Exclusive Tour of Sno-Power's One-of-a-Kind Snow Plows

All right, guys. I I thought I could do it, but I can't. And I feel terrible about it. Um it's just not working out. But 19 years ago, 19 years ago, when I was 19, I wish it was 19 years ago. When I was 19, I put my first snow plow on a pickup truck. And I've not gone without a snow plow since that time. Until this year. And I thought I could do it. I thought I could get through the season managing things without actually plowing, and it's driving me insane. This I I I It's So, it's the middle of February, and I'm over it. I'm done. So, I'm going to go put plows on my truck. Uh and here's the deal, you guys. Bye. I'm going My job, you know, it's since the beginning I've started this channel, it's not to try to sell you on any one thing. We sell a snow plow in our at the Dirt Monkey shop. But I've already got that on a truck, and you guys can see that in action. Um I work with another company, and you've seen me work with them. So, you see their plows in action. So, my job is to find new things and present them to you, whether it benefits me or not. I mean, so what I mean is we're I'm going to go out and we're going to head to Muskegon Missions. We got a 10-hour drive ahead of us, so it's 10:00 at night. We'll get there at 8:00 in the morning. We're going to put a new front plow on. We're going to put a new back plow on, and we're going to tour the factory. See how they make these things. Um and then I'm just going to show you how it works actually in real life, because these are two brand new snow plows, and I just want to bring you this information so that you guys can go out in the world and see what I'm doing with these diff with all of this different equipment, and not have me tell you buy this. Oh, you got to buy this. Oh, this is this. I'm not going to going to do that. I'm just going to show you everything and let you guys decide. That's what I've always tried to do with this channel is just show you and let you guys decide on your own. So, I don't want to keep talking. We've got a long drive ahead of us. So, let's get this thing going right now. All right, guys. I made it to Muskegon and of course it's snowing. When doesn't it snow around here, right? So, guys, this is Rick and Rick Now, you've made some changes to the Snow Power, minor upgrades. Is that correct? Yeah. Yeah. Minor or major? I don't know. You tell me what they are. Not really upgrades. What we did is we were able to incorporate the wing cylinders, lift cylinders, the push cylinders on the F and the V. So, they're all the same. Okay. >> It just worked out. I wanted to not have two different products. So, I spent all last year incorporating all the cylinders the same. Not that they were failing. Everything was great. I just wanted all on the same thing. >> So, now you've got a universal cylinder system for the front plows. Yes. But, you've also got your back plow back in your name. Is that correct? Yeah. It's amazing. I missed it. Okay. And we made some great changes on that. They've all been in my head for 5 years cuz I didn't have it for 5 years. Okay, so this is what you've This is your upgrade. This is the plow that it's going on my truck, right? And this is your personal baby this year? Right, yeah. Cuz we don't have any. We can't build them fast enough. So, I'm giving you the one on the back. All right. So, what did you do that take that improved on the design of the old Snow Power? Well, the biggest thing is we have active cutting edges. We were able to get the front part of the active and we put it on the back and and that was great. And we're using the same cylinder as the front plow even on the active. And the active goes up and down 6 in the cutting edges don't wear out on the wing tip. >> Okay, but I want to be very clear when you say the active goes up and down. Let's take a look at this wing over here. You're talking about now the whole wing when you're in scoop mode is going You see that? Okay, so now you're pivoting here. Yeah. >> So now you're pivoting Yep, that's your pivot and now this is your actual this is like your bump cylinder. That's what's taking the jarring out of it and so if I'm understanding this correctly, your wings will contour to the lot separately than the main rear moldboard if I'm looking at this design right. That's right. So you don't wear your wing tips out cuz it can't carry the weight of the truck. It lifts up 4-in it just follows. So it'll So it's got 4-in of travel. >> Yeah. So when it lifts up your actual blades will actually go down, right? So lift it up one more time. Well, so if he's lifting up, you're going to see that these blades will go down at the same time. Look at that. Look at that. Right there. Right there. Okay, so that's a major change to the back blade. Yeah, and we changed our way we connect, too. Okay. >> Goes on and off the truck beautiful. And we used to have a springboard right