plowing snow with a 6.5-T ?'s

[M123KT-450]

I just got given a complete snow plow package for my K2500.

what all do I need to know about pushing snow with a 6.5 diesel ?

Any special mods or upgrades needed ?

Now how about the truck itself ?

Any mods or upgrades need doing to the truck ?

Mike

[sixfivekid]

Well first you are gonna want to attach the plow to the truck

Then find some snow

Now lower the plow

Grab the gear selector and put it in drive

Hit the gas pedal

now a cummins with 235hp/420tq

might do a little bit better then a 6.5 with 190hp/300tq

but for being a light duty diesel it will hold its own

Will

[M123KT-450]

Yup your right a cummins would be a better option for me...

But I can't afford to swap a high quality Cummins diesel into my high quality GMC truck.

And

I'm not buying another low quality dodge truck to have the Cummins diesel.

Done that once not doing it again.

The cummins n drive train held up perfectly for a little over 250K miles but the truck its self was beyond junk.

Suspension failures n frame breakages got old.

Frame was welded in more places then I care to think about.

Spring mounts were replaced 3 times 1 set tore out of the frame and the other kept cracking.

Ball joints failled often enough the got changed on the fly...

NO more dodge trucks for me...

Mike

[plowking]

I have a fisher plow on my 1995 K3500 6.5, it plows real well. You can plow at lower rpms, it feels similar to using a small diesel backhoe to push snow. The truck can run hot if you drive any distance with the plow on as it blocks the airflow to the radiator. My truck had michelin LTX tires, they provided good traction. plowking

[M123KT-450]

Very cool i upgraded my transmission cooler and trans pan, i also did a few engine cooling mods as well a 180*F T-stat, amsoil coolant and some water wetter heat reduction additive. runs 187*F on a 95*F day stay's between 175*F-185*F in the winter months.

For Snow tires i run 7.50-16D :D Power King Super Traction's :D I'm a fan of loud howling Aggressive tires Snow Traction's for winter n Mudders for Summer i routinely drive where most dare not. . .

So all should be good to go just keep an eye on water temp's ? n voltage ?

Mike

[plowking]

I have the underhood hydraulics,not the plow mounted electric hydraulics,so I didn't have a problem with electrical. The electric hydraulic pump system with the solenoids can draw down the battery, course you probably have the two battery system already ,heavy duty alternator might help. plowking

[M123KT-450]

Yup I have the electro/hydro pump that is mount on the bolt on rack tho some folks weld the rack on I may have to the same.

I believe they call it an iszomatic ?

Not sure on the spelling.

The 2 I know of is the Meyer unit that is ran by 2 switches and the western unit that has the single joy stick.

My father gave it to me and he hasnt dropped it off yet so I'm not sure which brand it is.

But its not the removable unit like these new rigs once the rack is mounted its there for the duration ya know ?

So wanted to make sure the truck is up to snuff and knew what to watch for before mounting it up.

My first 6.5 truck n all.

Mike

[ZiGBlazer]

The transmission is the only worry. Watch the trans temp closely. Make sure to let it get into gear before going. Otherwise these diesels were nicely set up for plowing from the factory, unless they are lifted, then the cv shafts can snap.

[M123KT-450]

Will do.

Nope its not lifted and genuine GM suspension setup.

I got some specs from the coming plow system.

Western plow n Meyer iszomatic pump lift.

Tho its a weld on unit...

Trans cooler was replaced with 1 double the factory size , has a 6 up sized trans pan with both cooling tubes and cooling fins.

I always run with my plow low n 45ed...

Mike

[94K30]

Hi Mike, I have no troble plowing with mine, and I had no issues with it heating up on highway..... I did go to a 160 amp alternator, though...

[M123KT-450]

I got a brand new life time alt so I'm hopping to make it threw the winter.

I can upgrade to bigger unit tho for next winter...

Mike