Chevy just doesn't get it. I was on Chevy's web site (click on snow plow):http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/silveradohd.do

A 2011 year 2500 Reg cab can carry a full size plow that weighs 1,000lbs. This is OK. Yet a 2011 3500 extended cab dually can only carry a plow that weighs 725 lbs. A 2011 3500 crew cab can only carry a plow that weighs 700lbs. Every plow you would put on a truck this big weighs about 800-1100lbs. Especially if you get into a V-plow or a plow with retractable blades on it. They need to up the ratings for the bigger trucks. They up the rear suspension on a 3500 vs. a 2500. Why not up the front suspension too?

A dually needs a wider plow than a single rear wheel truck. So right off the bat a dually should be rated more than a single rear wheel truck. Why would they rate a 2500 more than a 3500? Any dually truck needs a 8'-6" plow. Now if I go with a cab and chassis truck I'd probably want a 9'-6" plow if i had a 8 foot wide bed on it. Thats about 1000-1100lbs when the truck will be rated at 725 lbs or 700lbs. Did they not not do the math? Now I realize they don't mention cab and chassis trucks but historically the ratings have been the same or at least close to it once the truck is upfitted with a body.

What was the point in uping the front and rear payload capacity of these truck if they still can't carry a plow? That was pointless!!!!!!

I was all excited to order a new truck so I could actually plow with my supposedly "heavy duty diesel truck". What is so heavy duty about a diesel truck that you can't even put a plow on it? Both Ford and Doge make it happen why can't Chevy?

their front axle rating is the same as ford. So any plow you can safely put on a ford you can put on a duramax.

Im guessing there is a mis-print somewhere. With a 6,000lb front end on the 3500 I cant see how the front end "curb" weight is 5,250lbs..... (leaving room for only a 750lb plow)

I hope your correct.

I hope your correct.

Well........you know what they say about hope.......you hope in one hand and s**t in the other and wait until which one fills first.......LOL

Well........you know what they say about hope.......you hope in one hand and s**t in the other and wait until which one one fills first.......LOL


Man, Im suprise with you LW. I was hoping you would have mention that the Duramax needs a SFA so we will can carry the front plow in style

Shawn

Man, Im suprise with you LW. I was hoping you would have mention that the Duramax needs a SFA so we will can carry the front plow in style

Shawn

I would have but the pacifiers would have come out in droves..... they know who they are.....LOL

Its like beating your head against a wall with this plow situation. I want to see what is going to happen when someone pulls up with a 9.5 western or 9.2 boss hanging off the front of a 2500/3500 DMAX LB CC, with a broken control arm or a tie rod or anything up front. I guarantee the first words out of there mouth are, "That plow is above the rating for this truck". I will feel sorry for that person and for the service writer, when the customer is done chewing him a new ass for following the so called guidelines.

I thought there were several "different" torsion bar setups you could get to customize the load capacity of the front end? Not that I know much about the LML, but I'm pretty sure I read that in a press release. So the website might not be updated with new info, heck on the post here with the dual-turbo on an LML, that is/was information that is wrong. Originally a 2 turbo setup was being designed but Chapter 11 changed that. So if GM can have that information wrong to a dealer order, a load capacity could easily be wrong. Chris

I agree 100%. We will not have exact info until they hit the lot, or someone releases a job/build sheet online for all to see.

I agree 100%. We will not have exact info until they hit the lot, or someone releases a job/build sheet online for all to see.


And still, an order/build sheet was posted on line and showed a 3500 duallie with "dual turbo" LML. Try explaining that to the customer thinking he's/she's getting and 2 turbo LML. Chris

All valid points.

Look at it this way. At the bottom of the chart (more ledgible in the pdf) it states the weights are based on all standard and optional equipment on the vehicle and an average weight of 150lbs per occupant. The weights (700 for CCLB) is that with the total number of occupants the vehicle can hold. With 6 people at 150lbs each, you can put 700lbs on it. Take away 5 and hang anything. There math seems right.

Look at it this way. At the bottom of the chart (more ledgible in the pdf) it states the weights are based on all standard and optional equipment on the vehicle and an average weight of 150lbs per occupant. The weights (700 for CCLB) is that with the total number of occupants the vehicle can hold. With 6 people at 150lbs each, you can put 700lbs on it. Take away 5 and hang anything. There math seems right.

