plowing with a dmax crew cab

[hapaschold]

hi all,

thinking of a plow for my 3500 dmax crew cab...

any preferences on brand? weights ?

thanks !

[Mark Rinker]

8' (SRW) or 8' 6" (dually) Western Ultramount straight blade is my choice for 3500 series doing driveways, small/medium parking lots, etc. Steel blades work better overall due to their weight than the poly blades, as they don't 'chatter' as much over uneven surfaces and they backdrag much better. However, the polys will look better over time (resale value) if you keep them out of the sun. Otherwise they turn pretty PINK!!! Steel blades up here in salt country rust and peel badly in about 3-4 seasons, we try to trade them every 2-3 before they look bad.

If you have to bust deep powder in mountainous conditions, or maintain long winding roadways, a V-plow may be warranted. Also useful for 'carrying' volumes of snow short distances, but overrated for commercial use compared to a S250 Bobcat 2-speed or similar with a 96" snow bucket, which will run circles (literally) around a pickup with an experienced operator.

Most of the new guys in the business up here mistakenly buy expensive, mechanically complex V-plows and then sell them after the first few seasons for simpler straight blades. Unless you have experience with one and/or a specific job to own one, save your money. The plow salesman will try to sell you one - as the most expensive 'Cadillac' of every brand made. Never met anyone with one that thought they were worth the money or the wear and tear on the front end of their truck, as they are VERY heavy in comparison.

Having been in the business for 5 seasons, I have never bought a new plow, and owned at least 10 different Westerns, usually purchased already on the truck. There are always plenty of good used for half of new. Shop Ebay for some great deals, but try to inspect in person before you buy. Anything bent or with cracked welds, repaired welds, etc. that won't sit flat on a concrete surface is a 'pass'. Here's a good buy... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-Western-Ultra-mount-8-foot-snow-plow_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63688QQihZ017QQite mZ270072411025QQrdZ1

[BozDMAX]

As I recall when I spec'd out my truck 4 years ago, the DMAX was not available with an option set up for plowing. Reason given to me was that the engine was heavier enough than the gasser that the front axle weight margin was not there for mounting a plow.

Which is not to say it isn't done aftermarket. But plowing is rough on a truck and I think I would rather buy a beater to mount a plow...

[Mark Rinker]

I hestitated at first from mounting a plow on a Duramax. Was mostly concerned about the reported 'slow reverse' with the Allison.

Once I tried one, I was sold. The D/A and plow combo is the smoothest thing going, but wouldn't hang a V-plow on a 2500. One ton springs are plenty stout.

[up@12]

I put a Boss V-Blade on the front of my D-Max and it works great.

[Mark Rinker]

You guys get the BIG snow up there. Can't believe its only raining here today, on New Years Eve...arrrggghhh

[up@12]

I put the plow on once and that was only because i wanted to play with it. No snow yet it is a balmy 5 degrees today and is going to stay around that temp for a while accourding to the weather network. I'll have to bring the lawnmower back out if it stays like this. LOLOL

[2tough2park]

Just FYI, when I bought my 06 K3500 crew cab I asked about adding a plow wondering if any suspension changes would be needed or was there a "plow upgrade" I needed to option. The response was no, the truck was full capable of handling a plow with no changes. I can't say for the earlier ones, but for mine plowing was ok and I believe this dealer in particular.

[up@12]

When I bought my 06 2500HD there is a plow option

[JoeyD]

hi all,

thinking of a plow for my 3500 dmax crew cab...

any preferences on brand? weights ?

thanks !
What type of plowing are you doing? If it's just your driveway go strait blade if your doing any type of commercial plowing get a Blizzard or at least a V plow.

[up@12]

I'll second the V-Blade or Blizzard. There is a lot of time saved with one because of the cupping action of the two plows less clean up times.

[DURAMAN]

I don't have a plow on my truck, but a friend has an 04 extended cab with a large plow on it. The dealer told him as well not to put it on because of the extra weight of the dmax. What he has done is to fabricate a 1,000lb weight that he hangs off the hitch in back. This give him better traction and takes a little weight off the front end. He's had it on for a couple of years now w/o problems.

[royalglen]

Does anyone have experience with the Myers snow blade if so what is their track record?? Will the snow plow option include a larger power steering pump for the added weight of the blade??

[Mark Rinker]

The ultimate snow removal tool IMO is the Bobcat S250 two speed machine with a 96" hydraulic plow.

Using the 'Bobtach' hydraulic attachment change, with a 2yd snow bucket, and a small dirt bucket for scraping, you can be a one man snow removal operation even for 3-5 acre malls and shopping centers.

ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT AND SHOULDER BELT. These machines are so fast that you can be ejected through the windsheild if you do not wear the safety gear.

[06bowtie_guy]

Not a crew cab but on my truck I have a 8 foot Boss super duty. Works great. Had a 7.6 on an older truck and no problems.

People really like those blizzard plows, we just got a dealer and have seen a few now.

[jevanb]

What type of plowing are you doing? If it's just your driveway go strait blade if your doing any type of commercial plowing get a Blizzard or at least a V plow.


I beg the diff with the vblade, my brother in law owns a large plow business and when i retired last year I spent many hrs behind a plow, his words stay away from a vblade and get the smallest wheel base vehicle you can get for plowing, he owns 2 DRW 3500 regcabs cummings with salters in bed, 1 SRW quad cab 3500 cummings, 1 regcab 1500 6.5TD chevy,1 F350 regcab DRW,JD garden tractor with blade, 4100 JD to move mounds of packed, 1 bobcat with wheels/tracks, and access to a 6yard loader to move the big stuff, the longer it is the the longer it is to plow (no turning radius). DRW tend to float on snow but with 4 yards of salt and the salter you need the capacity of 4 tires, he plows banks lots, few driveways,tractor supplys lots 2ea, plenty of fast food lots, and walmarts 2ea, and a kmart, so he has to get them done fast and they have to be clean so no feet installed on blades but he goes thru plenty of scrapers per year, and all his blades have wings

[Mark Rinker]

In retrospect, my comments on V-plows are probably too dismissive. Here is a more complete thought:

If you have access to anything with a bucket (tractor, skidder, end loader, etc.) it is useful for lifting, loading, piling snow and is purpose built to do so.

If you are trying to combine these functions into one machine - i.e. your truck and a plow, a V-plow will help you carry and stack in ways a straight blade cannot.

However, you have to be realistic about the additional weight and repetetive, momentary loads/stress that you can bring to bear on your front end when using the V to carry, lift and stack. Your front suspension is NOT designed to be a loader tractor, or the lift arms on a Bobcat.

We talk about the weight carrying capacity of the truck when selecting plows. That is not the entire picture. It is what you are about to DO with the tool, PLUS its weight.

When you pick up a straight blade, it sheds its load. When you pick up a V-plow, it sheds its load. However, the V will let you amass a much heavier load than the straight blade - doing more 'work', which is good, but also comes with a toll on suspension, driveline, etc. When you stack with a straight blade, the plow lifts and becomes ineffective rather quickly. When you stack with a V-plow (instead of a machine with a bucket) it lifts and carrys and transfers alot of weight and stress to your suspension.

A careful and knowledgable operator is the key in all scenarios. An idiot can wreck a truck, a plow, or the biggest CAT endloader made.

[Monte22]

Hello,
I have been plowing for 8 years. I went to the dealership yesterday to find out the new specs on the 2007 HD's. I was told nothing has changed. GM still does not offer a plow prep package with a crew cab dmax. This is a joke. Gm has a awesome deisel motor and an awesome tranny, but a terrible front end. I have kids and need a back seat, but I also need to work with it. I cannnot believe nothing has changed. My father is a retired GM employee, and I get a huge discount, but it may be time to try a Ford. All I want is a srw 3500 crew cab, with a dmax and a short box and have the capacity to put a plow on it. GM its time to accomadate us plow guys. :mad:

[JoeyD]

I beg the diff with the vblade, my brother in law owns a large plow business and when i retired last year I spent many hrs behind a plow, his words stay away from a vblade and get the smallest wheel base vehicle you can get for plowing
If he says stay away from the V blades it's because he doesn't know anything about them. They are more productive and thats what it's all about.

[Mark Rinker]

Terrible front end? How so? I couldn't disagree with you more.

In the last six years, I have maintained 10+ acres of commercial lots, hauled literally millions of pounds of heavy industrial cargo for hire with 7 different 2500 and 3500 series Chevrolet trucks (5 diesels, 2 gassers) ranging from 1994 to 2005.

In that time, I have not replaced a single CV joint.

In that time, I have not replaced a single control arm bushing.

In that time, I have not replaced a single spring or torsion bar.

In that time, I have only replaced shock absorbers. Generally the OEMs get replaced after 50K miles.

Total mileage - all trucks? 905,000 miles. 80% towing, plowing, hauling, hunting and humping.

Chevrolet trucks have probably the best, most rugged front end that works hard during the day and rides like a Caddy unloaded. This is what makes GM hesitant to add more weight on the front end of the DMax trucks in the form of a plow.

If they offer a snow plow prep package and frames start cracking/trannys failing, they'd be on the hook for warranty claim under our 100K drivetrain coverage. This is partially in response to the heavier and heavier plows that are hitting the market.

