Plowing snow
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Newport, WA
Plowing snow
We are going to be needing a snow plow where we live now. I've toyed with either putting a plow on my SD, or buying an older truck to have as a dedicated snow plow. If I put one on the SD, it will need to have a removeable frame so I don't have to drag it with me to work, during the summer, etc.
My concern with putting a plow on my SD is wear and tear on the truck, since it is now my daily driver and tow rig. I don't want to beat it up needlessly and shorten its life by bashing into snow banks with it all winter long. Am I worrying too much about tearing chit up on my truck by plowing snow, or will it be fine handling this task? Snow lasts around 4 months up here so it would be doing plow duty for about 1/3 of the year. Suggestions/input are welcome.
My concern with putting a plow on my SD is wear and tear on the truck, since it is now my daily driver and tow rig. I don't want to beat it up needlessly and shorten its life by bashing into snow banks with it all winter long. Am I worrying too much about tearing chit up on my truck by plowing snow, or will it be fine handling this task? Snow lasts around 4 months up here so it would be doing plow duty for about 1/3 of the year. Suggestions/input are welcome.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,241
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From: Powder Springs, East TN
You will really need to beef up the springs with X-springs, beef up your shocks and get better ball joints to help save on some wear and tear on the truck. You can always make some spare money with a snow plow on your truck. Jason(HK_USP) has a very nice plow set up on his truck and DC Special (dan) has one killer boss set up for his truck.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
I'll second the X codes. I put a set on mine after getting my plow and they seem to work better. As far as wear and tear goes. Just take it easy, you dont have to plow like a crazy man. IMHO, it is easier to use my daily driver than to have a completely different pickup just for plowing.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Remeber this its not a bulldozer take it easy with it. Dont ram banks or try to push back a snowbank because thats not the purpuse of it. The plow does beat up the frontend due to the wieght on the front end. Try not to drive around with it for no reason to reduse the wear and tear with it. Also limit long trips or highway driving. The plow will act as a big air restriction going down the road and cause your coolers to lose all that fresh cool air causing higher temps. My recommendation is at least put synthetic atf in your trans if you plan on plowing a bigger cooler would be nice to but isnt nessacary if you take it easy. Thats just my 2 cents.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
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From: IL, USA
I agree with all of the above 
Especially the x-code springs.
If you plow with your truck and drive like a sane person I wouldn't worry to much about it.
And I always drop the plow if there isn't snow in the forecast for that day/night.
I'll be adding a pyrometer, trans temp, water temp and voltmeter to my 07 to keep an eye on things while plowing.
And thanks for the compliment on the plow jdecker88
My last plow truck (still have it...just retired from plow duty) is a 99 F-150. Only parts to fail while plowing was lower ball joints and a idler arm on the steering.....but they had 165,000 miles on them at the time so I can't complain. Still on the original trans. I pretty much was the only one to plow with the truck, my dad may have a few times while I was in school.....my dad drives it daily for work since he wants to keep his 05 clean and scratch free, LOL
Especially the x-code springs.
If you plow with your truck and drive like a sane person I wouldn't worry to much about it.
And I always drop the plow if there isn't snow in the forecast for that day/night.
I'll be adding a pyrometer, trans temp, water temp and voltmeter to my 07 to keep an eye on things while plowing.
And thanks for the compliment on the plow jdecker88
My last plow truck (still have it...just retired from plow duty) is a 99 F-150. Only parts to fail while plowing was lower ball joints and a idler arm on the steering.....but they had 165,000 miles on them at the time so I can't complain. Still on the original trans. I pretty much was the only one to plow with the truck, my dad may have a few times while I was in school.....my dad drives it daily for work since he wants to keep his 05 clean and scratch free, LOL
Tuned
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 320
Likes: 47
From: Eastern TN
I've been plowing commercially for the last 7 years with my truck and I'm just now changing my ball joints. Just as long as you plow with the storm and not wait until its over. Push piles back at the begining of the season so you have room for more snow. Plows now a days are called minute mounts for a reason, that way they are easy on and easy off. Finally whatever plow you buy make sure you have good local dealer support for the brand.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Hampton, Maryland.
What they said. Don't be in a hurry. Look at what you're going to be plowing ahead of time and take note of any and all anomalies with regard to curbs, storm drains etc. These trucks are called superduty for a reason.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Brinklow Md
fisher makes a "minute mount" system and my dad has one on his 05, its on and ready to go in under 5 min, and you can take it off just as easy. Just take it easy, scout out the job beforehand, and get spare parts for the plow. You can usally get a kits that has everything you could possible need, even a spare pump.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Newport, WA
No curbs or anything like that to worry about, a few low tree stumps though. Still weighing my options on this... not sure which will be the least $ route- buy an older truck and set it up to plow or put a plow on the SD. I have a plow already, but no frame or hydraulics for it so there's a big expense right there.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 320
Likes: 47
From: Eastern TN
One thing about getting an older plow truck is it will probably end up nickeling and diming you to death since you won't really know the history of the truck. Unless you get a late model plow truck but then again it wouldn't be as cost effective as getting a plow for your superduty.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,245
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From: IL, USA
I agree with the repairs on older trucks.
The neighbor at our shop plows with older (not real old....late 80s, early 90s) GMs and he's always working on them. Helps that they all use the same parts though so he can stock one part for all three trucks.
The neighbor at our shop plows with older (not real old....late 80s, early 90s) GMs and he's always working on them. Helps that they all use the same parts though so he can stock one part for all three trucks.