VERY good point! :) :cool:

I totally missed that part.

ben

With 6 people at 150lbs each, you can put 700lbs on it. Take away 5 and hang anything. There math seems right.

No. At the bottom it says "150 lbs. for each driver and one additional front-seat occupant."

their front axle rating is the same as ford. So any plow you can safely put on a ford you can put on a duramax...With a 6,000lb front end on the 3500 I cant see how the front end "curb" weight is 5,250lbs..... (leaving room for only a 750lb plow)

The front axle rating might be the same as Ford, but the curb weight is probably not the same. So you can't just assume that if it goes on a Ford that it'll go on a Chevy. Also, you can't just subtract the plow weight from the FAWR to get the "curb weight." For example, a Blizzard 810 weighs 964 pounds, but adds 1,390 pounds to the front end of a 2006 CCSB Duramax. Every truck configuration is different.

To the OP, I see your frustration. Keep in mind a few points: First, the numbers you are looking at are really for "permanent / removable equipment," and make no consideration for ballast. Second, see above where I explain that a plow puts considerably more weight on the axle than it's own weight. Third, consider that plow weights are also restricted by payload and/or GVWR limitations.

Now, what does this all mean? Say you have a 2011 CCLB DRW with the Duramax/Allison. Say the curb weight is 4620/3150 = 7780. The ratings are 6000/9375/13000. Put on a Blizzard 810 and your front end weight goes up to 5948. Add a skid of salt, or a spreader filled with bulk salt (~2400lb) and your front end weight goes down to 5786. It's not that these trucks got stronger and maintained the same plow recommendations, it's that we abused the old design and constantly went over the FAWR by 10 or 12+ percent and got away with it.

If you want a more technical analysis on your specific application, or want to know the weights on a possible purchase, shoot me a PM and I can give you more scenarios, with the real physics behind it.

the ford's are all heavier in curb weight, thats why/how I figured any plow/ballast setup that works on a ford would work on a 2011 GM no?? :confused:

THIS IS exactly the issue that drove me into a 2008 F-350. Ridiculous from GM!

THIS IS exactly the issue that drove me into a 2008 F-350. Ridiculous from GM!


They have the same front GVW so they will have the same issue's.

In all reality, trucks used for frequent/commercial plowing are going to be regular cab long box config. most places wont spring to put a Diesel in them. Just leaves the Diesel loving nuts we call ourselves that put these plows on CC LB DMAX

From reading on GM's web-site, the gasser doesn't even get the heavy front end, figure that out, the trucks that plow are reg. cab 6.0 gas. GM better get a clue!

they will never get a clue. just the way that they are.

From reading on GM's web-site, the gasser doesn't even get the heavy front end, figure that out, the trucks that plow are reg. cab 6.0 gas. GM better get a clue!

The plow prep package will automatically upgrade the FAGR to 6,000 lb, for gas and diesel engines.

listen to the guy around 1min 10sec talk about putting a plow on any of their 4X4 modles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfTV86Fkh9s&feature=related

He says you can put a snowplow on any truck, not any snowplow.

Don't forget, even though the front of a Ford or Dodge may weigh more because of the added weight of a big heavy SFA, that SFA is all unsprung weight. The biggest problem with GM and snowplows is whenever you talk to someone running a Chevy with a plow they say "yeah, no problem I just had to crank these, and add these timbrens or airbags, and add these shocks, and shock spacers...." etc. It may not be a big deal to a dedicated GM fan or backyard mechanic but, the majority of customers who need a work truck or plow truck don't want to hear that crap. If you buy a Ford and want to put a plow on it, you put a plow on it, the end. When they buy the truck from the dealer or go to the plow installer the smart customer wants to hear "no problem sir, the manufacturer says your $50+k truck can handle any plow you want to run". This is why 9 out of 10 landscapers and contractors in New England run Fords. They plow in the winter, and don't really care who built their truck as long as they can put a plow on it without having to "modify" anything or worry about voiding any warranties. Whether it's accurate or not the consensus among most commercial HD 4x4 truck customers is the GM front end is weak and this plays right into the hands of Ford. For those who have been in denial and arguing for all these years that the GM front end is not inferior when it comes to strength, GM's own "beefed up" front end, "snow plow ready" campaign that they are using to sell the 2011s basically confirms that since 1988 till at least 2010 the HD 4x4 front end had been trash when it comes to heavy use.

