Whether you are tired of waiting for a snow plow to clear your driveway or you are a business responsible for cleaning the snow and ice from the sidewalk of your property, purchasing snow removal equipment is a serious investment. Although useful during winter time for your truck fleet, a snow plow can be quite demanding regarding installation and proper maintenance.
If you are aware of all the implications and your mind is set, here are some of the things you need to know before installing a snow plow.
- The Right Truck-Snow Plow Match
When it comes to getting that perfect snow plow, you need to think about what’s the best match for your truck. Not only will you have to buy the adequate snow plow for your truck, but you also need to see whether the truck is a good match for the equipment.
One of the first things you need to take into consideration is their weight. At more than 300 lbs, they require a truck that weighs at least a half-ton. It’s not just about the vehicle’s power but also about the overall safety. To compensate for a lighter truck, you could try customizing it with a truck suspension upgrade.
- Get the Perfect Snow Plow
Get clear about your snow plowing needs and you will be able to choose the right snow plow. Regarding size, a home usage wouldn’t require more than a 7’6” straight blade. But if you will be plowing commercially, you need to go above the 8’ plow. A V-plow can also be a wise decision for commercial uses since the multi-positions make the job much easier. Prices do get much spicier, though.
When it comes to choosing the right material, your main options revolve around polyethylene or steel plows. Poly is new and quite attractive for many truck drivers because of non-stickiness and resistance to scratches and corrosion. Nevertheless, it cannot flex as well as steel ones do, and it does not weigh less – as some might think. Steel is also more resistant to major damages such as solid obstacles in the way.
Another important aspect in choosing snow plows is the attachment system. Make sure it is easy to use and if needed, to be easily switched between multiple trucks in your fleet.
- Great Lighting
No snow plowing can happen effectively in the absence of good lighting. Installing a snow plow is very likely to block your headlights. And with winter being quite challenging regarding visibility, you need to address this issue separately.
An auxiliary, efficient lighting system is needed. These systems usually go on the plow itself or can even be installed on the roof of the truck. Go for a two piece, clamp mounting system to avoid the pain of having your lights loosened or moving during plowing.
Here at Pacific Truck Colors, truck customization is one of our biggest passions, and we would love to get you through winter with the best help possible.
Get in touch with us to learn how we can help solve your slow-related concerns!
