I know there are a few guys here although I dont see many posts about it or plows in sigs. What do you plow, commercial, personal, resi, comb of some? What do you have in the way of equipment? You a 1 man op, own the biz, sub? I dont want to limit it to duramax guys(John, greg, ect);)

I mostly do comercial, a few resi if I have too. I'm officaily a sub for my dads operation(a few trucks, a few loaders, a few skidsteers, a few salt trucks, side walk crews ect). I run a 9.5' fisher EZ V on my truck.

.......commercial, personal, resi, comb of some.........?

I can get plowed anywhere. Sometimes a may start out in a commercial building and finish getting plowed at a residence. Some days - a combination of both

What do you have in the way of equipment?

Usually just one hand and an ice-cold mug.

You a 1 man op,

Sometimes I drink alone - but I prefer to have the company of others


Jeez.....I hope I didn't misunderstand the meaning of this thread, but my head is a little fussy as I've been "plowing" all night.
:lol: :muahaha: :Nothing_f

On Edit: Uh Oh! :eek: I forgot you where a Mod now! Please don't turn me off "Oh Great One" - Pleeeeeeze - have mercy on my soul :hail: :hail:

Now that is funny right there... I don't care who you are, that's funny...

Ok...6.0 gasser crew with 7.5 MM1 Fisher.( wish I got bigger) I basically do my own properties. 3 Commercial and 2 residential (my house and my parents house). Kind of like it that way in the sense I don't get all the "where the hell are you" calls. I don't even do my relatives and in laws for just that reason.

Watch it.....I have an itchy ban finger:p: ):h

Pro wings can be a nice adition, they also allow easier clean up. The stock rubber edges suck though.

I plow with the 01 and a skid steer, the dually is my "spare" just incase some dumb @#$ breaks the other units. I do about 30 commercial and 5-6 resi. Plow of choice is the Blizzard power plow mdl 810 on the 01 and Skidder and a 8611 lopro on the dually, and then a vee box salter. If anyone needs plow equipment I have several used salters and plows, I update my stuff every year or so, I hate to fix in the middle of the "big one".

I plowed for the last 3 years, sold the plow this year. Had a regular 8ft fisher minute mount. To much of a pain in the a$$ to put on myself. Could never get the dam thing high enough, even with 265s, cranking torsion bars & sand in the back. Just had enough of it, front end parts damage & getting hit by a dump truck this winter.

I run a minute mount 2. Goes on and off easy. Timbrens up front and about 1k in the bed for ballast. front end drops less than 1.5" and it carys it very well(no pogoing ect) I have a feeling it will only improve since I yanked the junk factory shocks. Most of the comercial I have are larger lots and I can get to trucking. Fisher V and the 2500HD have held up like a champ even with how I plow.

Western 8.6 V with Ultramount.

It was on the Dmax I traded. That truck handled it well.

The Dodge also does an excellent job carrying it.

I mainly do private residences on demand but do have a couple small commercial lots. My long driveway dictates either paying someone or owning a plow. I would rather put money into equipment than give it away.

The guy who bought my truck said he was going to put overloads on her and run a Blizzard 10 footer with wings, whatever the hell that is.

Gawd, my truck running a plow....excuse me while I go get sick. -:t

Tom :pig:

BTW, Rat....before your head explodes from too much "Authoritay", just remember you were "LAB RAT" once.....

My Dad has an 8.1 with a Western V-plow, and 2 7.5' Western on a 26 2500 and 81 K20. It’s his self and one other driver pulse a few guys for a walk crew he is still looking for my replacement. I only got to push with the 8.1 a few times it was on h*ll of a pusher. He does a bunch of gas stations and one big commercial lot. He got the plow since he had the trucks and was offered the gas station contract he get a kick out of it. We build the station owners very nice and $$$$$$$$$ home and he and my dad became friends.

i plow aprox. 10-12 driveways and 2 commercial lots , timberans up front and a 8.2 boss v........ awsome combo !!!!! oh...... did i forget , a duramax to compliment it all ):h

the05hd

I didnt forget Tom, I've just been to busy to let my alter ego blow stuff up lately.

I've got a Blizzard 800 on the front of mine. Thinking of trading for an 860 speedwing this year. Plow One large commercial client, a few small lots and a dozen or more driveways.