Thats all good and well but I can tell you in Indiana everyone runs Chevy trucks, they all go to the plow dealer to get blades put on them and the torsion bars are maxed with a impact at the same time, the customer never knows the difference. It has been like this since these things came out in '88. The IFS has been a good set-up that has held up well with the lowest upkeep cost of the big three, I welcome the upgrade. It will be nice to see if it makes a difference. Not saying I wouldn't rather have a beef Dana 60...

I am with you SMILLER. :D Mike

The problem isn't the front axle's weight rating, its the frame's strength. The dmax weighs too much. The 6.0 trucks are rated for a heavier plow than the dmax trucks are. There's a 2010 at the dealer near me with 1/16" door gap at the top and 1/4" at the bottom. Bent frame from a light hit while plowing. I heard all about it, several times now. Its sickening IMO.

The problem isn't the front axle's weight rating, its the frame's strength. The dmax weighs too much. The 6.0 trucks are rated for a heavier plow than the dmax trucks are. There's a 2010 at the dealer near me with 1/16" door gap at the top and 1/4" at the bottom. Bent frame from a light hit while plowing. I heard all about it, several times now. Its sickening IMO.

If you do that much damage while plowing, you're going way too fast. The biggest problem with the existing frame has been cracking at the rear of the UCA mount. GM knew about this in 2001 and started adding gusset plates to some of the trucks, but I have only seen a few out there with them.

The new line in 2011 has an all new frame design that is fully boxed, from front to rear. No more c-channel and transitions - at least they did that right.

They have the same front GVW so they will have the same issue's. I don't think so?


GM STILL has not wised up?!?!?
Check out the plow manufacture web sites. When I was looking (back then) NONE of the manufactures had an installation kit for the 2008 DMAX 2500 or 3500 crew cab diesel. They ALL said: Plow exceeds front axle GAWR (or words to that effect). I do not believe that the diesels or crew cabs needed a different mounting kit than the other trucks, I presumed the frames are the same, but the plow manufactures would't assume the liability. All the plow dealers would mount one for me, but every one said add the timbrens or some other beef up. No such nonsene for the Ford. I have carried and stil carry a Fisher on my 1994 yukon diesel and plow moderately with it. Since I do mostly driveways, curbs are a way of life. That truck NEVER complained and carries that plow PROUDLY! I still don't and probably never will understand why GM sacrificed a carrying capacity for a little (probably not noticable) difference in the ride. If it wasn't for that issue, I would have had a 2008 LMMinstead of the F-350 (that I love anyway)

If you do that much damage while plowing, you're going way too fast. The biggest problem with the existing frame has been cracking at the rear of the UCA mount. GM knew about this in 2001 and started adding gusset plates to some of the trucks, but I have only seen a few out there with them.

The new line in 2011 has an all new frame design that is fully boxed, from front to rear. No more c-channel and transitions - at least they did that right.

Actually, the crack at the rear of the UCA has been happening since 1988 on GM plow trucks. Very common on municipal rigs.

Really, the cracks only seem to happen if you beat on your truck like it owes you money, or just an extremely long time of carrying a very heavy plow. There is a guy on plowsite with a 1 ton SRW chev that he cracked the frame on. He runs a 9'2 boss V with wings, probably around 1100lbs worth of plow, so somebody do the math to what the actual weight on the front end is, probably close to 1800lbs. He has a thread about this, and mentions how after he added the braces to his control arm mounts, he hasn't had the problem since. He lives in alaska so you can imagine the amount of use his truck gets snowplowing.

I bought an 88 gmc half ton with 200,000 miles off my neighbor (back in 2005), and after that many miles and years of his workers beating the snot out of it with a 7'6 western unimount (about 750lbs) the frame was still fine. Keeping in mind this was a half ton. This particular one wasn't braced, so I guess a bit of luck was involved.

My point being they are very tough for what they are rated as, just put the control arm braces on if you plan on using it like that.

If you do that much damage while plowing, you're going way too fast. The biggest problem with the existing frame has been cracking at the rear of the UCA mount. GM knew about this in 2001 and started adding gusset plates to some of the trucks, but I have only seen a few out there with them.

The new line in 2011 has an all new frame design that is fully boxed, from front to rear. No more c-channel and transitions - at least they did that right.

The frames were cracking in the front boxed sections not the c channel though.

I don't think so?


