My uncle use to own a 86 F150 4x4 truck,

He mentioned that ford put on a plow package on the truck. He never used it as he put a lift kit on it. He didn't know what it was (maybe just bragging rights) but I thought it had a beefed up frame. Did this "package" exist?

I now have a F350 truck that I would like to put a plow on.
First question is, how hard on the frame is it to put a plow on this.
Is there anything I could do to "beef" up the frame so it doesn't bend? Is this going to be even a problem with an F350? I just want a solid plow truck.

Standard cab with 8 foot box. However it is a dually.
People who have plowed before, is the dually going to be a big problem? most people I have seen don't use the dually so maybe it is just worth buying another truck for this purpose?

The other question would be would a 300 I6 auto be up to the task of pushing snow?

 

Ford did have what they called a "Snowfighter" and it was a snowplow package. It was nothing special, they just packaged their stock heavier duty parts all together so someone wanting to plow didn't have to figure out what to order. They had towing packages also.

I don't know all what came with it, except I do know it was always a f350 with the heaviest front axle they made. 85-down that was a dana 50ttb and 85.5-up that was the dana 60 straight axle. Rumor has it that is why the dana 60 came back, too many failures with the dana 50ttb when used for commercial plowing. I would assume also it came with the biggest battery and largest alternator, a possibly also all the heavy duty cooling stuff like radiator and fan.

The snowplow people have all the mounting figured out. It's usually well built and any re-enforcement comes with the plow mounting kit.

The plows either have trip edges or the whole plow folds down if you hit something, and that protects the truck and it's frame.

The only problem with a dually is space. You get into some tight places sometimes plowing, and the width will be something you have to deal with. I am assuming you have 4x4, because if you don't, you will have to put a lot of weight in a 2wd dually before it's going to push much snow. You will also need to make sure you get a plow wide enough that when it's angled, it will clear a path wide enough for the dually tires to fit in. I have a regular 4x4, and a 7.5ft plow is just wide enough for it.

The I6 with a c6 will be up to the task.

 

The package came with the plow switches and the plow mounts, headlamps etc as well.


http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/for...2/bilder/2.jpg
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/for...2/bilder/3.jpg

 

How did you come up with that info? Ford would have to work with one of the plow manufacturers for that to happen, someone like Western or Meyers, since they have totally different plow systems. I didn't know one of the plow systems were "blessed" by Ford and offered as a option.

 

The County Road Department in 1981 bought a brand new F-350 from the dealer with the Snow Plow Package. It came with everything except the plow blade.

 

Yeah. I find that hard to believe. I can see the plow pkg consisting of heavier front springs, a limited slip, larger trans cooler, and larger alt. But not the plow frame and pump. The pic in the link shown is a myers plow set-up. (lights, pump and blade)

 

Maybe the dealership had the plow brackets installed by a plow dealer, doesnt make sense not to come with the plow as different plow mfgs use totally different mounting systems and wiring, you'd buy a truck with brackets and lights then you'd have to buy the right make and model of plow or it wouldnt work.

 

It was indeed the Ford Dealer who had the Plow workings installed before it was delivered. The county already had the plow. I remember this being negotiated as a part of the price for the plow package.

The county also bought a cab and chassis, and had tool boxes fitted at the Ford dealer. Also bought some LN-7000 trucks with no drivetrains to build their own. The Ford dealer helped with this as well, getting the cat engines, and allison trannies installed.

The trucks were delivered in Federal Safety orange, and was painted at the factory that way too.

However I must conceed, after thinking about it, fleet orders are different than what the general public may get.

 

You probably could today still negotiate a plow being installed on a brand new pickup if the dealer was willing to do so. But I would imagine this would happen like this; The truck would come in, some salesman would drive it down and drop it off at the local plow dealer, they would install it and have a warranty on the plow, and bring it back to the dealer and they would call and tell you it's ready.

 

Exactly, I doubt any of the techs at the dealership know squat about plows. I imagine the salesman would also make sure you know that when the plow quits working dont bring it back to the dealer! They would most likely encourage you to get the plow installed yourself just so they dont get in the middle of things.

 

Look for at least an 8'5" plow, so your rear outer wheels are on cleared surface, 9' would be better. Because less weight is distributed to each tire with dual wheels, & there's more surface pushing thru the snow, traction isn't generally as good as SRW, but in some situations I think the dual wheels might be a plus. Keep some ballast weight in the extreme rear of the bed, & it'll help.

I think the 300 6 would be a great plow engine, I wouldn't mind having a plow truck with that engine in it at all, torquey & better GPH performance than a big V-8, I bet.

 

Is your dually 4X4? I would think being a dually, you'll have to plow in 4WD more than you would with a SRW.

Also, as far as frames go, the F350 has a stout frame, but it's possible to tear anything up with a plow. The ones that usually have frame damage are reckless plowers(who usually don't own the vehicle they're using) and trucks with lifts on them, because the center of effort is lower in relation to the frame, thus exerting much more leverage on it & the mounting hardware.

Good luck, I'm getting ready to go out plowing now, if this snowstorm they've been talking about all week ever gets kicking!

 

Exactly!! I worked at a plow dealer. We got new trucks in all the time to have plows installed by the dealer(us).
We also put out bids for the state, county, towns and Bridge Commission for plows.

If there was any confusion at all about a plow set up being offered by ford im sure numberdummy could clarify that none of that was available thru ford