Am I going to permantly damage my truck???

Question

I have a 2002 GMC Sierra 1500, I also have a snowplowing and lawn business but what I need to know is if putting a plow on my truck is going to destroy it so much to the fact that it won't last nearly as long as I need it to for my business. I could buy another cheap truck and just use it for snowplowing but I really don't have the money to do that so, Is it really worth using my 1500 truck for the job? or am I screwed. Thanks!

Answer 1

It depends on how you maintain your truck and the snow plow.  In using the snow plow, treat it the same "gentle" way as how you drive your truck.

Answer 2

If you remember the truck is a tool, you should not have any problem. My truck is a 99 with 113000 on it with a utility bed and a plow and has not seen any added expense for the plow.Normal maintenance is all that is required. Take care of your tools they'll take care of you.

Answer 3

Half-ton is a little too light of a truck for using a plow for commercial use. Just make sure that you aren't overloading the front end (look at the door sticker for ratings).

Answer 4

Besides the tranny cooler (if it's an automatic) and the air assist bags for the front end, make sure to follow the "severe service" maintenance  schedule in your owners manual. Also, one other thing that might make life easier on your 1/2 ton-Do all snow plowing work with the transmission in low gear AND the transfer case in low range. The lower range in the transfer case improve torque multiplication, thereby making it easier for the truck to do it's work. It also keeps your speed down, so that if and when you do run into something, the damage will be less to both the truck and whatever you hit.

Next time though, I'm sure that you will be happier getting a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

Good luck and BE CAREFULL.

Answer 5

It's not the easiest thing for, but proper maintenance should help. An auxiliary tranny cooler will go a long way. Your front suspension components will wear faster. There are front shocks available for the GM's that will help. They work like an air bag kit for the rear,only on the front. I bought mine from Arnott air suspensions, Arnottindustries.com

Answer 6

placing a plow on any vehicle increases maintenance costs and frequency of break downs, make sure you are charging enough to pay for the damage you are doing and understand that repairing the vehicle is part of the expense of being in that business, finally don't beat it unnecessarily plow slowly, lightest throttle possible, and  avoid running into things in the snow, don't let the first time you see a lot that you are gonna plow be after the snow has hidden all the dangers that are waiting there to tear your truck apart

Answer 7

The fact that your vehicle is being used as a work truck requires frequent maintenance than the average personal use vehicle. So go ahead do it. As an example, just change that oil at 2k rather than 3k miles. You are going to put more wear and tear on it, but I say go ahead do it.

Good luck!