Driving with Plow on

[MIKE IN lINO III]

I have a 02 F250 Diesel with a Western Plow.

We are planning on going to the lake over the new years holiday and I know that they have recieved a fair amount of snow. I have in the past driven the 200 Highway miles with the plow on the truck but I am starting to think it might not be too good for the truck.

What do you think?

Also, I see guys on the highway with the plows turned to the side. Is there a reason to do this???

Thanks,

Mike

[Shack]

Quote:

Also, I see guys on the highway with the plows turned to the side. Is there a reason to do this???

Helps with aerodynamics a little. Instead of plowing threw the air, it goes off to the side easier. Much like when you are plowing snow. You go at the snow with the blade straight and snow just builds up and push’s forward, turn the blade to the side and the snow glides of nice and to the side.

If you have a trailer you can load the plow on, that would be an idea and help wearing of the front end while driving.

If you do any plowing on the side, a couple hours of operating the plow (pushing snow, banking, back blading/dragging and up and down) is just as tough on the front end as driving 500 miles with the plow just on.

I would think you would be just fine though, but if any doubt occurs, have the front end checked out by a shop before you go .

Good luck and have fun!

[PierBridge]

The biggest problem is particularly on long trips is the plow blocks the air flow to the radiator and your engine will run much hotter.

I wouldn't worry to much about the front end parts its a Ford and they'll have to be done sooner than later anyway...

[Shack]

The biggest problem is the plow blocks the air flow to the radiator and your engine will run much hotter.

Pier does bring up a good point. I am not sure if just a plow would cause a huge increase, but it will stop/block normal air flow. Below 0-temps, this might be some what nice.

But what Pier did bring to my mind is some diesel guys run covers over their grill's to get hotter temps for the heater, by blocking the sir flow. If you have one of these, it would be a good idea to remove it.

The 7.3 will not hilter, but I will admit the front ends will wear fast for an all season blow boy

[MuleShack]

It wouldn't hurt to make sure you have a couple hundred (500)pounds of counter weight in the back to offset the plow weight on the front end. But overall it wont be any worse than an actual night of wear and tear pounding into snow banks.

I would trailer it as a first option, but then you need a skid steer to take them on and off of a utility trailer or from the box.

[LwnmwnMan2]

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Also, I see guys on the highway with the plows turned to the side. Is there a reason to do this???

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Usually when you see the guys with the plow to the side, they're doing one of two things.

1. They're trying to keep the travelling width of the plow down. The plow is about 6-8" skinnier when angled.

2. The gas trucks we've had, depending on how hard and what direction the wind is coming from, we'd have to angle them different ways to get the wind to wrap back around the plow to get air to the radiator.

Sometimes, depending on which direction the wind was blowing, you could watch the snow as you were going down the road and it would create a block, the wind couldn't get to the radiator, and you could watch the temp guage go up.

You'll be fine running that truck / plow up to the cabin. I know of guys that drive 200 miles per storm when they're plowing, and that includes hitting curbs, man hole covers, etc.