Fisher 9' minute mount , 94 dodge cummins duelly , timbens all around , 2 yd spreader out back , loaded over 13K . Nine miles town road , two comm. lots and 20 drives . One busy boy when it snows . Roads around here were layed out by goats .Tip for the day ; if you own a plow , own a welder

7'6" western pro. wish it was an 8'

9.2 BOSS V
Residential/Commercial
Salt with a BOSS Tailgate spreader

I'm TLS at the "sites"

ON EDIT: Sorry, it's all in my sig.

heres a real plow!

Only commercial. Hospital/Grocery store, pizza hut, and about 15 office lots.

01 Excursion 7.3 Blizzard 810 snowex 575 spreader

05 GMC 5500 4x4 duramax, 11 steel flatbed 10' Boss V, 5 yard stainless hydro driven swenson spreader

I run the Blizzard 810, 1 st season with it and the polar edge. I was running a MM1 with a U edge.

Western 8' Pro Plow Plus. I plow 9 Wendy's. Also have a Western Salt spreader on the rear hitch. I love the Western Ultra Mount.

Boss 8'2 Vee.

Used to do commerical and some res. for 25yrs. I use it for my own propertys now. Boise dosen't get enough snow to make a business worth it.

Rob

I plow....I plow!!!! :muahaha:

I plow as well, however I run a really old Fisher on an even older GMC k25 with a 5.7 gasser. I do have a question though for all of you that plow with the DMAX, have you had any over heating issues with it? I'm asking as I am looking at getting a DMAX and had heard that the gasser versions do have heating problems with plows. Thanks for any in put on this.

Andrew

I'm asking as I am looking at getting a DMAX and had heard that the gasser versions do have heating problems with plows.

Not when you have the updated fan clutch installed. Could drive cross country with the plow on now. Prior to the clutch being installed, it would overheat in single digit temps in a matter of minutes going any faster than 25mph.

I have an 8' Western Pro Plus.. Timbrens in the front and machine tire in the back filled with concrete and a bent piece or re-bar to get it in and out with the back hoe. I plow for a landscape company as a sub truck - getting $75 an hour, cash. All commercial, The occasional driveway if I am passing by and someone waves me down or the driveway crews are running behind. I do have to say the ultramount is by far the easiest plow to get on and off with one person, takes me about 10 minutes.

There is a ton of info about plows track and everything else at:

http://www.letstalksnow.com/forums/

I drove down the interstate in my 03 with my V blade on with ambiant temps around 50. Much over 80 and she would start to climb, 95 and the temp started rising fast.

When plowing I run my top winter cover(2 peice stainless steel cloud rider) and I still cant get my temp to raise over were it normaly runs in the summer. Only reason I dont run with the grill completely covered is becasue I want air getting to the trans cooler. But with TH and the converter locking mid way through second gear it runs pretty cool anyway.

Greg you dont count becasue you have a slow furd:p: :joke:

Greg you dont count becasue you have a slow furd:p: :joke:

:funnypost Philip:muahaha: :lol: :grd:

i plow aprox. 10-12 driveways and 2 commercial lots , timberans up front and a 8.2 boss v........ awsome combo !!!!! oh...... did i forget , a duramax to compliment it all ):h

the05hd

According to Boss's website you aren't supposed to use ANY of their plows with your cc and the duramax. Have you had any issues? Has anyone else? Any suggestions to avoid overloading front axle gvwr? THANKS!

The GMC "build your own" site will not allow you to combine the automatic climate control and the snow plow prep to a 2500 HD CC w D/A.

Why is this, is it a voltage situation, delicate electronics in the HVAC controls, I have not been able to get an answer out of dealer. They just give me the old sea gull salute and mummble incomprehensibly.

db

First of all, you can only get the Snow Plow Prep with Regular Cab in the D/A.

As for the climate control.....Don't know the answer, but I like having full control over temp, and where its going which is what you get with the manual dual zone HVAC.

I'd just buy the truck you want, it's not available with snow plow prep anyway. The only thing you'll be missing is the dash switch and wires for a roof mounted beacon.

What he said although you may run into more hassels come warantee time depending on the dealer but when it comes down to it they have to prove what ever you did or didnt do casued the problem. But you may have to do some arguing to get stuff that should be fixed fixed. MAY It mostly depends on the dealer

The word i got from the stealer was that you can get the snow plow prep package on the reg cabs and ext cabs. However do to front axle weight ratings they do not suggest that you put a plow on a crew cab model. They suggest that if you did you might void parts of your warrenty. IMHO putting a plow on anything much bigger then an ext cab short bed makes it a RPIA to plow, I plow parking lots and with the idiots in the lots driving and the lack of space even when I was plowing with a reg cab long bed I had to do a lot of multi piont turns to avoid taking out some idiots car.
As far as the additions of the snow plow prep package, supposedly they beef up the front suspention and add the skid plates but you can get most of that stuff as options with out the snow package.