here. It's torsion now like a TorkFlex axle like the front end of our Hurricane. So here >> Okay. Okay. The old style had a plate and if you push backwards, it twisted it would stay deformed and it'd come out crooked. You can't put any It comes up same cuz it's rubber. Oh. >> Okay. Okay. So now let's go to the front. Let's check this out. Now you've got two front blades, right? Okay, B and an F. You got a V11 that's an 11-ft V front blade. Right. And you got your F14 which is your scoop blade really. Is that right? Is that the right way of putting it? >> turn. It just has 3-ft wings and >> Okay. Okay. And and I'm getting I'm getting the V11. That's correct. >> Okay. Now, you've done some things with the V11, right? This is where you took all of the cylinders and made them universal. That's correct. What we did is we took the V11 and the Gen 3 F14 and I incorporated all the cylinders to be the same. This is the Gen 2. It all works. All the cylinders are there, but on the new style V11, Okay. we incorporated the cylinders the same as the new style F14. Now, as I'm looking at this, Rick, I see two different cylinders colors. Yeah, we >> Is there something different there? Cuz I'm looking I I see we've got black here, and here we've got orange. And I think I like the orange better. I don't know, what do you guys like better? Do you like the black with the orange, or do you like the all orange cylinders? And I'm talking about just the cylinders. Why? Why do Why did you do that? So, what we did is we lowered the price this year to 12,000 cuz we wanted to send out these Gen 2s at a better price, and we had some orange cylinders, so that helps us. It's a lower price, so people are going to get orange in the Gen 2 V plow for $12,000 instead of 16. It works flawlessly. The only changes I made is so that you can The dealer can say, "Here's your lift cylinder." Doesn't matter what Gen it is after Gen 3 forward, it's all the same. >> All the same. Okay. Okay. But now I'm looking and I see blue plows. Why am I seeing blue plows, Rick? Uh this guy was so excited. He bought a plow this year. He's up in Petoskey, Dan. A shout out to Dan. Okay. >> And he loved how it was scraping, and he bought a new truck, and because there's not that much salt [snorts] right now, this scrape so he's going to run around and he's going to hit his his contractor or or places to go and explain how well it scrapes and he wanted a great good looking truck to do it. Huh. Okay, so what I'm seeing is this is the same Is this a Gen 3 then? This one here is the new Gen 3. >> Okay, so this is the cylinders that are the universal cylinders. And is a custom color like this something that a guy if he's got a color match truck let's say he's he's got a a custom truck can he actually get you to color paint and the plow in >> Yeah, I got to wait. He waited 3 weeks. It was $1,000 for each plow. So he paid 2,000 extra to get it. Okay, so it's a it's a upcharge. Only if we can get it done for him. But now I need to understand something. You have carbide blades. Yes. Is that an upcharge? No. Last year the I felt the blades were wearing out too much cuz this these plows scrape so hard cuz we have the patented down pressure. They're constantly just digging and scraping. >> Okay, so you have down pressure. These have down pressure? Both the F14 and the V11 have down pressure? Patented down pressure. >> Why do you say patented? Because we use nitrogen. When our plow goes down, it's like a a spring or a shock. It keeps pushing. So as it floats up and down Show me on the orange plow. Let's go take a look at it cuz we can see the difference. Even this one it's got nitrogen. I I want to see it on an orange plow just because of better lighting and the the different difference in color will let these guys be able to see it a little more clearly. >> we're putting together Okay. Back here is our nitrogen port. So we put nitrogen pressure. This is a rod and then it's got a piston in here. And then right here is nitrogen. So it's pushing the rod out at it's it's almost 300 lb more weight that the plow assumes on the ground. Okay. >> And then when you go to lift it, the hydraulic pressure collapses the nitrogen back. Why nitrogen? Nitrogen is a bigger molecule and it's not affected by weather, by temperature. That's what they use on the landing gear on airplanes and stuff. Even on snowmobiles, their cylinder on their track to hold the weight, that's all nitrogen. It's the same stuff in the middle of the winter on a snowmobile. Is any other snow plows using nitrogen? >> [clears throat] >> The only place I know where there's nitrogen is they have an accumulator on Boss. It's like a ball. It's on the side of their down pressure. Okay. >> And they have this nitrogen ball and then they got to turn on their hydraulic pump and push against this ball and then the plow goes up and down. Then it loses its pressure cuz it relieves back. They got to turn the pump back on. So they have a nitrogen accumulator. I have a nitrogen cylinder. We don't have to use hydraulics to run our down pressure. Okay. Okay. And we're in what? One of your four manufacturing plants. This is your assembly plant. >> Right. This is where we used to build Hurricane, too. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Can we go and see where you actually manufacture these plows? Sure. We also have a cylinder room back in this corner, too, that we could go to where we >> go look at the Let's go look at some cylinders. I want to see how those cylinders are put together. Yeah. Tiny, you got that done yet? Getting close. You got a team up front and a team in the back. That's a classic mullet. Party up front, business in the rear, right? Or is it There's Tyler. [clears throat] It's a little messy cuz we've been pounding on it. Yeah. So you you manufacture the cylinders in here, Tyler? Yes. Assemble them, yeah. >> Yes. Okay, so you hand You're the You actually make your own cylinders. These aren't made in China? No, everything comes in we make it all. Our cylinders are even powder coated. No one has powder coat cylinders. Basically the rods get assembled and with these lock nuts. Okay, wait. Say that again. He's talking about the pistons. We make we got all the rods. They come in like this. Okay. And like this is one we put the piston on it, the gland nut. We build all of these parts. You'll see at the other building. You build these parts. >> From scratch. We buy this rod in 24 ft lengths and cut it and then we machine all the threads and everything. We don't buy it. Then we we make this tube and then we weld it on here. >> So if I'm understanding this correct then Rick, you are responsible for quality control from the absolute source because you are actually making the parts and not having the parts shipped in from China and hoping that the tolerances are correct. You guys are actually doing it yourself right here in house. >> Yes. If I'm if I'm following all of this correctly. >> Yes. I mean we even have these specially made. This is the valve body. Now, this is your valve body are these all your solenoids right here? Yes. And now are these solenoids all universal so one goes out you can carry one spare solenoid and chop switch any one of these parts out? >> Yeah, exactly. Okay. There's eight of them here. I don't care which one. Here's your valve. It cost me more money, but I don't care cuz the up valve and the down valve and the wing valve are all different on other guys cuz they can save like 10 bucks. I don't care. I had this built so that you don't have to worry about whether you put it in the wrong spot. Take this one and put it here. I don't care. It's it's the same. It's So if a guy carries one extra solenoid with him >> valve it does not make a difference one valve. I'm sorry. I'm using the wrong terminology. But what I'm what what I'm getting to the point is as long as you got one, you are still back in business if you lose one anywhere in this master >> diagnosing, you can take this one and put it here and put it there and then if it moves to the other cylinder, you know where the problem is. Throw it out, put the next one in, you're done. The wiring, it's it's all the same. There's four exact circuits. Where is that on the plow? This is up on the headgear. Can you show me? Yeah. So I want to see how we gain access to that because that is one of those parts that when it's 0° out and the wind's blowing 20 mph and the snow's coming down 6 in an hour, that's the part that always seems to go out on a guy and it's the simplest part to change until you can't get at it. So it's right there. I mean, you like legitimately boom boom boom boom, take this out, pop this off, and you can put a brand new one on and get be back in business just like that. Is that right? That's right. Green is our lift circuit. So this green wire and this green wire lifts or lowers it. If every part like lowering it doesn't require the pump, so everything that doesn't require the pump is a green with a black stripe. You said >> can talk to you and say, "Hey, it's not lowering. It's the green with the black stripe. It doesn't have power." I know that's the one. So all of our controllers Here's one of our controllers right here on the plow. Tiny, you got that done yet? >> [laughter] >> This is our current controller. It's a lot like a Boss. There's nothing wrong with that. And it's got some great features. You can turn your light on and off with the controller. >> Okay. All right. And now we're not even in the assembly area yet. No, this is just >> [clears throat and snorts] >> uh a lot of wiring. This is the wiring area. All right. He does every part of the wire. Every last part of it. We do it all in house. You can see some of the >> [snorts] >> wire over there and this is how he wires up each one. We put them on and then each each one hits this stand. And he makes every one of these wires. All dielectric grease, the whole nine. Our back blade has a battery in it also. It's an AGM battery. Uh-huh. That keeps the voltage up. Our pump has a 600 hour motor on it, not a 300. So you're constantly charging this battery and it's drawing off this, so we're not getting that that dim >> voltage. Yeah, where the lights dim and you're waiting for it to come up and you've got to rev up the truck so you can get more juice to it. This is like a compensator. It's a capacitor, basically. That's right. Okay. Yeah. So let's go to let's go to the other side and see the manufacturing. Yeah. >> The wall of patents. Look at all these. 