Plows

2500hdcrew · June 7, 2004

New to the forum and I have a question. I just picked up a '04 2500 HD SLT crew cab SB with the 6.6l diesel. I absolutely love the truck inside and out.

What I'm wondering is if anyone has experience putting a plow on one of these. I realize GMC doesn't reccomend putting a plow on the truck. I know they use a calculation and with the WB you cannot mount one. I can't see it actually hurting the truck since it's built so well. I don't plow commercially and don't drive with the plow extended periods. The same truck with the 8.1 liter gas engine is fine for any plow. Is the disiel that much heavier??

Any input or, better yet, experience would be greatly appreciated. I realize the potential warranty issues but I'm more worried about potential actual harm to the truck.

Thanks

apache sierra · June 8, 2004

From what i was told the weight issue is only on the heavier v model plows like they use for highway cleaning. The regular 8ft plows like western etc wasn't a problem. But from what i heard the allison isn't the best tranny for plowing going from forward to reverse numerous times causes problems with it. I looked at the dmax/allison originally but found the front end weight rating was much lower because of the extra weight of the dmax. The dealer said you could put overload helper supports on the front for the extra weight but wasn't recomended by the factory. You might do a search on this and the other sites about plowing. I remember there was some good discussions last winter about this subject.

sonjaab · June 8, 2004

CREW......The reason GM does not offer VYU plow prep option on your

truck is GVW. GM assumes you will plow with 6 passengers and plow

and exceed the GVW of your crew cab.

GM and other mfrs. are the same. You cannot get plow prep on a 1/2

GM ex-cab either or a S-10.

If you do and have snowplowing related breakage GM or the dealer will

NOT warranty it and/or void your entire warranty.

Some dealers don't care and will take care of you no matter what.

Ya gotta ask !

Some plow mfr./installers have guidelines according to your front axle

rating (posted on your door jamb) and will or will not install certain model

snowplows on certain model trucks.

But your truck WILL plow fine as is.................geo

Check these sites for more info:

http://www.snowplowingcontractors.com/forums

http://www.plowsite.com

snoman · June 8, 2004

CREW......The reason GM does not offer VYU plow prep option on your
truck is GVW. GM assumes you will plow with 6 passengers and plow

and exceed the GVW of your crew cab.

GM and other mfrs. are the same. You cannot get plow prep on a 1/2

GM ex-cab either or a S-10.

If you do and have snowplowing related breakage GM or the dealer will

NOT warranty it and/or void your entire warranty.

Some dealers don't care and will take care of you no matter what.

Ya gotta ask !

Some plow mfr./installers have guidelines according to your front axle

rating (posted on your door jamb) and will or will not install certain model

snowplows on certain model trucks.

But your truck WILL plow fine as is.................geo

Check these sites for more info:

http://www.snowplowingcontractors.com/forums

http://www.plowsite.com

If think the real issue is front axle weight capacity. The diesel weighs a lot more than a gasser and throw in a few passangers and a plow and you can exceed its rated capacity. Diesel are not a good choice for this because you really do not want any more engine weight than needed up there and that engine and tranny combo leaves alot to be desired in this service. I have plowed snow for 18 years and I have a few trucks and they are gassers and always will be because they will always start in any weather without needing to be plugged in, even at more than 20 below, and have a very smooth predictable power curve with no turbo surge that can make traction control and plowing speed control difficult at times. I am sure that their are a few that will say otherwise but I have never had any kind of driveline failure in all of the years I have done this. Also Dodge has had so much trouble with axle ball joints wearing prematurely on its diesel 4x4's even without a plow that they have switched axle design on new trucks in a attempt to deal with this problem. Sorry to rain on your parade but that is a poor choice for plowing with good chassis service life.

Roofer · June 8, 2004

I say go for it. There are plenty of guys out there running 8 ft. plows on CC diesels. If you are worried about warranty, then don't get a plow at all. If you get a bad dealer they'll use every excuse not to warranty a problem. I see alot more diesels with plows than gassers. My neighbor has a '02 CC Dmax with a Boss V plow on it. He shares it with his F550. Most of the time it is on the Dmax. I'm not saying that he works it real hard, because I don't know. I'm just saying there are alot of diesels with plows on them. As far as I know you can get the plow package on any fullsize truck.

