Snow Plow Trouble

jtwilber · June 30, 2008

I'm bumming. Shopping for a new 1500 ext cab 4WD. Have an 01 with a fisher plow for own house, never an issue. Dealer tells me it looks like adding a plow to an ext cab means no warranty on new truck. Said gotta move to 2500. Is this true?

GasHog369 · June 30, 2008

from what i have heard is you have to buy a vehicle w/ the factory plow prep package on it for it to be covered... My buddy went thru the same thing.. Back in 06 he bought a brand new 2500 duramax , and told the dealer he wanted a plow on it , they said it cant, its not built for a plow, hahahahaha

He flipped, put a plow on it anyhow tho thru a diffrent dealer....

Zembonez · June 30, 2008

Thank GOD I live where all of the snow is in pictures!

alaska511 · June 30, 2008

I just use a track drive snowblower

June 30, 2008

we just use skidsteers around here

svensk · June 30, 2008

I make the wife shovel.

lol...

June 30, 2008

I make the wife shovel.

lol...

sonjaab · June 30, 2008

Sad but TRUE that GM didn't offer the VYU plow prep pkg. on GMT-800/900s

1500 x-cabs, crews or some diesel 2500/3500s.

Yes......Most dealers won't warranty any snowplow related breakage on

any non VYU optioned truck...................

I was in the same spot in 01 and had to go from the 1500 to 2500 to be

sure any warranty issues would be covered. I learned the hard way about

no warranty coverage when I smoked the trans. on my 97 1500 x-cab

with no VYU plow prep.

Luckily the dealer didn't flag my vin # on the GM computer and I took it

to another dealer whom replaced the trans. under warranty with no problem.

I am sure somebody will chime in with the Mag./Moss act rules. But mention

that to the dealer guys and they will laugh at you! Its still up to YOU to prove

that snowplowing or whatever didn't smoke your trans/transfer case/whatever!

Meanwhile your truck still sits broke and will only get fixed on your dime!

Not to mention it will be $pendy swapping your plow rig over from your old

truck to the new one no matter if its a 1500 0r 2500 My last plow swap cost $1800.

Going from a gmt-800 2500 to a gmt-900 2500 required a new push bar (mounting

carton), both truck side and plow side wiring harnesses, new module unit and plow

lights.

If you want to risk the possible no warranty situation a 1500 would be fine.

Best to ask several dealers. Some care, some don't and will fix it with no problem.

If your a plowhead check out: http://www.letstalksnow.com/forums

unit731 · July 1, 2008

I just did a quick check of the GM site - Build - 1500.

I 'built' an extended cab. No Plow Prep Package was offered on the Extended Cab truck 1500.

It is offered on the 2500.

Seems odd to me that a Plow Prep Package is not offered on the Extended Cab 1500. Anyone have GM's reason for this?

MS3DALE · July 1, 2008

Seems odd to me that a Plow Prep Package is not offered on the Extended Cab 1500. Anyone have GM's reason for this?

I was told years ago by a GM rep. (When the GMT400 trucks were out) its because of the trucks length and weight. A plows weight would make the truck too "front heavy".

This is also the reason why you can't get the plow prep pkg. on the DMAX trucks,there heavy in the front to begin with,add a plow and your overloading the front axles weight rating.

svensk · July 1, 2008

Seems odd to me that a Plow Prep Package is not offered on the Extended Cab 1500. Anyone have GM's reason for this?

I was told years ago by a GM rep. (When the GMT400 trucks were out) its because of the trucks length and weight. A plows weight would make the truck too "front heavy".

This is also the reason why you can't get the plow prep pkg. on the DMAX trucks,there heavy in the front to begin with,add a plow and your overloading the front axles weight rating.

Wha?????? Not even regular cab d-max or 3500's?

MS3DALE · July 1, 2008

Seems odd to me that a Plow Prep Package is not offered on the Extended Cab 1500. Anyone have GM's reason for this?

I was told years ago by a GM rep. (When the GMT400 trucks were out) its because of the trucks length and weight. A plows weight would make the truck too "front heavy".

This is also the reason why you can't get the plow prep pkg. on the DMAX trucks,there heavy in the front to begin with,add a plow and your overloading the front axles weight rating.

Wha?????? Not even regular cab d-max or 3500's?

You can get a regular-cab DMAX with the snow plow prep pkg.,but not an extended or crew-cab.

svensk · July 1, 2008

Seems odd to me that a Plow Prep Package is not offered on the Extended Cab 1500. Anyone have GM's reason for this?

I was told years ago by a GM rep. (When the GMT400 trucks were out) its because of the trucks length and weight. A plows weight would make the truck too "front heavy".

This is also the reason why you can't get the plow prep pkg. on the DMAX trucks,there heavy in the front to begin with,add a plow and your overloading the front axles weight rating.

Wha?????? Not even regular cab d-max or 3500's?

You can get a regular-cab DMAX with the snow plow prep pkg.,but not an extended or crew-cab.

gotcha.

Aren't there any light weight plow setups that could get around this for the HD trucks and allow warranty? Does ford actually put a heavier duty front axle on their superduty?

MS3DALE · July 1, 2008

There might be a lightweight plow setup,but the fact of the matter is,Is that GM does not offer the "VYU" snow plow prep. pkg. on the extended or crew-cabs w/the DMAX engine.....so until they do you'll have warranty issues.

I don't know what Ford does,Don't really care what they do..Ha-Ha!!

unit731 · July 1, 2008

Aren't there any light weight plow setups that could get around this for the HD trucks and allow warranty? Does ford actually put a heavier duty front axle on their superduty?

As a side note. I priced out 2008 Ford F150 4x4 and the Plow Prep Package was quite expensive compared to the Chevrolet/GMC 1500. My guess is that Ford has to add much more 'stuff' in order for it to handle a plow.

I only looked at the F150 regular cab so I have no knowledge of Ford Extended Cab.