GM STILL has not wised up?!?!?
Check out the plow manufacture web sites. When I was looking (back then) NONE of the manufactures had an installation kit for the 2008 DMAX 2500 or 3500 crew cab diesel. They ALL said: Plow exceeds front axle GAWR (or words to that effect). I do not believe that the diesels or crew cabs needed a different mounting kit than the other trucks, I presumed the frames are the same, but the plow manufactures would't assume the liability. All the plow dealers would mount one for me, but every one said add the timbrens or some other beef up. No such nonsene for the Ford. I have carried and stil carry a Fisher on my 1994 yukon diesel and plow moderately with it. Since I do mostly driveways, curbs are a way of life. That truck NEVER complained and carries that plow PROUDLY! I still don't and probably never will understand why GM sacrificed a carrying capacity for a little (probably not noticable) difference in the ride. If it wasn't for that issue, I would have had a 2008 LMMinstead of the F-350 (that I love anyway)

My point about the front axle rating was that it's the same as the Fords, 6000lb. No matter what the rating is you need to weigh the truck and see whats left over. This will tell you what plow you can run by the books anyways.

Sorry but I didn't read the whole thread. I've owned 6 Dmaxes, 3 have been Crew Cabs and all have carried V plows, plowing commercially and I never had an issue. Beat the f#@k out of your truck, turn it into a pos then blame GM b/c it couldn't handle the polw they said not to put on it, well you see where I'm going with this...........

Also, plows don't weigh as much as you think. IIRC, my Western MVP's are just over 900lbs. Giving a 1k rating is actually pretty generous on the new trucks, especially when they used to say no plow at all. Also you know they under rate them vs what they can actually handle. Before my truck was lifted, plow up in v mode, my front end weighed 5,640. That leaves plenty of room for the new 6k rating IMHO.

Now onto plow weights a bit more. If a 7'6" pro plow weighs roughly 700lbs, an 8' weighs about 25lbs more, an 8'6" that much more and so on give or take. I don't know exactly, but the width doesn't really add much weight. It's the amount of snow they can push is what they're rated vehicle specific for. Power plows, well obviously they weigh more. A new Dmax dually will easily be able to handle the weight of a 9' plow. They do already now.

Lastly, who would actually show up to the dealer for warranty work with the blade ON the truck? Especially if you're worried about them voiding it. Even if the truck had to be towed in, drop the plow elsewhere first. It would be worth the hassle.

Sorry but I didn't read the whole thread. I've owned 6 Dmaxes, 3 have been Crew Cabs and all have carried V plows, plowing commercially and I never had an issue. Beat the f#@k out of your truck, turn it into a pos then blame GM b/c it couldn't handle the polw they said not to put on it, well you see where I'm going with this...........

Also, plows don't weigh as much as you think. IIRC, my Western MVP's are just over 900lbs. Giving a 1k rating is actually pretty generous on the new trucks, especially when they used to say no plow at all. Also you know they under rate them vs what they can actually handle. Before my truck was lifted, plow up in v mode, my front end weighed 5,640. That leaves plenty of room for the new 6k rating IMHO.

Now onto plow weights a bit more. If a 7'6" pro plow weighs roughly 700lbs, an 8' weighs about 25lbs more, an 8'6" that much more and so on give or take. I don't know exactly, but the width doesn't really add much weight. It's the amount of snow they can push is what they're rated vehicle specific for. Power plows, well obviously they weigh more. A new Dmax dually will easily be able to handle the weight of a 9' plow. They do already now.

Lastly, who would actually show up to the dealer for warranty work with the blade ON the truck? Especially if you're worried about them voiding it. Even if the truck had to be towed in, drop the plow elsewhere first. It would be worth the hassle.

X2, and when it is done snowing, take your plow off! In my opinion, majority of the damage is not done plowing, it is done when people drive around on dry roads or highways?? without taking it off. When it is done snowing and you finish a route, take it off. It takes 60 seconds.

I thought there were several "different" torsion bar setups you could get to customize the load capacity of the front end? Not that I know much about the LML, but I'm pretty sure I read that in a press release. So the website might not be updated with new info, heck on the post here with the dual-turbo on an LML, that is/was information that is wrong. Originally a 2 turbo setup was being designed but Chapter 11 changed that. So if GM can have that information wrong to a dealer order, a load capacity could easily be wrong. Chris


With the snow plow prep package there are five settings you can adjust dependong the weight of the plow. Getting it for thr brushgard gonna put on ordering mine tomorrow!!!