My advice? Hang an 8' straight blade (well under 1000#) and go for it. Stay off the curbs. Don't try to use your truck to pile or lift snow. Have fun!

[Monte22]

I totally disagree with you. I own a fleet a gm trucks and I can't begin to tell you how many control arms, pitman arms, tie rods etc, I have gone through. Me and my crew, plow more than you and have been doing it much longer. In fact, I just replaced all of the above on one of my trucks with only 14,000 miles. Another truck was in yesterday for service and they told me all of the same things were bad again. I just replaced 12,000 miles ago.

If torsion are the answer, why don't the Kodiak's have torsion bars? Why did GM drop the torsion bars on the 2007 1500's? Torsion bars are terrible and no way as strong as the twin I beam. Ok the ride is not as good with a twin I beam front end, but so what. I want a truck that I can hang a plow and not have the plow be only two inches of the ground. Try and angle a 81/2 foot plow and every time you hit a bumb the plow smashes the road. You can put the 81/2 to 11 foot bilzzard plow, which weighs 1100lbs, on the front of a Kodiak and the front end hardly drops an inch. The kodiak also rides failry nice, has greater visibilty, and turns around 100 times better than any of my 3500 dually's.

My salesman always tells me that they have people weekly walk out the door when they tell them they can't put a plow on a dmax crew cab. He also goes the the truck meetings in Atlantic City every spring and the number complaint and topic from all the northest dealers is the front end. The dealers ask when they will have a front end that will hold a plow with a dmax and GM says the same thing every year, "We are working on it". That to me is sad to know how many potential trucks GM could be selling.

Also, the plow prep warranty excuse you used is a joke. You are worried about blowing you tranny, what about the regular cabs? You are worried about cracking frames? Gm offers a plow prep package with a regular cab, and they have exactly the same front end as a crew cab. Is GM worried about blowing a tranny with a reg cab? If the front was stronger, then it would not sag as much, which would keep the truck more level and there would be a lot less stress on the frame, in the end reducing cracking.

As for GM having the best front end in the industry, you are way off. I am GM guy, but the facts are the facts. The front ends suck. I am glad you have had good luck with your front ends, and I hope you never have issues. However, if I wanted a nice riding truck to work in then I would get a El Camino. :D I do not care if my head bounces of the roof when I go over bumbs.

GM has an awesome diesel engine, awesome tranny, nice interior, nice 100,000 warranty, but a bad front end, for what I wan't to do with it.

Also GM's front GVW 4800lbs. Ford's front GVW 6000lbs. BIG DIFFERENCE!!!

[JoeyD]

If you have front end parts wearing out in 12,000 miles your not doing maintance to it.

[Mark Rinker]

Sounds like you've made up your mind. Enjoy!

[Monte22]

No I haven't made up my mind just yet. I just hope and pray things will change soon. That is why I was very disappointed to find out the 07's have not changed. Well maybe 2008 will be the year. The rumor is that they will eventually follow the 1500's and install coil over's. At least with a coil over you can install a heavy coil or air bag. Time will tell. Hopefully GM will answer mine and many others wishes fast. I have one child and another coming and I just cannot put two car seats in a regular cab. Not safe. I need a back seat!

[Mark Rinker]

I am sure you can hang a plow on a crew cab and have a great plow rig. Many have already done it. What are you waiting for?

[Monte22]

Yes you can do anything, but if something goes wrong during the warranty perioed GM will not cover it. The truck has to have a VYU package to be covered under warranty. You plow, you know what it does to a truck, especially commercial plowing. Things break! It is a chance I am not ready to take. Again, this is the issue I have with GM.

[Mark Rinker]

The first plow truck I owned was a 1997 Silverado gasser. Looking back on the first year, it was lucky that I didn't wreck that truck beyond repair. I did almost everything wrong, until my pocketbook (from plow repairs) taught me three things:

1) Slow down;
2) If you are constantly and repetatively backing up and plowing forwards, you probably are plowing the lot inefficiently;
3) Pickup trucks should not be used to pile or stack snow. They are best used for running up windrows. Skidders and end loaders are for stacking.

Since that first learning experience, none of the trucks have had unusual wear and tear, transmission failures, etc.

Now we have more equipment, better operators (myself included) and the right accounts that let us get the time on the clock $$$ without overtaxing our equipment, or making lots of repetative forward/backward motion.

From the amount of repair you are reporting - we are doing something different.

Agreed on the control arm/pitman arm comments. They aren't lasting as long as they should on these trucks. I didn't consider those part of suspension, and have replaced a few.