Yes, the only option you cant order would be the roof beacon switch on the dash, and it's wiring to the roof.

The major reason for the restrictions is the possibility of seating six 175lb occupants while plowing....thus, far exceeding the weight capacity when the plow is attached.

They figure 175lb for every seat belt.

A full cab of passengers in a CC LB is surprisingly close to max FAWR.

Thanks Guys,
I appreciate the information, I have purchased the truck already and was hoping to "add-on" or modify the existing parts to make it possible to do some light residential plowing. I know that the truck could probably handle the loads, so long as it was only my "well over 175lb" carcass in the cab. ( who ever came up with 175 as an average? are these guys living in sub-saharan africa!) But I also understand that it might put any repairs back onto my shoulders.

I have done a little more research on the Gm web site, it appears that the plow package also includes a beefier alternator along with what all of you have mentioned. This would make sense, especially if you're running a six-way. Insofar as the roof top warning light, it's all too easy to go to RadShck and pick one up with a 12V male adapter for the cigarette lighter.

The HVAC situation is easily remedied, it has a manual overide. It now appears that my biggest obstacle will be the front axle rating. It just stinks that there is an achilles heel to the capabilities of this truck.

Do I have any other options, besides buying another truck?

You already have the heaviest torsion bars and highest FAWR.

Alternator amp rating all depends on what you have.

I don't know what the '05 D/A's have but the Snowplow prep comes with a single 145A.

You could go with dual alts if you wish.

Yes, most strobe/rotary beacons come with a cigg adapter. Go as BRIGHT as you can go.

So, like I said.....all you are missing (not that you really need it) is the roof mounted beacon switch.

Go out and plow.

Make sure, if your going with just a straight blade, that you get at least an 8' blade. Skip right over the 7.5'ers.

Correct, you have the 4800# front end(the biggest one available). I would recomend a pair of timbrens for up front and running the proper amount of ballast in the back. Those are the only "upgradeds" you should need. Dual alternators may be nice but with my fullsize halogen lightbar and V blade, all the other electrical stuff going like amp for my stereo and the com radio the only time my trucks caharging system cant keep up no problem(and then it recovers fast) is if I start to do a ton of backing ect but then my dual aux 55w back up lights may have something to do with it. With everything running I'm probably drawing enough amps to weld with.....

For a residential rig I would look into a back blade. It will probably increase your productivity quite a bit depending on the types of drives you do. Plus a back blade acts as ballast in itself. I'm also partial to fisher and western V blades. I personaly run a 9.5' fisher V but for what I plow(large comercial) a blizzard 810 woulda made more sense and I wish I went that wroute.

The alternator is a single 105 amp. I would have thought that a diesel would require the larger one, but I am not an engineer. The idea of adding a second 105 is an idea, and it did come as an option, Therefore, I could order the wiring harness from GM and maintain the warantee.

The plowing that I would do is limited to only my family and a few neighbors. That combined with the few snow events that we encounter, makes me think that a big snow blower and a hitch platform carrier may suffice. In the long run, it may be cheaper and less involved then modfying the truck.
Thanks for all of your inputs...

If thats all your doing then you dont need a big blade and there isnt much to modify. IMO a standard duty(not the comercial grade or HD but the regular blade) with a set of pro wings to give you a bit more width and it will make your blade act a bit more like a containment plow. Then run some weight behind the rear axel(called ballast). A regular duty 7.5 with wings will be pretty lite weight. Western makes a good blade and has a pretty nice mount. For what you are talking about the 105 amp alternator will work fine. A snow blower may be a better option for you I duno??? pro wings also have rubber flaps instead of cutting edges so they tend to tear up lawns less if you go a bit over with your edge. Lotsa people put urathane edges on thier wings though becasue the find the rubber to flimsy.

Oh......

letstalksnow.com is a good group of guys and helpfull. You just might need to remind them that your just doing this for yourself, they forget there are people out there just doing a tinny bit and not trying to make money lol They can try and talk guys into huge blizzard blades or the benifit of using loaders lol

Well I understand where your guys are coming from, I used to work at hospital where one of my duties was to plow the parking lots. They had the Boss and pro boss plows there. (those v's sure make containment nice!)
I was just hoping that the experience that I had there could be used to save me from buying more of the heater wraps this winter. It seems that no matter what option that I look at, it's going to cost me. It just depends on how much pain I want to deal with, and how long it will last....