With the snow plow prep package there are five settings you can adjust dependong the weight of the plow. Getting it for thr brushgard gonna put on ordering mine tomorrow!!!

The "settings" you are talking about are actually factory configurations. Just like there are multiple torsion bars for the existing line of trucks, e.g. GH, WZ, GK, GL and XG. They're not changing anything other than the torsion bar capacity. So, if you order a CC/SB with the 6.0L and no "plow prep" option, you will get a 4,400 lb front end setup, if you add the LML you bump up to 5,200 lb. If you get the CC/SB with LML and plow prep, thats when you get the 6,000 lb FAWR.

There are no end-user configurations other than swapping out torsion bars just like we've done for the past 22 years.

EDIT: Any engine configuration with the plow prep automatically puts you at 6,000 lb FAWR - thats all there is to it.

Sorry but I didn't read the whole thread. I've owned 6 Dmaxes, 3 have been Crew Cabs and all have carried V plows, plowing commercially and I never had an issue. Beat the f#@k out of your truck, turn it into a pos then blame GM b/c it couldn't handle the polw they said not to put on it, well you see where I'm going with this...........

Also, plows don't weigh as much as you think. IIRC, my Western MVP's are just over 900lbs. Giving a 1k rating is actually pretty generous on the new trucks, especially when they used to say no plow at all. Also you know they under rate them vs what they can actually handle. Before my truck was lifted, plow up in v mode, my front end weighed 5,640. That leaves plenty of room for the new 6k rating IMHO.

Now onto plow weights a bit more. If a 7'6" pro plow weighs roughly 700lbs, an 8' weighs about 25lbs more, an 8'6" that much more and so on give or take. I don't know exactly, but the width doesn't really add much weight. It's the amount of snow they can push is what they're rated vehicle specific for. Power plows, well obviously they weigh more. A new Dmax dually will easily be able to handle the weight of a 9' plow. They do already now.

Lastly, who would actually show up to the dealer for warranty work with the blade ON the truck? Especially if you're worried about them voiding it. Even if the truck had to be towed in, drop the plow elsewhere first. It would be worth the hassle.


The 700lb rating is directly off of the Chevy website. I did not calculate this rating. This is what Chevy lists on the page. It literally says 700lbs. So a 900lb MVP may void the warranty. I'll admit I know nothing about MVP plows. However, a 9'-6" Fisher V-plow weighs a little over 1,000 lbs (it's on their website). My truck utility bed is 8ft wide. The Fischer 9'-6" V plow is 8'-3" when angled. So it doesnt make sense to go with a smaller plow. If you plow with a smaller plow on an 8ft wide utility bed the rear boxes will get crushed against snow & ice when you make a sharp turn because the boxes sit so low. I too have plowed (with many older trucks) and never had a problem. Problems arrise when you have employees driving plow trucks. It's the employees that beat on the trucks and break the truck. However I'm not going to void a warranty on a $65K truck setup. As my local service manager pointed out, if you were to blow your tranny, suspension, or something else Gm would blame it on the plow even though we all know the extra 200lbs is not the cause. My newest truck doesnt have a plow on it. It's had it's fair share of axle problems that Gm won't fix (thats another story). Putting a plow on it would just give them another excuse not to fix it. Maybe a Dmax can handle a plow but I wouldn't say a Dmax front end can handle the weight of a 9' plow easily. The gas trucks don't even handle them well. On the gassers the truck frames nearly bottom out. With the blade turned all the way to one side driving down the road the blade scrapes the ground over any bumps. And thats with timbrens installed. Those of you that plow with these truck know exactly what I'm talking about. Now add the 600-800lbs (or whatever) of a diesel motor to that.

I don't know of anyone that drives around with their plow on their truck when its not snowing. Obviously drop the plow. What about the plow frame? The mechanic will know when a plow has been installed on a truck. Its easy to tell once the truck is on a lift, even if you take the plow frame off. Not to mention all the wiring.

The way I read into it, you need to be under the FGAWR of 6,000 lbs and your plow can't weigh more than 700lbs on a Crew Cab 4x4 long bed, 725lbs on a 4x4 Xtended Cab, or 875lbs on a 4x4 Reg Cab. I didnt make these calculations. They are listed on Chevy's website.

