Hay there everyone! I have a '78 F150 4X4 Ranger XLT with a 400 and C6 tranny.
It has dual shocks up front plus a steering stabilizer. I got this truck from my fiance's dad. He was the original owner and it only has 74,000 miles on it. My question is this: What do I need to do to the front coil springs to beef them up for a snow plow?? I don't really want this truck squating real bad. Plus, will 33" tires fit on this ok with a plow?? Do all F150 4X4's come with dual shocks or was this an option. I am trying to learn all I can about these old trucks. Only thing I don't like about it is it has a 3.00 open rear axle. So I am going to have to change that!! Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!!

-Funkster-

 

I went to my local spring shop and bought a set of heavier rated coil springs, It lifted the front about an inch or two without the blade on, and doesnt sag the front too badly. I run 33X9.5 bf goodrich mudterrains and they are awsome in the snow.

I think your truck more likely has a 3.50:1 gear ratio, it will plow just fine like it is.

If you are going to be doing a lot of plowing I would suggest getting an 8 foot blade, you would be suprised at how much faster you can get done with just that little bit of extra width.

 

Thanks for the reply Tellico racing. I know I have a 3.00 ratio for sure. My door plate shows axle code 14A. The 14 means 3.00 non limited slip. And the "A" represents powersteering with tilt. When you put the new springs in, did it change the height enough to where you need any suspension correction like a lengthened pitman arm or something? Also, does your F150 have dual front shocks too? Thanks again for the help!!!

 

So, is there anyone else who can offer any advice on putting a plow on this truck?? It would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

There was no problems with steering or anything when I installed the springs.

My mud truck has dual front shocks, I have only ever seen the duals on shortbox trucks and broncos, not that they didnt put them on longbox trucks...I"ve just never seen it.

I think you will still be fine with the 3:1 ratio and open diffs. My plow truck has open diffs too and it is unstoppable in the snow.

The secret is weight...the heavier you are, the more snow you can push before you lose traction. Stay away from wide tires, get some tall skinny "pizza cutters". Check out my gallery, album name "ugly old reliable truck". Those tires are what I plowed with.

 

Thanks again for your input Tellico racing. I think I'm gonna go with a 33/12.5/15 on a 8" rim. It will be a fairly skinny set up that will allow my truck to do some other things on the farm as well. I have some tractor weights that I am gonna use for weight in the bed. I've had alot of experience in snow and know that it takes WEIGHT!!! As far as the tires go, I will probably go with an all terrain tire. I've never cared for mud tires on snow let alone on the ice!!

I am gonna try to find me a set of gears around a 3.50 to a 3.73 with limited slip. I WON'T own a 4X4 without L/S. And it won't be geared TOO low for my C6 tranny. As far as blades go, what are your recommendations?? Type, lenght, etc. I've never owned one for a truck so this will be alil new to me. They're alil different than a blade for a tractor. lol Thanks alot for all your help and I look forward to your reply!!

-Funkster-

 

I prefer an electric operated plow pump like the meyer. The westerns use cables to operate the pump and they just get all flogged out. I think western is making an all electric one now.

As I mentioned before I like the 8 foot blade over the 7.5 , mostly because when you are furrowing to the side you wont be running over your "clean edge" with the outside of the tire.

Nearly any tire will work just fine. The wider the tire the easier it is to spin out, when your tires spin, and the blade is angled and full of snow, it will kick the truck sideways.

A friend of mine had a set of eagle gt's on his plow truck and they worked (barely)

 

personally, i wouldn't run 12.5's plowing snow.... wayyyy too wide.....
fisher....... the best plows i've ever used, and i like the old ones better, non eletric powered versions. our 77 bronco has a 71 fish plow that's still serving us without any problems ( doing 5-20 drive ways a winter).
are you sure the truck has 3.00's? i thougth these trucks only came with 3:50's, or 4:10's..... 3:50's are fine for plowing snow.
as for a LS, great if you live on flat land, but here it's all hills, and you'll soon find that you rear is always kicking out on you, or spining into the ditch...

as for tires, we run 225/75 r15 cooper snow tires... the ones with all the small square blocks..... thier crazy in the snow...

 

Well my axle code is 14A. The 14 stands for 3.00 and the "A" stands for powersteering with tilt. But on the window sticker it says optional rear axle. So I guess I'm kind of confused. I wouldn't see why a 3.00 would be an optional axle. I would think 3.50 would be. But oh well. Where I come from in Indiana, if you have a 4X4 you need limited slip. If not, it sticks TOO easy!

-Funkster-

 

Funky,
Don't forget your salt spreader! It's the best rear weight. i had a HDPE tank that wouldn't rust and it held up for three seasons, no problem. I moved south after that. it was pretty cheap to.
KingFisher

 

I've also plowed a lot of snow with a F-150 and pulled trucks with wide tires out of snow covered ditches with a 65 Wagoneer, both with the old size, L-78-15, skinny by todays standards....... 33X12.5's are sand tires.. They ride on top where the snow is soft and will "kick out" when you need traction... Shinny tires cut through the powder and can get a grip on the harder compressed stuff that is more stable and is less likely to separate..... That's the way I see it anyhow.....I sure miss the snow......It's 114* today....Nasty.....

 

Thanks for the tip guys. I might reconsider my tire size I guess. But to be honest with you, sometimes it aint the tires that get stuck, but the DRIVERS. I've ran 33/12.50's for years and have never gotten stuck in the snow. But I know that pushing a plow is alil different than just driving through it. Thanks again for the tips guys!!

-Funkster-