2500hdcrew · June 8, 2004

As I stated I'm NOT a commercial plower, I live on a private road in the country and use it for my driveway plus two small apartment driveways I own. The dealer is a friend so I'm not worried about warranty issues. Only want to make sure I wouldn't do any serious damage. It makes no sense that my 96 1/2 ton ex.cab sb Chevy could handle a plow and this truck wouldn't.

I appreciate the responses, anybody have one that they have put a plow on.

I'm only looking at a Western 7.5' Pro Plow.

Thanks again, This forum could become pretty helpful.

apache sierra · June 8, 2004

A 7.5ft plow shouldn't be a problem on the dmax. Even a 8ft straight blade isn't much of a concern. You can also get the composite blades which save a lot of weight. You also might check with the local dealer about the warranty issues. If they aren't jerks they wouldn't have any problems with it. Heck if you check,the dealers are using the dmax for plowing their lots so that must say something for the warranty issue.

snoman · June 8, 2004

I say go for it. There are plenty of guys out there running 8 ft. plows on CC diesels. If you are worried about warranty, then don't get a plow at all. If you get a bad dealer they'll use every excuse not to warranty a problem. I see alot more diesels with plows than gassers. My neighbor has a '02 CC Dmax with a Boss V plow on it. He shares it with his F550. Most of the time it is on the Dmax. I'm not saying that he works it real hard, because I don't know. I'm just saying there are alot of diesels with plows on them. As far as I know you can get the plow package on any fullsize truck.

Not around hear they do not. Gassers rule. I will out push and outlast any diesel P/U you have and start it too without a extension cord. You do not need a 40 grand truck to push snow then rip off your clients to pay your bills.

snoman · June 8, 2004

As I stated I'm NOT a commercial plower, I live on a private road in the country and use it for my driveway plus two small apartment driveways I own. The dealer is a friend so I'm not worried about warranty issues. Only want to make sure I wouldn't do any serious damage. It makes no sense that my 96 1/2 ton ex.cab sb Chevy could handle a plow and this truck wouldn't.
I appreciate the responses, anybody have one that they have put a plow on.

I'm only looking at a Western 7.5' Pro Plow.

Thanks again, This forum could become pretty helpful.

It does because of the extra weight of the diesel and tranny and truck. The GM axle is rated at 4500lbs in front and so equiped and with a plow it can easily exceed tha capacity. It will not fall on the ground but it can greatly shorten the service life of the front axle and if you plan to keep truck for while I would buy a cheap old standard 4x4 P/U and slap a plow on it and use it for that and not the land barge and be done with it.

JRKRACE · June 8, 2004

Well, I have been in the same dilemma for about 6 months now.

I wanted a crew cab to replace my 2002 Ext Cab HD 2500 with a 6.0 gas and 7.5 Fisher Plow. I basically wanted more room for the kids and I thought that the Duramax would be a nice addition. I went to the dealer to buy and when he called in to put a 8 ft Fisher plow on it, the supplier told him "Don't even drive it down". I plow 2 residential and two commercial driveways so I am in the same boat. It seems that if it's a diesel, no one wants to legally touch it. I am sure it could be done, but there are a lot of variables to contend with. One is that I don't trust any dealer for warranty work. It's all "Yeah, Yeah we'll fix it" until you drop a very expensive Allison tranny. Secondly, If you cream someone or get creamed by a car, the first thing the insurance co is gonna do is check to make sure the truck is not overloaded. In your policy they will state that they do not cover an overloaded vehicle. Until GM give the greenlight on a Dura Crew with a plow package, I will probably keep what I have....

Roofer · June 8, 2004

Not around hear they do not. Gassers rule. I will out push and outlast any diesel P/U you have and start it too without a extension cord. You do not need a 40 grand truck to push snow then rip off your clients to pay your bills.

You're right, you don't need a $40K truck to plow with. But why have two trucks. The diesel WILL outlast any gas truck and will start fine below 0. It gets plenty cold here in MN and I never had a problem starting the Dmax.....The PSD is another story. How do you figure your gasser can out push a diesel?

