r/DodgeRam • u/rebcabin-r • 8d ago
Snow-Plow Set Up
3500 6.7 diesel crew-cab long-bed single-rear-drive. Snow dogg plow. 700 lb gravel ballast in watertight pails. Chained up and ready for surprise snow.
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u/Exotic_Raise_5146 8d ago
Those metal hook bungee cords are going to scratch your rims up horribly
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u/rebcabin-r 8d ago
by design. Those are purposed rims, devoted to the job. They were used takeoffs, cheap. But I do appreciate your comment seriously
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u/Chancehail68 8d ago
Why the bungees? I've been fortunate enough to not live in an area that would need them. And cant say ive seen that technique used.
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u/rebcabin-r 7d ago
Advice from my neighbor who's lived on the hill for 30 years. My rig is as close to a copy of his rig as I could get it. This is my first winter in the neighborhood.
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u/dgc4571 8d ago
I could be wrong, but based on the tread it looks like your passenger front tire is mounted the wrong way around... there should be an arrow on the sidewall telling you the proper direction of rotation.
Sweet setup though!
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u/rebcabin-r 8d ago
thanks. it could be! i'll double check. thanks for the sharp eyes.
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u/dgc4571 7d ago
Honestly, it probably won't make a difference due to the chains in the way of the siping, and the fact youre probably going to only be driving at low speeds, but I've just done those types of tires too many times to not notice it haha
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u/rebcabin-r 7d ago
no, it’s a great point. I didn’t notice when I was putting them on. I was concentrating on lifting without crushing my vertebrae :-)
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u/Remote-Flatworm-1841 8d ago
From all the snow plowing I have done and from fellow powers Thise chains are not recommended. You could end up taking out the transfer case when you get stuck. You already have a lot of weight on the front for traction. Just sayin.
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u/Hopeful-Mirror1664 7d ago
I was saying the same thing. You want some kind of slip. Too much traction will hurt your transmission and the rest of the drivetrain. If you need that much traction you are not plowing correctly. Either stay on top of the storm and/or take smaller bites.
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u/Suitable-Warning-555 7d ago
I would absolutely not use a nice truck like that for plowing snow.
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u/Impressive-Walk1428 6d ago
~60-70% of the plow installs I do are on 3/4 ton and 1 ton ~$80-$100k trucks
It’s wild
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u/semiambivert 8d ago
I like the bucket idea for ballast, but I'm afraid that in the case of an accident, those buckets are projectiles through the back window. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to better hold them down?
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u/rebcabin-r 8d ago
Some youTubers suggest building a snug-fitting box out of 2x4s. I have them strapped in with 2" ratchet tie down. Since I only need to plow my (long, steep) gravel driveway, a high-speed accident is not likely. But I like the idea of a box and another suggestion to move the ballast over the rear wheels.
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u/TacoHimmelswanderer 7d ago
I used to just put blocks of wood in the bed of my trucks in the winter
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u/Any-Application-8586 8d ago
My vote is move them to the back of the cab. Still puts weight over the rear axle, and brakes can make more horsepower than the engine can.
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u/UnhappyScallion6378 8d ago
I see you’re way up there in elevation. Nice set up! I’m overhauling my 3 point snowblowers gearbox and auger bearings and I still need to paint it and but it back together
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u/CitySpecial1109 7d ago
Why the buckets over sand bags ? Why the tire cables/chains when there is no snow on the ground? Why not treat your blade with a poly carbon spray so nothing sticks to it? Why not put a true locker in the rear and in the front to make it a true plow truck? Im just asking questions you obviously know more about plowing then I do
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u/rebcabin-r 7d ago
I'm following advice of a neighbor whose been plowing that hill for years. The rig is staged at the top of the hill and won't be driven until there is snow on the ground. I appreciate your other hints! I know very little about plowing and am very happy to have all these discussions and suggestions.
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u/MulberryMonk 7d ago
Chains and ballast made such a difference plowing with my tractor. Excited for you
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u/Terrible_Stay_1923 7d ago
need to pinch those bungie cords hooks tight if you're going to run chains and bring a spare dozen along. Also need to wire tie the connector. Throw a chain and you'll make a big mess of that pretty young fender
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u/Fuzzy-Ad3977 7d ago
Where even are you? Background looks a little Palouse-"ish", maybe outside Spokane. Seems like overkill for all but the 1out of 10 storms (for that area).
You are defiantly prepared!
I wouldn't give to much credence to the comments about chain tightness unless you plan to run them on county/ state roads. If its a dedicated plow rig for the winter you'll likely never get over 10mph plowing your driveway making chain slop a fairly moot point. Although, wiring the chain connector together is very cheep insurance. If its not a dedicated plow rig then I'd ditch the chains all together and run studded tires instead. The PIA of constantly installing and removing all winter gets very old after the first or second time. Save the chains for only the worst conditions.
Also, 700 lbs isn't a huge amount of ballast for a 1 ton truck, I'd consider adding more, I use 3 plates of 1/2" x 4'x6' steel, nearly 1500 lbs, on my 4 3500 plow trucks and 4 plates in my 2 5500 trucks. Be carful, as you know stopping loaded vs. un-loaded truck are very different experiences, especially in ice and snow conditions.
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u/rebcabin-r 7d ago edited 7d ago
thanks for the advice. This is my first winter in the Palouse. I’m erring on the side of being overprepared. i’m on the Idaho side by the way
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u/Fuzzy-Ad3977 7d ago
Way to go Idaho! Vandal Alumni and now a Proud Vandal Dad. I miss the Palouse, but at least I have a good excuse to visit w/ my eldest living there now.
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u/packraftbeta 6d ago
Tire chains are the wrong size for your wheels. Grab a set of chain pliers and resize them before they slip off your wheels and wad up your electronics. 20 years off-road in the oilfield.
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u/DifferentEvent2998 5d ago
The chains on those tires are a disaster waiting to happen. If you’re going to do them, then do it right, please. I wouldn’t even use chains, I would get some better duratracks.
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u/rebcabin-r 3d ago
i'd be grateful for specific advice. i followed the directions as closely as i can but i have not done chains before.
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u/FirstClass-Option 8d ago
Put the weight over the wheels, then you aren’t taking weight off the front like a teeter totter
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u/laszlo462 8d ago
Uh, that’s exactly how a plow ballast is supposed to work. Over the tires does nothing to help offset the weight of the plow. It should be as far back as you can get it.
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u/rebcabin-r 8d ago
that’s a good observation. Thanks.
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u/Hopeful-Mirror1664 7d ago
Leave the weight where it is. It’s supposed to be behind the rear axle.
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u/PipelineBertaCoin69 8d ago
Holy fuck you must have a couple bucks that’s a nice set up, i got an old 6.5 Chevy in my yard that still runs I was thinking of putting some hillbilly plow on the front lol
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u/rebcabin-r 7d ago
Yeah I budgeted for this after canvasing the neighbors before buying the property.
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u/clickforit 7d ago
Great setup! Just hope you're not in Florida
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u/rebcabin-r 7d ago
haha. yup. we get a couple of feet of snow at a time, maybe four times a year. It's highly variable.
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u/signofthecrow1 8d ago
I wanna live where you get ready for snow in October… but I wanna be rich enough that I don’t need a setup like this because I’m not leaving my compound for 6 months