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I put a Sno-Way plow on a 2014 silverado 1500


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The truck is 2014 Silverado 1500 4x4 Z71 with a 5.3 liter and 3.08 rear axle ratio.

 

The blade is a steel (not poly) Sno-Way 26 series, 7'-6" long with down pressure. It took them about 10 hours to install this blade. The shoes and deflector are on order and should arrive any day.

 

With subframe, this blade weighs 560 lbs. Total cost of blade installed $5194.72, but I get a $300 rebate and a Carhart jacket for buying this thing so that will drop the price to about $4800.

 

Weight of truck without blade is 5780 lbs.

With blade is 6340 lbs.

Front axle with blade is 4100 lbs.

 

Door tag says front axle max weight is 3950 lbs so the blade puts me 150 lbs over weight on the front axle - not too bad, but that will drop once I put 500 lbs or so in the box for ballast. I'll scale it again once I actually put the weight in the box. Not that it's *that* big of a deal since I do not plan to plow commercially, more just for my own info then anything I guess.

 

I hardly notice the additional weight on the front, but I do notice the lack of weight in the rear because the drive tires spin rather easily when taking off from a stop - hence the need for ballast.

 

The furthest part of the truck forward is the front end of the subframe, it drops 1 inch when the blade is raised, the front fender at the top of the wheel well only drops about 1/2 inch when raised.

 

So far I've only had the blade on and off 4 times, the first time it took me about 5 minutes to unhook, but now it only takes less than one minute to hook or unhook from the truck and drive away, it is really easy to hook and unhook - that's a major feature for me which I really like.

 

I don't care too much for the subframe bracketry hanging low from under my front bumper when the blade is off, but that's about the worst thing I can see at the moment and It's something I'm already almost used to seeing.

 

The other thing is that the bottom of the bracketry is only 7 inches off the ground without the blade on (drops to 6 inches when the blade is raised) - seems like they should be able to improve on that but for me, it won't matter since I don't do any off roading, but it may be a factor for those who do.

 

Also they removed my front tow hooks because they said they had to, but if I get the gumption, I will see if I can put them back on - I think I can but may have to drill a few holes for the plow wiring, will see about that.

 

The temperature gauge normally runs about 210 degrees, but with the blade up (though as low as I care to have it) while driving 50 - 60 mph, the tempurature goes up to about 225 degrees and holds steady there. It was about 83 degrees outside that day, so perhaps in winter it wouldn't run that hot for those who will keep the blade on when they aren't plowing.

 

I have no doubt that this blade on this truck will work real well for me and for now, I am very, very happy with it! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

 

I will post some pictures later.

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Yes, you're right! I put some ballast in the back then drove to the scale, which is about 7 miles away and had the blade a little lower and angled, it seemed to do the trick! The temperature gauge only went up to about 215 or so - hardly moved at all.

 

I hesitate to add a leveling kit - but the more I look at it, the more it seems I really should because man, that sub-frame is hanging pretty low.

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Another quick note, cruising around with the plow on will throw your alignment/camber way off. On snow covered roads it isn't an issue, but on dry roads it's gonna be rough on your front tires. After you level it, make sure you get your alignment taken care of, even with what looks like a couple hundred pounds of steel mounts hanging there may have it off a bit.

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BTW, that rig looks sweet, and actually has me missing the "old days" of snow. I've been in FLA since '98. Another couple things to consider that will help you... Brighter bulbs in your reverse lights, gloves in your cab, jump box/cables. shovel, and tow strap in the bed. Before winter comes you might want to put wood marking stakes along some points on one side of your driveway also. Interstate batteries has a cool little jump box that comes in a case that fits in your console...

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Great advice - thanks!

I was stuck in a blizzard one time when I was a kid and nearly froze to death - since then I've always kept winter survival gear, strap, jumpers etc. in my vehicle, but I really don't plan to ever venture too far from home with the blade on. I hadn't considered the blade affecting the alignment - but what you said makes good sense.

 

I lived in KY from 2005 - 2011 and although I never thought I would, I actually missed the Michigan winters too lol - so I know what you mean.

 

Anyway, other than the blade, I haven't done a thing to the truck so I hesitate to lift it for now, I thought about putting these "back-up buddy" lights on for reverse lights http://www.back-upbuddy.com/products.asp but for what I'll be plowing I don't think I'll need them.

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Yikes! They are cool, but too expensive - I'd hate to wipe them out with one swipe into a snow bank.

Those are pretty cool though - nice bright reverse lights that only take a minute to hook up is awesome, either I'd need them pretty bad or but they'd need to drop the price by at least $100.

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  • 10 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

I think these will give a pretty good idea about what a Sno-Way 26 series looks like on a 2014 Silverado.

 

dbb4e0fc-57b0-4c5c-9c65-0f38b10ea6a8_zpse6452e99-1047-4e35-be38-867756d3a48e_zps1a91c50d-a381-4fa7-8bdf-23f9c485d5e4_zps8a922229-0322-4191-a0ad-967255c02728_zps3c855a28-5074-4294-b489-033a2ee54d1b_zps

What a beautiful truck! It's like a modern version of mine. :)

 

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk

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Thanks.

I did add the 2" leveling kit, makes a huge difference, kinda surprising how big of a difference that actually made far as ground clearance is concerned - but especially looks. It just looks a whole lot better leveled.

 

Also added on the backup buddy lights last winter, sure is nice to see what's going on back there when you back up - man, those lights are awesome.

 

The blade and the truck both performed excellent this past winter. Sure makes short work out of plowing a lot of snow I tell ya. I'm real happy with both!

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