We all think of plow trucks as the most rugged vehicles on Earth. In addition, they are generally considered throwaway rigs when they enter plow service, even if said truck later becomes desirable. Over the years, I can think back to any number of local trucks used for plowing gas station lots and other commercial enterprises, and, looking back, how they rusted to pieces right in front of you. This 1988 Suzuki Samurai listed here on Facebook Marketplace is said to have a “factory plow” setup along with the optional hardtop, and the seller is asking $9,900.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Lothar… of the Hill People for the find. Those same trucks I remember from my youth, used for plow duty, are now somewhat desirable. Ford Broncos, Chevy Blazers, Toyota 4Runners (first generation, with the removable top), and others were forced out onto the salt-encrusted roads to ensure the rest of us could get to work or fill up our tanks. Those trucks have long become one with the Earth, but somehow, this Samurai has more or less survived. The seller reports there is “..under body rust” but we don’t see any photos of it. Thankfully, the exterior panels appear to be in good condition.
As for the claim that it has a factory-supplied plow setup, that information is hard to confirm. It seems more likely that a dealer sold it as an accessory, rather than Suzuki trying to entice light-duty truck buyers to build a fleet of Samurais for clearing snow. However, one small detail stood out to me, which is why I’ve included a photo of a Suzuki Samurai I spotted in a salvage yard in Bristol, Rhode Island a few years ago. It has the same exact light setup, with the distinctive orange reflectors on the edge of each housing. If anything, it seems like there was a preferred plow setup for Samurai owners, but not necessarily one authorized by Suzuki.
If you can’t get out to Wisconsin to buy the Samurai for sale here, don’t worry: Rocky Road Outfitters will sell you a tidy plow setup for a Samurai closer to home, should you find one for sale. This actually looks like a ton of fun if you live where it snows and have a longer driveway to clear. The seller reports that he greatly enjoys taking the top off in the summer and use it for light-duty snow clearing in the winter. I’ve never thought of plowing as a fun activity for my hobby truck, but now, I’m intrigued. Have you ever had a plow truck that was a hoot to drive?
Wonder how this would have done with the 3′ of snow we got this past winter on Aquidneck…likely would have been a struggle.
My ’42 Jeep was fun to drive with it’s missile hydraulics and half of 55 gal drum plow with skids welded to the bottom. My partner had a long driveway and I had one that always was full of lake effect snow. Worked just fine.
As a second job, I pushed snow for over 30 years. I had a one ton truck and that truck took a beating, I can’t imagine what this thing has been through. I have never owned a Suzuki, but I can’t imagine these were well built.
These were well geared for offroad and snow. Fun fact if memory serves me correctly (at least fun for me): I was a bit skinnier then and fathered my first child in the bucket seat of one of these.
Also, a Tboner
bobhess, I love your Jeep! I had a 1947 CJ2A, almost the same color as yours with a similar cab and a commercial plow with a manual hydraulic pump. Eventually traded it for an MGA.
I plowed for the Municipality couple yrs, one ton Chevy.. thought I’d love it, got old fast.
I am originally from Ottawa Canada near the Quebec border. Cottage country was north on the Quebec side. Saw more than of these in use for plowing up there. I think they were chosen for tight spaces, narrow rough old logging roads etc. saw a couple of the old Lada SUV’s used as well. Probably for the same reason.
10k for a salty Samurai? I like these but I don’t know if I’d pay near that much. Maybe half. Maybe.
I have a 97 Silverado with a plow i absolutely cannot shovel. Bad heart chronic arthritis and actually enjoy plowing.Makes me still feel independent when it snows I will ride around and if I see someone shoveling a five foot banking at the end of their driveway i will offer to knock it down for 20 bucks not the whole driveway just the banking.Not many turn it down i also offer people with cars stuck in the snow 20 bucks to pull them out 40 bucks to follow them home no matter how many times they get stuck.Better than sitting in the house doing nothing and gives me a little money usually less than 100 bucks
As far as pulling people out and helping them get on their way…I do it for nothing. I turn it down if they offer me $. My wife, kids, grandkids might need help someday.