Any 3500 truck configuration should have a higher rating than any 2500 truck. Thats just wrong when a 2500 front end can carry more than a 3500. Almost all of the 2500's are rated higher than all of the 3500's.

Why cant you put a V plow on Chevy/ Gmc we have been plowing with Boss plows on our Gms since 1992 with no front end trouble , who tells u u cant put a V plow on a Gm they are crazy

THE ONLY NUMBERS YOU NEED TO GO BY ARE THE ONES ON THE DOOR STICKER FOR FAWR :eek:

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is with everybody on this thread. If you have a CC/SB 2500HD with the LML, maxed out on options, tool box, and junk, you'll probably going to scale in at 4,400 lb on the front. If you hang a Blizzard 810 Power Plow that weighs 1071 lb on the front end, its still going to be less than 6,000 lb (5,789 lb to be exact) - and that's with no ballast!!! Add a skid of salt or a V-Box, and you're down to 5,560 lb on the front.

What's the big deal? If GM denies your claim, load up the truck and go to a certified scale with the service manager to prove that you're still under the FAWR.

All that junk on the website is for advertising - the "5 torsion bar configurations," the "700 lb." plow number, etc.

If anybody needs numbers ran for an exact scenario or you are unsure about weight distributions, let me know and I will run the numbers for your truck and plow.

It comes down to whats Chevy going to do if I need something warrantied? They are advertising 6,000lb rating. But when you look closer their fine print list 700lb-875 maximums. It's a way for them to get out of a warranty repair. Gm loves to search for ways out of major warranty repairs. Balast doesnt do a utility truck any good. I'm already tipping the scales at 10,200- 10,500. With a plow I'll be close to being maxed out. Balast really is only good for trucks with no weight in the rear such as a pickup or flatbed.

They are advertising 6,000lb rating. But when you look closer their fine print list 700lb-875 maximums.

Show me where the "fine print" specifically lists 700-875 lb maximums...

I don't see what the big deal is anyways, most warranty claims related to snow plowing have nothing to do with the plow being too heavy. It's funny how we've all adapted and gotten comfortable putting 1,000+ lb plows on our trucks, with minimal problems - and now GM comes out with a 6,000 lb axle and everybody freaks out and is afraid to put a plow on. Haha!

There should be a link on my first post. Scroll down to features and specs. Click on Snow Plow.

I wouldn't worry too much about putting a plow on these trucks. The front facia is so low it will be its own plow.

You cant get a snow plow prep package and a sun roof BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You cant get a snow plow prep package and a sun roof BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Come on, you are joking, right?

A very good reason for the smaller weight rating on the bigger trucks like a cclb or cclb dually is the fact that GM put on about 700lbs just on the frame alone.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rrmOeq-LKA

Come on, you are joking, right?

I wish I was they said something about the wiring for a beacon.

I wish I was they said something about the wiring for a beacon.

x2...and the sunroof would hit the beacon, and it would hit the wiring when it slides back.

Stupid yes, but it is a legit reason if you think about it. ;) (no sunroof available with the plow prep)

How about the plow package comes with a headache rack with a beacon mounted on it. I mean WTF, these things are already pushing almost $60k. Whats another few hundred? Then we can have our sun roof and plow package in the same truck :).

How about the plow package comes with a headache rack with a beacon mounted on it. I mean WTF, these things are already pushing almost $60k. Whats another few hundred? Then we can have our sun roof and plow package in the same truck :).

Hell ya!!!!!

Next thing we will find out is that the rear windows on a crew only roll down halfway!:eek:

Next thing we will find out is that the rear windows on a crew only roll down halfway!:eek:

I assume you are making a reference to/insinuating that GM does that on the SUV's merely as "some sort of cost saving measure"? Right, as if its cheaper to make power windows only go down half way....

thats only on the tahoes, andif you look at the shape of the rear door and think about it for a minute you will clearly see why the rear windows on a tahoe dont go down all the way...

ben

As I have said before you have to get a Duramax to get the 6000lbs axle, the gassers only get the 5200lbs even with the snow plow prep. Hate to say but 99% o plow trucks are reg. cab gassers........



GM fail! Again

Where is the 7.0 Direct injection gasser I have been waiting for?

Very true SMiller, although many are buying xcab plow trucks over reg cab to make the truck more useful year round. Would be nice to see a reg cab built for the plower, like a "snow command option" or something. I think Dodge actually offers something like I am saying, not that we care!

the gassers only get the 5200lbs even with the snow plow prep. Hate to say but 99% o plow trucks are reg. cab gassers........

