knowing the region very well at all with what it takes in the winter to travel these roads, and/or they just have very little experience with winter driving in general. Other popular places would just be whatever areas of large populace.. preferably a good size of tourists that go into the area. Same with the summer time wherever to set-up for the beach towing. I mean it I might try to do this? I want to.. I believe I could make it work. Would be fun trying either way. Get a government small business entrepreneurs loan and grants to get it going from one of the VA representatives. There is a specific program for this for the veterans. A buddy of mine he has two (TWO) Purple Hearts of Marines variety. He's gotten upset and has been working for helping veterans with anything possible. He was explaining the loans to me recently.

(edited to add):
Mudding tires for the mountains and clay areas at other times..

Noah911

dave1123

Your business venture sounds like a winner. Just remember you'll be cutting into the local businesses doing the same thing, so try to get along with them. Towing and plowing is a cutthroat business in most heavily populated areas that get tourists. The tourist trade in some places sustains these guys in the off seasons.

Noah911

There would need to be serious thought. I say this because I am watching contractors on the equipment sides. The business I am in now on all sides is very cutthroat! More so than probably most others. There is just soo much money. The profits made are in the multi-billions of dollars! Snow plowing and towing sounds similar on a much smaller scale to me. It would be fun to try. Remain 100% flexible to go anywhere and consider anything. With a large payload towing capacity you could hook up to a large open top trailer to do work hauling. Maybe after construction and demolitions, storms, or other disasters could do that?

(edited to add):
I tried with some success, I did two seasons of a pressure washing and window washing business venture, where I went in together with someone else. We have equipment for that. He still does those services, and the business has a backer, a nation wide corporation that the other guy is childhood friends with.... But the Jeep truck with a large and small water tank, and a pressure washing machine mounted stationary in the bed would be perfect for a pressure washing business. Another thing to do with the truck. Switch things up here and there you know.

That would work perfectly to offset the winter snow plowing in nicer weather leading to summer. Could book-up and schedule pressure washing services then and through the summer, and then when towing people out from off the beach, could use the tanks to get and distribute weight over the rear axle just right with the water level.

dave1123

Back in 65 when I first came to Syracuse, there was a young guy who started a business called "Rov-A-Tune". He'd come to your driveway and tune up your car or truck or do a brake job and the like. His business was going gangbusters until electronic fuel injection became more common than carburetors. He had a full size delivery van with an awning that covered your car and kept the sun or rain off his work space. He even had a generator in the van that ran his diagnostic equipment and compressor for air powered tools. Plus he was a very pleasant guy and got along with his customers very well. He made sure your driveway was clean after the job was done if he spilled anything and put plywood under his jacks and stands.

Noah911

That's cool. Reminds me of my buddy his name is Dave. Years ago he started the same type of business where he would come to your home, business, your work, highway, or a parking lot... As a mechanic to fix your vehicle. The guy could find out what needed to be fixed, and could fix anything! His business name was, and still is 'Shop N A Box' located in Wilmington, North Carolina. I am not advertising for him, but if in that area and someone need a GOOD mechanic, I would reccomend giving him a call. His shop is just a pobarn-dome type of structure that's attached to an office building out front. He doesn't really do field work anymore though. Any vehicle make.. Seen him fix and restore Model T's everything! Specializes in high HP motor builds now more than anything else. He started with nothing except some tools and a background in deisel mechanics. It worked for him. We had him rebuild a transmission for my ex about 10 years ago that's still working excellent. I used to hangout in his shop all of the time in my spare time to work with him on vehicles. I helped restore lots of old Mustangs and Camaros with him. A really old Jeep once that was cool. Total rebuilds of entire vehicles...

I was looking closer and noticed my front brake pads are barely there anymore. I just replaced them six months ago, and have maybe 15 - 20 percent material left at best. They were lifetime warranty pads and I wore them out in six months.. The backs were replaced at the same time and have looks like 50 percent left in them. I am going to pull the front wheels and replace those probably today. I guess I use the brakes a lot. I could drive five miles, and at times may have stopped hundreds of times going those couple miles.. repeatedly. You do the brakes and think you'll be good for maybe at least 2 years minimum right. No, six months is all you get!

dave1123

Yeah, I get lots of brake/tire wear doing my newspaper route, stopping over 250 times in 54 miles and turning around many times. Tire wear is the worst because of lots of U-turns, K-turns, and maneuvering at mailboxes. I only get around 35K miles out of a set of Cooper AT3s rated for 65K miles. I only use Semi-metallic brake pads because ceramics only cause rotor problems.

Noah911

I see soo much dust from the semi-metalic pads. Check out my front rim all covered in mostly that from the trip. Went through a few thunderstorms, and that washes up the Jeep and back rims a little, but the dust quickly comes right back. Maybe because they were soo worn old - well, well used anyway? The rotors look fine with no groves or anything in them like I saw on the other set that they replaced.

Noah911

I wanted to hangout at the shop. So, I paid Dave a visit. I figured since I was in town, I could run a few ideas by him I have for my ZJ, and get his opinion of the radiator in my WJ. Check out the size of this piston! Ever seen one like it?

Noah911

Bad-a$$ truck!

Noah911

It's funny.. We decided to do some extra maintenance on the WJ. It needed new brake fluid mostly. I remember working on all these vehicles around here, and realizing now that I didn't know what the I was doing?? Just there taking place doing major work. With good direction, there is really a lot you can accomplish!

I think for the plow I want to put on it, I may have to upgrade to a better alternator on new my Gladiator?

Noah911

It has been documented here now about some of the dirt starting permeating my WJ. I figure I'll start some other type of thread to go along with future traveling in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, so I would wrap this one up... The dirt is literally everywhere! No spot was spared...

dave1123

Methinks you should start a new thread. This has gone way beyond tire rotation patterns! You jeep reminds me I once say a guy with a Wrangler in a carwash spraying the interior to get dirt and mud out!