This is what I know… you want to age a vehicle very, very quickly… put a plow on the front.
A small wheelbase rig like this is ideal for plowing in tight spaces, like the original Jeeps and Broncos. However, if this is a manual transmission, you would be quite busy in the cab with plow controls and a stick shift…not fun.
I always had a hard time getting started but once I got started I could do it all day. Got tired of banks and bought a skid steer and blower same problem getting going but again I can go all day.
I always had a hard time getting started but once I got started I could do it all day. Got tired of banks and bought a skid steer and blower same problem getting going but again I can go all day.
I suspect that this is a poly plow. No noticeable hydraulics for height or angle to my eye. Angle wouldn’t be a big deal, just a pita. In 93/94 we couldn’t keep a new HD Dodge around long enough so we upfitted a Wrangler with a 6′ Sno-Way plow. Four-liter, automatic worked well but you had to sometimes get a running start. Could climb the piles and stack snow. Plowing snow isn’t very glamorous but when you do it for a while you get a knack for it. Lots of night and holiday work. My son has missed our Xmas visits before.
https://i.imgur.com/37bI4vk.jpeg
I use my 03 Sequoia as a plow truck in winter. Had to build the custom plow mount and bought a heavy 7′ blade. It works well and plowing is about the only outdoor task I enjoy in a province that gets a ton of snow and temps that can plunge to -40c.
The blade is controlled by winch I wired in but the blade angle is manual so Ive learned how to plow my long driveway like NASCAR. Drive hard and turn left.
The plow pickups around here were already rusty before mounting a heavy plow. They keep their rusty old 4x4s specifically for plowing. Finding a 2-wheel drive pickup around here is nearly impossible. I like them though because we rarely get enough snow to plow anymore.
For my acreage, I bought in 2021 a new Massey Ferguson 3-cylinder diesel 1840M compact loader tractor with cab. The bucket is 6′ wide and pitiful for moving snow. Even my antique OMC 330 w/5′ bucket does better. Anyway, I bought a used MF 7′ hydraulic quick attach blade mounted on front. Wow, what a difference! My 1/8-mile driveway is a breeze now. The tractor gets used mostly for moving pallets, etc. with the 4′ Virnig forks. I have both machines because they both can’t do specialized things one or the other can do. It now has 450 hours on the clock with no complaints. BTW, it’s made in Japan and exactly what I wanted. The big MFs are made in Canada. Hmm, tariffs.
I stopped in at the MF dealer last year and asked about trading up to the next size bigger, a 60 HP. Mine is 40 HP. “What’s my tractor worth?” Answer: “exactly what you paid for it.”
I think this Samurai would be great for plowing wide sidewalks. I saw a guy using an old Geo Tracker for that purpose once. A big ATV plow might work on a Samurai, given that the vehicle is only about 60″ wide. I’m sure it’s been done.
I have been plowing for while now with my 2010, V6 Dodge Dakota and a Western Mid-Weight. It just keeps on going and I’ve put it through a lot, plowing a pretty good-sized parking lot in addition to smaller lots and driveways.
Good write-up, Jeff. Thank you.
I had one, a very nice one, until I let my guard down and let her drive it.
Had a Geo Tracker with a 4 wheeler plow on it once. When I tried it for fun one time, I just drove right over the snow lol. PLUS when it got windy and the thing was on the front, it was all hands on deck. It was essentially a sail.
About 20 years ago I bought an M37 that a local village had used as a plow truck. It was fantastic for plowing snow (an 8 ft Meyer 4 way plow) The family and the neighbors loved it. I didn’t charge anyone for plowing, I just liked doing it
I don’t have a plow truck, but a plow ATV. It’s a 2005 Honda Rancher 350 that I’ve been plowing with for 14 years. It works really well but I would like to get a plow for my 1946 Ford 2N tractor and plow with that as well.