I don't think many people get ripped off having their driveway plowed. There is alot of competition out there. If they rip someone off, they won't last long in the business.

snoman · June 8, 2004

Not around hear they do not. Gassers rule. I will out push and outlast any diesel P/U you have and start it too without a extension cord. You do not need a 40 grand truck to push snow then rip off your clients to pay your bills.

You're right, you don't need a $40K truck to plow with. But why have two trucks. The diesel WILL outlast any gas truck and will start fine below 0. It gets plenty cold here in MN and I never had a problem starting the Dmax.....The PSD is another story. How do you figure your gasser can out push a diesel?

I don't think many people get ripped off having their driveway plowed. There is alot of competition out there. If they rip someone off, they won't last long in the business.

PURE BS MAN!!! I have a 25 year old truck that still runs and engine has never been apart. It is a myth about them outlasting a gasser big time. As far as starting, try forgeting your extension cord or parking it were their is no "juice" at 20 below and you will walk!! An if you want to play that game a plugged in gasser will start and run at lower temps that a diesel will because diesel fuel will wax and gell long before gasoline even begins to think about freezing. Ever seen a diesel snowmobile? Theyare not cold weather animals and require a LOT of TLC to keep running in sub zero weather. WHen I lived in montana a neighbot had to have two block heaters, a battery heater, a fuel tank heater and a aux filter heater and it will still have to be parked by 40 below while gasser were still cruising around nicely. My wife had a Toyota that with a little 400 watt block heater would start without fail at 40 below and colder and a old J20 jeep (that I still have) and with a carb, started one day on a dare without heat at 38 below without assistance. Try that with a diesel!!!

P.S. And for forty grand you can buy a new gasser and a old beater with a plow included to use and tear up and still have some change too. My last new plow truck, a 2000 K3500 with auto, air, cruise, tilt, dual batteries, HD Trailer package, factory aux engine oil and tranny cooler and a bedliner cost me about 23,500 included a new Fisher 8ft commercail plow w/hand held controller. The truck it replace was a 20 year old gasser still in service. When I add another, it will not be a 40 grand "toy".

Firetiger(MN) · June 9, 2004

Roofer you are correct. No problems starting my diesel either. Just takes common sense that some people don't seem to have...ahem. Obviously it does take a little thinking for proper operation in cold climates, but you better be aware of those quirks when you own a diesel of any make, type, or size. They aren't for the every day Joe to step into and think it's just another truck and take it for granted that it will run in cold temps without the proper care......but they will run and start.

A diesel outlasting a gas, well I don't see many gasoline semis rolling down the road with 1,000,000 miles on the odometer.....all the while pulling 60-80 thousand pounds. But I suppose if you could put really low gears in a gas engine you could do the same thing...

Personally I would rather have an old truck to do my plowing rather than my new ride. Plowing is not the most gentle thing on a truck anyway and with an old beater I wouldn't feel as bad getting it roughed up and abused a little. Easy to replace if it craps the bed.

The one drawback that I've heard from people using a truck equipped with the Allison is it won't shift into reverse or forward until the truck is completely stopped, something that plowers don't typically want to wait for. A safety and reliabilty feature that actually is a hinderance to some of those guys.

Firetiger(MN) · June 9, 2004

2500hdcrew-

A little more info on plowing with the diesel HERE

and HERE

Do some searching around there and there should be more information that can possibly anwer your question.

bigdogs · June 9, 2004

I live in WI so we get a "tad" bit of snow too and see plenty of diesel plows around here. In fact look at what the trucks the county uses for plowing... The front axle rating on the DMAX is 4800lbs not 4500 and like what was mentioned GM's reasoning was they assumed a full passenger load when plowing (have yet to ever see more than 2 in a plow myself). The GMC dealer I bought my truck from also sells plows and I asked them about it warranty issues and they didn't seem to have a problem with them. With that being said I'm not sure I'd want to use a $40K truck as a plow, and maybe would get a beater to do it. We just have a long driveway so I use my ATV with a plow.