When I research snow plow application it seems the crew cab/dmax uses most of the available axle. I did not plan on driving a crew around when it snows. Does the crew cab really matter with just a driver? Any experience out there?

my c/c holds my plow fine...

Mine 2, just don't forget to add weight in the rear.

Not to highjack your thread mkasselman, but while we are on the subject of snow plows, my buddy wants to put a 6" RCD suspension lift on his '01 2500HD Crew Cab. He has a Fisher Minute Mount already installed. Does anyone know what kind of fabrication he has to do to lower his blade once he installs the lift kit and 35" tires? Thanks, Bob

It would probably be easier to try and lower the minute mount mounts down the amount of the total lift, I am referring to the two mounting horns that are bolted to the truck. The other way would be to lengthen the frame between where it attaches to the truck and the plow angle rams, could be a lot of work though. If you try and do it by just lengthening the chain the frame angle will be too steep and the plow could try and fold under if you hit something the trip edge can not "trip" over. Minute mounts are ok with small lifts, less than 3".

When I ordered my truck I could not get the plow package on because of the crew cab. If you do put a plow on a CC you WILL have warrenty issues because you went over thier weight limit, unless you take off the mounting brackets every time you take it in like taking off the power inhancments.
There is a safety factor in these trucks for any additional weight it may see during driving so you could get by with one on like the others, but I personly have never liked putting a plow on an independant suspension, the front tires start to angle inwards on the top after lots of driving.

When you use a plow on a truck that is lifted high you start to change the function of the plow by throwing over and forward, you also loose a lot of force by being on top of the snow insted of in front of it like it is designed. It looks good but not functional. There are also laws about bumper hight as well as plow hight so by installing a plow on a lifted truck it will put you plow lights up so high that may condlict with the law and blind people.
Bertram65 suggestion should work for the most part if you really want to put it on a lifted truck.

I pretty much went through this about 4 months ago, and reluctantly bought a gasser. The D/A combo did not have the plow package and I did not feel like being at the dealers mercy if something broke. Hopefully this will change w/ GM. It did with the "other" Big 2.

Dmaxallitech,

How big is the plow you have on your c/c? Curious in that all I've been able to get anybody to even think about is a 7 footer. Thanks.

One other thing to mention is the Allison. I have not plowed anything with the Allison but just backing up in my truck with it, I feel the Allison is not the set up you would want for plowing. There is a little hessitation and the gearing is lower so you don't have the speed for large lots. For a GM tranny the 80 or the 400t would be the best bet in my opinion.

I believe that Duramax trucks already have some components that are included in snow plow prep package such as increased FAWR (4800#) due to larger torsion bars, correct?

I think it will be fine to put a plow on crew cab as long as its only you (and maybe one passgener) riding in there. Be sure to put plenty of ballast in the rear. Don't just put enough to counterbalance the plow, but also to give some weights for the rear tires too! I prefer sand tubes because they are easy to load on and off when needed, and if you ever get stuck you can open a bag and use it to get some traction. Also safer than cinder blocks or firewood should you ever had to make a sudden stop.

On last note, I do not know for sure if Duramax comes with larger alternator that is included in snowplow prep package for gasser. If not, you would want to think about upgrading to larger alternator, or even better go with dual alternator setup. You get alot of outputs that will be able to keep up with your plow and accessories. Also if should ever one of alternator went out, you still have the other one running.

Also, akdiesel is correct. I always have heard from D/A plowers that Allison reverse gearing is so low it is taking them forever to back up the truck when plowing their accounts. Might want to re-think about that if you got some large commercial accounts. Maybe ZF would be better choice but only as long as GM get the flywheel problem fixed for sure.

I heard of the Allison thing too...and I mostly plow commercial...

Hey, just looking for a little input. Current truck is 01 6.0 gasser. I have always thought that with my larger tires reverse was to high in my current truck(tranny temps run a little hot). So I plow in LO. In my setting LO doesn't cause me a problem. I have been waiting for some good incentives, or % rate and I will be in a LLY. Not real cracked about changing during plowing season, but we went from 12 inches on the ground to 58 degrees today.

Here is my question, or maybe a comment. I would suspect that with the low reverse gearing of the allison, it would be similiar to to my 4L80E in reverse LO. Anybody know, or have you made the change from a gasser to a Dmax.


thanks

If you plow in low range, I'm sure the Allison will be quicker in reverse. I don't plow in low range,but I do know that low range reverse is pretty slow...