GM fail! Again

And my RC/LB 8.1L truck scales in at 4,560 lb with my Blizzard 810 that weights 1091 lbs. It scales in at 4,780 lb after I am done spreading my 2,400 lb of salt.

5,200 pounds is PLENTY for a gas truck!

Most people here don't know as much as they think they do.

As I have said before you have to get a Duramax to get the 6000lbs axle, the gassers only get the 5200lbs even with the snow plow prep. Hate to say but 99% o plow trucks are reg. cab gassers........



GM fail! Again

Where is the 7.0 Direct injection gasser I have been waiting for?

ummmmm are you forgetting that the gas engine and 6L90 is a couple hundred pounds LIGHTER than the duramax/allison? :rolleyes:

The gasser with its 5,200lb front axle is NO LESS CAPABLE than the duramax with the 6,000lb front axle in terms of plow handling/capacity. Do you really think GM would have not figured that properly? come on.

the 7.0 direct injection gas engine isnt coming for a long time. Why do we need it? Whats wrong with the current Gen IV small blocks?

ben

Very true SMiller, although many are buying xcab plow trucks over reg cab to make the truck more useful year round. Would be nice to see a reg cab built for the plower, like a "snow command option" or something. I think Dodge actually offers something like I am saying, not that we care!

yeah...they already have that. Its called the snow plow prep package.........

im not sure what you are getting at. You can order the plow prep package with any truck; regular cab, ec, and cc....

Snow plow prep does nothing...

Snow plow prep does nothing...

hmmm yeah on the 2011's it does.......what do you think the 6,000lb front end/torsion bars are for?

yeah...they already have that. Its called the snow plow prep package.........

im not sure what you are getting at. You can order the plow prep package with any truck; regular cab, ec, and cc....

Well Ben, what would be nice, in my dreams, would be snow plow prep, and then a real snow plow prep option, available in any trim level. Which could include, but not be limited to, a serious mud/snow tire, 2-3 lit toggle/rocker switches with tap wires under dash ready to go for warning lights, transfer tanks, etc., rear defrost on all cab config.'s, heated lower windshield (heated fluid will not do this), power heated mirrors, load supports, i.e. timbrens,etc., dual batteries and dual alternators, auxiliary back up lights. These would be a great start for me. Again, always fun to build your truck your way in your head. Take care.

Well Ben, what would be nice, in my dreams, would be snow plow prep, and then a real snow plow prep option, available in any trim level. Which could include, but not be limited to, a serious mud/snow tire, 2-3 lit toggle/rocker switches with tap wires under dash ready to go for warning lights, transfer tanks, etc., rear defrost on all cab config.'s, heated lower windshield (heated fluid will not do this), power heated mirrors, load supports, i.e. timbrens,etc., dual batteries and dual alternators, auxiliary back up lights. These would be a great start for me. Again, always fun to build your truck your way in your head. Take care.

IF you are willing to pay a couple extra grand, AND (this is the big one) confirm/lock in about 30,000 orders (roughly how many GM would need to sell to make it worth their while/worth the cost of designing/testing all that stuff) for this so-called "super duper plow prep" truck, then I am sure GM would be more than willing to build it for you. :)

I know it sounds SOOOO simple "oh GM can just go online and buy the shit and bolt it on, DUH!!", but the fact is that if they offer 'it' from the factory, it has to be tested/designed/engineered as such that it will work under any conditions and the truck will perform 100% as GM originally designed it to. That means all lighting has to meet federal mandates, those super mud/snow tires will need a special computer calibration in the ABS module for the electronic stability control to work properly (you can only imagine how long developing/testing stuff like that takes!), the heated lower windsheild will need hundreds of hours of testing/R&D to make sure its not going to crack if you turn it on in extreme temperatures, make sure it wont catch on fire if someone puts a cover on part of it, test it with different wipers, among other things.

everyone complains that GM wont make "their" truck the way they want it, yet they dont even think/consider for a second WHY GM wouldnt offer this stuff from the factory, or what is actually involved in putting some of this stuff on a truck from the factory and not aftermarket...people need to put themselves in GM's (or any car mfg) shoes for a minute. ;)

ben

I completely understand all that, just was telling you of my dreams while I am plowing for days on end.