plow truck
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2009
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plow truck
im workin on my plow truck for winter just bought it its a 92 f150 4.9 the plow and sutup is really heavy i only have the single shock front end it had those air bags inside the coil springs when i bought it but they dont work should i be worried or do anything to help support the extra weight?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 957
Likes: 2
From: Graniteville
I would seriously consider either upgrading the front springs or getting the airbags fixed. The weight of the plow hanging off the front is going to add more stress to the springs due to the leverage of it sticking off the front, than if the weight was directly over the springs.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
Yea I second that, replace the air bags a F-150's front suspension isn't built heavy enough for a heavy duty plow unit, if that is what you have.
If its a heavy duty plow unit the weight of it will crush it down until the front wheels do this number / \ (as viewed from the front of the truck), you don't want that.
You can add a helper leaf to each side but one stiff enough will make for a rough ride, the air bags would definitely be the better option of the two.
You can add the dual shock option if you want, keep in mind shocks do not hold weight, only control it.
One good set of heavy duty truck shocks would suffice.
If its a heavy duty plow unit the weight of it will crush it down until the front wheels do this number / \ (as viewed from the front of the truck), you don't want that.
You can add a helper leaf to each side but one stiff enough will make for a rough ride, the air bags would definitely be the better option of the two.
You can add the dual shock option if you want, keep in mind shocks do not hold weight, only control it.
One good set of heavy duty truck shocks would suffice.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Yea I second that, replace the air bags a F-150's front suspension isn't built heavy enough for a heavy duty plow unit, if that is what you have.
If its a heavy duty plow unit the weight of it will crush it down until the front wheels do this number / \ (as viewed from the front of the truck), you don't want that.
You can add a helper leaf to each side but one stiff enough will make for a rough ride, the air bags would definitely be the better option of the two.
You can add the dual shock option if you want, keep in mind shocks do not hold weight, only control it.
One good set of heavy duty truck shocks would suffice.
If its a heavy duty plow unit the weight of it will crush it down until the front wheels do this number / \ (as viewed from the front of the truck), you don't want that.
You can add a helper leaf to each side but one stiff enough will make for a rough ride, the air bags would definitely be the better option of the two.
You can add the dual shock option if you want, keep in mind shocks do not hold weight, only control it.
One good set of heavy duty truck shocks would suffice.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
Oh sorry I knew that, miss spoke, put in a stiffer coil spring.
Air bag is the best of both worlds, pressure increased when the plow blade is on, pressure decreased when blade is off.
Spring stiff enough to hold the weight will be rather rough when the blade is off.
I added a spring to my 94 F-250 (they just don't make em like they used to), should have went with the air bags.
If I drove that truck year round, I would have changed it to air bag removing the add a leaf long ago. Rather like driving a dumpster......LOL!
Air bag is the best of both worlds, pressure increased when the plow blade is on, pressure decreased when blade is off.
Spring stiff enough to hold the weight will be rather rough when the blade is off.
I added a spring to my 94 F-250 (they just don't make em like they used to), should have went with the air bags.
If I drove that truck year round, I would have changed it to air bag removing the add a leaf long ago. Rather like driving a dumpster......LOL!
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
Another option is change to a progressive rate front spring so when the weight is up front it is in the heavy range of spring for more resistance and when pulled off lower spring resistance for a normal ride.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 191
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From: Maryland
A lot of guys that plow with Bronco's (same front end as F150) use F250 2WD front coil springs. Cheap & will support more weight. The advice above about ballast in the rear is good too, you need it to offset the weight of the plow hanging off the front.