Correct, you have the 4800# front end(the biggest one available). I would recomend a pair of timbrens for up front and running the proper amount of ballast in the back. Those are the only "upgradeds" you should need. Dual alternators may be nice but with my fullsize halogen lightbar and V blade, all the other electrical stuff going like amp for my stereo and the com radio the only time my trucks caharging system cant keep up no problem(and then it recovers fast) is if I start to do a ton of backing ect but then my dual aux 55w back up lights may have something to do with it. With everything running I'm probably drawing enough amps to weld with.....

For a residential rig I would look into a back blade. It will probably increase your productivity quite a bit depending on the types of drives you do. Plus a back blade acts as ballast in itself. I'm also partial to fisher and western V blades. I personaly run a 9.5' fisher V but for what I plow(large comercial) a blizzard 810 woulda made more sense and I wish I went that wroute.
I can help you with that- trade taken LOL You have mail

Where can I get timbermans? I have a 2500HD crew diesel. Besides cranking up the t-bars any other suggestions? Do I need to add another alternator? Do I need skid plates? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Timbrens are available from a LOT of sources. Do a web search, or see your local speed shop.

You don't NEED skidplates.

You don't NEED another alternator.

what he said ^

I got mine from awdirect.com, there are a ton of sources. your plow dealer should be able to get em too. Just need em for the front. Easy 30 minute job to install.

I plow a few drives and 2 commercial lots, But now I need a new plow for my CC, anyone got one for sale?

Were you at? new or used? blizzardplowman has some

I would recomend if buying new to get it local. Buy based on dealer service as apposed to the ultimate cheapest price IMO

I plow a little residential and a little commercial.

WESTERN 7.6 POLY PRO
ULTRA MOUNT
TIMBRENS
1K BALLAST
FOLGERS COFFEE !!!!!!
:exactly:

Were you at? new or used? blizzardplowman has some

I would recomend if buying new to get it local. Buy based on dealer service as apposed to the ultimate cheapest price IMO

I'm located in Springfield IL, Anywhere in Central Il you recommend?

oh.....right in my area! I live in spr but go to peoria bout ever weekend and thats were all my plowing is.

I bought my stuff from keonig or how ever you spell it in peoria. Talk to Greg Keys if you call them and tell him Philip Blackburn sent you that way.

If your going to be doing this for $$$ you need to be able to get your stuff back up and running NOW if you have a problem. Dealer service is very important. Alot of times you will get stuck at the bottom of the repair list if you didnt buy from the co. I think drakes and scrugs sells down in spr? When shopping for a plow first pick out a dealers service IMO even if you pay a bit more for the blade. This isnt as critical if you are just doing stuff for yourself but plowing snow is all about providing excellent service and you cant do that if your crap is broke!

What kinda plowing ect do you plan on doing? Or do you already have accounts?

If you ever have a breakdown ect or need help bailed out leme know. Its good to have a few people to be able to take on your stuff so your customers get serviced if you run into probs. Have a back up plan!

My dad has a 9' Heavy Duty Fischer plow on his one ton Dmax/ZF6 mason dump. He mostly does residential but very few now because he doesn't like putting the stress and wear on the truck like he did with the old dump truck. Those V-plows are probably really nice on the highway, trying going down the highway with a 9' plow isn't good because you either catch the wind with the plow straight or the truck wants to pull to one side with the plow angled. Oh well we it's very rare that my dad needs to do any highway driving with the plow on anyway so it's not a big deal for him.

Here comes sunshine!

http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/ChevyHD4x4/110736.jpg

7'6" Boss Straight Blade...for personal use,and clean the apartment buildings my father owns.

Sold the plow when we got one of these.

Nice site guys. I push with ALL my trucks. If they can't make me money, they do me no good! :-)

forgot to add pictures way back..
http://chtucker.home.bresnan.net/DSCN0857.JPG
http://chtucker.home.bresnan.net/lunch1.jpg
http://chtucker.home.bresnan.net/sidesnow.jpg (http://chtucker.home.bresnan.net/sidesnow.jpg)

Those pics look familiar;)

Hows she been doing? Any problems?

Chtucker...hate to ask but those pictures are from last year right?

Yes and Yes... Truck has been doing awesome, it has been driven just a bit this summer, it was sent out as a wildland fire truck. NO PROBLEMS..

