4 High Or 4 Lo For Plowing?

mudrunner80 · April 7, 2007

I have an 80 GMC with a 350 engine and 350 tranny. I was just informed by a co worker that its very bad to plow in 4 hi and to always use low. To be honest, Hes the only one I know personally that uses lo and no ones had problems nor have I. Is it luck and hes right or is he just blowing wind? I've been plowing my driveway (aprox 600 ft drive way and big yard) for about 7 years with the same drive train and no problems. whats your imput on this?

2004GMC1500CC · April 7, 2007

I have an 80 GMC with a 350 engine and 350 tranny. I was just informed by a co worker that its very bad to plow in 4 hi and to always use low. To be honest, Hes the only one I know personally that uses lo and no ones had problems nor have I. Is it luck and hes right or is he just blowing wind? I've been plowing my driveway (aprox 600 ft drive way and big yard) for about 7 years with the same drive train and no problems. whats your imput on this?

I would use lo.

2007GMCSierra · April 7, 2007

Unless you're plowing heavy snow - it doesn't really matter. I live in Buffalo - and when we get really heavy fall or spring snow we use lo... or if it is REALLY deep powdery snow we might slip it in to 4 Lo. Light snow doesn't even give the truck a workout....

2000DV4.8 · April 8, 2007

I always thought that you were supposed to use lo, but the owners manual for my 2000 silverado says to use hi.

GasHog369 · April 8, 2007

I also live in buffalo ny... I dont have a plow , but a couple buddies do and they all plow in 4hi. My dad also plowed for years and he said that the only time you want to plow in 4lo is if you get really bogged down and gotta push your way out , or if your trying to move a mountain of snow slow with precision, for example close to a house....

other wise you need 4hi for speed, especially when plowing parking lots.... i think the max speed to go in 4lo is something like 10 mph so there would be no way you could plow a parking lot in 4lo and make any money. lol

sonjaab · April 8, 2007

For most plowing 4-hi is fine.

What is best is to plow in 1 gear and not have the trans. shift

during your push. Unless its a super long one on a giant parking

lot. I plow with my tow/haul mode on. It keeps the trans. from

shifting too soon on a long push................geo

For more good advise from the pros check out:

http://www.letstalksnow.com/forums

diehrd · April 8, 2007

I plow and have for years , I have never used 4lo for any reason at any time ever .. You are not a loader and you should never push such amounts of snow you need to horse the truck..I can only remember 2 times my block ever reached 1500rpm or beyond when snow plowing in the last 10 years ...

4Hi is all ya need,,matter of fact I now pow in Auto 4wd which is about the best way because when you drive job to job and are on dry pavement you do not have to select 2wd .. To me the auto 4wd is about the best feature i ever had on a plow truck

john morris · April 10, 2007

ill agree about auto only when most of the roads are clear, otherwise im always in 4hi and im out while its snowing....plow every 3or 4 inches of snow to avoid damage both to your truck and your customer's property. ive only messed around with it in 4 lo, but it wasnt at all nessecary other than to get the pavement under the tires bone-dry. i could see a massive blizzard but nothing short of that to require lo range (its indended for deep mud/snow/etc)

CROMPTRJ · April 10, 2007

If the snow is heavy and you are going slow its a good idea to use low i think it keeps the tranny a little cooler.

ken1mod · April 10, 2007

"nothing succeeds like success" You have been doing this for years successfully. This speaks for itself quite loudly.

Keep doing what you are doing.

Ken

sonjaab · April 10, 2007

Plowing in "auto 4wd" (if equipped) is not a good idea.........................

My 01 2500 ld had the auto 4wd mode and I plowed 1 season with it

engaged.

Result.....I burned out the clutch pack in the trans. case.................

Thank god for warranty!.........geo

diehrd · April 10, 2007

Plowing in "auto 4wd" (if equipped) is not a good idea.........................

My 01 2500 ld had the auto 4wd mode and I plowed 1 season with it

engaged.

Result.....I burned out the clutch pack in the trans. case.................

Thank god for warranty!.........geo

LOL..A warranty issue ? You burned up the transfer case ? Say it ain't so !

I plow in auto , and not only damaged nothing but will always plow in it because of the type of plowing I do it just makes more sense to leave it in auto . .If something fries, I will buy a new replacement for it .

You are pretty hung up on warranties be it a key crank or a transfer case selection . . Personally my last truck went 360,000 miles plowing every winter and never ate a tranny or transfer case , Could be the difference in how we drive or maintain our trucks . . . .

chuckschevy · April 10, 2007

I have an 80 GMC with a 350 engine and 350 tranny. I was just informed by a co worker that its very bad to plow in 4 hi and to always use low. To be honest, Hes the only one I know personally that uses lo and no ones had problems nor have I. Is it luck and hes right or is he just blowing wind? I've been plowing my driveway (aprox 600 ft drive way and big yard) for about 7 years with the same drive train and no problems. whats your imput on this?

When you are pushing a heavy load Lo is the way to go it save on the tranny. Otherwise Hi is OK.

sonjaab · April 11, 2007

Tony.........Very true mr. expert !!!!!!!!!!!!!

But yet again I buy them to work them. I don't have a driveway queen........

Not to mention I trade them every 3rd winter..............

Where I live we get snow measured in FEET daily.

I also heavy tow and haul so a factory warranty is important to me.

It just makes me laugh when I see posts from folks and the so called "experts"

suggesting mods and cool alterations to the uninformed.

Then months down the road hiding out when that poor soul has issues related

to that mod ie: tire wear, driveability, etc. or warranty denile issues.............

Now as far as not maintaining them........................

I doubt I would have my 72 GTO for the PAST 33 YEARS !!!!!!!!!!!!

My Cadillacs and other cars I keep well past the warranty period

and don't sweat it.................

diehrd · April 11, 2007

Tony.........Very true mr. expert !!!!!!!!!!!!!

But yet again I buy them to work them. I don't have a driveway queen........

Not to mention I trade them every 3rd winter..............

Where I live we get snow measured in FEET daily.

I also heavy tow and haul so a factory warranty is important to me.

It just makes me laugh when I see posts from folks and the so called "experts"

suggesting mods and cool alterations to the uninformed.

Then months down the road hiding out when that poor soul has issues related

to that mod ie: tire wear, driveability, etc. or warranty denile issues.............

Now as far as not maintaining them........................

I doubt I would have my 72 GTO for the PAST 33 YEARS !!!!!!!!!!!!

My Cadillacs and other cars I keep well past the warranty period

and don't sweat it.................

Wow , I am not sure I even care to know what your malfunction is .

The alterations are not only OK to do , BUT specifically designed for the trucks in most cases, yet you have issues with that ? Who cares about a ball joint every 30 or 40k ? Or even something more serious ? You act like leaving it alone means 100% reliability and a extreme life expectancy !

Tires need to be replaced, rotated and kept inflated no matter what ya drive or mod, Alignments need to be done and parts need to be lubed and serviced on a regular basis .. Tranny , diff, T/Case and Engine oil's need to be replaced some every year some every 3 months ...

Your idea a moded truck is junk or waiting to break seams like a serious personal issue rather then something being spoken out of real concern for other members . . Relax a bit , Step back and realize your way is not the only way , , If I had a warranty to worry about I would worry about what mods void it , but the reality is some mods will not void it and many people do not even have a warranty to worry about !