Anyone here plow with a shortbox? I'm thinking of putting a 7 1/2' Minute Mount plow on my '94 F150 4X4 with the 5.0 engine. If you do, any problems with plowing, advice and what do you use?

Thanks!

 

You better put a good bit of weight over the rear axle or you'll be in for a treat.

 

Yeah. The plow mounted weighs around 600 lbs and will put the same weight in the box over the axle. My sticker on the door says FGAWR is 2700 lbs. Anyone see a problem mounting a plow set-up with that rating?

 

The "G" in GAWR means gross, which is all the factory weight plus fluids plus occupants plus cargo plus accessories. Read your owner's manual to calculate how much you can safely add to your front end. Also, a little further down the door sticker, you'll find the reserve capacity of the front axle:



And 600# in the bed would be a good start, but I'd aim for more. Bags of sand/gravel are good to have if you're out plowing.

 

I have never seen anything good come from putting a plow on a half ton, just my opinion.
If I were you I would put more than the plows weight in the bed, even with nothing on the front a shortbed isn't the best for traction.

 

I plan on doing only my own property -- not commercially. Maybe once in a while helping out a neighbor. We don't get a lot of snow around here -- around 3+ feet for the entire season. What I want to use it for is when ice forms on top of snow, which seems to happen more frequently these days. Tough to use a snow blower on wet, ice covered accumulation. I'll put around 600lbs in the back and see what happens. Keep the advice coming though. Thanks so far!

 

You didn't mention what tranny you have.
If you've got a Mazdog M5OD forget about plowing; it will never take it.
If you have an automatic, install a big aftermarket trans cooler, you'll need it

 

I've got an automatic with OD with a 3.31 axle, I believe. Already have the trans cooler installed. I'll have to see about the weight up front to see if it sags. Might have to install Timbrens.

 

If you read the caption of that diagram I posted above, you'll KNOW what trans & gears you have.

 

Auto with overdrive is the trans, with a 3.31 axle. The numbers/code on the sticker where the front axle accessory capacity (#24 on the above sample sticker) is F0076 and the total accessory reserve capacity (#25 on the above sample sticker) is T0422. Been doing a web serach for those codes and what they mean, but have come up empty.

 

He's just plowing his driveway. Unless it's 5 miles long, he'll be fine to use the truck as-is.

 

There are at least 4 possible ODs. Use the code on your sticker & the caption of that diagram to ID your particular model of trans.Those are the weights in pounds, as your owner's manual describes: 76# front, 422# total. IOW, you shouldn't leave the plow on the truck any longer than necessary.