The pictures where from last season, but it did snow here today, and thats what made me antsy and I poseted some pictures. I live at 10,000 feet above sea level.

Howard

The pictures where from last season, but it did snow here today, and thats what made me antsy and I poseted some pictures. I live at 10,000 feet above sea level.

Howard
Howard- not Fair although I can wait a little while for the white stuff, still haven't got my new blade installed, to busy doing everyone elses.

What are you doing over here Howard??:lol: :muahaha:

What are you doing over here Howard??:lol: :muahaha:

Other than over WHERE?? :rolleyes:

What are you doing over here Howard??:lol: :muahaha:

Dunno might have something to do with the Dmax and you):h???

I was wondering if anyone has a picture of what the frame mount looks like for a Blizzard plow on a 2003 chevy 2500hd. I thinking of getting a 800 model.

I was wondering if anyone has a picture of what the frame mount looks like for a Blizzard plow on a 2003 chevy 2500hd. I thinking of getting a 800 model.
Doing an install on a 05 in 2 weeks, but FWIW you do cut plastic or like I do knotch the plastic- look a lot better. I can send my 01 but the 05 is back to stock a waiting the 06.

I've got a Blizzard 800 on the front of mine. Thinking of trading for an 860 speedwing this year. Plow One large commercial client, a few small lots and a dozen or more driveways.

I'm thinking of putting a Blizzard 800 on my 2500hd. Did you put timbrens on the front, or was the front suspension ok with the weight of the plow?

I'm thinking of putting a Blizzard 800 on my 2500hd. Did you put timbrens on the front, or was the front suspension ok with the weight of the plow?
adjust t-bars and align front end- good to go:D

And proper ballast ;)

And proper ballast ;)


How much ballast do you have to carry. I figure I would leave the fifth wheel hitch in.:cool:

general rule of thumb I like is put the weight of your plow behind the rear tires. Some plows you dont "technicly" need the ballast to make your FAWR legal but ballast makes life sooooo much easier and safer. 90% of the time I'm in 2wd also. You got a 2500HD, it dont mid weight :cool: I run with bout 1000#'s behind the rear tires. Works great.

Most important thing with ballast is to make sure its not going to go flying about and will stay put. Even bags of sand will get a bit wet and turn into blocks and can do some damage, especially if you wreck your truck :eek:

IIRC 800 blizzards are about 800# plows? Actually even a few hundered#s or so would work alright.

Most important thing with ballast is to make sure its not going to go flying about and will stay put. Even bags of sand will get a bit wet and turn into blocks and can do some damage, especially if you wreck your truck :eek:

IIRC 800 blizzards are about 800# plows? Actually even a few hundered#s or so would work alright.

Blizzard says 500# FWIW

how much do the 800's weight? I thought they would be in the 7-8 range? Figured 300-400 would be adequate? Hmmmmm.....when in doubt listen to the manufacture or an expert installer :D

Ratlover do you have a plow? Or a new truck for that matter?

Grady,

He's all setup with a new LBZ reg cab.

Right now I believe he's still running his 9.5V from the old truck, while a new 810 Blizzard is waiting in the wings for a switch.

i have my own personal truck, its a 98 chevy 2500 W/t, 6.5L w/ a snowaway plow and a meyer spreader.
The company i work for has a total of 32 plow trucks (2 F550's, 1 F450, 5 chevy 3500 dump trucks, 2 GMC dump trucks, and the rest are F250's) and the oldest ones are from 00`. On most of them they are running Westerns (F250's and one chevy) and then 2 have snowaways (2 chevy's) and the rest have meyer's. I'm a western fan, but this next big storm i want to use my buddy's blizzard to see how them wings work! The truck i use for the company is one of the F550's.

Grady,

He's all setup with a new LBZ reg cab.

Right now I believe he's still running his 9.5V from the old truck, while a new 810 Blizzard is waiting in the wings for a switch.

Yup, got the blizzard switched over. Have some more stuff to do before she is 100% ready but she is pushing snow. Deflector for the blizzard and double up its power and ground cord, make my headach rack and mount my lightbar, all the wiring for it and such, bedliner, new ballast idea/recovery point plus I need to finish switching the 9.5 over to the 91 we have and getting it set up :eyecrazy: Good thing I will be on "vacation" from my real job from end of this week till after the first :rolleyes:

I finally got mine mounted:clap:

heres a real plow!

What ya gonna do with that little dirt scratcher?