1 2 3 4 These are all patents, too? That are Those are the actual patents. These are plaques for the patents. And I actually have like two or three more. One fell down and I got another one since. Yeah. Yeah, this is uh So this is where everything goes from raw steel. And you actually manufacture all your own parts. All of them. Everything. Huh. There's rails for the back blade, wings, adapters. That's a Boss and a Fisher adapter. That's how we do That's our adapter so we can fit on everybody's truck. This is where we roll the center sections and and the wings. So now you can adapt to a Fisher as well. Boss, Western, Fisher, Snow Way, Snow Ex. Oh. Do you ever run into any issues by being able by hooking up to their systems or is that something they can't control? They really can't control it cuz it's not patented. If it was patented, then I couldn't. Okay. Makes sense. It's They don't I'm sure they don't care for it, but it it it works well for me because someone that has a Western, they can buy our plow and if our plow was to fail or they wanted to be plow instead of the F that day, they could go get their other plow and have redundancy, backup. They bolt wiring harnesses in. Huh. Part of our machining. Guy only works 3 days a week. We've got it caught up pretty good. But this goes in there. There it is. First step and then it comes out. This is the second step. That's one of our pistons. One of the rods. We use it for testing to make sure everything works. Starts like like this, you know? And then we do that and then we do this. It all happens right here. These are all some of the other parts. This is the fanciest part that we make. It's threaded inside and out. That machine makes it in less than 2 minutes and it's got a a 14-ft bar. And it it catches it and drops it out like a vending machine every 2 minutes. So, it just uses a stand a stock bar? Yeah. And then this is our um nitrogen fitting. We make our own fitting and we weld it on. Huh. We make our own gland nuts from scratch. I mean it It would be like this or this is our bigger one. And then we make everything like this. Our cylinders, we do all the turning and the threading. All of it. This is a piston for it. We were testing the diameter to make sure it fits. You know? Everything's got to be just right. It's a very tight fit. He's welding the corner sections. This is our carbide. Every one of our Every one of our wings and center sections gets this piece. This is patented by Sabre. The carbide's right here. It's 1 in this whole way. And then this is a piece of um AR 500. And that's what That's what's patented on it. It protects protects that carbide. So we can This is standard steel, so we can weld it on our cutting edge. And that's the second hardest substance known to man behind diamond. That's why carbide works so good. Carbide is the second hardest substance known to man? There's one above it, but the Duster uses it's the second. Yeah, okay. And that's on all of your blades, right? All of your blades? Except for the rear. The rear has a special flat. He's doing that there. We got a real cool This is our rotisseries. When you're welding, he doesn't have it set up right, but I can send you a video if you want to see it. Cylinder goes in here, you tighten it, you flip the switch, and it welds it. All automatic. I'll tell you a quick one. All of our cylinders get dunked in that blue water right there. Okay. And we use helium to test it. The reason we use helium is the smallest molecule in air. If you have a a air leak or a cylinder leak, if it's regular air, it goes bloop bloop like a tire. Okay. >> really fast because it's such a small molecule. It's just like a stream. So you can you can see any defects faster and easier? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That'll be going here in less than 2 months. It's a robot. Is this a new one? Yeah, it's not brand new, but new to us. New to you guys. It has two different stations. So, you'll be doing something over here, it'll do this. And then you go over here, you take this off, and it'll work back and forth. All right, what are we building over here? That's a Western adapter to put together. You just lower the table. Every one of our sections has a table that you want to stand, you can raise it. Raise that up…