I'm from NH so excuse me if I don't climb under my truck prior to asking this. Also I'm recovering from some back surgeries so I'm conserving my energy...

I spoke with a local shop and they said they remove the bumper to install a BDS 2.5 inch leveling kit???? Is this because I have a plow frame or will it help when I do my install? Also anyone do this install or a similar one with a plow frame? How was it?

 

 

I don't really know what a plow frame is, but installing a leveling kit should not have anyithing to do with it. I have a plow on my 2001, F-250 and I am planing on leveling it soon, the plow shouldn't cause any problems. They did remove my front bumper in order to install my plow, but that just makes it easier for them to install the plow. It's only four bolts and the supports in the fender well. Hope this helps.

 

Assuming we're talking about a 1999+ SD truck...

I doubt that it is a requirement, but removing the bumper will make accessing the front spring mount a little easier. Besides, you don't get a special plow "frame". The snow plow pkg just consists of higher-rated front springs.

 

I have the same leveling kit only I have not yet installed it because I don't have jacks tall enough to lift my truck up high enough to let the springs all the way out.
You will need tho take the bumper off to get to the mounting nuts that are inside the frame rails. It is not all that tuff to do since thats about how far I got till I found that my jacks where to short, now its gonna cost about $200 to have it installed, unless one of the faithful readers know someone who has a lift in the St. Louis area.
Hope this info helps and good luck with the kit.

Will-

 

Don't know if this helps or not, but I just got done installing the Jack-It leveling kit in my 99 F250SD Crew Cab. The Jack-it 2.5" kit is really just a set of Tuff-Country helper springs and a track-bar relocation kit. I ordered the kit with Bilstein shocks. I haven't had the time or the inclination to install the rear helpers at this point, but the front is done.

You can remove the front spring bolts without removing the bumper, but it isn't easy. I found I had to remove the lower brackets that hold up the condenser or the bolts wouldn't come out all the way. I also had to drop the front drive shaft or you can't remove the rear bolt on the drivers side. The biggest PITA was getting the stock track bar bracket off. One of the nuts on the in-frame bracket came loose from the tabs that hold it. Took me over an hour with an impact gun to keep spinning the bolt and a pry bar till it finally came loose. Otherwise, not a bad install. I also had to go out an buy bigger jack stands since none of the ones I had would reach the frame. Funny, they work fine on my Mustang....

I have a Western 8' pro-blade on the SD, and the front use to drop over 3 inches when I put the plow on. Even with 500 pounds ballast, I use to scrape the mount on bumps. Now, fuggedaboutit.... The front drops 1 inch with the plow, and it's level with 400 in the tail. No bouncing, nice firm ride. I had to drop the plow frame to the lowest set of bolt holes, and it's right at the 10.5 inch mark. Western recommends the mounts be at 9.5 - 10.5, before it was around 8... I haven't been able to get a decent picture of it yet with the leveing kit in. I installed everything 2 weeks ago, going tomorrow morning to get an alignment. The steering wheel was off about 110 degrees, I got it done to about 15-20 degrees but it needs to be turned a bit more.