6.2 with a plow? Anyone?

mike-z71 · January 30, 2016

Thinking about a new truck. Current is a 2014 LTZ Z71 5.3 with 3.08. I'll need to plow my personal driveway with this truck and one other short driveway. Anyone have a 6.2 that plows? I'm also looking at the 6.2 for some summer time fun with the added HP over the 5.3 and pushing snow. The 2500 is not an option for me. This truck will be a custom order and I would like some input before pulling the trigger. Thanks.

SouthpawHD · January 30, 2016

Half tons can certainly plow. Wouldn't recommend it for commercial plowing as they take a beating. But for consumer plowing and using a lighter plow blade, they certainly can handle it.

newdude · January 30, 2016

On GM's side of the deal, plow prep package is regular cab only on 1500 trucks. So, there would be the potential that if something failed and they can relate it to the plow, your warranty would be at risk.

That said...I would go no bigger than a 1/2 ton specific snow plow, so, Western HTS or Fisher HT Series. Boss does not have a selection for 6.2 trucks. Most of the plow OEMs for a 1/2 ton crew (using this assumption based on your current truck) call for quite a bit of ballast as well. Western calls for 470lbs, Fisher calls for 440lbs. The ballast will be very important for loading the truck properly.

Using the weights and options calculator in the GM order guide, a 6.2 max tow crew standard box LTZ would leave you, without ballast, 668lbs. of front end payload (GVWR is 3950lbs, total front weight with options is 3282lbs, subtract and you get the 668lbs payload remaining).

Using the 668lbs...GM allows on regular cab 1500 with plow prep, 40lbs permanent truck side hardware, and a max plow weight of 500lbs. 668lbs, subtract 40lbs for truck hardware, 628lbs, then (we will use the Western HTS), 412lbs for the plow, you have a remainder front payload of 216lbs. You can go overweight real quick from there on the front. You and a front passenger and bam. So, ballasting would allow you to squeak that out a bit more. And a leveling kit to gain frt. ground clearance.

Fisher and the Western are the lightest 1/2 ton specific blades out there that I can see. Well, there is the Meyer 6'8" Drive Pro, but...Western and Fisher give you better off season clearance.

Just gotta ballast to better weight it if you are going to leave it on for long periods of time and hauling more than you around.

SMiller · January 30, 2016

I see new 1500 truck with V-plows everyday.

I would install Timbrens on the front and counterbalance, should be good to go.

Are you going strait blade or V-blade?

I have done commercial snow removal for 18 years and cannot stand a plow that is narrower when angled then the track width of the truck so I only like a 8ft strait blade or 8.2 V-blade, it isn't that much additional weight.

mike-z71 · January 30, 2016

My driveway is fairly short and I would only plow my grandparents after a lot of snow fell or when grandpa doesnt want to be out in really cold weather on his kubota. Great info on ballast 15HDriver. I only need a light duty plow, but I will buy quality. It wont be staying on for more than i need it. Work is only 3 miles away and my grandparents is 8 miles away. I will be putting a level or lift on this truck as well. I like how they look a bit higher than factory. My 14 has a 2.5 lift and I couldn't be happier.

newdude · January 30, 2016

My driveway is fairly short and I would only plow my grandparents after a lot of snow fell or when grandpa doesnt want to be out in really cold weather on his kubota. Great info on ballast 15HDriver. I only need a light duty plow, but I will buy quality. It wont be staying on for more than i need it. Work is only 3 miles away and my grandparents is 8 miles away. I will be putting a level or lift on this truck as well. I like how they look a bit higher than factory. My 14 has a 2.5 lift and I couldn't be happier.

Sounds like you should be good to go with an HTS. Looking forward to seeing what you put together for your next truck!

NoProblem · January 30, 2016

Thinking about a new truck. Current is a 2014 LTZ Z71 5.3 with 3.08. I'll need to plow my personal driveway with this truck and one other short driveway. Anyone have a 6.2 that plows? I'm also looking at the 6.2 for some summer time fun with the added HP over the 5.3 and pushing snow. The 2500 is not an option for me. This truck will be a custom order and I would like some input before pulling the trigger. Thanks.

You have the same truck I have, read about my plow....... http://www.plowsite.com/showthread.php?t=155939

GLSierra13 · January 31, 2016

I have the Boss Sport Duty on my '13 Ext Cab 1500. At the time I had it installed, (Aug '13), it was a lot lighter than the Western HTS or Fisher or Snoway plows that were available for my 1500. The local Western dealer would not install the HTS on my truck even though I have the 3950 front axle. He told me Western would not allow it and would only allow the Suburbanite (which is junk as far as I'm concerned).

The Boss plow (not including the truck mount) weighs about 385 lbs. It's been great, no problems whatsoever. I keep about 300 lbs. of sand in the bed during plow season.

The Snoway and Boss are direct linkage plows, no lift chain, no bouncing of the plow up and down over railroad tracks, etc. I think that is a big benefit and reduces the stress on the front of the truck.

Cowpie · October 17, 2016

There is always the Snowsport HD plow setup. Great for smaller jobs and won't gouge landscape. I use one for 900' of drive and occasionally cutting a path to highway 1.5 miles away when county can't seem to get to our gravel roads in a timely manner. I made a lift with a winch for it so it can be raised from cab for short jaunts from drift to drift along that stretch of gravel road.

barry G · October 22, 2016

Half tons can certainly plow. Wouldn't recommend it for commercial plowing as they take a beating. But for consumer plowing and using a lighter plow blade, they certainly can handle it.

my dad just bought a 2016, not called a heavy half, but gvwr is 7200.

towing package, etc.. manual 4x4 lever.

the salesman was very honest (especially after my dad spoke up of my 96 at 355k miles maintained by me)

"don't do big plowing on the half ton."

the front suspension back in the days of torsion got away with it too long on the half tons, today, it is not a good idea...

get the bigger truck... or maybe get an old torsion one to beat around the yard with.