Adding a snow plow, weight limit?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: va
Adding a snow plow, weight limit?
Hi everyone,
I have a 1993 F-150 extended cab with a 302 with 100,000 miles. It has a Dana 44 front axle. The door tag says my front axle weight limit is 3275 lbs. Fisher.com says that I should have a min. weight limit of 3800 lbs, on the front axle before adding a 7 1/2 foot wide snow plow. Would the front axle hold up to plowing? This would be just plowing my 100 foot driveway. It snows about a dozen times a year, 6" to 12" of each time.
Thanks for any info.
I have a 1993 F-150 extended cab with a 302 with 100,000 miles. It has a Dana 44 front axle. The door tag says my front axle weight limit is 3275 lbs. Fisher.com says that I should have a min. weight limit of 3800 lbs, on the front axle before adding a 7 1/2 foot wide snow plow. Would the front axle hold up to plowing? This would be just plowing my 100 foot driveway. It snows about a dozen times a year, 6" to 12" of each time.
Thanks for any info.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: va
Thanks, but I would like to see a few more replies. I would really like to go with a 7 1/2' wide plow. Any smaller then the snow bank scape the sides of the truck. I was still wounding if someone had tried adding a plow with a front end like mine, 3275 lbs. Would adding stronger front springs and shocks work? Will my axle hold up, or will i need to replace?
Thanks again
Thanks again
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 519
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From: Iowa
It's not good for it, long-term, but most people who plow, even small-scale commercial, use half-ton trucks because they're cheap. Don't leave the plow on when you don't need it, don't ever push more than 4" of fresh snow at a time, replace the shocks every year, and you'll be fine.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 376
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look for one of the lighter plows with the plastic blades...or the lighter meyers plows
until the last 15 years or so almost everyone used 1/2 tons with 7 -1/2 foot plows that would be considered cheezy today...and they worked fine.....the commercial HD plows around today are way too heavy for your half ton and youll regret it ...if thats how you go
until the last 15 years or so almost everyone used 1/2 tons with 7 -1/2 foot plows that would be considered cheezy today...and they worked fine.....the commercial HD plows around today are way too heavy for your half ton and youll regret it ...if thats how you go
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,465
Likes: 5,530
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
if you are going to be plowing ONLY your drive, and not driving around with the plow attached, or if you do not care about the truck, you will have no problems. if you are going to be driving around with the plow blade on the truck, or doing allot of plowing for others, then either consider a larger truck, or lighter plow.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
From: North Royalton, Ohio
I put a meyers 7.5 foot plow on my truck. Got it free. From what I have been told is, you should go with a SNOW-WAY plow. Its lighter than anything else out there. It is made for small use.
As for the front end, I had to add in front spring air bags. I decided to go with the option kit that has a compressor and and guages. That way i can increase or decrease prussure in the bags with out have to pull out the air compresser, or stop at a gas station.
One thing, in order to get my undercarrage mount to go on, i had to remove my front stabalizer bar. I am going to see if I can weld up to the plow mount, but it has to wait until spring.
My truck is doing well, no complaints on how it is handleing the plow being on it, but I do worry about it. I think that I am gonna be replaceing things in the spring, with how rough it rides the road. (fingers crossed) We'll see.
Bufflobob= The meyers plastic blades are about 50-100 pounds heavier than the steel.
As for the front end, I had to add in front spring air bags. I decided to go with the option kit that has a compressor and and guages. That way i can increase or decrease prussure in the bags with out have to pull out the air compresser, or stop at a gas station.
One thing, in order to get my undercarrage mount to go on, i had to remove my front stabalizer bar. I am going to see if I can weld up to the plow mount, but it has to wait until spring.
My truck is doing well, no complaints on how it is handleing the plow being on it, but I do worry about it. I think that I am gonna be replaceing things in the spring, with how rough it rides the road. (fingers crossed) We'll see.
Bufflobob= The meyers plastic blades are about 50-100 pounds heavier than the steel.
Last edited by RJPstruck; Feb 27, 2006 at 07:12 AM.
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: va
Thanks,
I got this truck so when get some extra money i could add a plow, I may have to wait then. Maybe I can find a used F250 with a snow plow option. I was thinking I could go with a used Fisher 7.5' light duty plow, it's 150 lbs lighter. They run about $1000.00 before installation. There are mostly regular Fisher plows up here. I was planning to just plow my 100 foot driveway, and push the snow way back. I would not push any snow banks. With a big storm I was planning to go out when it reaches about 4" deep. I was not to drive any where's with the plow on, also because I don't have a trans. cooler. What's the most common F150 front end parts to replace after plowing all winter? I looks like I should get a new set of heavy duty front shocks and get a front alignment done each summer to.
I got this truck so when get some extra money i could add a plow, I may have to wait then. Maybe I can find a used F250 with a snow plow option. I was thinking I could go with a used Fisher 7.5' light duty plow, it's 150 lbs lighter. They run about $1000.00 before installation. There are mostly regular Fisher plows up here. I was planning to just plow my 100 foot driveway, and push the snow way back. I would not push any snow banks. With a big storm I was planning to go out when it reaches about 4" deep. I was not to drive any where's with the plow on, also because I don't have a trans. cooler. What's the most common F150 front end parts to replace after plowing all winter? I looks like I should get a new set of heavy duty front shocks and get a front alignment done each summer to.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Originally Posted by benwantland
It's not good for it, long-term, but most people who plow, even small-scale commercial, use half-ton trucks because they're cheap. Don't leave the plow on when you don't need it, don't ever push more than 4" of fresh snow at a time, replace the shocks every year, and you'll be fine.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 898
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For what you say you want to do ... You'll be fine. I have a plow on my 94 and figure it will outlast this truck too. Came off my 78 F250 that rotted out. Still ran just fine but the body died. You should expect to get at least another 10 yrs out of that rig.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 439
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From: Sussex
The company I work for has 2 F150s we use for plowing with 8 foot Western Pro Plows on them. We really don't have many problems with them. We have the air bags in the coil springs and dual front shocks both of them along with manual hubs. One has a 302 and the other 300. They are both holding up in commercial use. I would say that just doing your driveway you shouldn't have much to worry about. If you make sure you aren't hitting anything you should be fine. Stay away from the poly plows. They are heavier then the real thing. Also stay away from sno-way. Get whatever plow you can get parts for easiest. The worst thing is being without it in a snowstorm.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 14,413
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Well, I have a few years of plowing under my belt with these type of trucks as well as the SuperDuty trucks (2004-2006). The parts that WILL fail from plowing on these trucks (your type of truck) are balljoints, tie rod ends, and front u-joints (the ones in the hubs).
But, since you are ONLY doing your driveway, it will not be such a big deal. And since you are ONLY doing your driveway I would try to find a light duty plow. That is why I recommend a SNO-WAY. They are not for industrial/commercial use but will work if you are ONLY doing your driveway.
-Matt
But, since you are ONLY doing your driveway, it will not be such a big deal. And since you are ONLY doing your driveway I would try to find a light duty plow. That is why I recommend a SNO-WAY. They are not for industrial/commercial use but will work if you are ONLY doing your driveway.
-Matt